Everything you need to know about yarn weights

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Learning to knit is more about knit stitches. There’s needle sizes, yarn weight, & knitting gauge too!

I remember when I started knitting again, I was extremely overwhelmed with everything to do with both yarn & needles. When I was a kid, my grandmother would just hand me yarn and needles… and that was it. I never actually knew the ‘science’ behind knitting.

There are plenty of options out there like DK, worsted, fingering & more. But what do these mean? It almost feels like a whole other language when you’re first introduced to yarn.

After doing an endless amount of research when I started knitting again years ago, I’ve accumulated plenty of information, perfect for beginners like you!

This guide you could call it, is great for anyone who wants to learn how to knit but feels too overwhelmed from the selection of yarn.

Now, this blog post will not be diving into the different materials of yarn. Just the yarn weights.

Related blog posts: Everything you need to know about knitting needles

What does yarn weight mean?

A yarn weight is just the thickness of the yarn. The smaller the number, the thinner the yarn & the bigger the number, the bulkier the yarn.

For example, sometimes you’ll come across patterns where it says to hold 2 pieces of yarn together. When you do that, it increases the thickness of the yarn you are working with. Let’s say the pattern says to hold a DK weight yarn with a lace weight yarn. Now, the yarn is considered the next size up, a worsted weight.

Don’t worry, you’ll know all about DK & lace once you read on.

Yarn weight cheat sheet

Lace Weight (0)

Lace is the thinnest yarn. It can be used on its own, which creates a light & delicate fabric. Often times, patterns will recommend to hold 2 yarns together. By adding a lace weight (more so a mohair yarn), it creates almost a halo like affect to the piece.

Recommended Needle size: 000-1 US (1.5-2.25mm)
Yarn Suggestions: Drops Kid-Silk, KFO Soft Silk Mohair, Midnatssol

Fingering Weight (1)

Fingering (god, who came up with that) is another thin option of yarn, but not as thin as lace. It’s sometimes referred to as sock yarn as it is often used for socks. Again, with it being a thinner yarn, it creates a delicate & light fabric.

Recommended Needles: 1-3 US (2.25-3.25mm)
Yarn Suggestions: Finull, KFO Merino, Tvinni

Sport (2)

Sport yarn is a popular choice for making baby garments & blankets, although it’s not constricted to just those. Socks, sweaters, hats & more for any age!

Recommended Needle: 3-5 US (3.25-3.75mm)
Yarn Suggestions: Alpaca, Sport, 220 Superwash

DK (3)

This may now have become my favourite weight to work with. DK weight (double knitting) is a light-medium weight yarn, great for many projects like sweaters, accessories like hats & mittens and much more.

Recommended Needle: 5-7 US (3.75-4.5mm)
Yarn Suggested: Peer Gynt, Drops Lima, Double Sunday

Worsted/Aran (4)

Another favourite of mine is worsted. A great yarn for many different garments, like sweaters, hats, mittens, home decor pieces, and much, much more.

Recommended Needles: 7-9 US (4.5-5.5mm)
Yarn Suggestions: Patons Worsted Classic Wool, Heritage, Drops Nepal

Bulky (5)

A great starter for beginner knitters, is bulky. This yarn is great for a thicker sweater, accessories, and is a great yarn for knitting blankets.

Recommended Needles: 9-11 US (5.5-8mm)
Yarn Suggestions: Alafosslopi, Atlantic, Fritidsgarn

Super Bulky (6)

Now this yarn, is GREAT for beginners. Its bulkiness creates projects quickly, you’ll be finished within a few hours! With this yarn, I personally don’t like it as a sweater because it feels too bulky for me, but its great for accessories like winter hats, mittens, scarfs, and home decor. You can of course knit up a sweater in this weight if that’s what you desire, I personally prefer the latter.

Recommended Needles: 11-17 US (8-12.75mm)
Yarn Suggestions: Drops Snow, Wool Ease Thick & Quick

Jumbo (7)

The only yarn weight I haven’t tried is jumbo. Often times, Jumbo is used to knit up blankets.

Yarn Suggestions: Blanket Big, Crazy Sexy Wool

Best Yarn weight for beginners

There are 3 weights that are great for beginners.

• Worsted
• Bulky
• Super Bulky

While I do agree that knitting up a sweater can be a great option as your first knitting project, I also believe that starting small projects using a bulkier yarn is more beneficial.

My reasoning is simple: You’ll finish it faster. Now here is the thing. I don’t say this as ‘finish the project as quickly as you possibly can’. I mean it as, you’ll finish a project & get to admire what you finished. You will have a sense of accomplishment rush over you & that feeling becomes addicting.

Check out my blog post here for the many benefits of having a hobby to see what you can get out of knitting.

Happy knitting