Know Your Yarn, Part 1
If you are wondering about different weights of yarn, what they are, what types of projects they are good for, how they differ, and which you should use for your next knitting experience, My Sister Knits is here for you!
Basically, a yarn weight is its thickness and there is a range for each weight set by the Craft Yarn Council. Within each weight there are huge varieties of yarns; ones that have been worsted or woolen spun, ones that have been plied or not, ones with tighter twists, ones with nylon or silk added for extra strength. All of these yarns are strong. They may feel light and delicate but they aren’t. Have you ever tried to pull apart a bit of lace weight mohair? It can’t be done!
It must be said that woolen spun yarn can be pulled apart easier than worsted spun but once it’s knit up it’s not going to come apart. The same goes for plied yarn vs. singles. Singles can be pulled apart easier than plied and the more plies, the stronger the yarn, That’s why one does not make socks out of single ply woolen spun yarn! But oh what a lovely lightweight warm hat that would make!
Lace weight is generally the thinnest of yarns. The lace weight we carry is almost exclusively mohair or suri alpaca blended with silk. We usually but not always, hold this yarn with another yarn for some luxurious fuzziness! If knitted alone, it’s most often on larger needles to create a light, airy fabric. There’s a shawl on display upstairs that is knit with only Ito Sensai.
Fingering and Sock weight are next. The only difference between the two is that Sock yarn usually has some nylon, bamboo, or silk added to make it stronger. Sock yarn can also have more plies and a tight twist. Fingering weight yarn shows off intricate stitch patterns such as lace, it drapes beautifully, and is excellent for colorwork! Some people love fingering weight for sweaters because they don’t feel bulky yet they are warm as can be. Another advantage to using this weight is that you get a lot of yardage in a skein so it’s budget friendly!
Sport weight is next on the scale. This doesn’t have quite the drape of fingering but it’s wonderful for anything and it makes a lightweight accessory or garment that can easily fit under a coat.
DK weight is close to Sport but it’s a bit heavier. It also makes a heavenly sweater that moves easily with you. It, along with Sport weight, shows off textured stitches and cables. Many people like using Sport or DK because it’s heavier than fingering but lighter with more drape than worsted weight.
Worsted weight is double the weight of fingering and is a popular choice for newer knitters. It knits up quickly and it’s easy to see what you're doing with your stitches. It’s a good choice for heavier, warmer sweaters and winter accessories. Because it’s a thicker yarn, your projects will be more structured than with a lighter weight yarn. If you’re using a pattern with textured stitches or cables, you’ll definitely want to swatch those first to see how you like the fabric!
Biches + Buches Le Gros Lambswool Aran weight
Then we have Aran weight which is just a bit thicker than worsted weight. It’s also typically loftier. It’s about twice as thick as DK weight and will certainly knit up quickly. It makes structured garments and accessories. Warm sweaters, hats, and mittens will fly off your needles. Be warned that a sweater out of Aran weight might not fit under your coat well!
Blue Sky Fibers Woolstok North Super Bulky
Anything heavier than Aran weight will be categorized as Bulky, Chunky, Super Bulky, etc. It’s the complete opposite of budget friendly, drapey Fingering weight! You’ll be done with your project in no time and you’ll only be knitting and purling, no textured stitches, cables or lace.
We encourage you to experiment with all weights of yarn! Your yarn choice will depend on what you’re making and how much time you want to devote to it. Look carefully at different yarns to see what differences you can spot!
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Happy knitting,
