Reddit reviews The Knitter's Book of Yarn: The Ultimate Guide to Choosing, Using, and Enjoying Yarn

The Knitter's Book of Yarn by Clara Parks is the reference book you're looking for :)

1. Not a chart, but here's a great blog post about choosing and substituting yarn fibers and weights to suit your needs.
   
   
2. The Knitter's Book of Yarn is an amazing resource for exactly this topic -- check your library if you're not ready to shell out $23 for it yet.
   
   
3. Look for yarn suggestions in Ravelry's project pages. First look up the pattern you want to knit, then click on the projects tab to see pictures of what other people have worked up. The yarns they've used for their projects are visible right from that page, as long as they've included that information. Example: Cedar Leaf Shawlette project gallery. By browsing the project page, you can get an idea of what you want your FO to look like -- whether you'd like to use variegated, solid, or tonal yarns (or a combination), what colors you'd like the best, what fibers you think have the best drape for the pattern, all that kind of thing!

You're totally fine using a variety of manufacturers. I would suggest keep the plies and fiber the same though. That will make for a more consistent look across the shawl. Different fibers (or fiber blends) will stretch and drape very differently, which could result in a very wonky shawl when you go to block it.

If you are interested in how fiber and ply affect the final product, I'm totally obsessed with Clara Parkes Knitter's Book of Yarn. It will make you feel totally prepared to choose yarns beyond the pattern recommendation.

Perhaps not specific to your problem, but somewhat related: One of my favorite resource books is the Knitters Book of Yarn by Clara Parkes. If you ever want to learn about the makeup of all fiber types, why some are scratchy or why wool felts, what makes for good durability or why your tightly-spun yarns tend to bias when knitting stockinette, this is for you. It also includes 40 patterns written with certain fibers in mind. It's changed the way I think about choosing yarn for all my knitting projects. I'd highly recommend it!

For starters I'd recommend the Knitter's Book of Yarn and the Knitter's Book of Wool, both by Clara Parkes. Both are incredibly informative and have some great patterns to boot. I consider both of these required reading for anyone even remotely serious about knitting.

If you want to get really serious about wool, the Fleece and Fiber Sourcebook goes into crazy detail about the different breeds of sheep and the wool they produce. This book is extreme though, covers a lot of things that you probably would never encounter at your average LYS. It's more geared towards spinners than knitters.

On mobile.

Book about yarn - if you like diving into knowledge!

The Knitter's Book of Yarn: The Ultimate Guide to Choosing, Using, and Enjoying Yarn https://www.amazon.com/dp/0307352161/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_awd_3.aNwb10BQCV

If you want to know about something google it and the word techknitter. Amazing blog - so much knowledge - hard to navigate.

This is the book: http://www.amazon.com/Knitters-Book-Yarn-Ultimate-Choosing/dp/0307352161/ref=asap_bc?ie=UTF8