Post by Sandy on Apr 13, 2009 4:01:14 GMT
Okay I have been putting this off for weeks, but it is now time to tackle the vexing issue of yarn weights so that I can get some sort of definitive basic square on the site under the pages of Frequently Asked Questions I am preparing. There are many new visitors to the site, who are confused by my original instructions.
Despite all the wonderful contributions there have been on the site and in letters, nothing is clear:
Originally, being from Australia, we just called the yarn we were using: 8 ply.
8 ply, 32 stitches, 6 mm needles, perfect 8 x 8” square.
Here’s the confusion, based on consulting Lion Brand Yarn’s definitions and the Craft Yarn Council of America, if I go by their gauge measurements:
ie 16 stitches to four inches (which would be the same as our instructions 32 stitches for 8 inches), the yarn would be Category 4, Medium, Worsted, Afghan, Aran on 4.5 - 5.5 mm needles.
More confusing: Lion Brand says that that is the equivalent of Australia’s 10 ply, UK Aran.
SO following that we would have:
10 ply, 32 stitches on 4.5-5.5 mm needles to make an 8 x 8” square.
Is anyone else as confused as I am?
To make matters even more difficult, Lion Brand says Category 2: Fine, Sport weight, Baby yarn is the equivalent of UK/Australia 8 ply.
Now I know the 8 ply we used to get our original 8 inch square was definitely not baby yarn.
Given that many people are using scraps, perhaps the simplest way is just to reprint the Craft Yarn Council of America’s chart and ask people to go by gauge.
I did send 8 ply wool scraps to Elaine in England who wrote back to say it was the same as Double Knit. I haven’t heard back from the samples I sent to the US.
Well, further confusion: Lion Brand says Double Knit is Category 3 Light: DK, light worsted yarn.
This has me completely stumped! Anyone got any suggestions? Grateful for the headache easing this is causing!
Finally warm is really the criteria here and many people have said DK and 4 ply are too light, so perhaps Afghan and Aran or two strands of DK are the way forward.
Sandy
Despite all the wonderful contributions there have been on the site and in letters, nothing is clear:
Originally, being from Australia, we just called the yarn we were using: 8 ply.
8 ply, 32 stitches, 6 mm needles, perfect 8 x 8” square.
Here’s the confusion, based on consulting Lion Brand Yarn’s definitions and the Craft Yarn Council of America, if I go by their gauge measurements:
ie 16 stitches to four inches (which would be the same as our instructions 32 stitches for 8 inches), the yarn would be Category 4, Medium, Worsted, Afghan, Aran on 4.5 - 5.5 mm needles.
More confusing: Lion Brand says that that is the equivalent of Australia’s 10 ply, UK Aran.
SO following that we would have:
10 ply, 32 stitches on 4.5-5.5 mm needles to make an 8 x 8” square.
Is anyone else as confused as I am?
To make matters even more difficult, Lion Brand says Category 2: Fine, Sport weight, Baby yarn is the equivalent of UK/Australia 8 ply.
Now I know the 8 ply we used to get our original 8 inch square was definitely not baby yarn.
Given that many people are using scraps, perhaps the simplest way is just to reprint the Craft Yarn Council of America’s chart and ask people to go by gauge.
I did send 8 ply wool scraps to Elaine in England who wrote back to say it was the same as Double Knit. I haven’t heard back from the samples I sent to the US.
Well, further confusion: Lion Brand says Double Knit is Category 3 Light: DK, light worsted yarn.
This has me completely stumped! Anyone got any suggestions? Grateful for the headache easing this is causing!
Finally warm is really the criteria here and many people have said DK and 4 ply are too light, so perhaps Afghan and Aran or two strands of DK are the way forward.
Sandy