One of the most confusing aspects of making textiles from yarn is the way yarn sizes are described. Most yarns are labelled using vague categories like lace, fingering, sport, and so forth, yet that description tells us virtually nothing about the yarn itself. And, even worse, I can sometimes look at three different yarns labelled “worsted” and easily see that they are all different thicknesses. However, there are good reasons for those vague descriptions, and knowing those reasons can help us make better yarn choices.
All three of these yarns are labelled worsted weight, but they are all very visually different and they will all work up into different types of cloth.
All images by Michelle Boyd.
