when a yarn label says a 4 medium does that mean it's a 4 ply yarn? It's a pretty thin yarn so my guess is that it's not a 4 ply unless each strand is real thin and it is a 4 ply?
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when a yarn label says a 4 medium does that mean it's a 4 ply yarn? It's a pretty thin yarn so my guess is that it's not a 4 ply unless each strand is real thin and it is a 4 ply?
Hi Jean Marie,Quote:
Originally Posted by Jean Marie
4 medium weight yarn is a superfine yarn.
If it is listed as 4ply it could be a DK weight yarn which is thicker
This may assist you in what all of the markings on a yarn label mean:
How to Read Yarn Labels - Easy Knitting Lesson
How to Read a Yarn Label | Lion Brand Notebook
I have found these to be very helpful and I hope you do too!
Thank you Momto8Quote:
Originally Posted by Momto8
You are most welcome!
I have found that some yarn labels can be somewhat inaccurate. Depending on many factors a #4 can vary from company to company. Other weights also can be incorrect. Some 4s are closer to 3s. Bulky yarn is often not what the label states. I just go with my own opinion regarding some yarns and consider what I am going to create with it. imalefty
Hi imalefty, I like your post you are so right. I do the same as you by looking at the yarn color I want and what I am going to make and choose the yarn that way.
Spoula
Hi Spoula! Isn’t it surprising how different the yarns can be? I have taken 3 or more skeins/cakes and put them next to each other. Though the label numbers are the same the thickness of the yarns can be so different. As you said we have to choose by what we are making and the color. Have a great,safe day! imalefty
Most of my yarn doesn't have a label. I do have some yarns that have labels. I have Bernat and RedHeart yarn which are a 4 medium. The thickness of the Bernat yarn and RedHeart yarn seems about the same but I have a blue variegated yarn that's Bernat but is a bit thinner than the other Bernat yarn I have. The Caron simply soft yarn is what I was referring to at the beginning of this post. The Caron simply soft yarn says it's a 4 medium but it's pretty thin. There are 4 strands of yarn so it is a 4. I have some 'yarn bee soft secret' yarn which also says it's a 4 medium. It's about the same thickness as the thinner Bernat yarn(blue variegated yarn) but it's a bit thinner than the blue variegated yarn (Bernat yarn). Then I have some 'value' yarn which has a different feel to it. It also says it's a 4 medium. It's a little thicker than than the regular Bernat 4 medium yarn. Other than that I have some pretty thick yarns and some baby yarn.
Did you catch that I have 2 different Bernat yarns? and 1 skein is thinner than the other skein yet they are both a 4 medium. They are both super value yarns although one skein is 5 oz and the other one is 7 oz. The thinner yarn is a variegated yarn. The thicker yarn is a solid white color.
I also have some charisma yarn and some ribbon yarn.
Hi Jean Marie! Your yarns are a perfect example of how thick/thin yarns with the same number can be. I try to keep the labels with the yarn. Caron Simply Soft is thinner and crochets up smaller than other 4s. I notice thickness differences especially with my amigurumis. Mixing thick and thin yarns can ruin those projects. I also have noticed a difference between variegated and solid colors even from the same company. We crocheters have to carefully check what yarns we put in the same project. imalefty
Hello Imalefty, I just read your post to Jean Marie. I wanted to reply on this part of your post about variegated yarn.Quote:
Originally Posted by imalefty
I purchased 2 skeins of a coral variegated yarn and made a lap afghan. I started the first skein and when that yarn ran out I started with the next skein and started to notice that the second skein of yarn was thinner not as thick as the first skein. They were the same lot number and the same color.
I would not have noticed this difference by looking at them in the store because the difference in the yarn was in the middle of the skein.
Spoula
The color my neighbors wanted for the hats I made was a thinner yarn and I wanted the hats to be warm enough and I suggested putting another color with it and maybe even 3 yarns together. She liked the idea of putting another yarn with it (having 2 yarns together) and that I could put 2 or 3 yarns together that it was up to me. So I tried 3 yarns together cause you want a hat to be warm but 3 yarns together makes a hat too stiff. So I went with 2 yarns together but that took awhile to do because not only do the yarns twist and have to be untangled frequently but when crocheted you don't want your stitches crocheted with twisted yarn.
I didn't like that it was taking awhile to do, making sure the yarn was straight and not twisted, (I know I was the one who suggested 2 yarns together) when pulling the yarn through each of the 2 loops for a double crochet so I prayed asking the Lord to help me not to be too picky and to go faster with the hat I was working on and thanking Him for helping me with the other hat and for helping me even before I asked Him and I was able to go a bit faster and I got the 2nd pink hat done except that I have to put unicorns and flowers and leaves on the hat. oh, and ears too on top of the hat in the back. I'll probably put a face on it too even if it's just a couple of eyebrows like the picture shows. I'm glad my neighbor isn't picky and she likes the hats and my other neighbor wasn't picky either. I'm not sure if I prayed about the other 2 blue variegated hats I did but I know the Lord helped me with them.
This might help -
Yarn weight - Wikipedia
It shows all the plys for the the standard weight yarns in the USA. For example, a #4 medium (worsted) weight yarn in the USA would be considered a 10 or 12 ply in Europe. It also shows WIPs, or wraps per inch, for those who are interested.
Hi Nova55, This comes in handy thanks for sharing.
Spoula