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The following info was compiled by Esther Bozak and originally posted to the KnitList (now defunct internet mailing list). 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.