Knitting Needles etc.

Someone gave me a bunch of leftover skeins of yarn, some of which have no labels. I’m not very experienced with knitting or crocheting, so I’d like to know how to tell the difference between worsted weight and sport weight yarn.

FINE: SPORT WEIGHT, BABY YARN is listed as CATEGORY 2
A light weight yarn used for babywear, sweaters, and lighter throws. UK/Australia approximate equivalent: 8 ply

Sport weight yarn and DK (double knitting) weight yarn are often viewed as interchangeable, but they do have a slight difference. As you will see on the criteria listed with the icons to the right, sport weight yarn is a teeny bit lighter or finer than DK weight. Note: the word ’sport’ is not meant in the athletic sense, but rather in the women’s sportswear sense. Use these weights for socks, accessories, shawls, wraps, and heirloom sweaters like those inspired by Norwegian ski clothing.

MEDIUM: WORSTED-WEIGHT, AFGHAN, ARAN YARN is listed as CATEGORY 4
The most popular weight for knitting and crocheting. An ideal weight for throws and many adult garments. UK/Australia approximate equivalent: 10 ply, Aran weight

Worsted weight yarn is the most widely available weight of yarn and the most frequently used. You may think it would be more aptly named ‘bested’ yarn, but the moniker was actually derived from an old town in England. At double the weight of fingering yarn, worsted weight yarn is great for knitters of all skill levels and can be worked into nearly anything. Heavy worsted weight, as you may have guessed, is just a hair heavier than plain old worsted weight. Good for the same range of projects as worsted weight.

http://static.howstuffworks.com/gif/how-to-knit-6.jpg
In the pic on link above :From top to bottom: fingering, or baby, weight yarn; sport weight yarn;
DK weight yarn; worsted weight yarn; bulky, or chunky, weight yarn.

hope this helps.
p.s you can find these explanations and categories on any yarn websites.

4 Responses

1. BriBri Says:
   January 25th, 2010 at 12:58 pm

   Sport weight yarns are usually thinner and lighter weight than worsted weight yarns. When trying to identify sport weight, it will usually be thinner around and lighter, worsted weight is a little bit thicker. Sport weight can be harder to work with than worsted weight.

   Here are some pictures to help you identify what’s what:

   http://www.yarnandfiber.com/catalog/images/cascade/220/9404.jpg -worsted weight wool

   http://www.trilliumvalleyfarm.com/YarnForSale/YarnImages/sport_grey.JPG

   Sport weight is used when making socks or lighter clothes like for babies, worsted weight is the most used yarn and is more popular.

   http://www.yarn-store.com/images/Fibertrends/AC-51.jpg -sport weight socks

   http://bloomdesignstudio.typepad.com/.a/6a011570b4da69970b0120a62e896c970b-800wi -worsted weight socks
   References :
   Hope I clarified…

2. ?mat Says:
   January 25th, 2010 at 1:06 pm

   FINE: SPORT WEIGHT, BABY YARN is listed as CATEGORY 2
   A light weight yarn used for babywear, sweaters, and lighter throws. UK/Australia approximate equivalent: 8 ply

   Sport weight yarn and DK (double knitting) weight yarn are often viewed as interchangeable, but they do have a slight difference. As you will see on the criteria listed with the icons to the right, sport weight yarn is a teeny bit lighter or finer than DK weight. Note: the word ’sport’ is not meant in the athletic sense, but rather in the women’s sportswear sense. Use these weights for socks, accessories, shawls, wraps, and heirloom sweaters like those inspired by Norwegian ski clothing.

   MEDIUM: WORSTED-WEIGHT, AFGHAN, ARAN YARN is listed as CATEGORY 4
   The most popular weight for knitting and crocheting. An ideal weight for throws and many adult garments. UK/Australia approximate equivalent: 10 ply, Aran weight

   Worsted weight yarn is the most widely available weight of yarn and the most frequently used. You may think it would be more aptly named ‘bested’ yarn, but the moniker was actually derived from an old town in England. At double the weight of fingering yarn, worsted weight yarn is great for knitters of all skill levels and can be worked into nearly anything. Heavy worsted weight, as you may have guessed, is just a hair heavier than plain old worsted weight. Good for the same range of projects as worsted weight.

   http://static.howstuffworks.com/gif/how-to-knit-6.jpg
   In the pic on link above :From top to bottom: fingering, or baby, weight yarn; sport weight yarn;
   DK weight yarn; worsted weight yarn; bulky, or chunky, weight yarn.

   hope this helps.
   p.s you can find these explanations and categories on any yarn websites.
   References :

3. Cindy Says:
   January 25th, 2010 at 1:41 pm

   With sport and worsted weight, it matters what size needle you use. Too big a needle will make anything you knit too thin. When you buy yarn, they all have a recommended needle size listed on the label. You might try going to http://www.lionbrandyarn.com. to see what needle sizes they recommend for sport and worsted. They have patterns too where you can list what you want to make and the type of yarn you want to use.
   References :

4. dalbax2 Says:
   January 25th, 2010 at 2:21 pm

   Worsted weight is 4 ply….sport weight is 3 ply.
   References :

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