Yarn weights

Learn about the standard sizes for yarn weights and the names for these which can vary depending on which country you live in. Here in New Zealand we tend to use ply while some countries have names for them. 

While there are standard sizes for yarn not all yarns are created equally for example, a ball of chunky in one brand may not be the same as another brand. I have found it doesn't happen too often though which is really good. It is why it pays to knit a tension square to make sure your project will turn out the same way - I'll talk more about tension in a later blog post.

Yarn standard 0 lace weight

• Called 1-3ply, thread, ultra fine, baby weight, light fingering 
• Used for knitting lace and crocheting.
• Used with 2mm-2.75mm knitting needles

Yarn  standard 1 super fine weight

• Called 4ply, fingering, fine
• Used for baby knitting and light socks
• Used with 2.25mm-3mm knitting needles

Yarn standard 2 fine weight

• 5ply, baby, fine, sport, light dk
• Used for baby items, light sweaters and accessories 
• Used with 3mm-3.75mm knitting needles

Yarn standard 3 light weight 

• 8ply, light worsted
• Used for sweaters, light garments, light scarves
• Used with 3.75mm - 4mm knitting needles

Yarn standard 4 medium weight

• 10ply, worsted, afghan, aran, chunky
• Used for blankets, sweaters, hats, scarves etc.
• 3.75mm-4.5mm knitting needles

Yarn standard 5 bulky weight

• 12ply, chunky, craft, rug
• Used for rugs, jackets and blankets
• Used with 4.5mm -5.5mm knitting needles

Yarn standard 6 super bulky weight

• 14ply, bulky, super bulky, roving
• Used for thick blankets and sweaters
• Used with 5.5mm-8.5mm knitting needles

Yarn standard 7 jumbo weight

• 16ply, jumbo, super thick
• Big thick blankets, baskets, rugs
• Used with 8mm-12mm knitting needles