Considering Yarn Weight
Yarn, yarn, yarn -- I love it. I have baskets and boxes and shelves stocked full of beautiful knitting yarn in a staggering array of varieties, weights, and colors. In fact, it can get pretty overwhelming at times. But since various projects require various yarns, I'm afraid I need to keep them all.
You don't have to resign yourself to my fate, though. Learn about what type of knitting yarn you need before you start a project and don't find yourself running around in desperation once things get going.
Yarn weight
When we're talking yarn weight, all we really mean is how thick and heavy are those individual strands of yarn. That affects what yarn gets used for which project. If you have chunky yarn, for example, use it for cozy blankets, heavy sweaters, mittens, and scarves.
Use very light-weight yarn for decorative items or fancy scarves. Mid-weight yarn, like cotton yarn, is good for summer clothing or anything that needs to be washable, lightweight, and non irritating to the skin, making it perfect for baby items.
These are the various yarn weight ratings out there:
1. Lace:
Fine silk or elastic, mostly used for enhancing projects or very lightweight decorative items.
2. Warp:
Warp weight refers almost exclusively to a light kind of cotton yarn used for similar projects to lace weight (but requiring slightly more durability).
3. Fingering:
Fingering weight knitting yarn, while still quite delicate, offers more practicality and durability than the first two levels. It is usually made of cotton, but can also have mixtures of silk or other materials.
4. Sport:
Sport weight yarn is a lightweight but durable yarn used for a wide variety of projects. It can be made of anything from silk to alpaca fur.
5. DK:
DK weighted yarn mostly involves wool or bamboo in some combination. It's a reasonably weighted, durable yarn used in many types of projects.
6. Worsted:
Worsted weight yarn is very common. It is often cotton or merino wool and provides a great mix of solid durability and lightweight comfort. Many patterns call for worsted weight yarn.
7. Bulky:
Now we're getting into the really chunky yarn. These guys are almost always wool, although they sometimes have some artificial fibers mixed in. They're great for anything requiring a lot of warmth: bulky socks and sweaters, mittens, winter hats.
8. Super bulky:
These are completely wool and extremely chunky yarn: you wouldn't want to use them for anything but the thickest, warmest, and most durable projects.
And there you have it: your very own guide to yarn weight!
