If you’re wondering, ‘what is worsted weight yarn?’ then we have all the answers for you in our guide. Many beginners usually get confused when worsted weight yarn comes in because many yarn types are out there. The world of yarns is wide and forever evolving, as many enjoy knitting or crocheting. Trusted Source How wool got cool | Knitting | The Guardian From faux taxidermy to yarn bombing, a new generation has turned knitting into a radical art form www.theguardian.com
Yarn comes in all kinds of sizes and shapes. While some are perfect for arm knitting, like jumbo yarn, others are very thin, like the lace-weight yarn. When looking at the wide range of yarn types, worsted weight yarn is in the middle.
To know more about worsted weight yarn, keep on reading our complete guide.
Worsted weight yarn is medium-weight yarn. It is heavier than sports weight yarn, double knitting yarn, baby weight yarn, fingering weight yarn, or yarn for crocheting, but lighter than bulky yarn or chunky yarn.
If you’re looking for worsted weight yarn in the market, check the yarn packaging with the numbers 4 and medium under it. This is a sign that it is a worsted weight yarn, and so it’s advisable to go for those with this symbol. The symbol is from the Craft Yarn Council Trusted Source Welcome to the Craft Yarn Council People of all ages—more than 50 million—know how to knit, crochet and craft with yarn because it’s fun, relaxing and you can make great things. Whether you are a beginner or experienced knitter or crocheter, a designer or someone interested in learning more about the industry, you’ve come to the right place! www.craftyarncouncil.com , and so manufacturers that use their system will also have this sign.
Worsted weight yarn has a medium thickness, and so it is great for hats, mittens, sweaters, scarves, blankets, and more. It is also easily knitted, which is why it’s a popular choice among knitters. So, if you’re not sure what to use for your project, you can never go wrong with a worsted weight yarn.
The Craft Yarn Council came up with
the weight system
Trusted Source
Standard Yarn Weight System | Welcome to the Craft Yarn Council
Downloads of these graphic symbols are available at no charge. We ask that if you use them in any publication that you advise us in an e-mail of your intention to use them and that the following credit line be given at least once in the document: Source: Craft Yarn Council’s www.YarnStandards.com
www.craftyarncouncil.com
to help knitters better understand yarns and the different sizes. According to their system, each yarn has a number. Since the system is widely adopted, you can see it as the standard.
Worsted weight yarn is medium and is assigned number 4. It has a knitting gauge of between 16 and 20 stitches for every four inches. As for the needle, it’s always advisable to check the recommended needle size on the packaging of the worsted weight yarn. In general, a 4.5mm to 5.5mm needle would do the trick.
In the UK, yarns are identified by their number and not their weight. The thinnest yarn is lace-weight with the number 0. Then, super bulky yarns like jumbo yarn are at number 7. The worsted weight yarn equivalent in the UK is aran or is usually called number 4 weight.
Before buying any worsted weight yarn, there are a few factors you have to keep in mind to ensure you get good value for your money.
Yarn plies are the thin yarns that are spun together to make a complete strand of yarn. So, if you see three plies woven together, it is called a three-ply yarn. Worsted weight yarn can have as high as eight plies woven together. When buying worsted weight yarn, you should consider how many plies they are, depending on the project you’re working on. If you’re making mittens, you will need four-ply wool. But for a cowl, single-ply wool will make a great choice. The more plies of yarn woven together, the less the yarn would break.
Another factor to consider when choosing a worsted weight yarn is what’s written on the fine print. Before putting it in your shopping cart, read the packaging and see important information like the needle size. This way, you can get the best of our worsted wool yarn.
You also have to look at the brand that is providing this worsted wool yarn. If you’re seasoned in knitting, you probably have a brand that you consistently buy wool from. But for beginners, it’s usually better to go for more popular brands. For instance, the Knit Picks Provincial Tweed Worsted Weight Superwash Fine Highland Wool or Lotus Yarns 100% Tibetan Yak Yarn Worsted Weight.
Finally, what your yarn is made of is very important. It’s advisable to go for worsted weight cotton yarn for high quality and durability. Cotton is also known to be very soft and becomes even more comfortable as you wash it. It is also more affordable than many yarn types. Another good material choice is worsted weight wool yarn, like the Knit Picks Wool of The Andes Worsted Weight Yarn.
When using worsted weight yarn for knitting or crocheting, you need the right needle size to make a good project. If you’re making something standard, a needle size of 4.5mm or 7 to 5.5mm or 9 would be a good fit. Then, needle sizes between 3.25 and 4.0mm are ideal for knitting dish towels, pot holders, and socks. If you want to make lacework with worsted weight yarn, use sizes between 6.0 and 8.0mm.
As for crocheting, a G or F hook is perfect for standard work. Making projects that need tight construction, like a potholder, will require an H hook. Then, you can also make drapey projects with worsted weight yarn, using I, J, or K hooks.
Worsted weight yarn can be knitted by hand or using a knitting machine, and so it depends on which one you prefer and what you are used to. As long as you’re skilled, you will end up with a quality project.
Light worsted weight yarn is actually double knitting yarns, while heavy worsted weight yarn is the normal one, also called Aran. The one you choose depends on your project, although the latter is more versatile.
If you’re having trouble choosing a good worsted weight yarn brand, you can go for some of our favorites instead. They include:
Now that you know all that you need about worsted weight yarns, you can pick up a good one from an online store or physical market and start knitting or crocheting with it immediately. Remember to keep important factors in mind and use only reliable brands.
