Yarn Help
Yarn choices shouldn't require a secret decoder ring.
New to yarn weights? Wondering whether your pattern wants fingering, DK or worsted? Or staring at a needle-size chart thinking, “Well, that's a lot of numbers”? You're in the right place. We've gathered the essentials here so you can spend less time guessing and more time making.
Start here: our free yarn guide
Keep our yarn weight and needle/hook reference handy when you're planning a project. It covers the different yarn weights, suggested knitting needle and crochet hook sizes, and common uses for each weight.
Open the Yarn Weight & Needle/Hook Size Guide (PDF)
Opens in a new tab. These are starting points, not rules carved into a knitting needle—your pattern and gauge swatch get the final say.
Wait… what is yarn weight?
Yarn weight describes how thick the strand is—not how much a skein weighs on a scale. Two 100-gram skeins can have very different yardages and behave very differently in the same pattern.
Meet the weights
Lace: Very fine and airy. Lovely for delicate shawls, lightweight layers and pairing with another yarn for a soft halo.
Fingering / Sock: Fine, versatile yarn for socks, shawls, lightweight garments and smaller stitches.
Sport: A little thicker than fingering, but lighter than DK. Great for lightweight sweaters, accessories and projects with soft drape.
DK: A flexible middle ground for sweaters, hats, baby knits and all sorts of everyday favorites.
Worsted: A dependable choice for cozy hats, scarves, blankets and sweaters.
Aran: A touch heavier than many worsted yarns; a good fit for cozy, substantial projects. Check your pattern gauge rather than assuming worsted and Aran are interchangeable.
Bulky: Thick, squishy yarn for warm accessories, bold texture and projects that work up quickly.
Not sure where one of our named bases fits? Each product listing includes its yarn weight, fiber content and yardage. You can also browse by weight under Shop Yarn in the menu above.
A few questions we hear a lot
What needle or hook size should I use?
Start with your pattern and our guide, then make a gauge swatch if fit or finished size matters. The “right” tool size depends on the stitch pattern, the fabric you want and how tightly or loosely you work.
How many skeins will I need?
Look for the total yardage your pattern requires, then compare that with the yards listed on your chosen Wooly Caterpillar base. Different yarn bases can have different yardages even at the same weight. When in doubt, round up—you don't want to run short three rows before the finish line.
Why aren't my hand-dyed skeins perfectly identical?
Because they're dyed in small batches by real humans, not stamped out by a machine. Subtle variations are part of the charm. For larger projects, alternating between two skeins every couple of rows can help blend differences.
What's the difference between Ready to Ship and Dye to Order?
Ready to Ship yarn has already been dyed and is waiting for its new home. Dye to Order is dyed after you place your order, so it needs extra production time. Always check the product listing for the current turnaround estimate.
How should I wash my finished project?
Follow the care instructions on your particular yarn label or listing. Superwash and non-superwash yarns behave differently, and gentle handling is especially important for non-superwash wool.
Ready to find your next yarn crush?
Shop Ready-to-Ship Yarn | Explore Dye-to-Order Yarn
Still have a question?
Reach out to us through our Contact page. We're a small family business in Vermont, and we'd much rather help you pick the right yarn than have you guess and hope for the best.
Now grab your hooks and needles. You've got this.