5 Common Indicators of Low-Quality Yarn and How to Avoid Them
Choosing the yarn is pivotal as it is a cornerstone of the success of your knitting, crocheting, or textile project. Like high-quality yarn can elevate your creations, low-quality yarn can lead to disappointment, frustration, and a waste of effort. But how can you identify bad yarn? This blog explores the top common indicators of identifying low-grade yarn and valuable tips to avoid them.
List of 5 Signs of Low-Quality Yarn & its Remedies
Let’s discuss the 5 signs of low-grade yarn and understand how effectively these can be avoided:
1. Uneven Thickness and Inconsistent Tension
One of the most noticeable signs of low-quality yarn is the uneven thickness and tension. Yarns having supreme quality will have uniformity, offering a smooth and even textured base for knitting, crocheting, or weaving.
So, if you notice any thinning or inconsistency in some parts of the yarn, it may further result in uneven stitches, making your craft look unpolished and unprofessional.
Causes of Unevenness
Generally, yarn inconsistency is caused by a poor manufacturing process or negligence in the quality checking part. For example, if the yarn is spun too quickly or inconsistently, it leads to irregularities in the thickness of the yarn.
Furthermore, working with yarns having a rough texture and poor quality, makes it difficult to achieve a smooth and effortless look upon knitting or crocheting.
How to Avoid it?
- Do Check the Quality Before Buying
Before making the final purchase, ensure to check the consistency of the yarn by its feel and look. Know that a high-quality yarn will maintain an even thickness throughout the yarn rolls.
- Source from Reputed Yarn Manufacturer
Another way to get the best quality yarn is by choosing from a trusted yarn manufacturer like Sitaram Spinners Pvt. Ltd. who dedicatedly maintain high-quality standards in their products. Their attention to detail and stringent quality control measures help avoid this problem, offering yarns that maintain uniformity for a seamless crafting experience.
2. Excessive Shedding & Pilling
One of the specific ways to indicate low-quality yarn is if it excessively sheds or is prone to pilling. When a yarn sheds its fibers while you work with it or after a few washes, it diminishes the wear and tear of the finished material and also impacts its appearance.
Pilling, on the other hand, occurs when small, fuzzy balls of fiber form on the surface of the fabric, leading to a rough, worn-out look.
Causes of Shedding & Pilling
Shedding and pilling take place when yarns are made with low-quality and poorly processed fibers. This also can occur when short fibers are not removed during spinning into the yarn. Short fibers have the tendency to break loose, leading to shedding or pills.
How to Avoid It?
- Choose Quality Fibers
For your passion project, it is quintessential to invest in yarns that are made with high-quality, long, and smooth fibers like merino wool, cotton, or silk. These fibers are less likely to pill or shed, making your craft one-of-a-kind.
- Test Durability
Before committing to your project, knit or crochet a part of the yarn and wash it to test its durability. If you notice significant shedding or pilling, it is better to skip that yarn and choose high-quality ones.
To avoid all these hassles, brands like Sitaram Spinners Pvt. Ltd. have been offering high-quality yarns for decades. Made from durable and long-lasting fibers, these yarns significantly reduce any chance of shedding or pilling.
3. Fading & Colour Bleeding
If you notice bleeding colours or fading of yarns, it’s a sign of low-quality dyeing. This is because yarns that are of high quality can retain their vibrant colours even after multiple washes. That means, if you find your yarn’s bleeding colours in its first wash, know that it was the result of a poor dyeing process or using low-quality dye.
Causes of Fading or Colour Bleeding
Generally, fading and dyeing occur mostly due to poor dyeing techniques implemented or using low-grade dye. Moreover, during the yarn manufacturing process, inadequate and improper dye-setting and rinsing procedures will cause the dye to come loose when washed.
How to Avoid it?
- Do a Colour Test
Before starting the project, wash a small amount of yarn to see if the colour fades or pills.
- Use Brands that Prioritises Colour Guarantee
By choosing good brands that offer quality and stability of the colour, your artwork maintains its beauty for years to come.
4. Rough Texture
A yarn that feels rough or scratchy is another red flag, impacting the feel and appearance of the finished product. Though a little texture is common to present, yarn that is too rough can create discomfort, especially in items like scarves, shawls, or sweaters, which come into contact with skin.
Cause of Rough Texture
The common cause of rough texture in the yarn is due to the usage of cheap and untreated fibers during its manufacturing process. For example, low-quality wool, or other synthetic fibers have low refineness and feel abrasive on the skin. Moreover, yarns from short or coarse fibers will also have a rough texture.
How to Avoid it?
- Feel the Yarn Before Buying: Always touch the yarn before purchasing. If it feels uncomfortable or too scratchy, it’s not ideal for wearable items.
- Choose Soft, Luxury Fibers: For soft, comfortable yarn, smartly choose high-quality fibers like merino wool, alpaca, or bamboo. These fibers are naturally smooth and pleasant to the touch.
5. Weak or Brittle Fibers
Finally, another significant way to identify low-quality yarn is when the yarn breaks easily or feels brittle when it is stretched. This indicates that the yarn is made up of low-quality and weak fibers due to which it lacks resilience and flexibility.
Causes of Weak or Brittle Fibers
The primary cause of brittle fibers is improper handling during the manufacturing process. This means if the yarn is spun too tightly or the fibers are not adequately prepared before the manufacturing process, it can lose their strength leading to breakage even with little pressure.
How to Avoid it?
- Conduct a Yarn’s Strength Test
Before using the yarn, stretch the yarn gently – if it feels too delicate or fragile to use, it is better to choose a sturdier one.
- Check for Quality Control Parameters
Trusted manufacturers like Sitaram Spinners Pvt. Ltd. have strict quality control procedures in place to ensure the yarns are strong, durable, and flexible. Thus, choosing yarn from trusted brands that emphasise strength and quality guarantees that your final product is not only outstanding but also durable.
Final Takeaways
Low-quality yarn can undermine even the best crafting efforts. Not only can it ruin your hard work, but also makes your craft less enjoyable. Thus, by choosing yarns that are consistent, durable, and carefully curated, you can have an impactful crafting experience.
While one of the top yarn manufacturers like Sitaram Spinners offer top-tier quality yarns that not only meet high standards of quality but also enable your projects to be built to last. So, the next time you’re selecting yarn, remember these common indicators of low quality and avoid them to make your crafting experience truly enjoyable. With the right yarn, you’ll be well on your way to creating beautiful, durable, and comfortable textiles.
In order to request a quote for the top quality yarns, contact us right away!
