The word “yarn” is defined in dictionaries as “Continuous strand of twisted threads of natural or synthetic material, used in weaving or knitting.” This is the basic information for yarn, and includes many points for the categorization of yarn.

Originating from the definition, the points that are used to categorize yarn is the thickness, material, usage area.

When thickness is taken into consideration, we can talk about the “yarn” and the “thread”, and “fiber”. Thread is generally used to define thin materials that constitute the yarn. It can also be the name of thin strands used alone in machines in textile industry for sewing and weaving. Fiber (also known as fibre) is a class of materials forms the yarns and threads. When the chemical content of a yarn, or a fabric weaved with threads needs to be explained, it is done by the “fiber content”. Finally, yarn is the twisted threads or fibers, mostly used for knitting.

Materials of Yarn

Yarn can be separated into two in material point of view:

Yarns with natural fibers Yarns with human-made (synthetic) fibers.

Yarns with natural fibers

For a general categorization of natural fibers, they consist of two main titles: Animal fibers, and plant fibers. Animal fibers include mostly protein-based fibers and are commonly used for winter clothes and accessories because it is a highly insulating characteristics. They mostly include wool fibers like wool, mohair, angora, alpaca, llama and cashmere. Wool, mohair, and angora are the most used and mostly produced fibers in both knitting and other textile industry. Mohair is harder, and scratchier as compare to wool and angora. That is why angora is one of the most preferred fibers in these three, but it is harder to find. When we talk about alpaca, llama, and even vicuna; they are rare wool fibers mostly gathered from the animals living in mostly South America, in countries like Peru and Bolivia. Alpaca is gathered from a smaller llama-like animal. And vicuna is the most valuable fiber and made from a special animal only lives in Bolivia. Cashmere is made from a small animal lives in far-east, and is one of the best yarns because of its softness. Silk is also an animal fiber, which is a little bit different in “warmly” point of view. It is mostly used for its shine and softness instead of winter clothes. It is one of the highest-quality fibers. Plant Fibers include are mostly cellulose- based fibers and are commonly used for summer clothes, and consist of cotton, hemp, soybean, bamboo, linen. Clothes made with these fibers are fresh, and cool.

Yarns with synthetic fibers

Synthetic fibers are the result of long researches of the scientists. The first fiber found is acrylic, and all other fibers found as a result of derivatives of acrylic. They consist of acrylic, polyester, nylon, and olefin. They are mostly used fibers because of their cost-effectiveness and high amount of production.

There is also third group which is called semi-synthetic fibers, which are viscose, and acetate. Especially viscose is a very special fiber used for summer clothes and accessories. When blended with Acrylic; it has a wide range of use for winter textiles.

Usage area of yarn

Yarn can be used for weaving or knitting. Weaving yarns are synthetic or natural yarns used in fabrics, and are usually thin yarns as compare to knitting yarns.

Knitting yarn

Knitting yarn is the biggest section of yarn types when the thickness and texture is taken into consideration. The yarns for knitting are usually sold as skeins, or hanks with labels, which include information for the yarn for knitting.

There are two main types of knitting yarn: Classic Yarns are being used for a long time to make sweaters, jackets, and even socks. Natural fibers were commonly used for classic yarns, and after a time with synthetic yarns, people turned back to natural-fiber yarns. Fancy Yarns (also known as Novelty Yarns) consist of interesting textures and fibers. Some of novelty yarns are made by blending two or more fibers. The usage area is mostly accessories, but there are some yarns that can be used for regular clothing. The main types of novelty yarns are: eyelash, boucle, ribbon, chenille, and slub yarns. Most of them are names with their appearance.