Yarn weight refers to the thickness of yarn used by knitters, weavers, crocheters and other fiber artists. The Craft Yarn Council of America has developed a system that seeks to standardize the labeled weights of yarn[1]. Yarn weight is important in achieving the correct gauge or tension for a particular project and can help with yarn substitution. Most yarns state their weight on the ball band.
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One way of determining the weight of an unknown yarn is to use the wrapping method.
Wrap the yarn around a large needle or a ruler. Make sure the yarn lies flat. Push the yarn together so there are no gaps between wraps. Smooth it out so it is neither too loose nor too tight. Measure the number of wraps per inch (2.5 cm). For better accuracy, measure the wraps at the centre of your yarn sample.
| Standard Yarn Weight System | Yarn Type (US) | Ply (UK, NZ, AU)[2] | m/100g | Wraps Per Inch (WPI)[2] |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 or Lace | Thread, Cobweb and Lace | 1 - 3 ply | 600-800 | 18+ wpi |
| 1 or Superfine | Fingering | 4 ply | 400-480 | 14 wpi |
| 2 or Fine | Sport | 5 ply | 300-400 | 12 wpi |
| 3 or Light | DK | 8 ply | 11 wpi | |
| 4 or Medium | Worsted | 10 ply | 200-240 | 9 wpi |
| 5 or Bulky | Bulky | 12 ply | 100-120 | 7 wpi |
| 6 or Super Bulky | Super Bulky | Less than 100 | 5-6 wpi |
Different terminology is used in different countries, and it is often difficult to work out which yarn weight should be used for a non-native pattern.
| USA | UK | Australia | Suggested needle (mm) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Laceweight | 1 ply | 2 ply | 1.5–2.25 mm |
| Fingering | 2 ply | 3 ply | 2.25– 3 mm |
| Sock | 3 ply | 3 ply | 2.25— 3.25 mm |
| Sport | 4 ply | 5 ply | 3.25— 3.75 mm |
| DK/Light Worsted | DK | 8 ply | 3.75— 4.5 mm |
| Worsted | Aran | 10 ply | 4.5— 5.5 mm |
| Bulky | Chunky | 12 ply | 5.5– 8 mm |
| Super Bulky | Super Chunky | 14 ply | 8 mm and up |
The following equation may be used to determine the weight of warp and weft required for a particular fabric:
If there are two colors in the warp, use the following equations:
If the counts of two warps are the same:
or
If there are two colors in the weft:
or
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