So, before we get into the nitty-gritty of what yarn is and how it can be made good use of, let us try and understand at the very onset what yarn is. Simplistically speaking, a yarn is a kind of textile that is made of either wool, cotton or acrylic substances. Now how is yarn made? Yarn is made from plies or strands that are twisted in order to make the string thick with a lot of breadths. Yarn, as we all know, is used in the process of weaving. Weaving techniques generally include crocheting the yarn or knitting it. A yarn basically appears in strands that are one piece and they are moulded into a ball like structure. This is done either using our hands or through machines. All of this gives us a lot of ease to play along and eventually work with it.
While we measure yarn, we take in consideration skeins that are measured in the unit of grams. The amount of thickness that a skein has will help us understand the amount of yardage it has. A thickness of yarn is a significant factor in itself. While you are on your way to buy yarn, you will see that the thickness is always mentioned on the label. The kind of needle and crochet size will also be mentioned to help you choose better. This in a way helps you in the process of knitting well. Not only this, these labels will also indicate the gauge to be used. The indication of the gauge will let you know of the number of stitches and rows to be placed on a yarn.
So, how do you make sure that you choose the right yarn for a pattern you so choose to knit?
Make sure that whenever you are looking at a pattern, you look at both the brand and the weight of the yarn. Patterns are meant to inform you about the brand, the weight, the colour and the kind of needle to be used for knitting. So, whenever you are looking at a pattern, bear this in mind. It might be tempting at times to use a different brand of yarn. So, in case you wish to use a kind of yarn that is different from the kind you have previously used, make sure you do not change the type of material used as well as the weight of the yarn. This is because if you make up your mind to experiment with a different kind of fibre, what you would end up knitting would look far different from what you see in the pattern. Also, swatch with the yarn a bit with the needle before you start off to understand that your gauge parameters are on point. One person will always knit differently from others. This is the reason why you would require adjusting your needle and the hook size to match the requirements of your gauge.
There is so much you can do with yarn. From embroidery to knitting, there is so much to do. The only thing you need to make sure is of the measurements. Once the measurements are correct and so are your equipments, there is no stopping you to create a beautiful pattern.
