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Yarn facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts

Yarn is a long, continuous length of fibers that have been spun or felted together. Yarn is used to make cloth by knitting, crocheting or weaving. Yarn is sold in the shape called a skein to prevent the yarn from becoming tangled or knotted.

Garnknäuel gefärbt
Skeins of yarn

Yarn can be made from any number of natural or synthetic fibers such as wool, cotton, silk, or acrylic. Some yarns are made from a blend of several kinds of fibers.

Yarns come in many thicknesses or weights from fine to thick: lace, fingering, sock, sport, double-knit (or DK), worsted, aran, bulky, and super-bulky. Very fine yarn is called thread and is used in sewing and embroidery.

Yarn can also be used to crochet.

Images for kids

  • A basket of yarn

    Yarn

  • SpoolsOfThread

    Spools of thread

  • Flügelspinnmaschine

    Cotton being spun

  • Restored primary level spinning machine at Quarry Bank Mill

    A full restored and operative primary-level spinning machine taking freshly carded cotton tails from barrels and spinning them into yarn at the Quarry Bank Mill in the UK.

  • Spinning jenny

    A Spinning Jenny, spinning machine which was significant in the beginning of the Industrial Revolution

  • Yarn twist S-Left Z-Right

    S- and Z-twist yarn

  • Caraz Market Lana

    Yarn comes in many colors

  • Yarn weight comparison with variegated colours

    A comparison of yarn weights (thicknesses): the top skein is aran weight, suitable for knitting a thick sweater or hat. The manufacturer's recommended knitting gauge appears on the label: 5 to 7 stitches per inch using size 4.5 to 5.1 mm needles. The bottom skein is sock weight, specifically for knitting socks. Recommended gauge: 8 to 10 stitches per inch, using size 3.6 to 4.2 mm needles. These yarns are manufactured in Japan and have variegated colours in a random-dyed pattern.

  • Spool of white thread

    Spool of all purpose sewing thread, closeup shows texture of 2‑ply, Z‑twist, mercerized cotton with polyester core.

  • Conner-prairie-yarn-drying

    Yarn drying after being dyed in the early American tradition, at Conner Prairie living history museum.

  • Digital USB microscope

    Digital USB microscope

  • Woolen Shawl

    Woolen Shawl

  • Fabric under microscope 3(Shawl)

    Woolen shawl under microscope

  • Cloth Pencil Box

    Cloth Pencil Box

  • Fabric under microscope 2 (Cloth pencil box)

    Cloth Pencil Box under microscope

  • Jeans1

    Jeans

  • Fabric under microscope 4 (Jeans)

    Jeans under microscope

  • Sweatshirt

    Sweatshirt

  • Fabric under microscope 1 (Track Pants)

    Sweatshirt under microscope

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Yarn Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.