Knitting and crochet are popular hobbies throughout the United States and the world. Many people find it relaxing and enjoyable. It is also a productive hobby that allows people to unwind while also making something with their own hands. And because it’s so popular, there are many options of color, style, and yarn type, it can be difficult to choose. The color, type, and quality of the crochet thread or yarn that you use can make or break your creation so it is important to understand the types of crochet thread and their intended uses. This article will hopefully help you understand how to choose your crochet yarn or thread.
First, you should know that cotton crochet thread is the most popular and durable type of thread. It washes up easily without much shrinkage and is easy to work with. Synthetic threads on the other hand are pretty to look at but difficult to work with and need special precautions to clean.
Next, you need to determine the type of crochet thread you would like to work with. There are five classifications of crochet thread. They are:
1 or Super Fine (sock, baby and fingering yarn)
2 or Fine (baby and sport yarn)
3 or Light (light worsted and DK yarn)
4 or Medium (worsted, afghan and Aran yarn)
5 or Bulky (chunky, craft and rug yarn)
6 or Super Bulky (roving and bulky yarn)
Each type has its own weight or thickness with fingering being the lightest. The term `ply’ on the label indicates the strands of thread that create the yarn for example two ply thread has two strands entwined and three ply has three strands entwined.
If you are new to crochet, it is advised to start off with beginner’s thread so you learn to crochet properly and don’t run into difficulty due to the type of thread you are trying to learn on. In general, the bigger the size of the thread, the better and easier it is to crochet with. So a crochet beginner should start with a large size thread, such as medium, bulky or super bulky yarn. When your skill has improved, then switch to finer types of thread. Once you have mastered the steps of crochet, you can then advance to lighter weight threads. Your projects will appear more refined and skilled due to the intricate thread used.
It’s a good idea to always have some extra thread or yarn on hand for the project you’re working on. You never know when something will happen or you misjudge the amount of thread you need and you find yourself out of thread before you complete the project. If this occurs and you have to go find another skein of yarn or thread, you run the risk of not being able to match the color. When buying colored thread you should always match the dye lot. Different dye lots will have slightly different color tones and it might be enough to ruin the final look of your piece. Avoid that problem all together by buying an extra ball at the onset.
One thing that you should know is that the price of yarn and thread often reflect the quality. It is tempting to want to save money on thread, but it can ruin your piece if you use the cheap stuff. The appearance will suffer and it will not hold up to wear and washing as well. So just bite the bullet and buy good quality stuff.
By following these tips you should be able to choose the appropriate yarn and end up with a beautifully crocheted piece. Have fun!