"This funny thing called yarn? Just who can solve its mystery? Why should it make a fool of me?"

Oh, I could go on and on singing Cole Porter's hit song, but you get the picture! You can substitute the word "yarn" for "love" and feel just as confused. Knitting can do that to you; "yarn flew in through my window, I was so happy then".

Been in a yarn shop lately? Leafed through a knitting magazine? Got your heart set on the perfect pattern for you, only just why is it telling me to use a sport-weight yarn and, what is that anyway?

Just like material, cotton, wool, knits, blends, silk, taffeta, linen, yarn comes in a variety of different styles and types. Some yarns are great for certain projects, other yarns will be disastrous. With all of the yarns available today, either in yarn shops or online, it's a good idea to arm yourself with a little knowledge. After all, a little knowledge goes a long way!

The following is a list of the most popular yarns that you will encounter with patterns today. Whenever you choose a knitting project, there will always be a suggested yarn to use. This information will be at the top of the instruction page, under "materials" along with needle size, length or size, gauge, and sometimes a manufacturer's specific yarn brand.

Please keep in mind that yarn doesn't grow on trees looking like that. Yarn comes from fibers; anyone who uses a spinning wheel can tell you all about how yarn is spun from rough fibers. One strand of spun yarn is called a single. When singles are formed together they create a ply or plied yarn. Two-ply yarn is formed of two singles, and so on. Most yarn used for knitting comes in 4-ply.

Just look at the label around any skein or ball of yarn, and you will find the ply number there. When you knit, you use the yarn as is; in other words, you don't separate plied yarn, as you would in needlepoint or crewel work. (In fact, some patterns call for using more than one strand of yarn at a time.)

So without further ado, here is the list:

Worsted weight yarn - this yarn is the most popular you will see! It can be used for just about anything you have in mind. Sweaters, scarves, afghans, shrugs, vests, all do well with worsted weight yarn.

Sport weight yarn or DK (double knitting) - this yarn is a tad bit thinner than worsted weight, but again it is used for many projects; usually you will see the DK abbreviation in British publications. You can knit afghans, baby projects, or a whole host of other items with this very popular yarn.

Sock, Fingering or baby yarn - this sounds just like it is. Very soft, pliable, this is also great for any baby or toddler pattern. Great for delicate items, too.

Cotton yarn (also mercerized) - cotton yarn is easy to knit with. I use it for placemats or other kitchen or bath items; you can knit vests, or a more sturdy outer garment with it. If cotton yarn says "mercerized" this just means it has extra strength & shine.

Fisherman or Aran yarn - this yarn is thicker than worsted weight, and is used in heavier sweaters or even afghans. The word "Aran" is from the Aran Islands, which are just to the west of Galway Bay in Ireland. Aran patterns abound, and they are most beautiful.

Chunky or bulky yarns - these yarns are, you guessed it, chunky and bulky! They are often a challenge to knit with and require strong fingers. They make for wonderful outer garments, such as shrugs, vests, even sweaters, and will keep you warm.

These are just the most popular yarns you will run across in knitting projects. There are many, many more. In fact, many untraditional materials are now being utilized; you can knit with string-like yarn, eyelash yarn, ribbon yarn, as well as delicate, thread-like yarn for more intricate, or openwork patterns.

Yarns can often be combined with each other, for unusual effects; a strong yarn can be paired with something wispy and the results are fantastic! The absolute explosion of yarn texture, color, and variety are unlike anything from the past.

No matter what you're knitting, there is a yarn for you! So, just like ol' Blue Eyes, you can say "you gave me days of sunshine, you gave me nights of cheer, you made my life an enchanted dream".......

And you know what, you will have discovered this thing called yarn!!