BellaOnline Forums Hobbies and Crafts Knitting English/US Terminology

Could you please explain what the English equivilent is to "worsted weight" yarn? I am familiar with the English 2 ply, 3 ply, 4 ply and double knitting and chunky yarns and also aran but I am not at all sure about the American versions.

Many thanks

God Bless

Sheila

I checked in one of my british knitting books, and according to Alice Starmore, worsted weight and double knitting are approximately the same thing. Further, 4-ply is like our sport weight, Aran-weight is like fisherman, and chunky is our bulky.

Hope that helps!

Yes worsted weight usually knits to about 20 stitches to 10 cm on 4 mm knitting needles and DK is 22 stitches to 10 cm on 4 mm knitting needles (and sometimes 24 stitches depending on the manufacturer). I'd always suggest making a tension swatch and checking it against the pattern before you begin knitting if you're not sure.

Some of the UK yarn designers are bringing in yarns which although they're DK knit to a Worsted tension and it's always worth checking this before substituting yarn for a pattern knitted for US worsted weight. Rowan tweed and some of Debbie Bliss's yarns are two which come to mind. You may like to check out www.angelyarns.co.uk and www.getknitted.com if you are in the UK, also www.laughinghens.com I believe are good though I haven't personally used their services. They're always being mentioned in the UK knitting groups!