Difference Between Yarn and Wool

Yarn vs Wool
 

Man has been using natural or synthetic fibers to make yarn since ages. This yarn is used for different purposes such as knitting, weaving, crocheting, and embroidering, and so on. Yarns can even be used to make ropes and nets. People get confused between yarn and wool and feel they are different things. Wool is universally known as a natural fiber obtained from the hair of sheep or goat and is known for its warmth. This article hopes to clarify some doubts surrounding yarn and wool.

Yarn

Yarn is a generic term that is used for chords or filaments of fibers that are twisted together for strength and durability. Yarn can be spun, twisted, or filament fibers. In any case, yarn is a continuous strand of fibers linked together to use for weaving new fabrics, knitting sweaters or cardigans, or embroidering or crocheting. A yarn always has twists when staple fibers are used. But when yarn is made from filament fibers, there may or may not be twists. Whether you use yarn for weaving or knitting, a new fabric is produced. The twist of a yarn is expressed in turns per cm or turns /meter, and they are indicative of the strength or durability of the yarn. Twists also affect the appearance of the yarn.

Wool

Wool is a natural fiber obtained from the hair of sheep or goat and is known for its amazing warmth. This is why fibers are interlinked in a pattern to make wool that is used to knit sweaters and other woolen garments. We have different types of wool named on the basis of animal that is used to obtain it. So we have angora, mohair, cashmere and several other types of wool used to make woolen apparels. Shearing of hair from animals is the process that wool is obtained but is further categorized on the basis of whether it is in the shape of bellies, pieces, locks, or fleece. This is primarily done to ensure uniformity and grading. Washing and processing to make the fiber fit for knitting is done before being finally used.