Knitting & Crochet

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• Weight - Thickness of the yarn strand.
   
• Gauge - The number of stitches and rows expected in an area of completed fabric. Yarn weight and needle/hook size will affect the gauge and size of a project.
  • A 'gauge swatch' is a sample of fabric completed with the intended pattern, yarn, and needle/hook. Comparing the number of stitches per inch in your swatch to the number of stitches per inch mentioned in your pattern can help you make sizing adjustments.
     
• Colorway - Another way for creators and manufacturers to refer to specific yarn colors. Think of individually named crayons differentiating shades of the same color.
   
• Dye Lot - Yarn dyed in batches will be labeled with a dye lot. Color can vary slightly or drastically between dye lots even in the same colorway.
   
• Ply - Yarn made of multiple strands is multi-ply. A three-ply yarn will be three separate strands of fiber.
   
• Stash - A collection of yarn and crafting tools.
  • 'Stashbusting' is deliberately choosing to make projects that will use up yarn in your stash.

A comprehensive guide to the standard yarn weights is available from the Craft Yarn Council. The guide also recommends needle and hook sizes to be used with each weight.

Patterns will often suggest a specific weight and needle/hook, but you may be able to make substitutions. Ambassador Crochet and The Spruce Crafts have advice on when to substitute yarn and how to adjust your work vs. the pattern.

The fiber content of your yarn may be natural, sourced from an animal or plant, synthetic, meaning they are created by humans, or a blend of fibers. Different fibers have different qualities which affect your fabric, and will also influence the price.

Check out Knitting Knowledge's comprehensive guide to fibers for more information. (Even with knitting in the name, this is still good information for crocheters!) The guide also describes novelty and specialty yarn types.