Article How To Read A Yarn Label And Understand It!

By Carey Nuss.

      Have you ever looked at a yarn label and wondered what the heck all those symbols and numbers mean? You aren't alone! Yarn labels have to fit in a lot of information in a small amount of space, and instead of using a lot of small text (which would just be unreadable and annoying), they use symbols where they can. Learn How to Read Yarn Labels with this quick tutorial.

Just like the tags on your clothing, yarn labels contain value information. From fiber content to laundering information, the label includes so many details to consider. There’s a wealth of content on each tiny label, so here’s a little cheat sheet for how to read the label. Keep in mind that not all yarn labels will look the same, so this information won’t necessarily be in the same place or even on every label.

Yarn labels are pretty standardized - no matter the brand, you'll be able to find the information you're looking for. What you'll find on a yarn label, besides the barcode and the colour name is the dye lot, the yarn weight, knitting and crochet gauges and required sizes, and washing and drying instructions.

From the moment you pick up a yarn label, you'll be able to tell the yarn weight, the hook size (or needle size for you knitters) you'll need, and exactly how you should wash and dry this yarn. When you spend so much time on a project, it's important to know how to take care of it - you don't want to dry something in the dryer and warp all your hard work, right?

How to Read a Yarn Label; Follow along with the numbers on the yarn label pictured below to find the yarn label information explained. 

1. Skein Information

How much yarn is in a certain skein? How many skeins will you need to buy to complete a certain project? You'll find the yarn weight and length on your yarn label so you can know right away if you can get away with just one skein for that scarf or if you'll need more to finish it off.

In this case the ball weighs 100gm or 3.5 ounces and is 155.44 meters or 170 yards long.

2.Yarn Type

The ball in this example is acrylic. Do you only want to use easy-to-care-for acrylic yarn, as it is washable? Is 100% wool too scratchy for you? Would you prefer another type of yarn?, Would you prefer to work in a plush and cosy wool blend?

Your fibre contents will be included on your yarn label so you can see, at a glance, just what the fibre blend will be. These are a few of the many questions you will need to ask yourself when buying yarn.

3.Yarn Weight & Gauge

The yarn weight will always be between 0-6, from thread to super bulky yarn. The yarn weight is one of those basic stats you'll need when choosing yarn for a project since it's the first step in narrowing down your yarn.

Your gauge, tension and number of balls required are all things to consider with your projects. A project may need 760 gms of wool to complete the project that would be eight balls plus 1 so I would by myself nine balls and as I’m a tight knitter I’d throw an extra ball in as well to cater for mistakes and mending later on once my project is finished. So, we would need 10 Balls all up for that project.

Most patterns will tell you the amount of yarn that you'll need to complete it. Yarn will almost always be measured on the label in yards. The amount of yarn that you'll need can vary greatly based on the gauge, weight of yarn, type of project, stitch, and the tension that you personally knit or crochet with.

4. Knitting and Crochet Needle Size And Gauge

The recommended hook and or needle size for your skein will be listed here as well as your recommended gauge for a 10 cm square swatch. (4x4 inch swatch)

This label tells us we are recommended to use a 5.5mm knitting needle or a 6 mm crochet hook. I’m also including another diagram as to gauge here as I feel it is slightly better. Let’s look at it and then dissect all the information it has to offer;

5. Care Instructions

Not all yarns are created equal when it comes to caring for your crochet and knitting.

Luckily, care instructions are provided right on the label so you can know right away if the yarn is machine-washable or not, if you should hand dry it, what temperature you can wash it dry it on and if you can iron your clean work or not. This is also useful information to provide when giving a gift! Yarn labels are very informative and useful!

6. Dye Lot’s

The dye lot is usually located near the barcode and UPC on the label. The dye lot is a way to group yarn together that was dyed at the same time, so that yarn is all the exact same shade, without any discrepancies. This is useful if you're working on a larger project that will require multiple skeins of the same colour but not as much if you just need to use one skein. Yarn colour and dye lot. Not only does this area include the yarn colour’s name and number, but it also includes the dye lot. If you’re buying more than one skein of the same yarn, make sure that your dye lot numbers all match. Sometimes the same yarn colour will vary slightly between dye lots, so you should always check this number.

Yarn from different dye lots can look similar in the store or side by side, but as you're crocheting and or knitting, you can really notice the differences in the fabric as you go. Commercial dye lots are fairly the same these days I find, but you should always by 1 extra ball when buying wool for your projects.

I do hope you have found this information informative and you are now able to understand and read a yarn label. If your ever unsure of what a yarn label has to say write the information down on a piece of paper and dissect it again. Then do the math to work out how many balls you will need and what tools!

Have Fun And Enjoy Crafting! You can get a print out of the pDf by clicking on the blue link below. How To Read And Understand Yarn Labels

 Have Fun And Enjoy Crafting! Carey, Caszs Country Crafts