How to Choose the Right Yarn for Beginners

Due to the variety of available styles and colors, purchasing yarn for knitting is one of the best things you can do. Choosing between all the woven options can be difficult when entering a yarn store. The most enjoyable choice is selecting a color to use. However, there is the question of what to knit with delicate-looking specialty yarns.

Choosing the Best Yarn for Novices

Remember that if you only knit with one of the many fun fur, boucle, super-bulky, suede, mohair, or fun-fetti yarns, the yarn’s delicacy may not always be sufficient for the project to appear sustainable. If you are looking for a reputable manufacturer, visit the Darn Yarn home page.

Yarn Weight

The concept of yarn weight is one of the most challenging for beginners to comprehend. The thickness of the strand, or yarn weight, is an excellent place to begin when selecting a project. A finer yarn is ideal for lightweight garments and accessories, while a thicker, bulkier yarn is ideal for thicker, bulkier projects. Understanding yarn weights will assist you in achieving the desired density and drape of the final product.

Lace Weight Yarn

This extremely fine yarn (any yarn thinner than fingering weight is acceptable) is ideal for delicate, web-like items like shawls. Lace weight yarns have a more forgiving gauge because blocking techniques significantly impact the size and structure of the finished piece. Use large needles (US 6 or larger) when knitting a dense, opaque fabric to create an open gossamer effect.

Fingering Weight Yarn

Socks, light sweaters, accessories, fair isle, and colorwork patterns are frequently knit with fingering weight yarn. This yarn, also referred to as “baby yarn” or “sock yarn,” is approximately twice as heavy as lace yarn and easily mix with other yarns. Typically, fingering weight yarns are knitted using US needle sizes 1-4.

DK and Sport Yarn

Contrary to popular belief, sport weight and DK (double knitting) weight yarn are distinct. A little lighter or finer than DK weight yarn, sports weight yarn is a bit thinner. These weights suit medium-density sweaters, shawls, wraps, and socks. Sport weight yarns are typically knitted with US 3 – 5 needles, while DK weight yarns are knitted with US 5-7 needles.

Worsted Yarn

The most popular and widely available medium-weight of yarn is worsted. Knitters of all skill levels should utilize woven yarn, double the weight of fingering yarn, and can be worked into virtually any pattern. Worsted weight yarns are typically knitted on US 6-9 needles and are appropriate for accessories and sweaters with a moderate density.

Bulky Yarn

Worsted yarn is approximately two times as thick as bulky yarn and four times as large as fingering yarn. Bulky yarns knit quickly on large needles, making them ideal for quick knits requiring structure and warmth, such as cozy sweaters, felted items, throws, and home decor. Knitting with yarns of bulky weight typically requires US 10- or US 11-size needles.

Very Bulky Yarn

Extremely bulky yarn is perfect for quick knits. You can complete accessories and other household projects knitted at less than three stitches per inch in a matter of hours. The thicker strands of super bulky yarns result in densely knitted items with large stitches, creating a distinct effect and adding visual interest. Typically, US 15 needles are used to knit super bulky weight yarns.