What Is Worsted Weight Yarn?
THIS ARTICLE CONTAINS AFFILIATE LINKS THAT SUPPORT HANDY LITTLE ME CONTENT AND FREE PATTERNS.In this post, you will see answers to the question – What is worsted weight yarn?
There are thousands of yarns out there waiting for you to choose what you want and turn them into beautiful knit or crochet items.
In order to pick the right yarn for your project, they are separated into categories taking their weight into consideration.
But, when we are talking about yarn weight, we are referring more to the thickness of the yarn strand than its actual weight.
What Is Worsted Weight Yarn?
Worsted weight yarn is classed as a medium-weight yarn according to the standard yarn weight system from the Craft Yarn Council.
When you buy worsted-weight yarn it will normally say the weight of yarn, needle size, crochet hook size, and tension on the yarn label (or ball band).
There are many different fibers you can get including; wool, alpaca, acrylic, cotton, and blends.
Great for accessories using various stitches
The knitted fabric often can give crafters great stitch definition.
There are many knitting projects you can try using this yarn, either knit with a single strand of yarn or with two strands together to make a heavier weight.
Even beginner knitters can use this yarn to make a number of projects like dishcloths, shawls, garments, and more.
Best to always make a gauge swatch before beginning a project to check you have the correct number of stitches that the gauge information on your pattern requires.
Related Post: How To Measure Gauge In Knitting
Worsted Weight Yarn FAQs
The yarn weights vary from lace to jumbo yarn (0-7) and worsted yarn falls right in the middle, it’s a medium-weight yarn (4).
Thicker than lace-weight and DK (double knitting) yarn (3) but thinner than bulky yarn (5), also in the same medium group, we will find other yarns such as Aran weight yarn and afghan which are a little heavier than worsted but not enough to move into the next group.
The worsted yarn has a knitting gauge of 16-20 sts per 4 inches using 7-9 (US) knitting needles.
Learn everything about the different yarn weights here – Yarn Weight Guide (+ Conversion Chart)
The name worsted originates from Worstead a village in Norfolk, England where woven textiles were made from 1200-1800, the woven cloth produced there was called worsted.
Depending on where you live in the world you can hear different names for worsted yarn which is this medium yarn’s American name.
In the UK and Europe, yarns are called by their symbol number so the worsted yarn would be number 4.
If you live in Australia or New Zealand where they call yarns by their ply then the worsted yarn would be 10-ply yarn.
Worsted yarn is one of the most famous yarns as its medium weight makes it easy to work with, you can knit up your project quickly without adding bulk which also makes it perfect if you are new to the knitting and crochet world.
Also one of the perks of its popularity is that is very easy to substitute if you choose a pattern to follow that requires worsted yarn.
But, if you don’t have access to this particular yarn or you just don’t like it, there are hundreds of other yarns of the same weight for you to choose from.
You can knit or crochet pretty much anything with it, a pair of mittens, dishcloths, blankets, baby blankets, sweaters, scarves, shawls, and a pair of socks, the prospects of this yarn are pretty much endless.
Worsted Weight Yarn Patterns
If you want to try worsted yarn and start your own knitting or crochet project with it, take a look at the free patterns below and see what you can make next!
Knit a cute pair of socks in three different colors of worsted-weight yarn.
There are a few sizes to make, for yourself or as a gift.
Claire's Rent shawl will allow you to create a large triangle shawl with two different colored stripes in the design.
This shawl is seen in Outlander season 1 episode 5 ‘Rent’ worn over a tartan dress when Claire attends to the clan MacKenzie.
Knowledge of intarsia – working with more than one color is needed for this pattern.
Arm warmers that use two colors of worsted weight yarn - using the intarsia technique.
Knit flat following a chart these are a great project for intermediate knitters.
Crochet a beautiful colorful shawl using medium-weight yarn to complete all your spring/summer outfits.
Knit a pretty pair of wrist warmers for you or your friends using this quick and easy pattern.
A pair of wrist warmers are perfect for the fall or early spring but even in the winter if your hands get cold but you still want to type or scroll on your phone or tablet.
This Celtic cable fingerless gloves pattern will allow you to create a complicated design while knitting in the round.
Inspired by the striped gloves Coraline Jones wears in the animated film Coraline, this pattern uses four colors of worsted-weight yarn.
