Yarn is divided by its weight, or how many stitches in a gauge of 4 inches (10cm). The thinner the yarn, the more stitches in the gauge. The thicker the yarn, the fewer stitches in the gauge. From the top of the list working down, is the thickest/chunkiest yarn, to the finest/thinnest yarn.
(0) Lace (33-40 stitches to 4 inches)- 10-count crochet thread used for lace projects. (2 ply)
(1) Super Fine (27-32 stitches to 4 inches)- These light yarns are used for baby items. (3 ply)
(2) Fine (23-26 stitches to 4 inches)- These yarns are used for more intricate patterns and for projects such as socks. (4 ply)
(3) Light/DK (21-24 stitches to 4 inches)- These yarns are often used for lighter, summer-weight garments and many baby items. (8 ply)
(4) Medium Weight/Worsted Weight and Aran (16-20 stitches to 4 inches)- These are the most popular weight yarns for a variety of projects. (10 ply)
(5) Bulky/Chunky (12-15 stitches for 4 inches)- These yarns are used for scarves, afghans, and other projects. (12 Ply)
(6) Super Bulky/Super Chunky (4-11 stitches for 4 inches)- These yarns yield the fastest projects with the fewest number of stitches. (Larger than 12 Ply)
The Difference between a Ball, a Skein and a Hank of Yarn?
You may have heard of different types of names for a “ball of wool/yarn”. Well below are 4 names and a handy explanation of each, to remove all the confusion.
