Yarn Weights

Hi Ren=E9,

Baby weight yarn is usually 4ply or finer. Sports weight usually refers to double-knit yarn (or 8ply as they are often referred to in Aus and NZ). Use two strands of your baby yarn together and you'll probably be close to the right thickness for sports weight.

I have a table of some of the names people use and the ply and wraps per inch equivalents at the bottom of this page:

Good luck! VP

In North America, a lot of knitters (myself included) refer to yarn weights by other names such as shown in Vintage Purls website...... laceweight fingering or sock yarn Sport DK Worsted Chunky Bulky

There seems to be a movement on by some manufacturers and some of the knitting magazines (Knitter's in particular) to assign these weights a number. These numbers correspond to a gauge range for each yarn.

1. Super fine
2. Fine
3. Light
4. Medium
5. Bulky
6. Super Bulky

Personally, I prefer to go by the suggested gauge (tension) of a project, but since I'm also a cranky old grandmother, I also go by the old designations of the names (DK, sock yarn, fingering). I never did learn the

The ply method is mostly used only in Australia and/or New Zealand now, though I think it have been used in the UK at one time...

Most yarns use the numbering system Shillelagh posted above. Worsted falls in the #4 category, and baby yarn probably falls into a #3. The fuzzy ones may be 4, 5, or 6; look at the yarn labels and they should be marked.

Here's another chart link which shows gauges for weight and may help -

How interesting, we don't have this numbering system on yarns here in NZ but it does make sense.

Here if you go into a yarn shop, things are categorised under ply headings (3ply, 4ply, 8ply). Of course this is pretty much nonsense with regard to how many singles are actually plied to make the yarn, instead it's just used as a description of thickness.

In the end it's all about the tension - I've never enjoyed taking the time to get the tension correct before I start a project but boy have I learnt that it's a chore worth doing!

VP

Yep - swatch, swatch swatch. Then make something out of all your swatches. ;>)

Shelagh

Thank you, VP! I checked out that site, and it was WAY beyond me! I used to do a little knitting years ago, but never got very far, technique-wise. I took some classes in 1969, because I wanted to knit some things for my first baby. Well, that baby is now 37 years old, with 2 babies of his own! LOL But I'm still at a "Beginner" status. I admit I didn't understand most of that site. I'm in the USA, and I'm wondering if there is much difference in terms, etc.

All I got done in the '60's and '70's were some simple baby blankets and a couple of baby sweaters. I also found a cap pattern for myself, and liked it so well I've done at least a dozen. I kept just one for myself because anyone who saw it wanted one, too. Anyway, I'm determined to make another cap or two just for myself this time. And I hope to do some simple things for my 2 granddaughters.

The yarn I'm looking at is mostly acrylic, not wool. The site referred to wool in grams, and that is too complicated for me.

I did bookmark it, though, because I could tell that using something that did all those conversions could be valuable in the future, if I ever venture beyond anything very Basic.

Thanks again! :)

René

Hi René,

Baby weight yarn is usually 4ply or finer. Sports weight usually refers to double-knit yarn (or 8ply as they are often referred to in Aus and NZ). Use two strands of your baby yarn together and you'll probably be close to the right thickness for sports weight.

I have a table of some of the names people use and the ply and wraps per inch equivalents at the bottom of this page:

Good luck! VP

Shillelagh -- as one "cranky old grandmother" to another -- I have noticed the numbers for weights and can see that for someone like me that would be helpful. There are so many new yarns -- I used to just work with Red Heart and Caron. It's almost overwhelming. I do have a cousin, though who has just started knitting and offered to take me to the place where she took some lessons. So, I think that I'll need to set a date and get some more lessons with her. It's more fun going with someone else, too.

I can also see that I'll need to do some more experimenting with gauge as well as type of yarn.

Thank you!

René

Thank you, Sue! I really like this chart -- I recognized some of the brands and names, and the system for substituting is just what I need. I might just get a couple simple projects done. :)

René

VP, thanks for letting me "off the hook!" lol I hadn't taken the differences in countries into account. It's like learning a new language, isn't it? I do intend to do as you advise about doing a test swatch and getting the tension correct.

René

Yes! I was just imagining doing all these little patches in a hundred different colors and sizes and differing degrees of "fuzziness." I usually quilt, so I figure sewing all those knitted swatches together would make a cute doll blanket, don't you think? There may be hope for me yet... :)

René