by Kelley Hobart February 07, 2018 3 min read

Everything You Wanted To Know About Worsted Weight Yarn

Many times we are asked the question, "What does worsted weight mean?" It's a good question! There are several thicknesses of yarn, which we refer to as weight.
Don't confuse this with the actual gram or ounce weight listed on the label, which reflects the heaviness of the yarn. I am referring to weight as it is called for in a pattern, such as sock-weight, worsted-weight or bulky-weight, to name a few. It can be a mind boggling affair and it is not uncommon for two experienced knitters to disagree about the weight of any particular yarn they are considering.
Enter The Craft Yarn Council of America! This fine institution has for many years now made a valiant attempt to standardize the craft yarn industry. Many yarn companies and publishers use this standardized system when labeling yarn and patterns. Here's how it works:

Standard Yarn Weight System

Categories of yarn, gauge ranges, and recommended needle and hook sizes

Yarn Weight Symbol & Category Names 0_LACE_3L_large 1_superfine_3L_large 2-fine_3L_large 3-light_3L_large 4-medium_3L_large 5-bulky_3L_large 6-superbulky_3L_large
Type of Yarns in Category Fingering 10-count crochet thread Sock, Fingering, Baby Sport, Baby DK, Light Worsted Worsted, Afghan, Aran Chunky, Craft, Rug Bulky, Roving
Knit Gauge Range* in Stockinette Stitch to 4 inches 33–40** sts 27–32 sts 23–26 sts 21–24 st 16–20 sts 12–15 sts 6–11 sts
Recommended Needle in Metric Size Range 1.5–2.25 mm 2.25— 3.25 mm 3.25— 3.75 mm 3.75— 4.5 mm 4.5— 5.5 mm 5.5— 8 mm 8 mm and larger
Recommended Needle U.S. Size Range 000–1 1 to 3 3 to 5 5 to 7 7 to 9 9 to 11 11 and larger
Crochet Gauge* Ranges in Single Crochet to 4 inch 32–42 double crochets** 21–32 sts 16–20 sts 12–17 sts 11–14 sts 8–11 sts 5–9 sts
Recommended Hook in Metric Size Range Steel*** 1.6–1.4 mm 2.25— 3.5 mm 3.5— 4.5 mm 4.5— 5.5 mm 5.5— 6.5 mm 6.5— 9 mm 9 mm and larger
Recommended Hook U.S. Size Range Steel*** 6, 7, 8 Regular hook B–1 B–1 to E–4 E–4 to 7 7 to I–9 I–9 to K–10 1⁄2 K–10 1⁄2 to M–13 M–13 and larger
1. GUIDELINES ONLY: The above reflect the most commonly used gauges and needle or hook sizes for specific yarn categories. 2. Lace weight yarns are usually knitted or crocheted on larger needles and hooks to create lacy, openwork patterns. Accordingly, a gauge range is difficult to determine. Always follow the gauge stated in your pattern. 3. Steel crochet hooks are sized differently from regular hooks—the higher the number, the smaller the hook, which is the reverse of regular hook sizing. Try our handy needle and hook gauge  to choose the proper sized needle. 

Print out this handy guide out and tuck it into your pocketbook. You will always be able to figure out what yarn you need or want based on the information here, even if it isn't marked with the standardized system.  

Alpaca Direct has incorporated the Standard Yarn Weight System into our website; what a great resource when shopping for yarn.

We have a large selection of worsted weight yarn in a variety of brands and colors. 

Want To Learn More About Knitting?

If you are just getting started with knitting, this video on how to knit a scarf for beginners using worsted weight yarn will help! 

Happy Knitting!

Kelley Hobart
Kelley Hobart


1 Response

Mary Wade
Mary Wade

October 05, 2016

I started crocheting as a child. I started with cookies, then migrated Afghanis. When I get sleepless at night, I find a piece to work on to get me back to sleep. I usually give them as gifts.

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