Share 'Deciphering Mystery Yarns'

I am a 'relearning to knit' knitter after many years away. One thing I never learned was how to identify yarn, other than reading labels. My mother-in-law recently passed away at a great old age after a lifetime of knitting for family, friends and charities. Nobody else in the family knits; and none of us were ever given any care instructions for any of the mittens, scarves and hats we've receive…