Thread vs. Yarn: Know the Difference
By Shumaila Saeed || Updated on December 27, 2023
Thread is a thin strand of fiber used for sewing or weaving, while yarn is a thicker, twisted bundle of fibers used for knitting, crocheting, or weaving.
Key Differences
Thread is a fine, slender type of yarn, typically used in sewing to join pieces of fabric. Yarn, on the other hand, is a long continuous length of interlocked fibers, thicker than thread, used in knitting, weaving, and crocheting.
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Dec 27, 2023
In textile production, thread is often used for intricate detail work or constructing fabric through sewing. Yarn is more commonly used for creating fabric through knitting or weaving, providing bulk and texture.
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Dec 27, 2023
Thread is finer, offering delicacy and precision in tasks like embroidery. Yarn is thicker, allowing for the creation of warmer, bulkier textile products like sweaters and scarves.
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Dec 27, 2023
There is a wide variety of threads, including cotton, polyester, and silk, each suited for different sewing needs. Yarn comes in a range of materials like wool, cotton, and synthetic blends, chosen based on the desired texture and durability of the final product.
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Dec 27, 2023
Thread has a long history in sewing and garment making, integral to various cultural textile traditions. Yarn has been central to knitting and weaving practices, playing a significant role in homemade and artisanal textile creations.
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Dec 27, 2023
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Comparison Chart
Cultural Significance
Sewing and garment making
Knitting and weaving traditions
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Thread and Yarn Definitions
Thread
A fine, thin strand of cotton, nylon, or other fibers used in sewing.
She used a strong thread to sew the button on her coat.
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Yarn
The act of telling a story, often an exaggerated or fanciful one.
Around the campfire, they took turns spinning yarns.
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Thread
A theme or characteristic running throughout a situation or piece of writing.
A thread of mystery runs through the novel.
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Yarn
A long or rambling story, especially one that is implausible.
He told us an entertaining yarn about his adventures abroad.
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Thread
A group of linked messages on a message board or online forum.
He started a thread on the forum about renewable energy.
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Yarn
A strand of twisted fibers of wool, cotton, or synthetic material.
The sweater was made of soft, woolen yarn.
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Thread
A helical structure on a screw.
The thread on the bolt was worn, making it difficult to screw in.
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Yarn
Material produced by spinning fibers together.
The yarn used in the fabric was exceptionally smooth.
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Dec 27, 2023
Thread
Fine cord of a fibrous material, such as cotton or flax, made of two or more filaments twisted together and used in needlework and the weaving of cloth.
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Oct 19, 2023
Yarn
A continuous length of twisted fibers, used in knitting, weaving, or crocheting.
She bought colorful yarn for her new knitting project.
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Dec 27, 2023
Yarn
A continuous strand of twisted threads of natural or synthetic fibers, such as wool or nylon, used in weaving or knitting.
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Oct 19, 2023
Thread
A thin strand, cord, or filament of natural or manufactured material.
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Thread
Something that suggests the fineness or thinness of such a strand, cord, or filament
A thread of smoke.
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Yarn
(Informal) A long, often elaborate narrative of real or fictitious adventures; an entertaining tale.
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Thread
Something that suggests the continuousness of such a strand, cord, or filament
Lost the thread of his argument.
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Thread
A portion of a program that can run independently of and concurrently with other portions of the program.
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Yarn
(nautical) Bundles of fibers twisted together, and which in turn are twisted in bundles to form strands, which in their turn are twisted or plaited to form rope.
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Thread
A set of posts on a newsgroup, composed of an initial post about a topic and all responses to it.
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Yarn
To tell a story or stories, especially one that is lengthy or unlikely to be true.
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Thread
To pass one end of a thread through the eye of (a needle, for example).
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Oct 19, 2023
Yarn
Spun wool; woolen thread; also, thread of other material, as of cotton, flax, hemp, or silk; material spun and prepared for use in weaving, knitting, manufacturing sewing thread, or the like.
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Thread
To pass (something) through in the manner of a thread
Thread the wire through the opening.
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Thread
To pass a tape or film into or through (a device)
Thread a film projector.
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Yarn
A story told by a sailor for the amusement of his companions; a story or tale; as, to spin a yarn.
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Yarn
The act of giving an account describing incidents or a course of events;
His narration was hesitant
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Yarn
A fine cord of twisted fibers (of cotton or silk or wool or nylon etc.) used in sewing and weaving
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Thread
(Sports) To throw or send (a pass) through a heavily defended area to a teammate.
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Thread
To occur here and there throughout; pervade
“More than 90 geologic faults thread the Los Angeles area” (Science News).
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Thread
To remove (body hair) by using a looped thread that has been wound tightly in the middle.
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Thread
To make one's way cautiously
Threaded through the shoals and sandbars.
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Thread
A long, thin and flexible form of material, generally with a round cross-section, used in sewing, weaving or in the construction of string.
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Oct 19, 2023
Thread
A continued theme or idea.
All of these essays have a common thread.
I’ve lost the thread of what you’re saying.
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Thread
(computing) A unit of execution, lighter in weight than a process, usually sharing memory and other resources with other threads executing concurrently.
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Thread
(Internet) A series of messages, generally grouped by subject, in which all messages except the first are replies to previous messages in the thread.
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Oct 19, 2023
Thread
A filament, as of a flower, or of any fibrous substance, as of bark.
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Thread
(transitive) To pass (through a narrow constriction or around a series of obstacles).
I think I can thread my way through here, but it’s going to be tight.
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Thread
(transitive) To remove the hair using a thread.
How to thread your eyebrows and trim them
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Thread
A very small twist of flax, wool, cotton, silk, or other fibrous substance, drawn out to considerable length; a compound cord consisting of two or more single yarns doubled, or joined together, and twisted; also, one fiber of a cord composed of multiple fibers.
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Oct 19, 2023
Thread
A filament of any substance, as of glass, gold or silver; a filamentous part of an object, such as a flower; a component fiber of any or of any fibrous substance, as of bark.
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Thread
Something continued in a long course or tenor; a recurrent theme or related sequence of events in a larger story; as the thread of a story, or of life, or of a discourse.
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Thread
Fig.: Composition; quality; fineness.
A neat courtier,Of a most elegant thread.
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Thread
A related sequence of instructions or actions within a program that runs at least in part independent of other actions within the program; - such threads are capable of being executed only in oprating systems permittnig multitasking.
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Thread
A sequence of messages posted to an on-line newsgroup or discussion group, dealing with the same topic; - messages in such a thread typically refer to a previous posting, thus allowing their identification as part of the thread. Some news-reading programs allow a user to follow a single such thread independent of the other postings to that newsgroup.
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Thread
To pass or pierce through as a narrow way; also, to effect or make, as one's way, through or between obstacles; to thrid.
Heavy trading ships . . . threading the Bosphorus.
They would not thread the gates.
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Thread
To form a thread, or spiral rib, on or in; as, to thread a screw or nut.
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Thread
A fine cord of twisted fibers (of cotton or silk or wool or nylon etc.) used in sewing and weaving
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Thread
Any long object resembling a thin line;
A mere ribbon of land
The lighted ribbon of traffic
From the air the road was a gray thread
A thread of smoke climbed upward
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Oct 19, 2023
Thread
The connections that link the various parts of an event or argument together;
I couldn't follow his train of thought
He lost the thread of his argument
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Thread
To move or cause to move in a sinuous, spiral, or circular course;
The river winds through the hills
The path meanders through the vineyards
Sometimes, the gout wanders through the entire body
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Thread
Remove facial hair by tying a fine string around it and pulling at the string;
She had her eyebrows threaded
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Thread
Thread on or as if on a string;
String pearls on a string
The child drew glass beads on a string
Thread dried cranberries
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Thread
To pass a thread through the eye of a needle.
She threaded the needle expertly before beginning to sew.
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Dec 27, 2023
Repeatedly Asked Queries
What is the primary use of thread?
Thread is primarily used for sewing and embroidery.
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Dec 27, 2023
Is yarn used in industrial weaving?
Yes, yarn is extensively used in industrial weaving to create fabrics.
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Dec 27, 2023
What types of thread are used in sewing machines?
Cotton, polyester, and nylon threads are commonly used in sewing machines.
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Can yarn be used for sewing?
Yarn is typically too thick for most sewing, it's more suited for knitting and crocheting.
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Dec 27, 2023
Is thread used in knitting?
Thread is generally too thin for knitting; yarn is the preferred material.
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Dec 27, 2023
What is the difference in texture between thread and yarn?
Thread is typically smoother and finer, while yarn is bulkier and can have varied textures.
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Dec 27, 2023
Can thread be made from synthetic materials?
Yes, thread can be made from various synthetic materials like polyester.
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Dec 27, 2023
Is silk thread used in sewing?
Yes, silk thread is used for its strength and sheen, particularly in fine garment sewing.
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Dec 27, 2023
What is a yarn dye?
Yarn dye refers to dyeing the yarn before it is woven into fabric, resulting in colorfast and vibrant textiles.
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Are there different thicknesses of yarn?
Yes, yarn comes in a range of thicknesses from thin to very bulky.
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Dec 27, 2023
Can yarn consist of blended fibers?
Yes, yarn can be a blend of different fibers, like wool-synthetic or cotton-silk blends.
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Dec 27, 2023
Is cotton thread suitable for all fabrics?
While versatile, cotton thread is best for natural fibers; synthetic fabrics may require polyester thread.
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Dec 27, 2023
Can yarn be used for embroidery?
Yarn is generally too thick for traditional embroidery, which typically uses finer threads.
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Dec 27, 2023
Is thread used in crochet?
Crochet typically uses yarn, but fine thread can be used for delicate crochet work.
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Dec 27, 2023
Can yarn be used for making rugs?
Yes, yarn is often used in rug making for its durability and texture.
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Dec 27, 2023
What is the significance of thread in cultural traditions?
Thread plays a key role in various cultural textile traditions, often associated with intricate sewing techniques.
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Dec 27, 2023
Can yarn be handmade?
Yes, yarn can be hand-spun from various fibers for a unique texture and quality.
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Dec 27, 2023
What is embroidery thread?
Embroidery thread is a special type of thread designed for hand or machine embroidery, often more glossy and colorful.
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Dec 27, 2023
Is thread recyclable?
This depends on the material; synthetic threads may not be recyclable, unlike natural fiber threads.
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Dec 27, 2023
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About Author
Written by
Shumaila SaeedShumaila Saeed, an expert content creator with 6 years of experience, specializes in distilling complex topics into easily digestible comparisons, shining a light on the nuances that both inform and educate readers with clarity and accuracy.
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