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REFERENCE

Yarn Label Guide

Read the useful fields on a yarn label before substituting or planning.

A yarn label can identify fibre content, total weight, length, care information, dye lot and suggested tool or gauge ranges. No single field predicts the finished fabric by itself.

Each field answers a different question

Fibre content indicates material; ball mass tells how much the package weighs; length tells how much yarn is present; dye lot identifies a batch where used; and suggested tools or gauge provide a starting point. No one field predicts the finished fabric.

Keep one label with the project so care instructions and exact product identification remain available.

Compare two yarns

Compare length for the same mass, then fibre, construction, care and required gauge. A close label match is only a screening step: swatch to test the actual fabric.

  • Record product, colour and dye lot.
  • Convert metres and yards before comparing totals.
  • Do not rely on suggested tool size without measuring gauge.

Label-reading checklist

YARN NAMEFibre: what the yarn is made fromBall weight: mass of this packageLength: metres and/or yards in this packageDye lot: batch identifier where applicableCare: washing, drying and ironing instructionsSuggested tools/gauge: a starting range, not a guarantee

For a substitution, compare length for the same mass, fibre behaviour, construction and the pattern gauge. Do not assume two yarns are interchangeable because their category names match.

How to use this page

  1. Record the exact yarn name, fibre content, ball weight and length.
  2. Check dye lot when colour consistency matters.
  3. Treat suggested tool sizes as starting points and follow the project gauge.
  4. Retain a label until the project is complete.

What to check before you rely on the result

  • Symbols and field order vary by manufacturer and market.
  • StitchMeasure uses original text and does not reproduce proprietary label artwork.