Choosing the right yarn and substituting yarns for use in patterns can be confusing for all of us, particularly when substituting the US and European yarns as they all use different names on the yarn labels. This Yarn Weight Chart compares global, number system, UK and US yarn weight categories to aid in choosing substitute yarn for your knitting project.
Tension is measured as the number of stitches and rows per 10cm/4inches.
Yarn plies are confusing as they can be quite different. Soft and fluffy or very tightly wound.
Please note that the chart is a guide, there are times when you will find a yarn that breaks the guidelines. For example, some sock yarns are closer to fingering weight than 4-ply.
I am using a mixture of baby alpaca and merino. It is in DK and very soft. I want to double the yarn and use 5-7 needles, for a mab’s sweater. Do you think that this will work?
Sam
Thanks for posting this guide, I learned so much !
I’m glad you found it useful.
This chart is very helpful. Thank you. A pattern I was watching used raffia/palm type ribbon yarn with a 3.5mm hook. Do you know what the equivalent weight (size) yarn would be?
Hello Erin, sorry I can’t help with this. I suggest you look at the pattern on Ravelry and see what yarns were substituted in other projects. Perhaps the pattern gives a wraps per inch option which could help you. Best wishes, Nicolette
Also try yarnsub.com a very useful site.
Hi Nicole,
I have a pattern for crochet placemats. The pattern calls for 3-ply jute cord and a 10mm hook. Do you know if there is another yarn I could use instead of the jute and still get the same basic effect?
Sorry, I can’t help, I don’t do very much crochet.
Hi
My crochet pattern calls for 3 strands of worsted weight yarn to be used all at once on a 16 mms hook. Is there an equivalent weight yarn I could use to replace?
Thank you
3 strands of worsted weight = super bulky or chunky weight. Some chunky weight can be closer to 4 strands.
Having been on knitting / yarn websites to is the first I have come across your. Thank you so much. Needles to say I am an addicted knitter. I cannot resist scanning the websites looking for …who know what…anything that takes my fancy in the line of creating knitted garments. Like most other knitters I have a complete build in robe in my spare bedroom AKA Stash room. At times I have come across yarns that I really like but have lost the labels and information. Your Chart is a god send and will be enlarged and placed appropriately inside the cupboard door. I am 74 and have knitted since childhood, my maternal grandmother was from England way back then and she too knitted like the obsessed. I bravely knitted what I said was a sock and when it was pointed out that I had dropped a stitch I chortled back that it was a buttonhole. Innocence.
Hello, I’m Patricia and I’m English but live in Spain. I have been knitting since I was a child but have learned to Crochet here in Spain and I’m loving it but would love a chart or something to help me know the differences of wool weight etc. I have so much wool or yarn at the moment I think I’m becoming a hoarder!!!
Is there anyway to translate the knitting weight info into weaving such as sett or epi?
I’ll look into it Falma, I’m not a weaver so I’d need to do a little bit of research first. Nicolette
I haven’t posted before. I would like a basic fingerless glove pattern for 4 ply yarn please.
Try the Valentine Mitts they are comfortable to wear.