Yarn Packaging - Balls, Skeins, Hanks, and Cones

So, we've been learning the fundamentals of knitting here, and now lets talk about yarn just a little more.

Before you go rushing off to the store with all of your newfound knowledge, you should really be familiar with the way yarn can be packaged. It may seem unimportant, but the first time you come home with a hank of yarn and end up in tears on the floor because it won’t unravel properly, you’ll get the point of this little review.

Skein : Usually any knitter’s dream. Skeins are great because most manufacturers have structured them in a way that allows you to pull your working piece of yarn from the center. This means that you don’t have to unwind and ball the yarn, but it also means that you can work in a smaller, more manageable space.

Ball : This should be self-explanatory. If not, you need to find a book even more basic than this one. You usually won’t find yarn sold in ball form at the store – you have to wind them that way yourself. More advanced knitters sometimes have gadgets to help with winding, but you can also do this using a doorknob or a friend’s hands.

Hank : A record-setting player for the Atlanta Braves… oops, wrong book. To make a hank, manufacturers or yarn spinners lay out all of the yarn in the shape of a big O. They then twist it into a smaller bunch for easier packaging. Hanks have to be untwisted and rewound into a ball when you want to work with them.

Cone : Huge projects can become infinitely more affordable by using cones. Commercial manufacturers use this format when they want to sell over a pound of yarn at a time, but the price per pound is often much less than if you bought the same quantity as a skein.

Hope this helps!
Sarah Beth
http://www.knittingtips.com