Knitting needle size and yarn weight chart
A yarn label usually tells you everything: yardage, recommended needle size and gauge per 10 cm. Here it is in one chart, so you can pick needles, compare yarns from different brands and see which yarn can substitute for another.
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The chart
| Weight | Metres per 100 g | Needles, mm | Sts per 10 cm | Good for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lace | 600–800 m | 1.5–2.5 | 30–40 | Lace shawls |
| Fingering | 350–420 m | 2.25–3.25 | 27–32 | Socks, fine sweaters, baby knits |
| Sport | 270–330 m | 3.25–3.75 | 23–26 | Light sweaters, colourwork |
| DK | 200–250 m | 3.75–4.5 | 21–24 | Sweaters, cardigans, hats |
| Aran / worsted | 150–200 m | 4.5–5.5 | 16–20 | Warm sweaters, cables |
| Chunky | 80–130 m | 5.5–8 | 12–15 | Hats, cowls, oversized |
| Super chunky | under 80 m | 8–12 | 7–11 | Blankets, quick hats |
Ranges are approximate: gauge also depends on how you knit. Only your swatch gives the exact number.
How to read a yarn label
Most labels show a 10 × 10 cm square with two numbers — stitches and rows per 10 cm — and a needle symbol with a size. Yardage is written like “100 g / 250 m”. To compare brands, convert to metres per 100 g: 50 g / 125 m is the same 250 m per 100 g.
Substituting yarn
- Look for the same metres per 100 g (±10%) and a similar fibre — then gauge and the amount of yarn will nearly match.
- If the yardage differs, swatch and convert the pattern to your gauge.
- Work out quantities in metres, not grams: how much yarn for a sweater.
Holding yarn double
Two strands held together knit roughly like yarn one weight heavier: two fingering ≈ DK, two DK ≈ aran. The yardage halves. Always swatch — doubled strands do not behave exactly like a single yarn.
FAQ
Which needles for 100 g / 250 m yarn?
Usually 3.75–4.5 mm at about 21–24 sts per 10 cm. Start with the size on the label and check with a swatch.
What happens if I use smaller needles than the label?
The fabric is denser, firmer and smaller, and uses a little more yarn. That is sometimes intended for ribbing and socks.
How can I tell yarn weight without a label?
Wrap the yarn snugly round a ruler for 2.5 cm and count the wraps: 18–22 — fingering, 12–14 — DK, 9–11 — aran, 7–8 — chunky. For certain, knit a swatch.