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Learning how to read a yarn label for the first time can be a bit confusing. All labels contain the same basic information about the yarn. Knowing how to read this information is very important as it will help you identify the color, yarn weight, material content, yardage, and other items.
Let us examine how to read a yarn label line by line.
Project Specifications
These lines are showing that you will need one ball of each of the listed yarn numbers to complete the child’s poncho pattern that is shown on the label. The instructions for the pattern are available at caron.com/vickiehowell
Yarn Composition
These two lines show that the yarn is a 70% acrylic and 30% wool blend. It is also listed in French and Spanish.
Yarn Amount
This line shows the weight in ounces, grams, yards, and meters.
Yarn Specifications
The first row from left to right are the yarn weight, the size knitting needles and gauge swatch you should get with that yarn and particular needle size. Next, is the recommended crochet hook size and also the temperature of water to wash the yarn in.
Care Instructions
Next, this section provides laundry instructions. It is very important to follow these because depending on the type of yarn it may shrink up or felt if placed in the washing machine and/or dryer. This particular yarn is ok to machine wash on a cold, gentle cycle and dry on a flat surface. If this were to be hung up to dry it may stretch drastically.
Dye Lot
Finally, the last section contains two very important pieces of information. The color name and number and also the lot or dye lot. Dye lots are the batches that yarn is dyed in. You will want to purchase enough yarn to complete your project from the same dye lot so that the colors in the project will not have any variations. Make sure the dye lot numbers are the same unless it is an undyed yarn.
In conclusion, it is important to know how to properly read a yarn label. The information that a label contains will help you produce a successful project. There is nothing more frustrating than running out of yarn halfway through a project and not knowing the color you need. Also, not purchasing enough yardage for your project can derail even the most seasoned crafter!
Check out my post on understanding yarn weights here.