Yarn is not a material, it is pure inspiration for many creative souls. Knitters, crocheters and many other fiber artists love colorful yarns. Just like a painter paints with colors, a fiber artists creates a canvas with multi-shaded yarn. Wool, cotton, silk, acrylic, blends and more, they have the skills to transform yarn into a beautiful masterpiece. When it comes to choosing yarn for different crafts, there are several factors to consider, such as fiber content, weight, texture, and color. However, the most common yarn categories are based on the thickness or weight of the yarn.

Yarns are made from natural fibers such as wool, cotton, silk and bamboo or petroleum-based acrylics. Each of the fibers can be modified to yarns of different categories and weights. Hand-dyed yarns are special as each skein is colored with hands with natural or artificial dyes giving them unique color options.

Here are the standard yarn categories:

Lace: This is the thinnest category of yarn. It is used for delicate and intricate projects like shawls and doilies.

Fingering/Sock: Slightly thicker than lace, fingering weight yarn is often used for socks, lightweight garments, and accessories.

Sport: Sport weight yarn is a bit thicker than fingering weight and is suitable for light, airy projects like baby clothes and lightweight sweaters.

Worsted: This is one of the most popular yarn weights and is considered a medium-weight yarn. It is versatile and can be used for a wide range of projects, including scarves, hats, and blankets.

Aran/Worsted: These two categories are sometimes used interchangeably, although Aran yarn is traditionally a bit heavier than worsted weight. Both are medium to heavy-weight yarns suitable for warm, textured garments.

Bulky: Bulky yarn is thicker and works up quickly, making it ideal for cozy scarves, hats, and blankets.

Super Bulky: This is the thickest category of yarn, perfect for projects that need to be completed quickly, such as chunky cowls or thick blankets.

Keep in mind that there might be variations or additional categories, and some yarn manufacturers might use their own unique classification systems.

Here are some recommendations for the best yarns for various crafting projects:

Knitting and Crocheting:

Knitting and crocheting are yarn crafts that require yarn but also knitting needles and crochet hooks to work with this yarn. You can work on a wide range of knit or crochet projects, starting from a pair of socks, to blankets and even home décor. From the thinnest yarn to super chunky weight, you can knit or crochet with any category. The only rule is to match the yarn weight to the knitting needle or crochet hook size. Bigger sizes=bigger stitches while smaller sizes= smaller sizes. The size is generally mentioned on the yarn labels. Most pattern designers also suggest the yarn along with needle or hook size.

Lace Yarn: Perfect for the delicate summer tops, kerchiefs, doilies and more. For knitting needles, choose options such as US 0-2 (2mm-3mm) while crochet hooks are also available in the specials sizes below 2mm.

Sock Yarn: Specifically designed for knitting socks, this yarn is durable and comes in a wide variety of colors and even fibers. This particular variant is light but needs to be sturdy enough to be durable for socks and other projects you are planning.

DK or Worsted Weight Yarn: A versatile yarn for a wide range of projects like scarves, hats, and sweaters. Whether you work with your knitting needles or crochet hooks this is the most common option. You can work with the yarn with sizes between 3mm to almost 8mm.

Bulky Yarn: Ideal for quick and chunky projects like blankets and cozy accessories.

Besides, knitting and crochet, yarns are used for a wide range of projects. Weaving, cross-stitching cross-embroidery, loom knitting, punch needle art and more work with different yarn weights as well as different fibers.

Remember, these recommendations are just starting points, and personal preference plays a significant role in selecting yarn. It's always a good idea to experiment and test different yarns to find the ones that work best for your specific crafts and projects. With Symfonie yarns explore 108 hand-dyed colors in DK weight and fingering weight. The superwash merino wool is the base while there are also blends with 25% silk and 25% nylon that allows the yarn versatility for a wide range of knitting and crochet projects.