What is yarn weight
Wondering what size of yarn is right for you? Don't worry, we've got the answer. After reading this blog post and understanding how yarn weight works it will be much easier to know which ones are best suited when making your next project!
We've made a chart that shows you the yarn weights and their corresponding numbers.
There are different types of yarn, and they are classified by their weight and thickness. The thinnest yarn is called super fine, and the thickest is called jumbo. The different weights are usually labeled with names and standard numbers. When you combine different types of yarn with different needle sizes, it will impact the finished item's appearance as well as the number of stitches needed to knit a 10cm tension square. So here is a list of all the yarn sizes available.
Yarn Weight Chart
Project
Yarn Weight
Yarn Symbol
Needle Size
Lace
Lace, 2-ply, fingering
2mm
2.25mm
Fine-Knit Socks, Shawls, Babywear
Superfine, 3-ply, fingering, baby
2.25mm
2.75mm
3mm
3.25mm
Light Sweaters, Baby-wear, Socks, Accessories
Superfine, 3-ply, fingering, baby
3.25mm
3.5mm
3.75mm
4mm
Sweaters, Light-weight scarves, blankets, toys
Double-knit (DK), light worsted,
5-6-ply
3.75mm
4mm
4.5mm
Sweaters, Cabled menswear, blankets, hats, scarves, mittens
Aran, medium, worsted, afghan,
12-ply
4.5mm
5mm
5.5mm
Rugs, jackets, blankets, hats, legwarmers, winter accessories
Bulky, chunky, craft, rug,
14 ply
5.5mm
6mm
6.5mm
7mm
8mm
Heavy blankets, rugs, thick scarves
super bulky, super chunky, bulky, roving, 16-ply and upwards
8mm
9mm
10mm
12.75mm
Accessories, blankets, throws, rugs
Roving, jumbo, giant
12.75-25mm and larger
0. lace/ 2-ply
- Fingering
Lace yarns are very thin, because this yarn is so light, 50g will yield a lot of meterage (yardage) and go a long way. The yarn creates a very fine-knit, delicate finish when worked on needles of the specified size. Some famous examples of lace work includes: Orenburg shawl and the wedding ring shawl of Shetland knitting, a shawl so fine that it could be drawn through a wedding ring.
1. superfine/3-ply
- Fingering, Baby
Super fine yarn is a little bit heavier than lace weight yarn. It goes a long way per ball and requires small needles, making it an excellent choice for lightweight lacework. A mohair mix yarn can be worked on slightly larger needle and will produce a pretty gossamer-light, open fabric. In this yarn, intricate lacework looks lovely.
2. fine/4-ply
- sport, baby
Many knitters and crocheters prefer fine to superfine because it employs more comfortable needles and hooks while still producing a fine knit. This yarn works well for socks and baby clothing, and the little stitches and tidy appearance complement both stitch textures and colour work. A basic four-ply yarn is made up of four independent plies that have been twisted together. Traditionally, ply was used to describe the thickness of yarn, and it corresponded to the size of knitting needles in some cases. The term “4 ply yarn” refers to yarn that has four plies twisted together.
3. Double Knit/5-6 ply
- DK, Light Worsted
Blankets, toys, sweaters and cardigans are all made with double-knit yarn. Natural yarn Dk is different from Acrylic yarn Dk in that the acrylic dk is a little thicker and the natural a little thinner. Double knit is mostly associated with 3.5-4mm (UK8/US6) needles.
4. Worsted/Aran 12-ply
- Medium Worsted, Afghan
Worsted yarn is a medium yarn weight that falls somewhere in the middle of the yarn weight spectrum. 5mm (UK6/US8) needles are usually used to knit this thick, snuggly yarn. Because of its medium thickness, it's ideal for sweaters, caps, scarves, mittens, blankets, and more! Many yarns in this thickness use a wide mix of fibers to make them machine-washable so consider worsted yarn to be an all-purpose yarn because it is so "knittable." When in doubt, pick worsted weight yarn.
5. Bulky/chunky
/14-ply
- Craft, Rug
Despite its heft, the yarn is mostly made up of lightweight fibers to keep clothing from drooping out of shape over time. Commonly worked on 7mm (UK2) needles to crochet/knitting a chunky fabric for outerwear, hats, and leg warmers. quick to knit; perfect for gifts
6. Super Bulky/Super Chunky/16-ply
- Roving, 16 ply and upwards
The yarn thickness varies, but it's usually used with needles that are 10mm (UK000/US15) or larger. Because the stitches are so huge, faults are immediately visible. This is a great choice for beginners. Knits up swiftly and is ideal for tough scarves.
7. Jumbo
- Roving, Jumbo, Giant
These very thick, soft yarns are ideal for arm knitting. Although larger needles can be used to knit smaller items like snoods, they are usually not long enough for knitting comforters and throws. Even if you were able to find long needles, they would be extremely unwieldy to use.
Conclusion
So what does this mean for you? If you’re looking to knit a project, it’s important to know which yarn weight will give you the look and feel that you want. And don’t forget – even within the same weight classification, there can be variations in thickness and softness, so it’s always best to read the ball band carefully before choosing your yarn. With all of this information at your fingertips, we hope you have everything you need to start your next knitting project!
