Yarns are made up of a number of plies, each ply being a singlespun yarn. These single plies of yarn are twisted in the opposite direction(plied) together to make a thicker yarn. The thread will also actuallydistinguish what should be the hook to use so you can generate the beststitches. If the yarn is thick, the hook you choose should also be large.

One well known manufacturer of yarns is Lion Brand Yarn. Throughout its history, Lion Brand Yarn has been at the forefront of yarntrends while consistently providing its customers with the highest qualityproduct, service and inspiration. Founded in 1878, this company began operationin New York and has been a leading supplier of quality hand knitting andcrochet yarns ever since.

There are many types of yarn available today.  They each havea different characteristic that makes them suitable or unsuitable, as the casemay be, for the particular project you are contemplating.

Cotton yarn, for instance, has minimal elasticity unless blendedwith other fibers. Pure cotton is useful for projects that require structuresuch as purses and tote bags, placemats, and other utilitarian items.

One unusual product that is used to make rope but can also be madeinto yarn is hemp.  Like rope, hemp yarn is very strong but softens withevery wash. 

One very popular type of yarn is made from animal fur,specifically the alpaca.  Alpaca yarn is the most commonly availableanimal fiber yarn and probably the most popular type, and it comes in everyyarn weight from very fine fingering or lace weight to bulky.  But animalfiber yarns can also be itchy and allergenic, making them unusable for itemsworn directly on the skin and for people with allergies or sensitive skin, suchas newborn babies. Unless specially treated, animal fiber yarns must be washedwith great care or dry cleaned.

Yarns come in a multitude of sizes and types.  Some of thenames for the various weights of yarn from finest to thickest are called lace,fingering, sock, sport, double-knit (or DK), worsted,  bulky, andsuper-bulky. This naming convention is more descriptive than precise; fiberartists disagree about where on the continuum each lies, and the preciserelationships between the sizes.

One very good and inexpensive way to keep skeins and balls fromgetting tangled, is to keep you yarn in an empty plastic coffee container thatyou easily prepare by cutting a hole in the top and then melting the edges ofthe hole with a lighter or match to keep the wool from snagging.  This isespecially helpful if you have several projects going at the same time. Be sureto use labels or tape on the tops or sides of each container to write theproject name and other important information.

Often times, crotchetier feel unappreciated by yarn stores thatseem to only cater to people who knit. These yarn stores don't typically carrycrochet supplies including crochet needles or have staff that are familiar withthe craft (and art) of crochet.

Source: www.articlesbase.com