When following foreign knitting or crochet patterns, you’ll often see terms like ball, cake, skein…
They all refer to yarn packaging, but each type differs in how the yarn is wound and how the strand is pulled, which can directly affect your crafting experience.
In the images below, I’ve listed each type in detail.
If we group them by shared characteristics, they can be simplified into the following main categories 👇
🔹 BALL
👉 Yarn wound into a round shape, ready to use
Includes:
• Regular ball
• Donut ball
• Center-pull ball
• Cake
✔️ Pros: easy to use, less tangling (especially center-pull types)
🔹 SKEIN
👉 Yarn packaged for sale, can be pulled from the outside or the center
Includes:
• Skein
• Pull skein (center-pull skein)
✔️ Pros: neat, tidy, and the most common form in yarn shops
🔹 HANK
👉 Yarn in a large loop, not wound
Includes:
• Hank
• Twisted hank
• Folded hank
⚠️ Note: Always wind into a ball or cake before using to avoid tangling
🔹 CONE
👉 Yarn wound on a cone-shaped core
• Commonly used for machine knitting or large projects
DETAILED INFORMATION
1️⃣ Ball
Yarn wound into a traditional round shape
Can be pulled from the outside
May roll around if not kept in a basket or container
2️⃣ Donut Ball
A ball of yarn with a hole in the center, shaped like a donut
Usually allows center-pull
Less likely to tangle than a regular ball
3️⃣ Cake
Yarn wound by a machine into a flat, cake-like shape
Typically center-pull
Very popular because it’s neat and less prone to tangling
4️⃣ Center-pull Ball
Tightly wound ball with a strand that pulls from the center
Convenient to use and doesn’t roll around while working
Commonly seen in yarn wound from a hank
5️⃣ Hank
Yarn arranged in a large loop, not wound into a ball
Not ready to use; must be wound before knitting or crocheting
Commonly found in hand-dyed yarn
6️⃣ Twisted Hank
A hank twisted into a compact form for selling
Still a hank at its core → needs to be wound before use
7️⃣ Folded Hank
A hank folded and secured with a label
Often seen in industrial or commercial yarn brands
Also needs to be wound before use
8️⃣ Cone
Yarn wound onto a cone-shaped core
Ideal for machine knitting or large projects
Very smooth yarn flow with minimal tangling
9️⃣ Skein
A common yarn packaging form in yarn shops
Usually pulled from the outside
The term “skein” is sometimes used as a general term for different yarn forms
🔟 Pull Skein
A skein with a center-pull strand
Convenient and tidy to work with
Pulling the wrong end may cause tangling
1️⃣1️⃣ Tangled Yarn
Yarn that has become tangled or knotted
Often caused by pulling the wrong strand or using an unwound hank
A “sworn enemy” of knitters and crocheters 😆
Hope this post helps you better recognize different yarn types and choose the right one for your projects 🧵
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