Many people think that yarns and threads are the same thing; however, this is not the case. Though both are made from fibres (natural or synthetic), the similarities basically end there. Not only is the structure different, but the purposes of these items are different as well. Here is a look at both of these materials, how they are made, at what they are for.

Yarns differ from threads in many ways; one of these ways is purpose. Yarn is most commonly used independently of other fabrics; the fibres themselves are used to create the product, either by knitting or crocheting. Probably the most recognisable yarn product is the sweater, but other products are popular as well, such as blankets, scarves and sometimes handbags, to name just a few. Yarn can be made from many different types of fibres; wool and cotton are the most widely used natural fibres, while acrylic is the synthetic fibre of choice.

Both yarns and threads consist of twisted fibres; thread is made by twisting many fine strands of fibres together while yarn is a continuous fibre that is stretched and twisted. The most commonly used fibre for thread is cotton, though silk, polyester and acrylic can be used as well; some brands use a mixture of two or three types of fibres. The main purpose of thread is to join materials together, though decorative use is also common (i.e. embroidery). When determining which product you need, remember that all thread can be made from yarn, but yarn cannot be made from thread.