Copy the label before discarding it
The Craft Yarn Council identifies brand, fiber, color name/number, dye lot or no-dye-lot wording, length, quantity and gauge information as useful label details. Photograph or retain the label so you can check a transcription later. Give the ball or group of genuinely matching labeled balls a local ID.
Do not store “blue” as the whole identity. Two lines from one manufacturer can share a color description while differing in fiber, size or length. Preserve the exact line and code. Copy the dye-lot string as text, including leading zeros or letters; a spreadsheet may otherwise turn an identifier into a number and remove useful characters. In the import dialog, set color_code and dye_lot_text to Text before completing import. Verify the saved sheet still shows 017 and 0042; opening the CSV with default settings may remove zeros.
Record “no dye lot” only when the label says so. “Label missing” is a different state. If a partially used ball has lost its band, keep its provenance uncertain rather than assigning the lot of the nearest ball. Quantity should state its unit and whether measured or estimated; an estimated partial-ball amount is not a verified project supply.
Worked mismatch: same color, different lot
The following manufacturer, yarn line and identifiers are invented. Robin has two balls assigned to a cardigan and finds a possible replacement. The record prevents the replacement from being silently merged with the original stock.
| Ball ID | Line / color / lot | Project status | What remains to check |
|---|---|---|---|
| Y-01 | Example Knit / Blue 017 / lot 0042 | Cardigan; original labeled stock | Retain original label |
| Y-02 | Example Knit / Blue 017 / lot 0042 | Cardigan; second labeled ball | Check physical yarn and quantity |
| Y-03 | Example Knit / Blue 017 / lot 0047 | Replacement candidate only | Different lot; compare yarn before approval |
| Y-04 | Blue partial ball; label absent | Unassigned unknown stock | No verified line or lot; do not merge |
Robin can see three balls with a similar color name, but only two have the original lot label. The worksheet separates physical stock from the decision to use it. Project assignment is not automatic reservation, and a record of three balls does not prove enough usable yarn remains.
Check the actual yarn and preserve the decision
Lion Brand explains that colors from different lots can appear similar under one light and different under another, and its support page does not promise matching old lots when ordering more. Compare the physical candidate with retained yarn in natural and artificial light where practical. Photos help keep evidence but cannot establish an exact color match across displays.
For a changed brand, line or weight, use the project’s gauge and care requirements and make the appropriate sample before committing. The Craft Yarn Council recommends checking gauge when substituting brands. A matching weight category alone is not a guarantee of the same finished size or appearance.
Write a dated decision: “candidate not used,” “sample still needed,” or “accepted for this project after checking.” Retain the old and new identifiers even after acceptance. If you later notice a visible difference, you can identify which ball entered the work. Avoid rewriting every ball as one lot merely because you decided the difference was acceptable.
Use CraftCue records without inventing matching automation
CraftCue’s current listing includes supply photos, quantities, colors, locations, notes, projects and wishlists. It now also describes local custom fields and categories, on-device label text reading, and optional third-party AI supply/material-list/project drafts after consent. Review draft fields against the label before saving; OCR or AI output is not proof that a dye lot was read correctly.
Premium is listed as unlocking unlimited inventory, projects and wishlist items plus higher Quick Add limits. The inspected source has separate brand, color-code and dye-lot fields. Use fields or clear notes to retain provenance, and check current feature availability in the installed version. The app does not promise that it can certify a color match. This CSV is a standalone comparison sheet, not an app-import contract.
If the method fits your task, explore CraftCue’s listed features on an iPhone. Check current features and plans before downloading.
See CraftCue for iOSDownload the free worksheet
Use the CSV in Numbers, Excel or a spreadsheet editor. Four invented yarn records plus a blank row; the CSV does not enforce spreadsheet cell types. Import color_code and dye_lot_text as Text, then check that 017 and 0042 retain their leading zeros. Quantities do not certify project sufficiency. Replace them with your own observations. The CSV is separate from the app and no email is required.
Questions answered
Is a color code the same as a dye lot?
No. Preserve both separately; the same color code can appear on different lot labels.
What do I enter for a missing ball band?
Mark the source and lot unknown. Do not copy another ball’s lot without evidence.
Can a label photo prove two yarns match?
It helps verify the identifier, but compare physical yarn and relevant project requirements before deciding.
Continue with CraftCue on iOS
Use the App Store listing to check compatibility, privacy information and current plan terms. A free download may offer paid features.
Download CraftCue for iOSSources and product details
- Craft Yarn Council: yarn questions and label informationLabel categories, dye lots and gauge when changing brands; checked October 12, 2026.
- Lion Brand: dye lots and matching requestsManufacturer guidance on batch variation, lighting and inability to guarantee an old lot.
- CraftCue on the App StoreCurrent US App Store product description; checked October 12, 2026.
Editorial method: primary guidance, a current Apple listing, an original worked example and an independent critique. No search ranking, install or outcome result is claimed.