I'm old-ish, 68 tomorrow, Yay. My favourite is 4 ply now that 3 ply comes only in boring pastel shades. When I was little it was common and I love the definition and amount of stitches you can get per inch on the needles for colour work. Sadly those days are gone with lace weight too fine and 4 ply as little thick for many of my stash of inherited patterns. Incidentally, now nearly 99 and blind, my mother still knits by feel rather than vision. She can carry a huge range of patterns and stitches in her head, turning out lace stitch baby clothes in pastel 3 ply from memory because she has been knitting them since childhood, though she now relies on me to block and sew them up. Strange as she no longer remembers what she ate three hours before, but what a joy for her to be able to still have a hobby now that she can't get around, read or do other things she used to enjoy. Keep knitting, people!
I can never remember how the weights go in order until I heard someone say, "Let Friends Say Dumb Words Always." Lace Fingering Sport DK Worsted Aran I really enjoy a good DK sweater but I do like a nice fingering weight as well.
Great explanations of yarn weight. Being in the US, but loving UK yarns, I was always a bit confused by Aran and our #4 weight (which is also called Worsted weight SOMETIMES). I think I can keep it all straight now... Thank you!
This has been this best video I have come across explaining this! The example balls and cakes, the example needles, the background story and the difference between UK and US language. The help and relief I felt from this video cannot even be put into words 🥰🥰THANK YOU
Aww Akasha! what a lovely message to read. That has made my day! If ever you need anything asked, or ideas for for content you would like to see, just message!!
Thank you SO MUCH! This is incredibly helpful. And it really shows that what is MOST important is your gauge swatch, the needles size you use, and personal knitting tension. So, it's not always the case that you can't make something if you have an Aran rather than a worsted yarn. Knit it up your swatch, check the gauge, and you might be in luck. You've given me a lot of confidence. Thank you!
Aww thank you Jeni! and YES! Exactly that. Thrilled - go for it!!!! Keep us updated of any new projects! I do a LIVE once a month on the channel. Would be lovely to hear what you get up to. Stuart
Aside from listening to your lovely UK😊 accents, I am so grateful for this video! Here in the US when I'm on Ravelry, I have so many questions about the tension/gauge of yarn, and because people use both UK and US terms, I get so confused.😵💫 Thank you so much for posting this informative video~ you have a new subscriber❣️ 💞🇬🇧🇺🇸💞
Awww I'm thrilled this has helped. It can be so confusing can't it. Now I see 'sport' weight really coming into fashion too so we'll be seeing that more and more. Thank you for your kind words. I did this video a long time ago too and it's still coming in handy for people. Cheers
heehee - cheers Carol! Lovely having you watch. Your feedback is much appreciated. I need to make a few more vids like this. So if there's anything that's always puzzled you let me know! Stuart
I am a Crochet person because when my gran tried to teach me knitting and crochet, my knitting always had holes in it. So I reasoned that as crochet is meant to have holes in it, I would stick to that!@@TheWoolpatch
Thank you for telling me that 8ply is the same as DK. Yarns. I have lots of DK yarns but I received a book of 8 ply patterns for Xmas. I can do these patterns with DK now thanks to you.
It used to be in Britain, 2ply for lace, 3ply for fine babies knits, 4ply for fine ladies or children's jumpers, double knitting,or eight ply ,for thicker jumpers and cardigans, Aran for thick jumpers, worsted or five ply for gurnseys or ganseys. Shetland two ply was equal to four ply.
Yes, I very much agree. I have a big customer base in their 60's+ who will only use 4ply for gamrnets. They wouldn't ever use Chunky. I get the odd customer asking for 3ply but sadly it is not asked for enough to stock. Yes, the good o gansey! Aran is very popular at my shop. I'm actually looking at stocking some sort of Shetland - Jameisons or someone. Are you a knitter Peter? Stuart
Do you know which one they used for sock knitting? I knit only socks, 4 ply fingering weight, and wonder if Britain uses more ply. Thank you from BC Canada.
i am watching from the United States, Tennessee. I work on looms. I have recently joined a group in the United Kingdom. The work they share is AWESOME! I have been asking them about yarn weight and didn't understand what they said until now. I hope to be able to adapt a knitting pattern to work up on a loom. I have also ordered yarn from the UK. I won't be able to order often (the cost of shipping gave me heart palpitations!), but now I know what to look for to make my shopping easier. Thank you both so very much!!!
What a lovely comment to read Pat! Thanks. I'm thrilled that the video has helped in some way! If ever you want anything clarified, just comment or email me at the shop. As for shipping....I know. I try and keep my prices down regardless and now I only have 2 prices regardless of the weight. Happy weaving! Stuart
Oh this a lovely comment to come to and read! Thank you very much for taking the time to let me know. If you need any other information or need anything else demystified, let me know :). Stuart
Thank you for this, i’ve knitted for years but was taught on a minimal budget so have never paid attention to weights etc and just used what is there and cheap, older with a bit more money now so I have been buying some nicer yarn then realising it won’t work for what i’m doing. This is helpful.
Glad it helped! The wonders of TH-cam hey. And good on you for still finding the time to do some knitting!!! Just shout if you ever want any information. Stuart
Love a good yarn history!! This video really helped answer my questions and gave the why behind yarn labels/info. It was fun to watch too. Thank you!!! I will be back to your channel.
I'm glad it helped! Thanks for your kind words and feedback and welcome to the channel! We love that our fans come from all over the world so welcome from South Africa! 👌👍Hope you enjoy - Stuart
Brilliant job guys just what I needed to know. Its got very competitive since we are all involved in knitting. I live in New Zealand and I am not sure but possibly 40 or so years ago, we did what the Brits were doing so this is interesting. Good old internet and TH-cam. Thank you for your help.
Yes, this was 'Sweet As' thanks guys as we say in NZ. I have inherited a lot of Mums UK needles which is easy to check, but always wondered if worsted was DK. Now that I'm older (50) I have the patience for gauge squares which has stopped my mid project 'it's not the right size' abandonment issues that I had in my youth.
Loved your video and the so very helpful explanations on yarn weights. Looking forward to watching and learning from your great collection of videos. Cheers!
Aww thanks Kimberly, Glad it helped, when I was researching this topic for a video I found there was't much out there, and those that are, were mainly American. So I think this filled a gap! Thanks for letting me know, it means a lot. Stuart
Thank you, I just started knitting and I had no ideal what I was doing. 😁 I actually doubled up 2 DK yarns to knit a scarf with size 6 needles. It came out decent at the end 😁
That was so informative and funny! We are still finding our way through the knitting maze .. So many new terms and techniques to explore. I like a 4 ply and WYS is a fav at the moment and Emma(Curly one) likes big balls of Aran . Glad to have found your channel. Tracey(Curly two)
Aww thanks for your kind words Tracey - from one curly to another :) I'm still new to the knitting world myself - have learned it all over the past 4 years. So many terms and techniques. WYS is a fave for me. Love the Country Birds Signature 4ply. Yes, I just watched one of your vids with the HUGE balls of Aran and am in the middle of leaving a comment. Lovely jumper!!! Glad I've found your channel too! TH-cam and Instagram is a wonderful thing for us crafters and learners. Stuart (Curly three haha)
Thank Jen, Oh my generalisations where nothing compared to the history that's out there! All well here - spent the day editing the next vlog. What are you up to? Stuart
Glad it's helped! The wonders of TH-cam! Good luck with the crochet. I love crocheting! I'm doing a crochet blanket as we speak with DK Cotton. Lots of granny squares with motifs on - for kids. Love it.
Thanks for another great video! I had no idea that the UK had a needle numbering system different from the US system. Your numbers get smaller as the needle gets bigger, and ours is the other way around. Let's just all agree to be metric. :) In the UK (at least Scotland) there's also lace weight yarn, but I reckon not many shops carry it since not many of us have the patience for those beautiful lace-weight shawls.
Yeah, Metric all the way. Though the US still love Imperial in the patchwork word. Good point on the lace weight, it does take an age to knit up - a certain type of patience needed for that...I'm still going with my 4ply Paris Toujour! I'm now closed and in Social distancing here in the UK in a bid to flattern the curve. 12 weeks!!! Plenty of time to get this shawl nailed!! Stuart
Thanks Gwyn, I'm glad it helped, I would say 4ply and fingering are in the same category, it seems to me (from my experience at the shop with brands etc) that 4ply is mainly a British term, and Fingering is a US term. Some brands would say that fingering is a little 'lighter' than 4ply, but I don't think there is much in it. Maybe if it was a fingering 'single' then yes, that would be a little thinner than a general 4ply. It also seem that the term fingering is often associated with indie dyed yarn in hanks and has connotations of 'high end' compared to the term 4ply which is usually used with commercial companies. :) Stuart
Hi, so glad I’ve found your video……..you’ve explained brilliantly in a manner I can get to grips with. Many thanks from a new subscriber looking forward to catching up with more of your videos. Happy Christmas 🤗🤶🎄🧶
What a wonderful comment to come to! Thank you Lynda and I'm thrilled it helped. I know what TH-cam can be like and some people no matter how well it's filmed, I still struggle to comprehend, yet others, a different style and 'boom' I understand. Thank you also for taking the time to subscribe too. It helps my bricks and mortar shop no end. Thanks. Stuart :) (if you ever want specific videos just let me know :)
Lovely to hear thanks Leslie! This was before covid, so the shows have changed a lot and I don't see Áine as much so it's just me. But there is plenty in the back catalogue with us both. It was Áine that got me into it at the start! Any questions just shout and thanks for subscribing. Any video requests just say :). Stuart
Amazing! I’m Brazilian and I bought a pattern from an Australian girl who put “fingering weight cotton” in it and I had noooo idea what she was talking about but your video clarified it perfectly! Even though I crochet I guess I now know for sure what size hook to use. She asks for 4ply fingering weight cotton yarn for the size small (UK 8) so I understand that I must use a 4mm crochet hook, is that correct? Or maybe a 3,5mm to make the stiches more close I want to make a dress for myself and I’m really excited about this pattern 😍 Greetings from Brazil! 🇧🇷
Greetings from the UK! thank you for leaving such a lovely comment - I'm thrilled it was able to help. So a 4ply /fingering yarn, I'd actually usually use 3.50, or 3.25 or 3mm. (UK 8 is imperial, that's equivalent to 4mm metric - Id usually use 4mm hook for that) But you are right to say go down a hook size to make the stitches more close, especially if it's a toy and you are going to stuff it. So I'd try 3mm. Give it a test and see what the first few rows look like. You won't want the stuffing to show through. However...if it's for a garment, like a nice top to wear in the summer, then, actually having a 4mm hook may be nicer, it will make what you make, floppyier, drapeyier, and look loose. Does that help? If not, give me an email and I'll help further. info@thewoolpatch.com. :). Stuart
Thank you so much for sharing this. I'm a beginner in both crochet and knitting and this has been a big help in clearing up the confusion. I've been working with super chunky to knit a cardi but for my next project i would like to try a different yarn weight. What does everyone recommend?
Aww thanks for letting us know Mary! You're very welcome. As for your next project. Why not try 4ply/Fingering weight for a shawl or a scarf. Take a look at the ZickZack Scarf on one of my latest vids th-cam.com/video/W7sL763QQaE/w-d-xo.html. 22mins in. It's all knit, and just has a simple increase/decrease to make the chevrons. It's great fun to do! Stuart
Haha good to hear....well not about your knitting however! Just shout/email if you ever have queries!! Don't worry either about the knitting unravelling....still happens to me and Iv'e been knitting a few years now hahaha.
Ooo now I can't remember what I said on the video! and now I'm doubting what I said haha. Did I say 2 strands of DK? 2 stands of DK held together would really be replacing a chunky yarn weight - which you would call weight 5 or 6. 2 strands of 4ply, make 8ply which would be DK. Let me know. Hope I've not confused things more! Stuart
I sure can. Worsted Weight or No 4 is in between our DK and Aran weight. So you you could buy a thick DK and which could work for a Worsted, or you could by a thin aran and get away with it. Does depend on the yarn. I'm sure you know that some companies Aran is another companies DK - the sizing can differ a lot between yarns of the same 'weight'. You would have to do a swatch. When I was knitting 'The Montrealer' by Design by Delz - it asked for a worsted weight yarn. I tried Drops Nepal on a 5mm needle, but it was a thick aran and too big. So I tried a DK which was a 'thicker' DK compared to some and it worked a treat. Hope that helps :) Stuart
You’re very welcome! Great question!! big Big wool is the next category after Super chunky!! So I’d call that super super chunky haha. Think that’s what Rowan must have been thinking and called it big big wool. So super chunky is anywhere around 9mm to 10mm so big big wool - 12mm needles for sure
brilliant i am new to punch needle ,i was using Aran as it was 5mm perfect for my needle ,i can use chunky as well but the wasted one yea ha thats just as good ,i learned everything from this little vid and it was fun too ,subbed 100% wil check out more vids ty :)
AWw thank you for your kind words! Thrilled to hear the video helped. The beauty of TH-cam hey! Anything you want to know about, let me know and I'll do another vid. Cheers
@TheWoolpatch I always thought the hook sizes directly corresponded to the needle sizes - i.e., a mm is a mm no matter which type of device you use. Is that not true???
Yes your correct here, if you’re using dk yarn which recommends 4mm then a 4mm in a needle or a hook is the size too use. Just not everyone is aware of this. However there is great chance of this changing a little due to tension issues in crochet. I’ve found tension varies a lot more in crochet than knitting. 👍🏼👍🏼
I would indeed and it’s not just me saying that - many other crafters would say the same. However just a note - you do have to consider your own tension with crochet. I find this differs more from person to person than knitting. So if you’re a tight crocheter then go up a hook. You may also want to deviate from this if you want a more ‘Lacey effect’ so for example - the virus shawl, which is a lovely crochet garment (very apt too) I would use a 4mm hook for a standard DK yarn (like a 4mm knitting needle) but if I wanted the shawl to be a bit more wafty and ‘holeyer’ I may experiment with crocheting it up with a 4.5mm or a 5mm hook - it will be come out bigger too and floppyer. (And use more yarn however) hope that helps. 👍🏼👍🏼
I was trying to follow a crochet tutorial for baby booties she had a euro accent many Irish anyway she says the yarn is 3 and then says it's 4ply and that it's baby yarn . I have a 3 yarn I tried it the chain was so tiny compared to hers and I can't help to wonder if the yarn effects what I'm doing. I got the stitches down fast I'm good at following along st for st but wonder if the yarn is throwing me off.
Hey Aries, thanks for the message. Sorry for the delay, you've probably sorted it by now. 3ply and 4ply is very popular for baby booties yes. Baby yarn isn't really anything special. Just a commercial/marketing tool. If it's marketed as baby yarn, it tends to be acrylic or some sort of man made fibre and not wool. I expect if yours was much smaller than hers and you were using 3ply, then I expect she was using 4ply. And yes, the yarn can effect what you're doing and the end result. Depends on how it's spun and how you move your hand, do the yarn overs. I've found with some yarns, I literally 'unply' it due to the motion of my hand and hooking the yarn, it can go 'against' the way the yarn has been made. So it could be that. How have you got on anyway? Stuart
I am French so the UK names were very confusing to me :) this is helpful thanks 🤍 I bought a British brand King Cole summer 4ply yarn and was wondering if it's the same as fingering weight yarn? It's so thin :) very lovely end result after crocheting by the way it's a cotton, silk mix very soft.
Thrilled this been helpful for you. This is the wonder of TH-cam. 4ply is in the same category as Fingering. The Americans will use the term fingering more than here in the UK, and also, Indie Dyers will often use 'fingering yarn' for 4ply. HOWEVER - if you go into even more detail, you could argue that technically, fingering weight is a little thinner than 4ply - but again, depends on the company who has spun the yarn. In general however, 4ply and Fingering - same. I'm a fan of King Cole and stock a few of their yarns in my shop. Cotton is lovely and can be even more drapey when done with a bigger hook. Happy Crocheting! Stuart :)
Wow,, 10 ply, how would they ply it, ply 5 strnds with another 5? I knit with 4 ply and ply 2 with another 2 ply but those are even number. 5 ply would do something to the yarn I would think. Interesting video that's making me think, thank you!
Not sure how they would ply it to be honest, all I know is that it takes lots of work and a lot more twists, hence shy we don't see actual 10ply yarn anymore because of the work needed. It would be sooooo warm though! Glad you enjoyed it! Happy Knitting.
@@TheWoolpatch Thank you for your reply. Being a wool spinner I will attempt a 10 ply yarn for the fun of it Since I spin thin yarns with lots of twst to knit socks with, if 10 ply is warmer, this is what we need up here in northern BC. All the best.
Depends really - fingering/4ply and DK is what I see used often. Some people will use two yarns together through the gun to get a real full effect. Get yarn on a cone or wind it yourself into a ball as this helps. It's such a good effect. I can't wait to try this myself, way easier and quicker than by hand using a punch needle :) Stuart
You're very welcome. Thanks for taking the time to let us know - much appreciated. As for recommendation, I'm a firm believer in knitting/crocheting with whatever yarn that 'sings to your heart' when buying. So if a colour jumps out at you, or you fall in love with the softness of another yarn then get it, regardless - then find a pattern. 4ply yarn makes for wonderful shawls.....you get lovely stitch definition, but it takes much longer to knit/crochet up. A chunky yarn much quicker, but you'll get a different 'drape' and 'feel' of fabric when complete. So if I was looking, I'd look at 4ply's and choose a yarn from that category! hope that helps. Good Luck! Stuart
It's an odd one isn't it. Sport weight or 5ply as it's often called elsewhere in the world is thicker than 4ply (hence the 5ply name) but not as thick as DK. a 3.5/3.75 needle maybe. Basically a thin DK or a thick 4ply haha.
Oh sorry Peter, just re-read your comment again and think you weren't asking me what sport weight was....you were just saying that no one in the states couldn't tell you what sport weight was. Sorry, if I was patronising in the first comment, wasn't my intention if this was what you meant :). Stuart
Hahaha 😄Now I came here to learn about these different terms after knitting in English for over 30 years. Inspect the chunky yarn I'm knitting a hat with a bit closer and see it has four plies. I give up and just keep knitting 😂
You sure can. It will just take you a long time as traditional 4ply (not the actual plies but the name) is thin. It's below DK. Yardage is very good on balls of 4ply. You'll have to cast on lots of stitches, so I'd use circular needles with an 80cm/100cm cable for ease. Remember you can use any yarn to knit in. you use whatever you like to work with. :) hope that helps. Stuart
Does anybody know what weight 4 yarn is? My pattern asks for this but can't find anywhere what this is eg double knit, chunky or whatever. I am in the UK & wool usually is in ply.
Thanks for your question Gill....hmmmmmmmm now that has me stumped. We can work it out however.....what needles does the pattern ask for and does it give a yarn? Let me know which one (or both) and I'll work it out for you. Also let me know the pattern too. I'd love to help - love a challenge. Stuart (you can email me too if that helps, stuart@thewoolpatch.com
Hey, thanks for your comment. I'm not sure what you are saying. Sorry. When you twisted it? Or did you mean when you untwisted it you saw 3 plies? Yarns can be made up of many plies. Yes, in the olden days, DK literally was doulble knit so had 8 plies, but now with machines and tech, DK can have 1 ply, or 3, or whatever. Same with Aran. Each company will spin their yarns differently and have different plies. So that's why '4ply yarn' or fingering weight yarn can throw many people due to this reason. If I've still got misunderstood your question, just comment again and I'll try again. Stuart - Thanks for watching :)
You just need to approach the companies as you’ll need to buy wholesale. you have to decide who you want to sell, what yarn you like…are you going acrylic? Wool? So think of brands like king cole, sirdar or Rowan etc or are you going indie dyers and high end with hanks? Some wholesalers won’t sell to people who are selling from their ‘house’ however. Some will only sell if you have a bricks and mortar shop. Hope that helps
@@TheWoolpatch I was thinking of cygnet because they do 100% acrylic but also I needed the yarn to be very chunky. I went on their website and submitted my email but I'm not sure how to contact they directly. I will also be selling my items online, in person and in stalls do you still think they would class me as a 'home' seller? If so do you know the wording I can get around that?
Ooo not heard of DK 4 (not sure if that was a typo) DK is 8ply. Some places (Australia/New Zealand) call is 8ply rather than like us calling it Double Knit (DK). America has their own numbering system, and 3 is the same as DK. 4 would be Worsted (a slightly thicker DK) But some companies DK is another companies thin worsted. That help? Just message if you need more. Stuart
Ohmygosh, the mystery has finally been solved about 2 ply 4 ply 8 ply aran n dk finally explained with comparisons of thicker yarn still!! American yarn is so confusing to me n im American, 😳
Aww I’m thrilled it’s helped and everything now is demystified….i may do another on 5ply - as I’m now muddled with this and where it sits….happy knitting. 👍🏼👍🏼
Years ago you had a thing called 'crochet cotton' and my nan, and many in that generation only crocheted with cotton. It was sooooo thin! You can still get it. Quite big in Europe still but many yarn shops won't stock it as it just doesn't sell. Most people now crochet with ANY yarn. So yeah, these yarns I talk about use for Crochet. Use whatever you like, Linen, Wool, Acrylic, Mixes, Alpaca etc. I go with colours I like or what it feels like, and also cost! So go for it and crochet with what ever you like :). Hope that helps. Stuart
What's your favourite weight yarn to use? Mine's Aran.
Chunky. As a nervous new knitter I feel safer using it. Also I see project happening quicker.
I'm old-ish, 68 tomorrow, Yay. My favourite is 4 ply now that 3 ply comes only in boring pastel shades. When I was little it was common and I love the definition and amount of stitches you can get per inch on the needles for colour work. Sadly those days are gone with lace weight too fine and 4 ply as little thick for many of my stash of inherited patterns.
Incidentally, now nearly 99 and blind, my mother still knits by feel rather than vision. She can carry a huge range of patterns and stitches in her head, turning out lace stitch baby clothes in pastel 3 ply from memory because she has been knitting them since childhood, though she now relies on me to block and sew them up. Strange as she no longer remembers what she ate three hours before, but what a joy for her to be able to still have a hobby now that she can't get around, read or do other things she used to enjoy.
Keep knitting, people!
That's also mine
I can never remember how the weights go in order until I heard someone say, "Let Friends Say Dumb Words Always."
Lace
Fingering
Sport
DK
Worsted
Aran
I really enjoy a good DK sweater but I do like a nice fingering weight as well.
Now as an ex teacher this is perfect! Great way of remembering haha. Yeah fingering/4ply Is lovely - the definition. But I think Aran has got my heart
Great explanations of yarn weight. Being in the US, but loving UK yarns, I was always a bit confused by Aran and our #4 weight (which is also called Worsted weight SOMETIMES). I think I can keep it all straight now... Thank you!
This has been this best video I have come across explaining this!
The example balls and cakes, the example needles, the background story and the difference between UK and US language.
The help and relief I felt from this video cannot even be put into words
🥰🥰THANK YOU
Aww Akasha! what a lovely message to read. That has made my day! If ever you need anything asked, or ideas for for content you would like to see, just message!!
Thank you SO MUCH! This is incredibly helpful. And it really shows that what is MOST important is your gauge swatch, the needles size you use, and personal knitting tension. So, it's not always the case that you can't make something if you have an Aran rather than a worsted yarn. Knit it up your swatch, check the gauge, and you might be in luck. You've given me a lot of confidence. Thank you!
Aww thank you Jeni! and YES! Exactly that. Thrilled - go for it!!!! Keep us updated of any new projects! I do a LIVE once a month on the channel. Would be lovely to hear what you get up to. Stuart
Aside from listening to your lovely UK😊 accents, I am so grateful for this video!
Here in the US when I'm on Ravelry, I have so many questions about the tension/gauge of yarn, and because people use both UK and US terms, I get so confused.😵💫 Thank you so much for posting this informative video~ you have a new subscriber❣️
💞🇬🇧🇺🇸💞
Awww I'm thrilled this has helped. It can be so confusing can't it. Now I see 'sport' weight really coming into fashion too so we'll be seeing that more and more. Thank you for your kind words. I did this video a long time ago too and it's still coming in handy for people. Cheers
Thank you for this easy to understand video! With naughty bits!
heehee - cheers Carol! Lovely having you watch. Your feedback is much appreciated. I need to make a few more vids like this. So if there's anything that's always puzzled you let me know! Stuart
I am a Crochet person because when my gran tried to teach me knitting and crochet, my knitting always had holes in it. So I reasoned that as crochet is meant to have holes in it, I would stick to that!@@TheWoolpatch
Haha brilliant!
Thank you for telling me that 8ply is the same as DK. Yarns. I have lots of DK yarns but I received a book of 8 ply patterns for Xmas. I can do these patterns with DK now thanks to you.
Wonderful news! That's the beauty of TH-cam hey, so much information out there. Glad to be of help. Happy knitting :) Stuart
I would do a test swatch first to be sure.
It used to be in Britain, 2ply for lace, 3ply for fine babies knits, 4ply for fine ladies or children's jumpers, double knitting,or eight ply ,for thicker jumpers and cardigans, Aran for thick jumpers, worsted or five ply for gurnseys or ganseys. Shetland two ply was equal to four ply.
Yes, I very much agree. I have a big customer base in their 60's+ who will only use 4ply for gamrnets. They wouldn't ever use Chunky. I get the odd customer asking for 3ply but sadly it is not asked for enough to stock. Yes, the good o gansey! Aran is very popular at my shop. I'm actually looking at stocking some sort of Shetland - Jameisons or someone. Are you a knitter Peter? Stuart
Do you know which one they used for sock knitting? I knit only socks, 4 ply fingering weight, and wonder if Britain uses more ply. Thank you from BC Canada.
4ply/fingering weight is used for socks on the whole and yarn with 25% nylon in for the strength. 👍🏼👍🏼
@@TheWoolpatch Thank you for the repy, was wnndering if there was another weight they used that might be fun to try and spin. Have a good one.
Been knitting since the age of eight , now in my seventies, always preferred 3ply, but you can't get the colours now.
i am watching from the United States, Tennessee. I work on looms. I have recently joined a group in the United Kingdom. The work they share is AWESOME! I have been asking them about yarn weight and didn't understand what they said until now. I hope to be able to adapt a knitting pattern to work up on a loom. I have also ordered yarn from the UK. I won't be able to order often (the cost of shipping gave me heart palpitations!), but now I know what to look for to make my shopping easier. Thank you both so very much!!!
What a lovely comment to read Pat! Thanks. I'm thrilled that the video has helped in some way! If ever you want anything clarified, just comment or email me at the shop. As for shipping....I know. I try and keep my prices down regardless and now I only have 2 prices regardless of the weight. Happy weaving! Stuart
Excellent video. As an American living in the UK, this has been an extremely insightful video. I especially love the bit of history. Thank you!
Oh this a lovely comment to come to and read! Thank you very much for taking the time to let me know. If you need any other information or need anything else demystified, let me know :). Stuart
Thank you for this, i’ve knitted for years but was taught on a minimal budget so have never paid attention to weights etc and just used what is there and cheap, older with a bit more money now so I have been buying some nicer yarn then realising it won’t work for what i’m doing. This is helpful.
Glad it helped! The wonders of TH-cam hey. And good on you for still finding the time to do some knitting!!! Just shout if you ever want any information. Stuart
Thank you, it is enlightening and very helpful!
We have something called triple knit here in NZ. I was confused but know I understand that it's just like DK but with an additional 4 strands
Oh wow! Triple Knit! so that's chunky weight then? I bet that will be anice warn to knit with all those strands...very warm?
Love a good yarn history!! This video really helped answer my questions and gave the why behind yarn labels/info. It was fun to watch too. Thank you!!! I will be back to your channel.
Why thank you very much Jan for your kind words and for watching and taking the time to comment! Cheers :)
ah ha!! Know I also know!! What a wonderful tutorial!!! Was very informative!! You have a new Fan all the way from South Africa George!! ❤️🧶🇿🇦
I'm glad it helped! Thanks for your kind words and feedback and welcome to the channel! We love that our fans come from all over the world so welcome from South Africa! 👌👍Hope you enjoy - Stuart
Brilliant job guys just what I needed to know. Its got very competitive since we are all involved in knitting. I live in New Zealand and I am not sure but possibly 40 or so years ago, we did what the Brits were doing so this is interesting. Good old internet and TH-cam. Thank you for your help.
Yes, this was 'Sweet As' thanks guys as we say in NZ. I have inherited a lot of Mums UK needles which is easy to check, but always wondered if worsted was DK. Now that I'm older (50) I have the patience for gauge squares which has stopped my mid project 'it's not the right size' abandonment issues that I had in my youth.
Loved your video and the so very helpful explanations on yarn weights. Looking forward to watching and learning from your great collection of videos. Cheers!
Aww thanks Kimberly, Glad it helped, when I was researching this topic for a video I found there was't much out there, and those that are, were mainly American. So I think this filled a gap! Thanks for letting me know, it means a lot. Stuart
Thank you, I just started knitting and I had no ideal what I was doing. 😁 I actually doubled up 2 DK yarns to knit a scarf with size 6 needles. It came out decent at the end 😁
You're very welcome! If you get stuck at all, comment or email me, I'd be happy to help. I bet hold 2 DK yarns made it nice and squishy too!! Stuart
Fabulous explanation ! Thank you so much ♥️
Aww I'm pleased! Thank you for watching and taking the time to let me know. Stuart
Thank you heaps for this excellent video. Very clear and helpful. I’m grateful
Awwthanks for letting me know Meryle! Please it's helped in someway :). Stuart
Thank you so much. Perfect explanation. There I’d so much to learn❤
You're very welcome! There is....I'm still learning myself!
Thank you so much guys! Super useful
Wonderful! Glad it helped in someway! Thanks for letting us know...much appreciated. :). Stuart
That was so informative and funny! We are still finding our way through the knitting maze .. So many new terms and techniques to explore. I like a 4 ply and WYS is a fav at the moment and Emma(Curly one) likes big balls of Aran . Glad to have found your channel. Tracey(Curly two)
Aww thanks for your kind words Tracey - from one curly to another :) I'm still new to the knitting world myself - have learned it all over the past 4 years. So many terms and techniques. WYS is a fave for me. Love the Country Birds Signature 4ply. Yes, I just watched one of your vids with the HUGE balls of Aran and am in the middle of leaving a comment. Lovely jumper!!! Glad I've found your channel too! TH-cam and Instagram is a wonderful thing for us crafters and learners. Stuart (Curly three haha)
@@TheWoolpatch Fantastic, I didn't realise you had a TH-cam podcast as well, how exciting. That's my morning sorted then! Emma (Curly One) x
Awesome as ever - The Dynamic Duo! And I learnt so much about yarn history - thank you, my chicks - and please keep well! Jen ❤️❤️
Thank Jen, Oh my generalisations where nothing compared to the history that's out there! All well here - spent the day editing the next vlog. What are you up to? Stuart
Thank you, that was super helpful! I'm a relatively new crocheter and have only used DK so far but wondered what the difference is between the yarns x
Glad it's helped! The wonders of TH-cam! Good luck with the crochet. I love crocheting! I'm doing a crochet blanket as we speak with DK Cotton. Lots of granny squares with motifs on - for kids. Love it.
Thanks for another great video! I had no idea that the UK had a needle numbering system different from the US system. Your numbers get smaller as the needle gets bigger, and ours is the other way around. Let's just all agree to be metric. :) In the UK (at least Scotland) there's also lace weight yarn, but I reckon not many shops carry it since not many of us have the patience for those beautiful lace-weight shawls.
Yeah, Metric all the way. Though the US still love Imperial in the patchwork word. Good point on the lace weight, it does take an age to knit up - a certain type of patience needed for that...I'm still going with my 4ply Paris Toujour! I'm now closed and in Social distancing here in the UK in a bid to flattern the curve. 12 weeks!!! Plenty of time to get this shawl nailed!! Stuart
This is so helpful and cleared up a lot of confusion, thank you! Just wondering if UK '4-ply' yarn is the same as 'fingering weight'?
Thanks Gwyn, I'm glad it helped, I would say 4ply and fingering are in the same category, it seems to me (from my experience at the shop with brands etc) that 4ply is mainly a British term, and Fingering is a US term. Some brands would say that fingering is a little 'lighter' than 4ply, but I don't think there is much in it. Maybe if it was a fingering 'single' then yes, that would be a little thinner than a general 4ply. It also seem that the term fingering is often associated with indie dyed yarn in hanks and has connotations of 'high end' compared to the term 4ply which is usually used with commercial companies. :) Stuart
@@TheWoolpatch thanks so much, that makes sense now! 😊
Awesome info. I finally understand
Glad it was helpful!
Hi, so glad I’ve found your video……..you’ve explained brilliantly in a manner I can get to grips with. Many thanks from a new subscriber looking forward to catching up with more of your videos. Happy Christmas 🤗🤶🎄🧶
What a wonderful comment to come to! Thank you Lynda and I'm thrilled it helped. I know what TH-cam can be like and some people no matter how well it's filmed, I still struggle to comprehend, yet others, a different style and 'boom' I understand. Thank you also for taking the time to subscribe too. It helps my bricks and mortar shop no end. Thanks. Stuart :) (if you ever want specific videos just let me know :)
Loved how you guys explained this subject...I just subscribed
Lovely to hear thanks Leslie! This was before covid, so the shows have changed a lot and I don't see Áine as much so it's just me. But there is plenty in the back catalogue with us both. It was Áine that got me into it at the start! Any questions just shout and thanks for subscribing. Any video requests just say :). Stuart
@@TheWoolpatch Sorry to hear to lost your partner in crime. But it's a new year and a time to start a new chapter in life. Best wishes😃
This is so helpful. I was very confused.
Wonderful to hear Clare! It is sometimes be very overwhelming, so glad it helped :). Stuart
It would be nice to see examples of what was made out of these yarns just to see how they make up.
Ahh what a good idea Kaz - I'll have to do another video sometime doing that!
Thanks, this was really useful!
Wonderful to hear! Thanks for letting me know :) Stuart
Amazing! I’m Brazilian and I bought a pattern from an Australian girl who put “fingering weight cotton” in it and I had noooo idea what she was talking about but your video clarified it perfectly!
Even though I crochet I guess I now know for sure what size hook to use. She asks for 4ply fingering weight cotton yarn for the size small (UK 8) so I understand that I must use a 4mm crochet hook, is that correct? Or maybe a 3,5mm to make the stiches more close
I want to make a dress for myself and I’m really excited about this pattern 😍
Greetings from Brazil! 🇧🇷
Greetings from the UK! thank you for leaving such a lovely comment - I'm thrilled it was able to help. So a 4ply /fingering yarn, I'd actually usually use 3.50, or 3.25 or 3mm. (UK 8 is imperial, that's equivalent to 4mm metric - Id usually use 4mm hook for that) But you are right to say go down a hook size to make the stitches more close, especially if it's a toy and you are going to stuff it. So I'd try 3mm. Give it a test and see what the first few rows look like. You won't want the stuffing to show through. However...if it's for a garment, like a nice top to wear in the summer, then, actually having a 4mm hook may be nicer, it will make what you make, floppyier, drapeyier, and look loose. Does that help? If not, give me an email and I'll help further. info@thewoolpatch.com. :). Stuart
Thanks for sharing this video I was in search for this and it made my all confusions clear as a beginner.Thanks again.🙂
You're very welcome! Thanks for taking the time to comment :)
Thank you so much for sharing this. I'm a beginner in both crochet and knitting and this has been a big help in clearing up the confusion. I've been working with super chunky to knit a cardi but for my next project i would like to try a different yarn weight. What does everyone recommend?
Aww thanks for letting us know Mary! You're very welcome. As for your next project. Why not try 4ply/Fingering weight for a shawl or a scarf. Take a look at the ZickZack Scarf on one of my latest vids th-cam.com/video/W7sL763QQaE/w-d-xo.html. 22mins in. It's all knit, and just has a simple increase/decrease to make the chevrons. It's great fun to do!
Stuart
Hi. Great video! The mysteries are unravelling; much like my knitting (newbie).
Haha good to hear....well not about your knitting however! Just shout/email if you ever have queries!! Don't worry either about the knitting unravelling....still happens to me and Iv'e been knitting a few years now hahaha.
Very good video, thank you.
Cheers. you're very welcome.
No wait! Explain the 2 strands of double knit replacing a 4 weight yarn!!
Ooo now I can't remember what I said on the video! and now I'm doubting what I said haha. Did I say 2 strands of DK? 2 stands of DK held together would really be replacing a chunky yarn weight - which you would call weight 5 or 6. 2 strands of 4ply, make 8ply which would be DK. Let me know. Hope I've not confused things more! Stuart
Can you explain what I buy in the uk if I need worsted weight no 4 yarn. Please help!! 🤗
I sure can. Worsted Weight or No 4 is in between our DK and Aran weight. So you you could buy a thick DK and which could work for a Worsted, or you could by a thin aran and get away with it. Does depend on the yarn. I'm sure you know that some companies Aran is another companies DK - the sizing can differ a lot between yarns of the same 'weight'. You would have to do a swatch. When I was knitting 'The Montrealer' by Design by Delz - it asked for a worsted weight yarn. I tried Drops Nepal on a 5mm needle, but it was a thick aran and too big. So I tried a DK which was a 'thicker' DK compared to some and it worked a treat. Hope that helps :) Stuart
The Woolpatch thank you 🤗
Really helpful thank you! What about Rowan’s BIG Big wool?
You’re very welcome! Great question!! big Big wool is the next category after Super chunky!! So I’d call that super super chunky haha. Think that’s what Rowan must have been thinking and called it big big wool. So super chunky is anywhere around 9mm to 10mm so big big wool - 12mm needles for sure
brilliant i am new to punch needle ,i was using Aran as it was 5mm perfect for my needle ,i can use chunky as well but the wasted one yea ha thats just as good ,i learned everything from this little vid and it was fun too ,subbed 100% wil check out more vids ty :)
AWw thank you for your kind words! Thrilled to hear the video helped. The beauty of TH-cam hey! Anything you want to know about, let me know and I'll do another vid. Cheers
I like this presentation. :-)
Thank you!
Good video!
Thanks Poppy, thanks for taking the time to leave a comment! Hope it was useful in someway. Stuart
I'm still impressed the the double knit!
Good one isn't it.
Now we need a tutorial version for crocheters with corresponding hook sizes for each yarn. 😁
What a great idea!! I can do this. Stuart
@TheWoolpatch I always thought the hook sizes directly corresponded to the needle sizes - i.e., a mm is a mm no matter which type of device you use. Is that not true???
Yes your correct here, if you’re using dk yarn which recommends 4mm then a 4mm in a needle or a hook is the size too use. Just not everyone is aware of this. However there is great chance of this changing a little due to tension issues in crochet. I’ve found tension varies a lot more in crochet than knitting. 👍🏼👍🏼
Would you use the same size in crochet hook with these weights or just same as the knitting needle?
I would indeed and it’s not just me saying that - many other crafters would say the same. However just a note - you do have to consider your own tension with crochet. I find this differs more from person to person than knitting. So if you’re a tight crocheter then go up a hook. You may also want to deviate from this if you want a more ‘Lacey effect’ so for example - the virus shawl, which is a lovely crochet garment (very apt too) I would use a 4mm hook for a standard DK yarn (like a 4mm knitting needle) but if I wanted the shawl to be a bit more wafty and ‘holeyer’ I may experiment with crocheting it up with a 4.5mm or a 5mm hook - it will be come out bigger too and floppyer. (And use more yarn however) hope that helps. 👍🏼👍🏼
Great video. Thanks
Cheers, really appreciate you telling me - thanks for taking the time and to get involved.
I was trying to follow a crochet tutorial for baby booties she had a euro accent many Irish anyway she says the yarn is 3 and then says it's 4ply and that it's baby yarn . I have a 3 yarn I tried it the chain was so tiny compared to hers and I can't help to wonder if the yarn effects what I'm doing. I got the stitches down fast I'm good at following along st for st but wonder if the yarn is throwing me off.
Hey Aries, thanks for the message. Sorry for the delay, you've probably sorted it by now. 3ply and 4ply is very popular for baby booties yes. Baby yarn isn't really anything special. Just a commercial/marketing tool. If it's marketed as baby yarn, it tends to be acrylic or some sort of man made fibre and not wool. I expect if yours was much smaller than hers and you were using 3ply, then I expect she was using 4ply. And yes, the yarn can effect what you're doing and the end result. Depends on how it's spun and how you move your hand, do the yarn overs. I've found with some yarns, I literally 'unply' it due to the motion of my hand and hooking the yarn, it can go 'against' the way the yarn has been made. So it could be that. How have you got on anyway? Stuart
I am French so the UK names were very confusing to me :) this is helpful thanks 🤍
I bought a British brand King Cole summer 4ply yarn and was wondering if it's the same as fingering weight yarn? It's so thin :) very lovely end result after crocheting by the way it's a cotton, silk mix very soft.
Thrilled this been helpful for you. This is the wonder of TH-cam. 4ply is in the same category as Fingering. The Americans will use the term fingering more than here in the UK, and also, Indie Dyers will often use 'fingering yarn' for 4ply. HOWEVER - if you go into even more detail, you could argue that technically, fingering weight is a little thinner than 4ply - but again, depends on the company who has spun the yarn. In general however, 4ply and Fingering - same. I'm a fan of King Cole and stock a few of their yarns in my shop. Cotton is lovely and can be even more drapey when done with a bigger hook. Happy Crocheting! Stuart :)
Wow,, 10 ply, how would they ply it, ply 5 strnds with another 5? I knit with 4 ply and ply 2 with another 2 ply but those are even number. 5 ply would do something to the yarn I would think. Interesting video that's making me think, thank you!
Not sure how they would ply it to be honest, all I know is that it takes lots of work and a lot more twists, hence shy we don't see actual 10ply yarn anymore because of the work needed. It would be sooooo warm though! Glad you enjoyed it! Happy Knitting.
@@TheWoolpatch Thank you for your reply. Being a wool spinner I will attempt a 10 ply yarn for the fun of it Since I spin thin yarns with lots of twst to knit socks with, if 10 ply is warmer, this is what we need up here in northern BC. All the best.
What is the best type of yarn to use in a tufting gun to make rugs?
Depends really - fingering/4ply and DK is what I see used often. Some people will use two yarns together through the gun to get a real full effect. Get yarn on a cone or wind it yourself into a ball as this helps. It's such a good effect. I can't wait to try this myself, way easier and quicker than by hand using a punch needle :) Stuart
@@TheWoolpatch thank you for fast reply. Keep up the good work
great video. Thanks so much.
You're very welcome, thank you for taking the time to say so and for watching. :)
keep it up please i like to watch u all the time
Aww Cheers Ali. More coming now I'm in Social Distancing mode. 12 weeks of it. May doing some art work like you! Stuart
Love you guys! What yarn do you recommend for a plain simple shawl?
You're very welcome. Thanks for taking the time to let us know - much appreciated. As for recommendation, I'm a firm believer in knitting/crocheting with whatever yarn that 'sings to your heart' when buying. So if a colour jumps out at you, or you fall in love with the softness of another yarn then get it, regardless - then find a pattern. 4ply yarn makes for wonderful shawls.....you get lovely stitch definition, but it takes much longer to knit/crochet up. A chunky yarn much quicker, but you'll get a different 'drape' and 'feel' of fabric when complete. So if I was looking, I'd look at 4ply's and choose a yarn from that category! hope that helps. Good Luck! Stuart
Thank you👌🏽God Bless
You're very welcome
Thank you for info l grew up in uk living in oz sometimes confusing 😂
Now l know.
You're very welcome! Thanks for watching Beverley! Glad I could help. Stuart
Been visiting my daughter in the states, asked what ply sports wool is no-one could tell me.
It's an odd one isn't it. Sport weight or 5ply as it's often called elsewhere in the world is thicker than 4ply (hence the 5ply name) but not as thick as DK. a 3.5/3.75 needle maybe. Basically a thin DK or a thick 4ply haha.
Oh sorry Peter, just re-read your comment again and think you weren't asking me what sport weight was....you were just saying that no one in the states couldn't tell you what sport weight was. Sorry, if I was patronising in the first comment, wasn't my intention if this was what you meant :). Stuart
Thanks for sharing
Thank you! 👍🏻
You're welcome!
Hahaha 😄Now I came here to learn about these different terms after knitting in English for over 30 years. Inspect the chunky yarn I'm knitting a hat with a bit closer and see it has four plies. I give up and just keep knitting 😂
Can I use 4ply to make a blanket
You sure can. It will just take you a long time as traditional 4ply (not the actual plies but the name) is thin. It's below DK. Yardage is very good on balls of 4ply. You'll have to cast on lots of stitches, so I'd use circular needles with an 80cm/100cm cable for ease. Remember you can use any yarn to knit in. you use whatever you like to work with. :) hope that helps. Stuart
Does anybody know what weight 4 yarn is? My pattern asks for this but can't find anywhere what this is eg double knit, chunky or whatever. I am in the UK & wool usually is in ply.
Thanks for your question Gill....hmmmmmmmm now that has me stumped. We can work it out however.....what needles does the pattern ask for and does it give a yarn? Let me know which one (or both) and I'll work it out for you. Also let me know the pattern too. I'd love to help - love a challenge. Stuart (you can email me too if that helps, stuart@thewoolpatch.com
DK in America seems to be closely comparable to what we call sport weight.
Wow so informative. Dk double knit 😂
Aww thanks for taking the time to let me know :) Stuart
Ok so it's called DK but when I twisted it to see 3 ply
But what if I twist aran..?
Hey, thanks for your comment. I'm not sure what you are saying. Sorry. When you twisted it? Or did you mean when you untwisted it you saw 3 plies? Yarns can be made up of many plies. Yes, in the olden days, DK literally was doulble knit so had 8 plies, but now with machines and tech, DK can have 1 ply, or 3, or whatever. Same with Aran. Each company will spin their yarns differently and have different plies. So that's why '4ply yarn' or fingering weight yarn can throw many people due to this reason. If I've still got misunderstood your question, just comment again and I'll try again. Stuart - Thanks for watching :)
Yarn weights are just a guide line ,I look at the meterage, double knitting can be anything from 120 metres 50 g - 160 metres 50g.
Oh yes, great tip that. :)
Hey does anyone know where I can bulk buy yarn in the UK for my start up business? From a supplier please.
You just need to approach the companies as you’ll need to buy wholesale. you have to decide who you want to sell, what yarn you like…are you going acrylic? Wool? So think of brands like king cole, sirdar or Rowan etc or are you going indie dyers and high end with hanks? Some wholesalers won’t sell to people who are selling from their ‘house’ however. Some will only sell if you have a bricks and mortar shop. Hope that helps
@@TheWoolpatch I was thinking of cygnet because they do 100% acrylic but also I needed the yarn to be very chunky. I went on their website and submitted my email but I'm not sure how to contact they directly. I will also be selling my items online, in person and in stalls do you still think they would class me as a 'home' seller? If so do you know the wording I can get around that?
Is the Nepal yarn comes from Nepal?
No, it is just the name. The wool is actually peruvian wool. Hope that helps :). Stuart
Can't believe you left out lace weight... Shetland?!
I know, you’re right! Lace weight needs a video all to itself! 👍🏼👍🏼
I like my yarn to be at least double knit!
DK 4 means 8ply?
Ooo not heard of DK 4 (not sure if that was a typo) DK is 8ply. Some places (Australia/New Zealand) call is 8ply rather than like us calling it Double Knit (DK). America has their own numbering system, and 3 is the same as DK. 4 would be Worsted (a slightly thicker DK) But some companies DK is another companies thin worsted. That help? Just message if you need more. Stuart
Ohmygosh, the mystery has finally been solved about 2 ply 4 ply 8 ply aran n dk finally explained with comparisons of thicker yarn still!! American yarn is so confusing to me n im American, 😳
Aww I’m thrilled it’s helped and everything now is demystified….i may do another on 5ply - as I’m now muddled with this and where it sits….happy knitting. 👍🏼👍🏼
I didnt knew there is yarn of my country name Nepal 🇳🇵🇳🇵🇳🇵🇳🇵🥰🥰🥰
Yup sure is and it's a lovely yarn too! :) Hope the video was helpful. Stuart
400g ball of yarn is called mega ball
A mega Ball! Love that sound of that. :) Cheers Freida
Are these yarns the same as the crochet yarns?? Or are there different yarns for crochet?
Years ago you had a thing called 'crochet cotton' and my nan, and many in that generation only crocheted with cotton. It was sooooo thin! You can still get it. Quite big in Europe still but many yarn shops won't stock it as it just doesn't sell. Most people now crochet with ANY yarn. So yeah, these yarns I talk about use for Crochet. Use whatever you like, Linen, Wool, Acrylic, Mixes, Alpaca etc. I go with colours I like or what it feels like, and also cost! So go for it and crochet with what ever you like :). Hope that helps. Stuart
@@TheWoolpatch Thank you so much Stuart!! Didn't expect a reply!
Was going to go on a whole shopping spree for yarn, so thanks a lot!
spin and weavers.
Are you freezing? :D
Heehee or as they say smuggling peanuts! haha. 😉
Chunky, Bulky or Thicc LOL
"𝔅𝔞𝔩𝔩𝔷"
Thanks for sharing
You're very welcome Sandra, thanks for taking the time to comment. It all helps :) Stuart