The yarn weight chart
| Category | UK / AU ply | Knit sts / 4 in | Needles | Hook | Length / 100 g |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 · Lace Lace, light fingering, crochet thread | 1–2 ply | 33–40 | 1.5–2.25 mm (US 000–1) | 1.4–2.25 mm | 600–900 yd 549–823 m |
| 1 · Super fine Fingering, sock, baby | 3–4 ply | 27–32 | 2.25–3.25 mm (US 1–3) | 2.25–3.5 mm (B-1 to E-4) | 350–460 yd 320–421 m |
| 2 · Fine Sport, baby | 5 ply | 23–26 | 3.25–3.75 mm (US 3–5) | 3.5–4.5 mm (E-4 to 7) | 250–350 yd 229–320 m |
| 3 · Light DK, light worsted | 8 ply | 21–24 | 3.75–4.5 mm (US 5–7) | 4.5–5.5 mm (7 to I-9) | 200–260 yd 183–238 m |
| 4 · Medium Worsted, aran, afghan | 10 ply | 16–20 | 4.5–5.5 mm (US 7–9) | 5.5–6.5 mm (I-9 to K-10½) | 150–220 yd 137–201 m |
| 5 · Bulky Chunky, craft, rug | 12 ply | 12–15 | 5.5–8 mm (US 9–11) | 6.5–9 mm (K-10½ to M-13) | 100–150 yd 91–137 m |
| 6 · Super bulky Super chunky, roving | 14 ply + | 7–11 | 8–12.75 mm (US 11–17) | 9–15 mm (M-13 to Q) | 40–100 yd 37–91 m |
| 7 · Jumbo Jumbo, roving | – | 6 or fewer | 12.75 mm + (US 17+) | 15 mm + (Q+) | 10–40 yd 9–37 m |
Category numbers, gauges, needle and hook sizes follow the Craft Yarn Council standard. Length per 100 g is a typical range for wool; cotton, silk and other dense fibres give shorter lengths, while fluffy yarns like mohair give longer ones.
US, UK and Australian names
- Fingering is called 4 ply in the UK and Australia.
- DK (double knitting) is 8 ply in Australia and New Zealand.
- Worsted and aran are both around 10 ply; aran is a little thicker.
- Chunky (UK) and 12 ply (Australia) correspond to US bulky.
Substituting yarn
Pick a yarn in the same category with a similar length per 100 g, then knit a gauge swatch. Matching the length per gram is more reliable than matching the name on the label.
Questions
What is the most common yarn weight?
Worsted (category 4, Medium) is the most widely used, especially for blankets, hats and beginner projects.
Can I hold two strands together?
Yes. Two strands of fingering give roughly a DK or sport weight, and two strands of worsted give roughly a bulky. Swatch to check.
What is WPI?
Wraps per inch: wrap the yarn around a ruler without gaps and count the wraps in one inch. It helps identify unlabelled yarn.