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Naturally Fuzzy Yarns

Your little yarn shop in the woods!

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jan@naturallyfuzzy.com

Comparative Yarn Sizes

OK, I've got a pattern I love, but you don't have that yarn - and anyway, I want a better grade of yarn than that!

Jan - help!


OK, here you go! If your pattern calls for a yarn size on the left, you can substitute any of our top-quality yarns in the same category, with little or no adjustment needed!
If you're not sure, call for advice!

Lace-weight
Characteristics:
  • Gauge: varies widely
  • Typical needle size used: #00000 - #8
We stock:
  • Cherry Tree Hill 'Merino Lace'

Sock weight
(aka: 2-Ply, Fingering, Baby-weight)
Characteristics:
  • Yardage: 360 - 480 yards (meters) per 3.5 oz (per 100 g)
  • Knit gauge: 27 - 32 stitches per 4 in (per 10 cm)

    • Typical needle size used: #1 - #3 (2.25 - 3.25 mm)
  • Crochet gauge: 21 - 32 stitches per 4 in (per 10 cm)

    • Typical hook size used: #B1 - #E4 (2.25 - 3.5 mm)
We stock:
  • Cherry Tree Hill 'Super Sock'
  • Done Roving 'Frolicking Feet'
  • French Hill Farm Sock Yarn
  • Schaefer 'Anne'
  • Schaefer 'Heather'

Sport weight
(aka: Baby-weight, 4-Ply, 5-ply, Jumper-weight)
Characteristics:
  • Yardage: 200 - 400 yards (meters) per 3.5 oz (per 100 g)
  • Knit gauge: 23-26 stitches per 4 in (per 10 cm)
    Typical needle size used: #3 - #5 (3.25 - 3.75 mm)
  • Crochet gauge: 16 - 20 stitches per 4 in (per 10 cm)
    Typical hook size used: #E4 - #7 (3.5 - 4.5 mm)
We stock:
    • Cascade 'Sassy Stripes'
    • Cherry Tree Hill 'Superwash Merino'
    • Cherry Tree Hill 'Super Sock'
    • Halcyon 'Victorian Wool'
    • Schachenmeyer 'Regia 6-Ply'
    • Schaefer 'Anne'
    • Schaefer 'Heather'

DK
(aka: light worsted, 8-Ply, double-knit)
Characteristics:
  • Knit gauge: 21 - 24 stitches per 4 in (per 10 cm)
    Typical needle size used: #5 - #7 (3.75 - 4.5 mm)
  • Crochet gauge: 12 - 17 stitches per 4 in (per 10 cm)
    Typical hook size used: #7 - #I9 (4.5 - 5.5 mm)
We stock:
    • Decadent 'Pulled Taffy'
    • Fibre Co. 'Fauna'
    • Fibre Co. 'Khroma DK'
    • Green Mountain Spinnery 'Sylvan Spirit'

Worsted-weight
(aka: Afghan, Aran, 10-Ply, Fisherman, Medium-weight)
Characteristics:
  • Yardage: 125 - 250 yards (meters) per 3.5 oz (per 100 g)
  • Knit gauge: 17-20 stitches per 4 in (per 10 cm)
    Typical needle size used: #7 - #9
  • Crochet gauge: 11 - 14 stitches per 4 in (per 10 cm)
    Typical hook size used: #I9 - K10-1/2 (5.5 - 6.5 mm)
We stock:
    • Bartlett '2-ply'
    • Cherry Tree Hill 'Brushed Mohair'
    • Cherry Tree Hill 'Super Worsted'
    • Decadent 'Pulled Taffy'
    • Fibre Co. 'Khroma Worsted'
    • Green Mountain Spinnery 'Mountain Mohair'
    • ONline 'Clip'

Bulky-weight
(aka: 12-Ply, 14-Ply, Chunky)
Characteristics:
  • Yardage: 80 - 150 yards (meters) per 3.5 oz (per 100 g)
  • Knit gauge: 12-15 stitches per 4 in (per 10 cm)
    Typical needle size used: #9 - #11 (5.5 - 8 mm)
  • Crochet gauge: 12-16 stitches per 4 in (per 10 cm)
    Typical hook size used: #K10-1/2 - #M13 (6.5 - 9 mm)
We stock:
    • Cascade 'Eco+'
    • Cherry Tree Hill 'Bulky'
    • Cherry Tree Hill 'Glitter Thick & Thin'
    • Decadent 'Cookie Dough'
    • Schaefer 'Nancy'

Super-bulky-weight
(aka: Bulky, Chunky, Roving)
Characteristics:
  • Knit gauge: 6 - 11 stitches per 4 in (per 10 cm)
    Typical needle size used: #11 and up (8 mm and up)
  • Crochet gauge: 8 - 11 stitches per 4 in (per 10 cm)
    Typical hook size used: #M13 and up (9 mm and up)
We stock:
    • Decadent 'Crème Puff'

These sizes are pretty subjective! Keep in mind that different spinners use different scales, and that some yarns (mohairs, loopies, and other specialties) may fall into several different categories!


Last updated 02/22/09.