The yarn label is important and informative, but it can be confusing to beginners in the fiber art world. Understanding the basics of how to read a yarn label will arm you with the knowledge you need to be successful in your creative endeavors.

Yarn is a lot more complicated than people realize. There are many characteristics of yarn that are not considered until you go to create something with it. Then you end up having a lot of possibilities to think about and details to look into when shopping for your yarn.

The yarn label is there to help you while thinking through all of the details of your project, and it can actually make decisions much easier! However, I realize that many beginner crocheters get really confused whenever they look at a yarn label for the first time. For that reason, I am going to break up the yarn label into pieces and explain what each portion is telling you one part at a time.

Now, remember, not all yarn labels will look exactly the same. However, most labels will give you the same information. Once you understand what you are looking for, it can be much easier to decipher nearly any label you come across. In the example pictures I have, I used two brands for reference that show the information differently: Lion Brand Pound of Love Yarn and I Love This Yarn from Hobby Lobby.

Where should a beginner crocheter start?

If you are a complete beginner to crochet, I recommend starting with the 6 Beginner Crochet Stitches and Basic Words & Terms Every Crocheter Should Know. These two posts should give you a solid foundation of what you need to know as a beginner crocheter.

Yarn Label Basics:

Color

Color sounds pretty obvious, but there are a couple specifics that you should know. When buying yarn, you want to look at the “Lot #” and the “Color #/Name”. These are two different things.

The Lot Number has to do with the batch of dye that was used on that skein of yarn. Skeins with the same Lot Number are preferred when crocheting a garment or large project. This is because dye lots can vary slightly, which can change the skein color slightly as well.

The Color Number or Name of the yarn has to do with the color that the manufacturer is trying to create. It is how they refer to the yarn with that specific color, and can be part of how they organize the yarn inventory. Also, when you are searching for a specific color in a store or on a website, you will want to use the Color Number or Name.

Yarn Weight & Hook Size

Yarn weight refers to the thickness of the yarn. If you are unfamiliar with yarn weight, I recommend reading my post Yarn 101: Weight & Material. Usually the yarn label will give a number and designation for the yarn weight, and the higher the number means the thicker the yarn.

Along with yarn weight, the label will have a hook and needle size suggestion. The gauge will also be given for these tool suggestions. These gauge references can give you an idea of how thick the yarn is if you are a more experienced crocheter or knitter. However, for beginners, I would look at the hook or needle size given and use that just as a starting point.

Material & Care

The material or yarn fiber is another important piece of information on the label. If you want help choosing what yarn fiber you should use, check out my post Yarn 101: Weight & Material. For those who are more experienced, I suggest making sure you have the correct material or blend for your project.

The “How to Care” section is just as important. You will need to look at this closely for fibers that are new to you. Each material has its own care needs, and you need to make sure that the yarn you choose for a project suits the requirements. (For example, bamboo doesn’t hold up to a lot of washes, so it would not be a good choice to use for a dishcloth!)

Yardage & Net Weight

When you are buying yarn for a project, you will want to grab the amount that you need to complete it. The yarn label will tell you how many yards and meters are approximately in each skein. If you are ever pattern testing or experimenting, you will want to know this to help you calculate the total used and help you replicate the project accurately.

The label will also give you the net weight of the skein in ounces and grams. This is necessary to help you calculate total yardage once you have finished an entire project or for its pieces.

Now what?

Now, I would take time to practice looking at yarn labels yourself! Take some of your favorite yarn and check out the specifics on the label. Another option is to head to your local craft store and read the labels for many yarn types to compare. Learn to read the yarn labels for different brands, and try to look for patterns that give you particular yarns to try. Just be creative and use this knowledge to have fun learning more about yarn!