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Types of knitting yarn are categorized by their weight, purpose, ply, source fiber(s), texture, color, and pattern. In addition, knitters choose yarn based on the yardage and gauge of the machine.
Fiber
Knitting yarn may be made of natural or synthetic fiber. Animal fiber is a popular source for yarn, and the types used include sheep, alpaca, angora, camel, cashmere. Silk is also popular. Vegetable fibers include cotton, linen, hemp, and ramie. Rayon and acetate are manmade, but use plant fiber.
Knitting yarn is also available in blends with combination of fibers. Metallics – filaments of metal from a variety of sources are often combined with other fibers in novelty yarns. Glitter, metallized polyester are also combined with natural and synthetic fibers to create both color and sparkling effects.
Texture
Knitting yarns have been developed to provide a wide range of textures beyond the ply. Bouclé or loop yarn, chenille, double-knit, slubbed, nubbed, fringe yarn - ribbon yarn, felted ribbon yarn, and ratiné are some of the varied and interesting types that have been developed for creation of textured effects on the knitted fabric
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