Lion Brand Yarn Guide   
Answers to the most frequently-asked questions about yarn

1. What is yarn?
   Strands of fiber, natural or synthetic, spun together to form a long thread. It's used in many different ways to make many wonderful things.
   

2. What can you do with yarn?
   With the flexibility of yarn, your imagination is the limit: You can crochet, knit, weave, braid, embroider, or glue with yarn. Use it to make clothing, decorative accents for your home, cuddly blankets (usually called throws), items for babies and kids, toys and dolls, costumes and wigs, pet sweaters and gimmicks. You can even use it to tie fishing flies!
   
3. How is yarn packaged?
   Yarn is usually "put up" or packaged in one of the following ways:
   •  In a skein (pronounced "skān") which is a long and thin cylinder shape.
   •  In a ball.
   •  In a bundle which is a big ball, 6 ounces or more.
   •  On a cone. The yarn is wound around a cardboard cone shape. Cones come in different sizes and generally hold more yarn than a skein or ball.
   
4. Does the paper holding the yarn together tell me anything?
   • First, it tells you the yarn is Lion Brand, a company that is famous for producing quality yarns since 1878. It's a name you can trust.
   • Next, it tells you the name of the yarn. Sometimes the name of the yarn is a clue to its use. For example, Jiffy® sounds like yarn that produces quick results-and it is.
   • Other information includes the weight of the yarn (usually mentioning the number of plys), the yardage, what the yarn is made of, and how to care for it. The yarn ban d will also tell you the suggested gauge for the yarn, the color name and dye lot. Sometimes interchangeability will be listed.
   Lion Brand yarn labels also include, on the reverse side, instructions for the item featured.
   We just mentioned a number of words you may not know the meaning of. We will explain them, one by one:
   • PLY: Is another word for strand. The number of strands that are twisted together to form the yarn is the number of plys. If you untwist a section of yarn you will be able to count the plys. Wool-Ease® is a 4-ply, that is 4 strands knitting worsted weight yarn. (Worsted weight is a measure of thickness that originally applied only to worsted spun wool. It has come to be used to describe any fiber of that traditional thickness.) The number of plys does not tell you, however, the weight of the yarn. Jiffy, while a thicker yarn, has just 2 plys.
   • GAUGE: Refers to the number of stitches to an inch-horizontally-and the number of rows to an inch-vertically-that you need to get when knitting or crocheting. If you don't get the proper gauge, the garment will not come out the right size. Gauge is VERY important to the fit of a garment. We'll talk more about gauge further along.
   • INTERCHANGEABILITY: Any yarn that has the same gauge as any other yarn can be substituted-or interchanged-for that yarn.
   • YARDAGE: The amount of yarn in the put up. This is important to know if you are going to use an interchangeable yarn rather than the one called for in your pattern. The put up might be different, weighing either more or less, so checking the yardage allows you to buy the right amount of yarn-not more than you need, or worse, not enough to finish the project.
   • DYE LOT: Yarn is dyed in batches called dye lots. All of the yarn in one batch will be the exact same color and will be labeled with the same lot number on the label. However, yarn from a different batch of the same color may vary slightly in color, just as a recipe may taste slightly different each time, even though made with the same ingredients. The colors of two different dye lots may look the same under certain lights and VERY different under other lights or in daylight. That is why we strongly advise: "Please purchase a sufficient quantity of one dye lot to assure uniformity of color."
   • WEIGHT: This refers to how thick the yarn is. There are a number of standard thickness' for yarn. These include:
     * FINGERING YARN: A loosely spun, very lightweight yarn used for babywear, socks, and other delicate items.
     * SPORT YARN: A medium weight yarn used for babywear, sweaters, and lightweight throws.
     * WORSTED WEIGHT YARN: The most popular weight for knitting and crocheting. An ideal weight for throws.
     * CHUNKY YARN: Heavier than worsted weight, chunky yarn works up quickly and easily for such things as hats, scarves, and throws.
     * BULKY YARN: A very heavy yarn, about twice as thick as worsted weight.
   • YARN EQUIVALENTS: A method of approximating yarn equivalents:
     Two strands fingering equal one strand sport.
     Two strands sport equal one strand worsted.
     Two strands worsted equal one strand bulky.
     
5. What is the difference between knitting and crocheting?
   • Knitting is done on two pointed needles of the same size. One needle holds the finished work while the other creates the next row. You finish one row, turn, and work back. Knitting may also be done on double-pointed needles, which are used for knitting in the round and for special stitches, such as cables, or circular needles, which look like two single-pointed needles joined by a plastic strand. Circular needles are used to knit in the round without seams for such things as hats and collars. Knitting needles are sized by number.
   • Crocheting is done with a single hook. Each stitch is worked into a stitch in a previous row and slipped off the hook. You can crochet in rows or go round and round. The thickest part of the hook is the part used to determine the size of the hook. If you are crocheting too tightly, perhaps you are not sliding the work back far enough onto the hook. Crochet hooks are sized by letters of the alphabet.
     
6. How do I know which is the right yarn for my project?
   Each one of our yarns has its own personality-a combination of fiber, texture, and color that allows you to select a yarn that will suit your particular need.  
   
7. What are acrylic yarns?
   Acrylic yarns are versatile. They come in many different weights and can be dyed just about any color. Acrylic fibers are soft, will not fade or run, and can be washed and dried. Two special acrylic fibers by Monsanto are used in several of our yarns. Wintuk* and Sayelle*, the most widely used, allow individual fibers to literally return to their original size and shape in the laundering process. What's more, their Smart Yarn® technology provides superior bulk and resilience to maintain stitch definition and adjust for uneven stitch tension. For knitters and crocheters, this ensures that their handmade creations will retain their just-made qualities for years. An excellent example of an acrylic yarn is JAMIE "America's Favorite Baby Yarn" is a 3-ply sport weight 100% Wintuk* yarn perfect for lightweight caps, sweaters, and throws. It is available in pastel colors and multi-colored prints.

8. What are novelty and specialty yarns?
   Novelty yarns have the same uses as basic yarns, but they are enriched in a variety of ways.
   • HOMESPUN is a unique new yarn which is spun with a wrap that adds shape and texture. It is 98% acrylic and 2% polyester. This soft, fluffy yarn was designed with home decorating projects in mind. We offer it in colors to match the most popular furniture and fabric styles and colors.
   • JAMIE POMPADOUR is an 85% Sayelle* (*Monsanto Certification) baby yarn that is embellished with a 15% shiny rayon thread wound around the outside. It adds a subtle sheen to the finished project.
   • JIFFY is a fluffy, mohair-look acrylic yarn in a chunky weight that works up quickly. Jiffy is an ideal beginner's yarn, especially if you select a light color that will help you see your stitches.
   • CHENILLE SENSATIONS is a luxuriously soft yarn with a velvet-like appearance. It is perfect for fashion crocheting as well as crafts, dolls, and stuffed animals.
   • 9. What are natural fibers and blends?
     Lion Brand offers both 100% natural fiber yarns and blends of natural fibers with acrylic to create affordably priced yarns that possess the most desirable features.
   • WOOL-EASE combines the warmth, durability and feel of wool with the toss-it-in-the-machine ease of acrylic. It has an especially soft feel and comes in a wide color selection including solids, heathers, tweeds, prints, multi-colors, twists, frosts, and sprinkles. (See questions 10 through 12.)
   • ALPAKA is a luxurious 2-ply knitting worsted weight blend of acrylic, wool, and alpaca in natural colors.
   • IMAGINE is spun from mohair, to achieve strength, exceptional softness, and luster. The mohair is blended with 80% acrylic, to give rich looking results at a reasonable cost.
   • KITCHEN COTTON is 100% pure cotton, knitting worsted weight, absorbent, and durable. The colors are designed to match your kitchen, dining room, and bathroom.
   • FISHERMEN'S WOOL is a 100% pure virgin wool containing natural oils. It is a 4-ply yarn in a knitting worsted weight which is ideal for the warmest ski and fishermen sweaters, hats, scarves, and throws.
     
9. What are sprinkles?
   Tiny rayon nubs of yarn are randomly spun into the plys in a different color from the main yarn. The finished yarn has a random sprinkling of yarn that looks like it was painted with dots.
   
10. What are frosts?
    Fine, shiny threads are spun around the plys so that it glimmers like frost.
    
11. What are heathers?
    Fibers of similar or complementary colors, but not exactly the same color are spun together into one yarn. The finished yarn has a soft, rich look and wonderful depth of color.
    
12. What are tweeds?
    Plys of different colors are twisted together into one yarn. The combination of the different colors creates a new color which is unique.
    
13. What are ombre yarns?
    Ombres are a single yarn dyed with several different colors. The length of each color on the yarn is about the same, for example, 12" or so. There is a slight variance of the length of 'each color on the yarn so the repetition of the colors forms a varying pattern on the finished item.
    
14. What are printed yarns?
    Printed yarns have small areas of color printed along the yarn. Usually the printed colors are added in short amounts so that when the yarn is worked up they appear as flecks of color on the background color rather than as a change in the color of the yarn itself.
    
15. How do I know which weight yarn to use for the project I want to make?
    If you have a set of instructions or a pattern, it will tell you what weight yarn to use. This is where interchangeability comes in. You can use any yarn that gives you the same gauge that the pattern calls for. Check the yardage to be sure you have enough yarn to complete your project. If you want to be proud of the projects that you spent so much time on, you will need the right gauge. Before you start the project, make a small square called a gauge swatch. It will save you a lot of time. Suppose you work a whole sweater and it comes out way too big or way too small. Ripping out and reworking the whole project takes much, much longer than making a little swatch. TO MAKE A GAUGE SWATCH: With the suggested size needles, cast on, using the given gauge, enough stitches to make a square 3" x 3". If the gauge is: 5 sts = 1", 6 rows = 1" using size 8 needles, cast on 15 stitches (5 stitches for each of the 3 inches). Work in the given pattern 18 rows (6 rows for each of the 3 inches). If the piece measures 3" x 3", start your sweater! If it is bigger, rip it out and work it again with smaller needles; go down one needle size at a time until the size is perfect. If the swatch is too small, rework it with bigger needles in the same way. If you are crocheting, follow the same process with crochet hooks. Working up a gauge should be done for throws as well. The look you want to duplicate, whether it is an throw or a sweater, depends on the gauge. A piece that has too tight a gauge will feel "boardy" to the touch-that means just what it sounds like-stiff as a board! If the gauge is too loose, the piece will not have the proper shape and will look droopy and full of holes.
    
16. How do I know which size needle or hook to use?
    The instructions will give a SUGGESTED size; start with that and increase or decrease size until you get the correct gauge.
    
17. What is the easiest stitch to knit?
    The knit stitch. Knitting every row is called "garter" stitch. The only other stitch in knitting is the purl stitch. Knitting one row and purling the next alternately is called "stockinette" stitch.
    
18. What is the easiest crochet stitch?
    The easiest stitch to crochet is the chain (just what it looks like) and, after that, the single crochet. Master these and all of the other stitches are a snap. They are just a matter of more wraps of the yarn around the hook.
    
19. What are grams and how can I convert them to ounces?
    

    Grams are a metric measure
    Metric			English
    28.35g =	1 oz.		1 oz = 1.4oz = 1.5oz = 1.75oz = 2 oz = 2.5 oz = 3 oz =	28.35 g 39.69 g 42.53 g 49.61 g 56.70 g 70.88 g 85.05 g	3.5oz = 5 oz = 6 oz = 7 oz = 8 oz = 8.75 oz = 10 oz =	99.23 g 141.75 g 170.10 g 198.45 g 226.80 g 248.06 g 283.50 g

    
    

20. Why are knitting and crocheting instructions written in code?
    Actually that "code" is a set of abbreviations. They are used to cut down on the length of the instructions and they quickly become second nature. Here's a list of the most common:

A suggested method of estimating yarn amounts:
Not having enough yarn for a project is a major concern. Yarn is a multiple purchase item-that means when you purchase yarn, you are generally going to buy several skeins/balls at a time.  Many of the projects have multiple colors so it is important for there to be enough of each color called for. Click here for a chart that will help you estimate the amounts of yarn required for many common projects.