What is Difference Between Yarn Vs Thread

You might become confused between yarn and thread because they sound like a similar meaning. But there are distinct features between yarn vs thread based on the materials, manufacturing process, and application.

All yarn is not considered a thread, but a thread is a subdivision of yarn. If we had to mention only one difference that matters to sewing garment products, we would use thread. On the other hand, to knit and weave textile-based fabric, we use yarn.

What is Yarn?

Yarn is a well-known material for being a continuous length of staple fiber or filaments used to make fabric. It has wide usage in the sector of weaving, knitting, and ropemaking. To make fabric or textile products, we use yarn. For yarn, the common materials are cotton and polyester. There are different classifications of yarns.

Mainly, yarns have two classifications:

1. Staple Yarn (Spun yarn is of twisted staple fibers in an S or Z twist shaped)
2. Continuous filament (Twisted fiber group together)

Besides, yarns also have two classifications based on different materials. They are:

1. Monotonous Fiber Yarn (yarn that contains only one filament)
2. Blended Yarn or Multifilament (yarn that contains two or more filaments)

Yarns tend to be heavier and weak in strength. Although they are heavy, they are thinner. We can find the yarns in comparatively large packages.

Materials Used for Yarn: 

There are natural and artificial types of material in weaving. Natural here means wool and artificial is nylon type. Both types of material contribute to weaving and knitting.

Manufacturing Process:

Spinning: A method where there is a drawing-out phase of fibers. After that, they go through a twisting process. Filament-type yarns do not require much twist compared to staple yarns. Twisting helps to make the yarn stronger. To make ply yarn, we require more than 2 twisted strands. Weaving yarns require more twists than knitting yarns.

What is Thread?

A thin long-stranded fiber used for sewing is well-known to consider itself as thread. Depending on the typologies of threads, threads have various applications. There are threads especially for sewing, repairing, creating a distinctive pattern, and whatnot. You may have heard of embroidery threads. We use this thread in embroidery design including diversified sewing models. Such as cross-stitching, and shadow work.

Materials used for the thread are cotton, rayon, polyester, wool, and silk. They come in many colors as possible. The most interesting fact is that thread is a type of yarn. This is a twisted long strand of 2 or more yarns. Sewing is applicable for commercial and industrial use. Besides, there are hand sewing and sewing machines as well. In a thread, the twist (per inch) tends to be higher. Ply is a type of thread where there are threads twisted for only 1 strand.

Application: Only for sewing or hand stitching. 

Thread applies to making leather goods and seats for automobiles. The polyester materialled thread has vast applications in clothing-like industries. Thread is like stitching clothes along with the additional merchandise.

Difference Between Yarn Vs Thread

Yarns and threads differ from each other based on different aspects like strength, thickness, softness, weight, selling type, and finally usage. That is why we have figured out the differences between yarn vs thread below:

Final Words

The applications of thread are less limited than yarn if we see the difference chart. Being part of the yarn, threads differ in many topics. The fabric making, the manufacturing, and the materials all contribute to making each of the yarn and thread distinct from each other. Thus, yarn and sewing have separate usages in the field of sewing, knitting, and weaving.