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The following info was compiled by Esther Bozak and originally posted to the KnitList. It comes from several books (notably Homespun, Handknit and Knitting in the Old Way):
|
Yarn Type |
Typical Gauge |
Wraps/Inch |
Yards/Pound* |
Recommended |
| Ultrafine (Lace or Baby Weight) |
8+/inch |
18 |
2600 |
00 - 2 |
| Fine (Fingering Weight) |
6-8/inch |
16 |
1900-2400 |
2 - 4 |
| Medium (Sport Weight) |
5-6/inch |
14 |
1200-1800 |
4 - 6 |
| Heavy (Worsted Weight) |
4-5/inch |
12 |
900-1200 |
7 - 9 |
| Bulky |
3-4/inch |
10 |
600-800 |
10 - 10 1/2 |
| Very Bulky |
2-3/inch |
8 or |
400-500 |
13 - 15 |
* An approximately equivalent Meters/Kilogram amount can be obtained by muliplying the Yards/Pound value by 2
Every issue of Vogue Knitting magazine has an abbreviated chart, with some differences in how they define yarn type or size by gauge:
|
Yarn Type |
Sts/4 inches |
| Fine |
29-32 |
| Light |
25-28 |
| Medium |
21-24 |
| Medium-Heavy |
17-20 |
| Bulky |
13-16 |
| Extra Bulky |
9-12 |
You can knit two strands of a yarn together, too. Obviously swatching will give you the exact gauge of the doubled yarn, but you can approximate the gauge using a tip from Ann Cannon-Brown (Elann Fibre Company.)
Her "rule of thumb" is to multiply the single-strand gauge by .72 to get the approximate gauge for what the yarn would knit up with as 2 strands. For example, one strand of fingering yarn has a typical gauge of 28 sts/4" (10 cm); 28 x .72 = approx. 20; so, two strands of fingering wt. yarn would knit to an approximate gauge of 20 sts/4" (10 cm), which falls within the range of gauges for typical worsted wt. yarns. Therefore, 2 strands of fingering wt. yarn could be substituted for one strand of worsted wt. yarn.