Kay's Korner - A Knitters Notes

March 8, 2008

When shopping for yarn, we may first choose a pattern and then ask for the recommended yarn or we may fall in love with a yarn, then go in search of a pattern. In either scenario, the information on the yarn label, or ball band, is important. Although labels vary greatly in the data they supply, they all are there to help us in choosing a satisfactory yarn for our project.

The most obvious information on the label is the yarn line and the name of the yarn. My first example below shows that the yarn is from the designer line by Louisa Harding and the yarn name is Impression. We are told the suggested needle size in both the US number, US6, and in metric, 4 mm. In giving the recommended tension, or gauge as it is commonly called in the US, we are told it is 22 sts x 30 rows. Here is where manufacturers vary and novice knitters can get a bit confused. Most gauge swatches are 10 x 10 cm, or 4 x 4 inches, but occasionally labels will give the number of stitches and rows per 1 inch square, for example .

Also on the label is the weight. Our example shows 50 grams, but many yarns come in 100 gram hanks and some are measured in ounces rather than grams. A 50 gram ball is approximately 1.75 ounces. Usually, the yardage is also on the label, either in yards or meters, and on our label, both. Other important numbers are the color and dye lot. It is always a good idea to buy sufficient yearn for your project in the same dye lot, to avoid subtle changes in color. Personally, I always buy at least on extra skein, knowing that at my local yarn shop, an unused skein in new condition is returnable within 60 days, if I keep my sales receipt. A frequent exception to this policy is when purchasing yarn that has been discontinued or for some other reason reduced in price.

Washing instructions either written out or given in standard symbols are very helpful, prompting me to include a yarn label in any handknit I gift. When there are no instructions for laundering, check the fiber content and clean accordingly.

Increasingly product identification numbers and bar codes are being included on all products, including yarn. These make keeping up with inventory much easier for the shops who have the equipment and software to take advantage of this system.

The final item on our label is "Made in Italy." This is the country where the yarn was manufactured, not necessarily the country where the fiber originated. Sometimes the distributor of the yarn line will also be included on the label. Many distributors have websites where they list the yarns they carry, the colors of these yarns, and listings of the yarn shops, by area, that supply their merchandise to the public. Pattern books using their yarn are usually listed and often there are photos of each design. Free patterns are often offered, as well.

If you cannot find the information you need on a yarn label, at times labels are printed both on front and back. The labels that are tucked inside balls must gently be pulled out of the yarn to see all of the specifications. There are times when very little information is given on yarn labels. I purchased a large amount of yarn from Turkey a few years ago and the only information given was a brand name that I had never heard of before. Some foreign yarns have labels in Italian, French, or other languages. A real challenge is presented when the label uses a foreign alphabet, such as with the Russian and Japanese languages. This is rarely seen in the US, but part of the fun of travel is perusing foreign yarn shops.

Copyright 2008 Karen Mather