To understand what tapestry yarn can mean, you need to first unravel the meaning of the word tapestry. Tapestry means several things. First, it is the name of a specific weaving style, and weaving tapestry or kilim weaves are often found in contrast to plain weave.
Tapestry weave is weft-faced, with invisible warps, and has features come together for color changes called diagonal, dovetail, interlock, and slit. In this use, tapestry can be applied to European medieval wall tapestries, Navajo blankets, and Middle Eastern rugs, among other fabrics where discontinuous texture is used to form scenes or patterns. There is a particular type of frame called a tapestry frame on which this work is done.
Thus, going through this first use, tapestry thread can be applied to any yarn used on tapestry looms to make tapestries. Traditionally, this has included wool, silk, linen and cotton fibers. Tapestry yarn was purchased specifically depending on whether it is intended to serve as a warp or weft, because different qualities are needed for each.
Recently, tapestry has come to be applied to fabric built on a stand and used for tapestries or upholstery; that is, embroidery and crewel embroidery which usually depicts scenes or images. In these last days of use, tapestry yarn is the name of a specific type of yarn, also called tapestry wool, a 3 or 4 layer wool yarn often chosen by craftsmen for crewel embroidery and embroidery. Yarn Tapestry is sold in skeins of 8.8 or 11 meters (~ 8 or 10 m) and 40, 42.7 or 62 yards (~ 37, 39, or 56 m) skeins, depending on the manufacturer. Yarn Tapestry is available in a wide range of colors.
In addition, tapestry refers to a specific weight of fiber, called the braid tapestry in the following scheme used by Kreinik, a thread manufacturer:
| Very Fine | Well | Tapestry | Middle | Heavy |
| # 4 | # 8 | # 12 | # 16 | # 32 |
Kreinik metallic braid, which is available in a variety of styles, including confetti and glow-in-the-dark, is recommended for use as a tapestry thread. In addition, their tapestry braid is recommended for use in cross stitch, crochet, as a companion yarn in knitting, and for collage and other crafts. Shorter lengths are recommended for making sewing with this type of upholstery yarn to limit the wear and tear on them caused by repeated pulling through the base fabric or canvas.
