What Is Worsted Weight Yarn? (Yarn For Dummies)

Popularity of Worsted Weight Yarn

Hold the phone…you aren’t familiar with worsted weight yarn? Well, allow me the pleasure of introducing you to your new best friend! In the world of yarn weights, worsted weight yarns fall right in the middle of the bunch.

If you’ve ever worked with yarn that felt too thin before, or maybe yarn that felt too thick, then I betcha that worsted weight yarn will be your new favorite happy medium! Many knitters and crocheters alike have fallen in love with that Goldilocks “just right” feel of worsted weight yarn.

If you’re wondering about the worsted weight yarn definition, then you are in the right place! There are a number of ways to categorize yarn that differentiates worsted weight yarn from the rest. You’ll be a worsted yarn wizard after learning all about the worsted weight yarn number, ply, gauge, and recommended crochet hook size.

What Number is Worsted Weight Yarn?

If you’re familiar with different yarn weights, then you probably know that each weight category of yarn has its own number. Yarn weights start at #0 (lace weight) and go all the way up to #7 (jumbo weight). The worsted weight yarn number is in the middle. It is #4. That is why you will sometimes see worsted weight yarn referred to as #4 yarn.

What Determines Yarn Weight?

Don’t bust out the scales. Yarn weight doesn’t refer to the actual weight of the yarn. (I know, it’s kind of confusing, huh?) Rather, yarn weight is a measure of the thickness of the yarn. It is important to note the yarn weight used when starting on a new crochet or knitting project.

If the pattern calls for a #4 weight yarn, and you decide to use a #5 weight yarn instead, then your project will likely turn out to be much larger than the original.

What is ply?

If you’ve ever looked closely at a strand of yarn, then you might have noticed that it is composed of a number of smaller strands of yarn twisted together. (Of course, there are other types of yarn construction too, but that’s a topic for another day!) Each individual strand is also known as a ply.

So now you know that when you hear someone refer to a 2 ply yarn, they are referencing a yarn made up of two individual strands of yarn twisted together. Yarn ply isn’t always the best way to categorize yarn, because some types of yarn aren’t made from twisted strands. Also, there’s no set standard for the thickness of a single ply of yarn.

What Ply is Worsted Weight Yarn?

Generally, the higher the ply number the thicker the yarn. So, what ply is worsted weight yarn? Worsted weight yarn is a 10 ply yarn. Though, you don’t often hear it referred to in that way. In addition to ply, different yarn weights are also commonly categorized by their typical tension, the suggested needle/hook size, and/or the number of wraps per inch.

Check out the picture below to get the lowdown on worsted weight yarn. You can see the full chart for all the different yarn weights over on the Laughing Hens website. Yarn conversion charts are a handy resource to have bookmarked, especially if you are new to the yarn world.

What is Worsted Weight Yarn Equivalent To?

Different parts of the world have their own terminology for what we know of as worsted weight yarn. Worsted weight yarn is also commonly referred to as medium weight yarn. In the UK, you will hear it more often referred to as aran weight.

If you are wondering how to substitute for worsted weight yarn or aran weight yarn, then you will find it helpful to know that two strands of #3 weight yarn (usually called sport or DK weight) can be held together to achieve a similar thickness to that of worsted weight yarn.

Worsted Weight Yarn Gauge

Another way to differentiate worsted weight from other types of yarn is by the gauge. Whip up a quick swatch with basic single crochet stitches, measure 4” worth of your stitches, and count how many stitches there are. Generally, depending on tension and other factors, you should get about 16-20 stitches.

What crochet hook is needed for worsted weight yarn?

The hook size generally recommended for worsted weight yarn is between 4.5 and 5.5 mm. I don’t think it’s a coincidence that the most common favorite hook size is a 5 mm! Give me my favorite worsted weight yarn and 5 mm hook any day, and I’m a happy girl!

What size crochet hook for worsted weight yarn

Worsted vs. Woolen

Fun fact: worsted isn’t just a yarn weight! Worsted can also refer to a type of spinning. Now, I don’t know much about spinning myself, but apparently, there are two main types: worsted and woolen. Worsted spun yarn tends to be smoother and shinier.

This is a very common type of spinning that you have doubtless seen more than once if you’ve been crocheting for any length of time! Woolen spun yarns tend to be fluffier, lighter, and more elastic. You can learn more about the differences between worsted and woolen spun yarn over at the Hilltop Cloud website. So cool!

Worsted Weight Yarn Crochet Patterns

The best way to learn more about worsted weight yarn is to experience it yourself! Lucky for you, there are a million worsted weight yarn crochet patterns out there, since it is such a popular weight of yarn. Worsted weight yarn is an all-around excellent choice for a number of crochet projects. You can check out some free worsted weight yarn crochet patterns right here on my blog!

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