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Yarn Weights and how to say it in Spanish

You love to crochet, but you’re a little confused about choosing yarn for a project because you don’t know the different weights that exist. I am going to help you not only to know the different sizes but also to know what they are called in Spanish. 

It is also true that most Spanish-speaking crocheters use English terms to refer to yarn weights.

What is Yarn Weight?

Yarn Weight is just the thickness of the yarn.

 

There are different yarn weights, and you should know about this to be able to choose better when starting a new project.

 

Making socks with a fingering yarn is not the same as making socks with a DK yarn, and the same happens to everything else.

 

There are yarn manufacturers all over the world and not all of them classify yarns according to their thickness in the same way, that is why having a chart with the standards and their equivalents will be very useful.

 

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What are PLYs (cabos, in Spanish) and where are they used?

Historically, yarn thickness was measured by the number of plys it had. The Ply is one of the strands that make up the yarn.

 

Usually, when spinning the fibers, several plys of the same fiber or of different fibers in some cases are joined together to create a thicker yarn. In some countries, such as the United Kingdom, this method is still used today, although it is no longer very clear because it is not as accurate.

 

Most crocheters, knitters and countries use the U.S. system, even in Spanish-speaking countries because we do not have unified terms in Spanish (that we all use) to classify the thickness of the yarns.

 

Even so it is good to know all the methods in case you come across a pattern that uses, for example, yarns from the UK, and they give you the thickness in plys, you won’t think they are speaking Chinese.

 

REMEMBER:

PLY – Cabo (in Spanish)

 

Yarn Weights in English and Spanish

Well, let’s see the most common terms for Yarn Weights. As the most used ones are in English, I will put them in English and then their translation to Spanish, which as I already told you, not many use:

Lace – Listón

 

Fingering (US)/ Super Fine – Super Fino

 

Sport (US)/ Fine – Fino

 

DK/ Light – Ligero

 

Worsted (US)/ Medium – Medio

 

Bulky (US)/ Chunky (UK) – Abultado

 

Super Bulky (US) – Super Abultado

 

Jumbo – Jumbo

Characteristics of each Yarn Weight

LACE (Listón): It is the thinnest thickness. It is used for very fine work such as lace and miniatures. 

 

 

  • Gauge: If you make a swatch with this yarn, you will obtain approximately 32 to 42 stitches in 10 cm.
 
  • Recommended Hook: It is recommended to use a 1.6 to 1.4 mm steel crochet hook with this yarn weight, or a 2.25 mm hook (keep in mind that this is only a recommendation, we all work with different tensions and depending on the project, the hook we use can vary as well).

SPORT (US)/ FINE  (Fino): It is also widely used in baby clothes because it is quite thin in terms of its weight. 

 

  • Gauge: If you make a swatch with this yarn you will obtain approximately 16 to 20 stitches in 10 cm.

 

  • Recommended Hook: It is recommended to use a 3.5 mm to 4.5 mm crochet hook with this yarn weight (keep in mind that this is only a recommendation, we all crochet with different tensions and depending on the project, the hook may also vary).

FINGERING (US) /SUPER FINE (Super Fino):

This yarn is still fine but thicker than the previous one. It is most commonly used to make socks, gloves and baby clothes.
 
 
  • Gauge: If you make a swatch with this yarn, you will obtain approximately 21 to 32 stitches in 10 cm.

 

  • Recommended Hook: It is recommended to use a 2.25 mm to 3.5 mm crochet hook with this yarn weight (keep in mind that this is only a recommendation, we all crochet with different tensions and depending on the project, the hook may also vary).

DK/ LIGHT (Ligero): It is a yarn widely used to make sweaters and tops.

  • Gauge:If you make a swatch with this yarn you will obtain approximately 12 to 17 stitches in 10 cm.

 

  • Recommended Hook: It is recommended to use a 4.5 mm to 5.5 mm crochet hook with this yarn weight (keep in mind that this is only a recommendation, we all crochet with different tensions and depending on the project, the hook  may also vary).

WORSTED (US)/ MEDIUM (Medio): 

 

  • Gauge: If you make a swatch with this yarn, you will obtain approximately 11 to 14 stitches in 10 cm.

 

  • Recommended Hook: It is recommended to use a 5.5 mm to 6.5 mm crochet hook with this yarn weight (keep in mind that this is only a recommendation, we all crochet with different tensions and depending on the project, the hook may also vary).

BULKY (US) (Abultado):

 

  • Gauge: If you make a swatch with this yarn you will get approximately 8 to 11 stitches in 10 cm.
  • Recommended Hook:It is recommended to use a 6.5 mm to 9 mm crochet hook with this yarn weight (keep in mind that this is only a recommendation, we all crochet with different tensions and depending on the project, the hook may also vary).

 
 

SUPER BULKY (US) (Super Abultado)

 

  • Gauge: If you make a swatch with this yarn, you will obtain approximately 7 to 9 stitches in 10 cm.
 

  • Recommended Hook: It is recommended to use with this yarn weight a crochet hook of 9 mm to 15 mm or more (keep in mind that this is only a recommendation, we all crochet with different tensions and depending on the project the hook may also vary).
     

JUMBO (Jumbo): 

 

  • Gauge: If you make a swatch with this yarn you will get approximately 6 stitches or less in 10 cm.
     
  • Recommended Hook:It is recommended to use with this yarn weight a crochet hook of 16 mm or more (keep in mind that this is only a recommendation, we all crochet with different tensions and depending on the project the hook may also vary).

*This information has been gathered by researching on the internet and referencing the Craft Yarn Council, where you can find more information about it.

I hope this information has been useful for you. If you have any questions you can ask me, I will be happy to help you.

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