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Learn
Yarn weight guide
What all those words on yarn labels mean, and which needles and hooks go with each weight. Based on the Craft Yarn Council standard.
| # | Weight | Also called | Knitting needles | Crochet hook | Stitches per 4 in | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | Lace | Lace, Light Fingering, 10-count thread | US 000–1 (1.5–2.25 mm) | Steel 6–8, B-1 (1.4–2.25 mm) | 33–40 sts | Shop |
| 1 | Fingering | Super Fine, Sock, Baby | US 1–3 (2.25–3.25 mm) | B-1 to E-4 (2.25–3.5 mm) | 27–32 sts | Shop |
| 2 | Sport | Fine, Baby | US 3–5 (3.25–3.75 mm) | E-4 to 7 (3.5–4.5 mm) | 23–26 sts | Shop |
| 3 | DK | Light, Light Worsted | US 5–7 (3.75–4.5 mm) | 7 to I-9 (4.5–5.5 mm) | 21–24 sts | Shop |
| 4 | Worsted | Medium, Aran, Afghan | US 7–9 (4.5–5.5 mm) | I-9 to K-10½ (5.5–6.5 mm) | 16–20 sts | Shop |
| 5 | Bulky | Chunky, Craft, Rug | US 9–11 (5.5–8 mm) | K-10½ to M-13 (6.5–9 mm) | 12–15 sts | Shop |
| 6 | Super Bulky | Super Chunky, Roving | US 11–17 (8–12.75 mm) | M-13 to Q (9–15 mm) | 7–11 sts | Shop |
| 7 | Jumbo | Jumbo, Roving | US 17 and larger (12.75 mm+) | Q and larger (15 mm+) | 6 sts and fewer | Shop |
Words to know
A little glossary
- Aida
- An evenly woven cotton fabric with clear holes, made for cross-stitch. The "count" is how many squares per inch.
- Colorway
- The name for one color or color mix of a yarn, especially hand-dyed yarn.
- DK
- Short for "double knit": a light yarn weight between sport and worsted.
- Dye lot
- A batch of yarn dyed together. Skeins from different lots can differ slightly.
- Evenweave
- A cross-stitch and embroidery fabric with the same number of threads each way, usually stitched over two threads.
- Floss
- Embroidery thread, usually six strands loosely twisted together so you can separate them.
- Gauge
- How many stitches and rows fit in 4 inches (10 cm). Matching it keeps a finished piece the right size.
- Hank / skein
- A loop of yarn twisted for sale. A hank needs winding into a ball before you use it.
- k2tog
- Knit two together: a basic decrease in knitting patterns.
- Ply
- The number of strands twisted together to make a yarn.
- Roving
- Cleaned, combed fiber ready for spinning or felting.
- Sett
- In weaving, how many warp threads per inch.
- Superwash
- Wool treated so it can go in the washing machine without felting.
- WPI
- Wraps per inch: a way to measure a mystery yarn's weight by wrapping it around a ruler.
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