Standard Yarn Weight Guide

Standard Yarn Weight Guide

Standard Yarn Weight Guide


When we classify yarn by weight, it has little to do with how heavy a yarn is, but rather how thick is the strand of the yarn.  The Craft Yarn Council, along with publishers, fiber and needle and hook manufacturers, have created a series of guidelines and symbols to bring uniformity to yarn, needle, and hook labeling to make it easier to select the right materials for a project and complete it successfully.

 

If your pattern of choice calls for a specific yarn but you prefer to use a different yarn, you can use the yarn weights as a basis for substitution.  While most yarns within a yarn weight category are interchangeable, not all are identical.  It is imperative to construct a gauge swatch with the yarn that you intend to use in a project to be sure that you are matching the gauge of your project pattern.


Lace Weight



0 Weight is the lightest weight of yarn.  Lace weight produces an extremely fine gauge fabric.  Lace weight yarns are often knit or crocheted on larger needles and hooks to create lacy, openwork patterns.   Accordingly, gauge range is difficult to determine.  Lace weight yarns are often used for delicate shawls and wraps.

 

Recommended Knitting Needle Size:  US 000-1 or 1.5mm-2.25mm Knitting Needles
Recommended Crochet Hook Size:  Steel Crochet Hook 1.6mm-1.4mm or Regular 2.2

 

Common Gauge over 4 inches   
Knitting Stockinette: 33-40 stitches
Crochet Double Crochet: 32-42 stitches

 

(Gauge is difficult to determine for lace weight yarns as it is often used to make lacy, open stitch work. Always follow the gauge as stated in your pattern.)




Super Fine - Fingering or Sock



More often referred to as fingering weight yarn, 1 weight is a bit heavier than lace and creates a more substantial fabric.  Still very fine gauged, fingering weight yarn can also produce lovely openwork projects. This yarn can be used in a very wide range of projects, including socks, shawls, baby and adult garments, and accessories.

 

Recommended Knitting Needle Size: US 1-3 or 2.25mm-3.25mm
Recommended Crochet Hook Size:  B-1 to E-4 or 2.25mm – 3.5mm

 

Common Gauge over 4 inches:
Knitting Stockinette: 27-32 stitches
Crochet Single Crochet: 21-32 stitches



Super Fine (1) Weight Yarn Icon
Manos Del Uruguay
Fino Mini Set
(0)
$49.00
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Fine Weight - Sport




2 Weight yarn is often called sport or baby weight.  Slightly heavier than fingering weight, sport weight yarns are great for colorwork, textured fabric, and cabling.  This yarn is great for cozy socks, as well as sweaters with great ease and drape.

 

Recommended Knitting Needle Size: US 3-5 or 3.25-3.75mm
Recommended Crochet Hook Size:  E-4 to 7 or 3.5mm – 4.5mm

 

Common Gauge over 4 inches   
Knitting Stockinette: 23-26 stitches
Crochet Single Crochet: 16-20 stitches



Fine Weight (2) Yarn Icon
Malabrigo
Arroyo
(0)
$23.30
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Light Weight - Double Knit (DK Yarn)



Light Weight yarn is more commonly called DK or Double Knit.  This yarn creates a lovely, drapey fabric that is so popular probably because it works up much faster than its thinner counterparts.  Sweaters, accessories, and children’s garments are just a few of the projects that are complemented with DK weight yarn.

 

Recommended Knitting Needle Size: US 5-7 or 3.75mm-4.5mm
Recommended Crochet Hook Size: 7 to I-9 or 4.5mm – 5.5mm

 

Common Gauge over 4 inches:
Knitting Stockinette: 21-24 stitches
Crochet Single Crochet: 12-17 stitches



Light Weight (3) Yarn Icon
Feederbrook Farms
Feederbrook Farm Entropy DK
(0)
$31.00
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Medium Weight - Worsted and Aran



4 Weight yarn, more commonly known as worsted weight, is the workhorse yarn of the knitting and crochet world, for good reason.  This yarn weight is very popular because it can be used for just about anything, from garments to accessories to home décor. Bridging the gap between lighter and heavier weight yarns, 4 weight is perfect for beginners of either craft. 

 

Recommended Knitting Needle Size: US 7-9 or 4.5mm-5.5mm
Recommended Crochet Hook Size:  I-9 to K-10 ½ or 5.5mm – 6.5mm

 

Common Gauge over 4 inches:
Knitting Stockinette: 16-20 stitches
Crochet Single Crochet: 11-14 stitches



Medium Weight (4) Yarn Icon
The Tempestry Project
Tempestry Worsted
(0)
$19.25
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Bulky Weight



Bulky or 5 weight yarn is approximately twice as thick as worsted weight yarn.  Sometimes referred to as chunky, craft, or rug yarn, it usually works up quickly using larger needles or hooks.  This yarn is great for a heavier, cozy sweater, or for rugs and throws.

 

Recommended Knitting Needle Size: US 9-11 or 5.5mm-8mm
Recommended Crochet Hook Size:  K-10 ½ to M-13 or 6.5mm – 9mm

 

Common Gauge over 4 inches:
Knitting Stockinette: 12-15 stitches
Crochet Single Crochet: 8-11 stitches



Bulky Weight (5) Yarn Icon
Woolfolk
Luft
(0)
$22.00
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Super Bulky



Super Bulky or 6 weight yarn is a very thick yarn that works up quickly on large needles and hooks.  Most often it is used for cowls, scarves, and hats.

 

Recommended Knitting Needle Size: US 11-17 or 8mm-12.75mm
Recommended Crochet Hook Size:  M-13 to Q or 9mm – 15mm

 

Common Gauge over 4 inches:
Knitting Stockinette: 7-11 stitches
Crochet Single Crochet: 7-9 stitches



Super Bulky Weight (6) Yarn Icon
Malabrigo
Rasta
(0)
$26.50
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Jumbo



The thickest yarn weight currently is Jumbo or 7 weight.  These super thick yarns are used in any big stitch projects or for arm knit or crochet.  Jumbo yarn works up super fast into big stitch cowls, scarves, hats, or blankets.

 

Recommended Knitting Needle Size: US 17 and larger or 12.75 mm and larger
Recommended Crochet Hook Size:  Q and larger or 15mm and larger

 

Common Gauge over 4 inches:
Knitting Stockinette: 6 stitches and fewer
Crochet Single Crochet: 6 stitches and fewer



Jumbo Weight (7) Yarn Icon



Source: Craft Yarn Council, www.yarnstandards.com



Yarn weight Knitting needle (US / mm) Crochet hook (US / mm) Knit gauge (sts per 4 in) Crochet gauge (sc per 4 in)
0 Lace 000-1 / 1.5-2.25 mm Steel 1.6-1.4 mm (steel 6, 7, 8) or regular B-1 / 2.25 mm 33-40 32-42 (double crochet)
1 Super Fine (fingering or sock) 1-3 / 2.25-3.25 mm B-1 to E-4 / 2.25-3.5 mm 27-32 21-32
2 Fine (sport) 3-5 / 3.25-3.75 mm E-4 to 7 / 3.5-4.5 mm 23-26 16-20
3 Light (DK) 5-7 / 3.75-4.5 mm 7 to I-9 / 4.5-5.5 mm 21-24 12-17
4 Medium (worsted and aran) 7-9 / 4.5-5.5 mm I-9 to K-10 1/2 / 5.5-6.5 mm 16-20 11-14
5 Bulky 9-11 / 5.5-8 mm K-10 1/2 to M-13 / 6.5-9 mm 12-15 8-11
6 Super Bulky 11-17 / 8-12.75 mm M-13 to Q / 9-15 mm 7-11 7-9
7 Jumbo 17 and larger / 12.75 mm and larger Q and larger / 15 mm and larger 6 and fewer 6 and fewer

Source: Craft Yarn Council, Standard Yarn Weight System (craftyarncouncil.com/standards/yarn-weight-system).

 

Frequently asked questions

What are the standard yarn weights?

Yarn weight describes how thick the strand is, not how heavy it feels. The Craft Yarn Council sorts yarn into eight standard categories: 0 Lace, 1 Super Fine (fingering or sock), 2 Fine (sport), 3 Light (DK), 4 Medium (worsted and aran), 5 Bulky, 6 Super Bulky and 7 Jumbo. The higher the number, the thicker the yarn and the larger the needle or hook you need.

What is worsted weight yarn?

Worsted weight is category 4, also called medium weight. It is the most popular yarn weight because it works for almost any project, from garments to accessories and home decor. It usually knits at 16 to 20 stitches over 4 inches on US 7 to 9 needles (4.5 to 5.5 mm), and crochets with a 5.5 to 6.5 mm hook.

What number is lace, fingering, sport and DK yarn?

Lace is 0, fingering or sock is 1, sport (also called baby weight) is 2 and DK (double knit) is 3. Fingering usually uses US 1 to 3 needles (2.25 to 3.25 mm) and is used for socks, shawls and baby garments. Sport works well for colorwork, cables and lightweight sweaters.

What is the difference between bulky, chunky and super bulky yarn?

Chunky is commonly used for bulky (category 5); super bulky is category 6. Bulky is about twice as thick as worsted and works on US 9 to 11 needles (5.5 to 8 mm), for cozy sweaters, rugs and throws. Super bulky knits on US 11 to 17 needles (8 to 12.75 mm), for cowls, scarves and hats. Jumbo (category 7) is thicker still, for big stitch projects.

Can I swap one yarn weight for another in a pattern?

Yarns in the same weight category are generally interchangeable, but you should still knit a gauge swatch with the yarn you plan to use and compare it to your pattern's gauge. Two yarns with the same weight number can knit up differently, so the swatch is what tells you whether the size will come out right. If the yarn is in a different weight category, the pattern's stitch counts will not work as written.