The four shapes
| Shape | What it is | Ready to use? |
|---|---|---|
| Skein | Machine-wound, usually a long cylinder; the most common shape in shops | Yes |
| Ball | A round ball, worked from the outside | Yes |
| Hank | A large loop of yarn twisted on itself, common for hand-dyed yarn | No: wind it first |
| Cake | A flat-topped, center-pull shape, often what you get when you wind a hank | Yes |
Yarn also comes on cones, which hold more yarn than a skein or ball.
Counting what to buy
Whatever the shape, the label gives its length and weight. Patterns usually list yarn by length, so compare lengths, not the number of balls. Buy everything from one dye lot.