What Is Yarn

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.

In some cases, thread may be monofilament, or a single fiber. The only natural fiber that is counted as monofilament is silk.

Yarn manufacturing was one of the very first processes that was industrialized. Yarn is manufactured by either a spinning or air texturizing (commonly referred to as taslanizing) process. 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 absorbance 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.