Class 23: Yarns & Threads
Class 23 is one of the smallest classes: yarns and threads for textile use, and nothing else. That covers knitting yarn, wool yarn, sewing thread, embroidery thread and spun cotton, silk and wool. It’s the 44th most used of the 45, with 1,198 UK registrations between September 2021 and September 2026, which is about 95% fewer registrations than the average class. The short heading hides a real trap: most yarn and craft brands sell plenty of things that aren’t yarn.
What class 23 covers
This is the official Nice heading, in full:
Yarns and threads for textile use.
Class 23 is one stage in the life of a fibre. Raw wool, cotton and other fibres, before they are spun, are class 22. Once spun into yarn or thread they are class 23. Woven or knitted into cloth they become class 24, and made into a garment they become class 25. The words “for textile use” matter too: thread made for surgery, fishing or dental care sits in other classes.
When you definitely need class 23
- You spin, dye or sell yarn for knitting or crochet
- You make or sell sewing thread or embroidery thread
- You sell spun wool, cotton, silk or linen thread
- You make elastic thread or technical threads, such as fibreglass thread for textile use
When you might need class 23 without realising
Because the class is so narrow, the surprises tend to run the other way. Here is who needs it without thinking of themselves as a yarn business.
- Independent dyers and small wool farms. A farm that sells its own wool as yarn needs class 23 for it, where wool yarn is on 186 registrations. If it also sells raw fleece, that part is class 22.
- Embroidery and cross stitch brands. Embroidery thread is class 23, on 174 registrations, and so is thread of metal for embroidery, on 126.
- Craft and hobby retailers. A shop selling its own label of knitting yarn, on 217 registrations, needs class 23 for it, even if most of its range is needles, patterns and kits in other classes.
Not sure whether your product is class 23 or class 26? The free class tools below show you where businesses like yours actually file, or you can give us a call.
What businesses actually claim in class 23
These are the terms that turn up most often in recent UK class 23 registrations:
| Term | Marks using it | Share of class 23 | How common |
|---|---|---|---|
| yarn | 337 | 28.1% | Most use this |
| woollen thread and yarn | 333 | 27.8% | Most use this |
| cotton thread and yarn | 294 | 24.5% | Most use this |
| embroidery thread and yarn | 277 | 23.1% | Most use this |
| cotton thread | 272 | 22.7% | Most use this |
| sewing thread and yarn | 261 | 21.8% | Most use this |
| darning thread and yarn | 234 | 19.5% | Most use this |
| knitting yarn | 217 | 18.1% | Most use this |
| rayon thread and yarn | 213 | 17.8% | Most use this |
| cotton yarn | 209 | 17.4% | Most use this |
Plain yarn leads the class, on 337 registrations, closely followed by woollen thread and yarn on 333 and cotton thread and yarn on 294. Embroidery, sewing and darning thread fill out the top of the table.
Many of these terms come from the same filings, because class 23 specifications tend to list every fibre. That is a sensible approach: naming wool, cotton, silk and synthetic yarns costs nothing extra within the class and makes clear where your brand trades.
What class 23 does not cover
Knitting needles, crochet hooks, buttons and ribbons are class 26. The tools and trimmings of knitting and sewing sit with haberdashery. Knitting needles appear on 302 class 26 registrations, crochet hooks on 305 and buttons on 1,094. Knitting kits are class 26 too, on 130.
Knitting and sewing patterns are class 16. Printed patterns are treated as paper goods. Sewing machines and knitting machines are class 7, with sewing machines on 409 class 7 registrations.
Raw fibre is class 22, fabric is class 24 and knitwear is class 25. Raw or treated wool is class 22, where textile fibres appears on 322 registrations. Fabric and felt are class 24, with fabrics on 1,224. Finished knitwear is class 25, on 3,588.
Thread that isn’t for textiles goes elsewhere. Surgical thread is class 10. Fishing lines are class 28. Dental floss is class 21. Wooden reels for yarn are class 20.
Where these terms actually live
| Term | Belongs to | Marks using it |
|---|---|---|
| sewing machines | Class 7 | 409 |
| textile fibres | Class 22 | 322 |
| fabrics | Class 24 | 1,224 |
| knitwear | Class 25 | 3,588 |
| buttons | Class 26 | 1,094 |
| elastic ribbons | Class 26 | 436 |
| crochet hooks | Class 26 | 305 |
| knitting needles | Class 26 | 302 |
| knitting kits | Class 26 | 130 |
Each of these is a separate registration. A mark in class 23 does not cover any of them.
The mistake I see most often
The mistake is filing only class 23 for a yarn or craft brand. The yarn is the heart of the business, so it feels like the only class that matters. In practice it’s often a small part of what the brand sells.
Take a knitting brand that sells hand-dyed yarn, its own needles, knitting kits, printed patterns and a few finished jumpers. The yarn is class 23. The needles and kits are class 26. The patterns are class 16. The jumpers are class 25. File only class 23 and most of the range isn’t covered, including the kits and needles.
The practical fix is to list every product and check each one. A UK application can’t have classes added later, so it’s worth getting the list right at the start.
Is class 23 the right class for you?
If you make or sell yarn, knitting wool, sewing thread, embroidery thread or spun fibre for textile use under your own brand, class 23 is very likely yours. If you also sell needles, hooks, kits, patterns, raw fleece, fabric or finished knitwear, look at classes 26, 16, 22, 24 and 25 as well.
Our free class tools build a specification from wording already accepted on real UK filings, so you can see what businesses like yours claim before you commit.
Common questions about class 23
Are knitting kits class 23 because they contain yarn?
No. Knitting kits and sewing kits are listed in class 26, with haberdashery. If you also sell the yarn on its own, that is class 23, where hand knitting yarns appear on 201 registrations.
Is raw wool class 23?
No. Raw or treated wool, before spinning, is class 22 with other raw fibres. Once spun, it becomes class 23, where spun wool is on 183 registrations.
Which class covers embroidery?
It depends on the product. Embroidery thread is class 23, including metal thread for embroidery. Crochet hooks for embroidery and embroidered patches are class 26. Canvas for embroidery is class 24, and embroidery patterns are class 16.
Is elastic thread class 23 or class 26?
Elastic thread and elastic yarn for textile use are class 23, with elastic thread on 198 registrations. Elastic ribbons are class 26, with haberdashery, on 436 registrations there.
About these figures. Last researched 23 September 2026, from UK trademarks registered between September 2021 and September 2026 whose entry in this class is still active. That is current drafting practice rather than the historical register. Terms shown are those most frequently used in that period.
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