Yarn weight describes the thickness of a yarn and every yarn has a weight, from fine yarn to super bulky. These different yarn weights are grouped into eight different categories according to the Yarn Weight Standards by the Craft Yarn Council. Yarn weight helps you understand the thickness of a yarn and what projects this yarn may be most suitable for. It will also give you a sense of how many stitches per inch this yarn creates, also known as gauge. Most yarn that you find online and in-store will contain the yarn weight symbol on either their product page online or on the yarn’s label. Understanding yarn weights will make it easy for you to either substitute for different yarns or make it easier for you to double up yarn while making a project so you can create a unique fabric. Lace Weight Lace weight yarn is also known as fingering yarn and is a very thin yarn used for lacy projects such as doilies and lace shawls. Super Fine Super fine yarn, also known as fingering yarn, may also work for lace projects since it is great for creating delicate garments. Super fine yarn is commonly used to make socks, shawls and baby items. Find super fine yarns here. Fine Fine yarn, often referred to as Sport Weight yarn, is also great for creating lightweight and delicate projects. It works well for making socks, heirloom garments and lightweight blankets. Find fine yarns here. Light Light yarn is slightly thicker than a #2 Fine yarn. It is considered a lighter worsted weight yarn that’s great for making heavier, fine garments and baby items. You can find light (DK) yarns here. Medium Medium weight yarns are often referred to as Worsted Weight yarn. Worsted weight yarn is the most frequently used yarn since it is easy to work with. It’s a great yarn for beginners and for those looking to make a variety of projects. Shop Medium weight or worsted weight yarns here. Bulky Bulky yarn or chunky yarn is almost twice as thick as worsted weight yarn and is great for making scarves, hats, sweaters, and blankets. Due to its thickness this yarn works up quickly when using large hooks or needles. Looking to make a project with a bulky yarn? Shop bulky yarns here. Super Bulky Super Bulky yarn or Roving yarn is thicker than bulky yarn and works up quickly! This kind of yarn is great for making warm and cozy sweaters, hats, and cowls. Shop super bulky yarns here. Jumbo Jumbo is the thickest of yarn classified in the Yarn Weight Standards by the Craft Yarn Council. This yarn category was created to classify the trending super thick yarns which started to appear in the yarn world. These jumbo yarns are great for quickly making sturdy and large projects. Click here to start stitching with jumbo yarns! Every pattern either dictates the yarn you need to use to make the project or the yarn weight. This means that you have the option of making a project in the yarn you want by simply switching to a different yarn with the same weight originally called for in the pattern. An important thing to note if you choose to switch out one yarn for another when working on a project is to make sure you create a gauge swatch. While most yarns within a yarn weight category are interchangeable not all yarns are identical that’s why it’s helpful to create a gauge swatch, so you can get a sense of the tension you’ll need to maintain in order to achieve the right amount of stitches per inch.
