Which meaning is on the label?
| Label | Meaning | Useful term |
|---|---|---|
| Yarn category, such as 3 Light | A range of yarn thicknesses | Yarn weight |
| Yarn ball, such as 100 g | Mass of the packaged yarn | Skein, hank, ball and cake |
| Sewing thread, such as 50 wt | A thread size convention; brands can differ | Thread weight |
| Paper, such as 80 lb cover | Mass of 500 sheets at that grade’s basic size | Basis weight |
| Paper or fabric, such as 100 gsm | Mass per square meter | GSM |
Keep units and context
A heavier yarn ball is not necessarily thicker yarn, and equal pound labels on different paper grades do not promise equal GSM. For yarn substitutions, compare length requirements and then check the fabric with a swatch.