What types of yarn are there?

There are several types of yarn, and then there are specialty yarns. Yarns can be made of things such as acrylic, nylon, and wool, and for durability and machine washing purposes combination yarns are common.

 

Warning: when working with sturdy yarns, be careful! You can rub your fingers raw! (Think of a rug burn around your finger.) To avoid this, note the primary finger(s) you use for regulating tension when you crochet. When this finger starts hurting or turning red, stop crocheting for the day. You can also wear gloves for further protection.

 

Baby fingering yarn is usually used for baby clothing. It is very fine, soft, and can be hard to find. It is comparable to a thick crochet thread in diameter.

 

Sport weight yarn is sturdier than baby yarn and is noticeably thicker, though not yet thick. This yarn can be used for baby clothing, and is preferred for baby blankets and jackets. It is much easier to find than baby fingering yarn.

 

Worsted weight yarn (also called Aran) is by far the most common weight of yarn to find. Many specialty yarns are also in this category. This is the thick yarn you usually find. Though this can be delicate, some worsted weight yarn has a tendency to split, making it difficult to work with. More often, it is sturdy, because it is meant for your everyday projects. Though in old books you might see worsted weight referred to as "4-ply," the the yarn is actually 12-ply, having 12 strands making up the yarn.

 

Rug yarn, though it could be called a type of worsted weight yarn, is designed for rugs. It is rough and by far the sturdiest of the yarns.

 

Chunky or bulky yarn is even larger than the 4-ply and is designed for the very large crochet hooks and knitting needles. Any project made with this will probably be finished quickly.

 

Specialty yarns are the fuzzy ones, the shiny filaments, and all those yarns that look different than your standard yarn. Yarns made of rare materials such as mohair also qualify as specialty yarns.

 

Each type can have names, such as mohair-type yarn that resembles actual mohair yarn (it looks fuzzy like a wool sweater). There is also fluffy yarn, usually called homespun after the popular variety of it that Lion Brand® produces. Yarn that appears to be strung fuzz on thread (basically resembling a pipe cleaner) is chenille, which can also resemble strips of fur depending upon different creation factors. The filament yarns are generally termed "eyelash" yarns, though Lion Brand® has named their eyelash line "fur."

 

Specialty yarns are also expensive, particularly the ones of hard-to-find materials like actually mohair or alpaca—some can cost $50 a skein!