Yarn Weights Explained: DK, Worsted, Aran, Chunky and More

Yarn weight is how thick the yarn is. Patterns name it in different ways: a number from 0 to 7 (the Craft Yarn Council system), a US name like worsted, a UK name like aran or DK, or an Australian “ply”. Our yarn weight finder turns any of them into the number and the hook to use.

The weights at a glance

• 0 Lace: crochet thread, doilies.
• 1 Super fine: sock and fingering yarn.
• 2 Fine: sport and baby yarn, 5 ply.
• 3 Light: DK, light worsted, 8 ply.
• 4 Medium: worsted and aran, 10 ply. The most common for blankets and amigurumi.
• 5 Bulky: chunky, 12 ply.
• 6 Super bulky and 7 Jumbo: quick, thick projects.

Yarn with no label?

Wrap it round a ruler for one inch, side by side without stretching, and count the wraps: that's wraps per inch (WPI). Type it into the finder and it tells you the weight.

Swapping yarn

You can swap one yarn for another of the same weight. Then check your gauge with the gauge calculator, and see how much you need with the yarn calculator.