Yarn Crafts

What is Yarn and What are Yarn Crafts

Yarn is a long continuous length of interlocked fibers, suitable for use in the production of textiles, sewing, knitting, and
weaving. Yarn can be made from any number of synthetic or natural fibers. Very thin yarn is referred to as thread. Yarns
are made up of any number of plys, each ply being a single thread these threads being twisted (plied) together or spun
together to make the final yarn. Spun yarn is made by twisting or otherwise bonding staple fibers together to make
a cohesive thread.

In some cases, thread may be monofilament, or a single fiber. Thicker monofilaments are typically used for industrial
purposes rather than fabric production or decoration. Silk is a natural filament and the only natural fiber that is counted
as monofilament.

Texturized yarns are made by a process of air texturizing (sometimes referred to as taslanizing), which combines multiple filament yarns into a yarn with some of the characteristics of spun yarns.

Yarn manufacturing was one of the very first processes that was industrialized. Yarn is manufactured by either a spinning
or air texturizing process. Spun yarns may contain a single type of fiber, or be a blend of various types. Combining
synthetic fibers (which can have high strength, luster, and fire retardant qualities) with natural fibers (which have good
water absorbency and skin comforting qualities) is very common. The most widely used blends are cotton/polyester
and wool and/or acrylic fiber blends. Blends of different natural fibers are also common, especially with more expensive
fibers such as alpaca, angora, and cashmere.

Yarn used for manufacture of fabric is made by spinning short lengths various types of fibers. Synthetic fibers which have
high strength, artificial luster, and fire retardant qualities are blended with natural fibers which have good water absorbency
and skin comforting qualities, in different proportions to manufacture yarn for fabric. The most widely used blends are
cotton/polyster and wool/acrylic fiber blends.

Yarn is usually measured by weight. In the United States, balls of yarn are usually sold in three-ounce, four-ounce, six-ounce, and eight-ounce skeins. In Europe, the units of the weight is grams.

The term craft also refers to the products of artistic production or creation that require a high degree of tacit knowledge,
are highly technical, require specialized equipment and/or facilities to produce, involve manual labor, are accessible to
the general public and are constructed from materials, such as ceramics, glass, textiles, metal and wood.

Yarn crafts specifically refer to artists who use yarn as a fiber artist medium. Such crafts are crochet, knitting,
weaving, needlework, and crewel. Spinners create yarn from rough fibers.

To connect to Yarn Crafts (Basketry and Caning (furniture), Crochet, Felting, Hand Knitting,
Machine Knitting, Needle-Arts, Spinning and, Dyeing, or Weaving) Information, Articles,
How-To's, Reference Charts, Supplies, Products, Patterns, Web Site Features, Hints and Tips,
Free Patterns, and Web Links, click on the subject links below. 

Basketry and Caning (furniture)

Crochet

Felting

Knitting
(Hand Knitting and Machine Knitting)

Needle-Arts
(Embroidery, Needlepoint, and Counted Cross Stitch Needlework)

Spinning and Dyeing

Weaving