FAQS - yarn weights and knitting gauge

These are the yarn weights and crochet and knitting gauge FAQS most people raise. If you have additional questions, please contact us, we will answer them and post the Q & A here. Thank you.

armchairinterviews.com writes: The Knitter's Book of Yarn: the ultimate guide to choosing, using, and enjoying yarn collects seven years of knowledge that has led Parkes to be considered by some a "yarn whisperer." Her goal is to help knitters avoid "yarn-related errors" and match the right yarn to the right project, "to hold a skein in our hands, look at it, touch it, listen to it, even smell it, and instinctively know what the yarn wants to become." Savvy knitters will reach for The Knitter's Book of Yarn before their next yarn purchase.

Yarns by weight and fibre
Joann.com is a huge online store which sells a great range of yarns at good prices by both fibre and weight. There is also a clearance section - good to have a look for cheap yarn.Click anywhere in this box.

Q: If I am purchasing yarn, what yarn weights do you require for the squares?
A: The description of yarn weights vary widely from country to country and between manufacturers as discussed here. Furthermore, no two charts give exactly the same information.

So to help you achieve the closest standard 8 x 8" square, we recommend a yarn weight based on the knitting gauge instructions on the label, as close to 16 stitches to every 4" (10 cm). This will make a warm 8 x 8" square.

This is only a GUIDELINE. You will see that many of the knit-a-square community are achieving the desired 8 x 8" square, using different yarn weights, number of stitches, knitting needle sizes and crochet hooks.

Yarn weights that fall into this category, according to the The Craft Yarn Council of America are:
Medium, worsted, Afghan, Aran, approximate equivalent in Australia and the UK, 10 ply, Aran
Gauge:
Medium/4 - worsted, afgan, aran - 16–20 sts = 4”
Recommended knitting needle size 4.5— 5.5 mm (7-9 US)
For crochet: 11–14sts = 4”
Recommended hook size 5.5—6.5 mm ( I–9 to K–10 1⁄2 US)

However, please bear in mind that some yarns can be thicker than others, even if they fall into the same category, depending on the manufacturer. If you are planning to use patterns (such as basket weave), then you may want to chose a lighter weight yarn as the pattern creates a different thickness.

Q: What if we are using scrap yarns and do not know their weight?
A: We encourage use of scrap yarns. The criteria for the squares is that they are 8 x 8" in size and warm. So if your yarn is fine then knit or crochet with two strands or even three, if it is very fine. You could use the WPI (wraps per inch) to work out your yarn weights. <

Q: What are WPI's?
A: WPI's,(Wraps Per Inch) are an accurate way of establishing the weight of your scrap yarn. You can buy a WPI tool, or you can simply wrap your yarn around a ruler and refer to numerous WPI charts available on the internet, including ravelry.com

Q: Does using different stitches make a difference?
A: It can do. For example, you are knitting, stocking stitch makes for a less dense square, so you may want to knit with two strands, whereas garter and basket weave thicken up the squares.

Q: Can you give examples of achieving an 8 x 8" square using different knitting needles sizes, number of stitches and yarn weights?
A: Yes, many of the knit-a-square community have described their crochet and knitted square results as collected wisdom here. It will confirm that the same sizes and reasonable thickness are being achieved in a number of different ways.

Finally there are so many different squares arriving in South Africa, it has not been hard for the volunteers to mix and match sufficient squares to ensure an equally weighted and yarn type blanket. So in the end, knit or crochet with whatever you have, make it warm and 8 x 8" and send it. Thank you.

Collected wisdom of the knit-a-square community to April 2009.

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