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Lucina
New Pal
49 Posts |
 Posted - 09/03/2005 : 09:38:53 AM
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I’m having a problem sorting out the equivalents in US and UK yarns. Every time I think I’ve sussed it, I come across a pattern or comment that confuses me again.
Is US sport what we in the UK call 4 ply - or is it what we call double-knitting or DK?
Is US sport thicker than US fingering or about the same?
Or is it US worsted that we Brits call double-knitting or DK?
Or is US worsted what we call Aran weight in the UK?
And what about the Aussies? Is their 8-ply the same as UK double knit? Or is their 6-ply our DK and 8-ply the same as Aran weight?
I’ve seen various attempts to give these equivalents in books such as Stitch & beach & on the Internet – but the trouble is that these accounts contradict each other! Is there an American living & knitting in the UK or vice versa who actually knows both countries yarns and can give advice, please?
(I’ve searched the forum on this but come up with nothing –it may be that I’m wording it wrong.)
Honor Lucina in Scotland.
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fmarrs
Guardian angel
USA
9776 Posts |
Posted - 09/03/2005 : 10:47:27 AM
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The problem is that all the words you use are just guidelines and there is a lot of variation in yarns. In the USA laceweight is the smallest size and has the most variation in its sizing. Fingering weight is the next one larger and it is sock weight yarns and baby yarns. Sport weight is larger than fingering but not as large as DK weight which is now being used in the USA also and is the same as UK DK weight yarns. Worsted weight is the most common weight of yarn used in the USA and is equivalent to the Aussie's 8 ply. Most pattern written for sport, DK, or worsted can be used interchanably as you can get the same gauge with all three but the sport with be a lighter weight fabric than the worsted. Larger than this the words and weights get confusing again, the most common being chunky and bulky. In the states, Aran can refer to a size of yarn, a type of yarn, or a color of yarn. It is a little larger than worsted weight but not much. The color is a creamy beige and the type of yarn is one in which the natural oils are still in it. I didn't refer to all the yarns mentioned in your question, only the ones I have used.
There is a way to sort out all these variations and that is by learning the wraps per inch method. If you know how thick a yarn is and how many stitches per inch you will get with it, who cares what name it goes by. Here is a link that helps explain that method. Remember DK comes between sport and worsted and Aran is right above worsted.
http://www.woolfestival.com/articles/WPI.htm
fran |
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Tam
Permanent Resident
Australia
2810 Posts |
Posted - 09/03/2005 : 12:18:44 PM
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In Australia we use
2 ply = US laceweight
4 ply = US fingering
5 ply = US sport
8 ply = DK
10 ply = Aran
Worsted weight doesn't have a direct equivalent to Australian weight but is probably closer to our Aran than to 8 ply.
Happy Knitting,
Tam in Melbourne
http://photos.yahoo.com/lillysmum2002
2005 Stats: 3 WIPs, 20 FOs
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Lucina
New Pal
49 Posts |
Posted - 09/11/2005 : 08:46:27 AM
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Thank you very much for your help, Tam and Fran - I think I've got it now (more or less!)
Honor |
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AlexH
Chatty Knitter
286 Posts |
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AlexH
Chatty Knitter
286 Posts |
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Wen
Permanent Resident
Australia
3242 Posts |
Posted - 09/18/2005 : 7:10:04 PM
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Here is the aussie weights based on stitches to 10cm in stocking stitch:
32 3ply (normally baby wool)
28 4 ply (baby and sock wool)
26 5 ply
22 8 ply (the most common weight used for EVERYTHING)
20 10 ply (not so easy to find)
16 12 ply
13 16 ply (normally a double strand of 8 ply)
9 20 ply (again only a few places make this)
Wen
2005 stats: 7 FO, 9 WIP, 1 frogpond.
http://photos.yahoo.com/whdayus |
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