Yarn Direction

Yarns with a nap
by Jackie E-S

Pay attention to your yarn's direction. Most yarns have a "direction" – i.e. the nap or lay of the fibers relative to the yarn's surface. Some yarns have so much nap – e.g. chenille – that if you do not knit them in a consistent direction, you will likely get disappointing results from areas that look like they are from totally different dye lots even though they came from one.

If you have skeins to be balled, first determine the direction by rubbing your fingers lightly along the yarn. One way will feel smoother – the other gives a little more drag.

Tip: If having difficulty sensing the direction, do this test with your eyes closed. This tends to enhance the sense of feel.

Ball your yarn from the skeins in a consistent direction, then consistently use either from the ball's center or outside for a single project.

If you buy commercial yarns already balled, start all balls either from the center or outside on a single project. Of course, this assumes that the manufacturer who wound the yarn, did so in a consistent direction (if in doubt or just to double-check, perform your own test as in the above paragraph).

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