Conversion Chart for Yarn
American yarns vs European yarns
Weight |
Sts Per 4" (10 cm) |
Suggested Needles |
Category 1
Superfine
Fingering
Baby
4 Ply
|
28-32 |
0-3 US
2-3.25mm |
Category 2
Fine
Sportweight
5 Ply
|
24 |
3-6 US
3.25-4.25mm |
Category 3
Light
DK
8 Ply
|
22 |
4-6 US
3.50-4.25mm |
Category 4
Medium
Worsted
10 Ply
|
20 |
6-9 US
4.25-5.50mm |
Heavy Worsted
Aran
12 Ply
|
16-18 |
8-10 US
5-6mm |
Category 5
Bulky
Chunky
13 Ply
|
12-14 |
10-11 US
6-8mm |
Category 6
Super Bulky
14 Ply |
8-10 |
11-15 US
8-10mm |
2-Ply
Either 32 stitches and 40 rows to 10 cm. (4 inches) on a 3¼ mm (US 3) needle, or 34 stitches and 42 rows to 10 cm. (4 inches) on a 3¼ mm (US 3) needle, depending upon the manufacturer. Check the ball band and pattern.
3-Ply
32 stitches and 40 rows to 10 cm. (4 inches) on a 3¼ mm (US 3) needle.
4-Ply Fingering
28 stitches and 36 rows to 10 cm. (4 inches) on a 3¼ mm (US 3)needle. In the US the term 4-Ply is used for Knitting Worsted. Check your pattern carefully to determine which yarn you need.
5-Ply
Used in Australia and New Zealand. 26 stitches to 10 cm (4 inches) on a 3.75 mm (US 5) needle. See also Quickerknit
8-Ply
Used in Australia and New Zealand for Double Knitting or DK.
10-Ply
Used in Australia and New Zealand for Worsted Weight Yarn.
12-Ply
Used in Australia and New Zealand. 17 to 18 stitches to 10 cm (4 inches) on a 5 to 5.5 mm (US 8 to 9) needle. See Aran .
Aran
18 stitches and 24 rows to 10 cm (4 inches) on a 5 mm (US 8) needle. Some knitters use Knitting Worsted instead, but check your tension carefully first!
Baby
Usually used to refer to 3-Ply but check the tension on the pattern first.
Bulky
14 stitches and 19 rows to 10 cm. (4 inches) on a 6 mm (US 10) needle.
Chunky
15 stitches and 20 rows to 10 cm. (4 inches) on a 6 mm (US 10) needle. In the UK what is referred to as a chunky is what North Americans call a Bulky. Again check your pattern and tension carefully.
Double Knitting (DK)
22 stitches and 30 rows to 10 cm. (4 inches) on a 4 mm (US 6) needle.
Jumper Weight
Usually a Four Ply Fingering Weight.
Knitting Worsted
20 stitches and 26 rows to 10 cm. (4 inches) on a 4 1/2 mm (US 7) needle.
Mohair
Mohair generally knits up as a Chunky but some mohairs knit slightly different, so check your pattern and tension first!
Quickerknit
26 stitches to 10 cm (4 inches) on a 3.75 mm (US 5) needle. Popular yarn in the UK, mainly for baby and toddler outfits. Not generally available in North America.
Sports weight Yarn
24 stitches and 34 rows to 10 cm. (4 inches) on a 3 3/4 mm (US 5) needle. Some yarns such as Astra knit up as Sports weight or a Double Knit. It should be possible to interchange these two weights, but check your tension first!
As seen at http://www.yarnfwd.com/tension.html#worsted#worsted
Australia and UK click here
For Yarn click here
