Yarn weights
"Yarn weight" has nothing to do with how heavy the skein is — it's about how thick each strand is. Patterns specify a weight because the thickness determines how the fabric drapes, how warm it is, and how many stitches you'll need.
| Category | WPI | Needle range | Typical use |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lace | 35+ wpi | 1.5–2.25 mm | Lace shawls, doilies |
| Super fine (1) | 14 wpi | 2.25–3.25 mm | Fingering, sock yarn |
| Fine (2) | 12 wpi | 3.25–3.75 mm | Sport, baby yarn |
| Light (3) | 11 wpi | 3.75–4.5 mm | DK, light worsted |
| Medium (4) | 9 wpi | 4.5–5.5 mm | Worsted, afghan, aran |
| Bulky (5) | 7 wpi | 5.5–8 mm | Chunky, craft, rug |
| Super bulky (6) | 5 wpi | 8–12.75 mm | Bulky, roving |
| Jumbo (7) | 1–4 wpi | 12.75+ mm | Arm knitting, big blankets |
WPI = "wraps per inch". Wrap the yarn around a ruler; more wraps per inch = thinner yarn.
Next: Gauge →