For those who are struggling with the different weights of yarn . . I think you’re letting it get the best of you. It isn’t hard. Like so many other things, any time you’re confused or don’t understand, google it! I googled “yarn weight” and got lots of information.
This site, by the Craft Yarn Council, is one of the best. You will see that DK weight yarn typically gives 21 – 24 stitches over 4 inches, while Worsted weight is usually 16 – 20 stitches per 4 inches. It’s usually pretty easy to go up or down one level without too many issues.
For instance, the fingerless mitts I’ve been knitting call for DK weight yarn on U. S. 5 needles. The first pair I knitted, I used a Sport weight yarn, which gives 23 – 26 stitches over 4 inches. That’s very close to the DK weight stitches per inch. U. S. needles 3 – 5 are recommended for Sport weight yarn. For the mittens I made, had I been using DK weight yarn, I would have used size 5 needles and made the size medium but for the Sport weight, I used size 4 needles and still made the size medium and it worked out perfectly.
If you need want to use a different weight yarn from what’s recommended in the pattern, you may need to adjust the needle size and/or the number of stitches/rows.
Always do a swatch but if you’re making a pattern and the gauge says you should have 18 stitches over 4 inches using a size 8 needle, and you’re using a smaller weight yarn, you may not want to go up to the size needle that will yield 18 stitches over 4 inches so, in that case, you may decide that you like the fabric created when using a size 5 needles and it may yield 24 stitches over 4 inches. In that case, you will need to do a little math to make everything work out.
This is exactly the reason that I love math. Not everyone loves math but you have two choices — figure out a way to love math, simply because of the benefits math provides, or you can follow a pattern exactly as written by someone else . . right down to using the exact weight yarn and needles they recommend.
There are articles and apps out there that will help you figure out how to convert a pattern from one weight yarn to another. I don’t have a favorite or one that I would recommend but here are a few you might check out.
Gaugefy – app
Knittrick – app
How to Substitute Yarns – article
Adapting a Pattern for a Different Weight Yarn – article
A Field Guide to Yarn Substitutions – article
My best advice . . try it! You’re using yarn! You can rip it out if it doesn’t work but if you don’t try, you’ll never know what you can do.
Linda says
Thanks so much. Weight, yarn and body, has always given me trouble. Putting them all under favorites for future use.
Lee Ann says
Thank you. This is very helpful.
Joanna says
Hi Judy,
Thanks for the helpful post and encouragement to us less confident knitters. I will bookmark it for future reference.
Joanna
PS So glad to hear that Boots has calmed down and become a sweet addition to your home!
Karen says
Thanks for this info and references. It always takes a while and my brain hurts a little once I make adjustments.
Diane says
Thanks! I have learned a lot since starting this adventure in April. I have discovered that in quilting it was years before I ventured from the pattern as written, but in knitting I am already changing it up.
patti says
i am in the baby steps of knitting socks with encouragement from you. i have the most important things lined up… a pattern, needles, and a friend to help guide me.
THEN i went to (several) stores looking for the yarn she suggested. overload/overwhelm! i’ve bought two different skeins so far which were both wrong, but saw the exact brand and type yarn in the joann’s flyer so am heading there tuesday. if i weren’t so intent in doing this, i would’ve quit by now.
this article has made a little more sense of yarn differences, altho i don’t know the terminology well enough yet. i’m a math person so should be able to figure it out eventually. thank goodness i already know the knitting basics (made an afghan many years ago), i just want to make some socks.
Lynn Dykstra says
Judy, One of the best tips I read on knitting is when swatching yarns, on the cast off tail make the same number of knots as the needle size used in making the swatch. So, using Size 6 needles, 6 knots. That way, when setting it aside because another project takes its place, the information is contained right in the swatch.