What Is Fingering Yarn? Your Ultimate Guide

Fingering yarn often known as superfine yarn is a bit heavier than lace weight yarn and creates a slightly heavier fabric.

It has a fine gauge and is a great choice for any openwork patterns.

You can find this yarn under many different names: fingering, sock, and baby yarn.

What Is Super Fine Weight Yarn?

You may be more familiar with the term fingering weight rather than superfine, but they are the same thing.

This yarn is commonly used for socks and shawls.

It has a yarn weight symbol of 1 and a gauge of around 6.75-8 stitches per 1 inch on the US 1-3 (2.25-3.25 mm) needles. 

The recommended knitting needle size is 2.25-3.25 mm 1-3 US size and the crochet hook size is 2.25-3.5 mm B-1 – E-4 US size.

What Number is Fingering Weight Yarn?

Fingering yarn is categorized as number 1 by the Craft Yarn Council. 

Heavier than laceweight yarn and lighter than sport-weight yarn.

There are different yarn weight categories numbered from 0-7, going from lace to jumbo.

These yarns should produce a certain amount of stitches when using a needle size that has been recommended.

For more information and to see a yarn weight chart please read this post – Yarn Weights | A Beginners Guide.

Socks

Socks have a particular type of yarn that is used to make sure that they are durable.

There are many different types of sock yarns out there, with all different types of fibers.

Always read the yarn label on your skein and make sure that it is what you want before you start.

Baby

Baby yarns can have many different types of fibers and thicknesses, for example, cotton, superwash wool, and more.

They are normally really soft and available in many colors and are always hypoallergenic.

Baby yarn is preferred for baby projects and baby garments over other popular yarn weights like bulky weight yarn, Aran, worsted weight yarns, and medium weight yarn like dk.

What Ply Is Fingering Yarn?

This is 3 ply or 4 ply yarn.

The ply doesn’t always mean that the weight of the yarn is heavier or thicker.

Ply basically refers to the number of strands plied together to make yarn.

It’s another way to describe the yarn’s weight and it’s mainly used in Australia, New Zealand, and in the UK. 

Know Your Yarn Weights

Yarn weights (decided by the Craft Yarn Council) can be confusing at times, but knowing about different yarn weights will help you to customize your patterns.

Choosing yarn types that speak to you rather than only using the yarns suggested by the pattern.

Once you know more about specific yarn weights you can change the look of your knitting project by substituting yarn.

But before you start getting too excited with your new yarn, make a gauge swatch following the pattern to see how the stitches will look in a different weight of yarn.

This will help you to see if the sizing will be different – an important detail if you are making garments.

How Do I Know If My Yarn Is Superfine?

Everything you need to know about your yarn, you will find on the yarn label.

The yarn manufacturer provides all the necessary details about your yarn.

From the weight, the yardage, the fiber content, and the size of hooks, and needles you will need for this specific yarn.

Check out how to read a yarn label here.

Tip – If you end up throwing away the label, just google the yarn and you will find everything you need on the brand’s website.

What Can I Make With Super Fine Yarn?

This yarn weight category is perfect for all lightweight garments.

Light shawls for summer nights, sweaters, lace patterns, baby clothes, and all adult garments.

Remember if you are making a pair of socks the perfect yarn will be a fingering weight sock yarn, as they have the right fiber content to provide durability.

My Favorite Fingering Yarns 

If you are looking to add some fingering weight yarn to your yarn stash these are some of my personal favorites.

Malabrigo Mechita by Malabrigo Yarns

This single-ply superwash hand-dyed yarn is the little sister to Malabrigo’s ever-popular Mecha yarn.

Mechita will work brilliantly for shawls and wraps, fancy sweaters, and little boleros.

You can get it in a nice solid color or unique color blends.

Malabrigo Ultimate Sock by Malabrigo Yarns

Ultimate Sock takes sock yarn and elevates it to a level by adding 25% Nylon to the superwash merino that everyone already knows and loves.

It is perfect to knit your lovely socks and make sure they will be resistant and durable at the same time.

Cascade Yarns 220 Superwash Fingering by Cascade Yarns

This delicate 100% wool yarn will really show off stitch definition with more complex knitwork such as intarsia or lacework.

There are many different colors in the collection to choose from.

Debbie Bliss Fine Donegal by Debbie Bliss

This Debbie Bliss yarn is ideal for finer knits, fall shawls, and accessories – it’s a sock knitter’s dream!

This incredible yarn also knits really well alongside other yarns with marvelous results.

Lion Brand Scarfie Lite by Lion Brand Yarns

This yarn has a soft, beautiful halo around it, which will give your finished projects a light and lofty feel – perfect for stitching up garments, accessories, afghans, and, of course, scarves!