Ready to embark on your first knitting, crochet, or weaving project? If you are unfamiliar with the craft, you might be looking for a reputable yarn store.
Before seeking out yarn stores near you, you’ll need to understand some of the basics – one of the most important being yarn weight. Be sure to identify what yarn weight works best for your project before ordering the yarn online or walking down the aisle of your local yarn store.
To beginners it might seem like a confusing topic, but yarn weight will determine how your project turns out, especially with projects that require precise sizing such as clothing.
What is Yarn Weight?
In the simplest terms, yarn weight tells you the thickness of a yarn. Yarn weight is generally categorized into eight different tiers and each one is labeled with the numbers 0 through 7. These categories are: lace, super fine, fine, light, medium, bulky, super bulky, and jumbo.
The lower numbers are used lightweight yarns, while the higher numbers are used for heavier weight yarn. If a yarn is heavier, it means it's thicker, while lighter yarns are finer or thinner. However, this has nothing to do with the actual weight of the yarn on a scale.
When purchasing yarn, you can easily identify the yarn weight category by checking the information on the yarn label. The label typically includes the category number, and/or the corresponding category name associated with that specific number.
Knitting and crochet patterns are crafted with a particular yarn weight in mind, making it crucial to purchase the right type.
Understanding the Different Weight Categories of Yarn
- Super Fine Weight Yarn (Category 1): Slightly heavier than lace weight, super fine yarns, also known as fingering yarn weight or baby weight yarns, offer a bit more substance without sacrificing delicacy. They are ideal for projects like socks, baby clothing, and lightweight scarves.
- Fine Weight Yarn (Category 2): Slightly heavier than super fine yarns, fine-weight yarns are used for creating garments such as sweaters, hats, and other lightweight clothing items. Fine-weight yarn strikes a balance between delicacy and practicality.
- Light Weight Yarn (Category 3): Lightweight yarns, also known as DK (double knitting) weight yarns, are a versatile choice for various projects. Heavier than fine-weight yarns, DK yarns are favored for crafting sweaters, hats, scarves, and baby clothes. This weight allows for a quick and enjoyable knitting or crocheting experience.
- Medium Weight Yarn (Category 4): Slightly heavier than their lightweight counterparts, these yarns are often considered "all-purpose." With applications ranging from afghans to sweaters and hats, medium-weight yarns are used for creating a wide range of projects.
- Bulky Weight Yarn (Category 5): Heavier than worsted-weight yarns, they add warmth and coziness to projects like sweaters, hats, scarves, and blankets. Bulky yarns are an excellent choice for crafting quick and beautiful creations.
- Super Bulky Weight Yarn (Category 6): Super bulky weight yarns are used for projects such as hats, scarves, and blankets. They make it easy to learn knitting due to their larger stitches.
- Jumbo Weight Yarn (Category 7): At the top of yarn weights, we find jumbo-weight yarns. These yarns are perfect for bold and chunky accessories, as well as home decor projects like blankets. Jumbo yarns are often used for arm-knitting projects, for which knitting needles are not required.
Why Choosing the Right Yarn Weight Matters
Sometimes you don't prefer choosing the yarn according to its weight. Some projects, like hot pads, scarves, and blankets can work just fine even if they are a few inches bigger or smaller than the size you are looking for.
But when you create other things such as sweaters or socks, you will want the finished project to be a specific size. Needless to say, it would be quite frustrating if you end up with a piece that doesn't fit after spending hours making it. For such projects, make sure to choose the right yarn weight and needle/hook size to meet the desired measurement.