The weight of the yarn, also called the ply, is the thickness of the yarn and it has very little to do with the actual weight of the yarn itself. There are seven main plies of yarn used for knitting and crochet and it is important to pick the appropriate weight of yarn for your project.

We shall dive into the different weights of yarn in this blog post and hopefully it may serve as a guide for your next project!

Lace 

As the thinnest and lightest of all the weights of yarn due to its extremely fine nature, lace yarn is mainly used in more complicated patterns such as shawls and wraps.

The recommended hook size when using lace yarn is 2.25mm or smaller.

Super Fine 

Super fine yarn, otherwise known as 3ply, 4ply, fingering, or sock yarn, is most commonly used in making socks, shawls, baby clothes, and even in lace work. Due to the fine nature of this yarn, it is a great choice for openwork projects.

The recommended hook size when using super fine yarn is 2.25mm - 3.25mm.

Fine

Fine yarn, also known as 5ply, sport or baby yarn, is a little heavier than super fine yarn, while still being thin and durable, making it the ideal choice when creating intricate patterns. However, it is still on the finer end of thickness, you will be a lot less likely to see any stitches.

The recommended hook size for sport yarn is 3.5mm - 4.5mm.

Light

Light yarn, commonly called 8 ply, double knit or DK yarn for short, is a popular choice of yarn for beginners because of its uniformed thickness and ability to unravel easily if you make a mistake. While it is too thick to be used for normal socks and everyday wear, it is perfect for making warm scarves and hats.

The recommended hook size for double knit yarn is 4.5mm - 5.5mm.

Medium

More commonly known as 10 or 12 ply, worsted and aran yarn, medium weight yarn is the premier yarn when it comes to crocheting and knitting because of its ability to be used in pretty much every project that is available from clothing to blankets.

The recommended hook size for medium yarn is 5.5mm - 6.5mm.

Bulky

Bulky yarn, sometimes referred to as 12 or 16 ply, chunky or rug yarn, is about twice as thick as worsted/medium weight yarn and is perfect for making warm winter clothing and throws. Projects also work up quite quickly when using larger needles due to its size.

The recommended hook size for Bulky yarn is 6.5mm - 9mm.

Super Bulky

Super bulky or super chunky yarn is great for making sweaters, scarves, heavy blankets, hats, bags, and much more.

The recommended hook size for super bulky yarn is 9mm - 15mm.

Jumbo

Currently the thickest yarn on the market, jumbo yarn is a super thick yarn used for projects that require big stitches and makes for great winter clothing and blankets.

The recommended hook size for jumbo yarn is 15mm and higher.