How to Read a Yarn Label From Start to Finish

The colour may catch your eye first, but the label tells you whether the yarn can do the job you have in mind.

Identify the yarn

Find the fiber percentages, yarn-weight symbol and the ball or skein’s net weight. Then note the length in metres or yards. Two balls with the same physical weight can contain very different lengths.

Read the project guidance

The suggested hook and gauge offer a starting range. They do not replace a pattern gauge, but they help you understand the kind of fabric the manufacturer expects.

Record colour information

Colour name or number identifies the shade; a dye-lot number identifies a production batch. For a single project, matching dye lots can reduce visible shade changes.

Finish with care instructions

Look for written directions or universal symbols covering washing, drying, ironing and bleaching. Keep one label until the project is finished, and include the care information when giving the item away.

Before discarding the band, photograph both sides. That record is useful when buying more yarn or explaining how to care for the finished piece.

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