Worsted-Weight Yarn Explained: The Complete Guide

Worsted-weight yarn and aran-weight yarn are the cozy classics of the knitting world! These medium-weight yarns knit up at 4-5 stitches per inch, a wonderfully substantial weight for so many of the things you want to knit. Our guide will give you a deep understanding of these yarns, equipping you with the confidence to shop for worsted-weight yarns and the knowledge to explore our beautiful worsted-weight yarn patterns. Let’s dive in!

Where Does The Name “Worsted-Weight” Come From?

The story begins in Worstead, a village in Norfolk, England, famed since the 12th century for its high-quality wool fabrics. The wool workers there developed a special method of combing fibers to align neatly for a smoother, denser yarn. A similar technique is still used today to create “worsted-spun” yarn. But here’s the twist… Not all worsted-spun yarns are worsted weight, and not all worsted-weight yarns are worsted-spun! The term “worsted-weight” refers to the yarn’s thickness, not to how it’s spun. The terminology can certainly be a little confusing, but that’s just the nature of knitting… It’s a craft with centuries of tradition spun into every stitch!

Understanding Yarn Weight

First a look at the big picture… Yarn is divided into categories of weight, from finest lace weight to thickest jumbo weight. Yarn weight is basic information that indicates about how thick a yarn is and serves as a starting point when you’re trying to find yarn that will work with your pattern or knitting needles. Worsted weight falls on the thicker side of the middle, right between light worsted/DK-weight yarn (which is finer) and chunky/bulky-weight yarn (which is thicker). But all of these categories are more of a spectrum than buckets, and nothing beats actually knitting with your yarn to find the one that works for you!

What Is The Difference Between Worsted-Weight Yarn + Aran-Weight Yarn?

Very often, you’ll see the words “worsted” and “aran” used interchangeably, but there is a slight difference. While both fall within the 4-5 stitches-per-inch range, worsted-weight yarn leans finer, while aran-weight yarn is a touch bulkier, sometimes even called “heavy worsted.” Aran-weight yarn is named for the yarns traditional to the Aran Islands of Ireland, home of the iconic Aran sweater, designed for warmth and hardiness.

How Does Gauge Fit In?

While we label our yarns according to the standards of the Craft Yarn Council (CYC) standards (as do many other yarn companies and pattern writers), fiber content, spin structure, and how you personally knit all come into play. That’s why it’s so important to understand your gauge in combination with your yarn, needles, and stitch pattern.

Gauge is simply the density of stitches in a fabric, measured by counting the number of stitches over 1 or 4 inches. Worsted-weight yarns are defined by the CYC at 4-5 stitches per inch on US 7-9 (4.5-5.5 mm) needles, so if you have a pattern that lists a gauge of 4.5 stitches per inch in stockinette stitch, shopping worsted-weight yarns would be a safe bet. But even if you have what you think is a good match of pattern and yarn, you’ll need to knit a gauge swatch to make sure! For everything you need to know about gauge and swatching, check out our All About Gauge Tutorial.

How Many Yards In A Skein Of Worsted-Weight Yarn?

When you’re trying to find a yarn for a pattern, it might be tempting to try to match the yarn’s yardage to that of the yarn in the pattern… But this doesn’t give you the full story! Each yarn’s fiber content and spin affect the yardage. Loftier spins and lightweight fibers, like cashmere, give you more yardage, while denser spins and heavier fibers, like cotton, give you less yardage. To assess if a specific worsted-weight yarn is the right yarn for a pattern you have in mind, look at the fiber content, gauge, and recommended needle size, and only consider the yardage to find out if you’ll have enough yarn to complete your project!

Meet Our Worsted-Weight Yarns

Till
100% Highland Wool

Daily Wool
100% Superwash Wool

Plenty
100% Extra Fine Merino

Vinter Wool
70% Norwegian White Sheep Wool, 30% Norwegian Wildsheep Wool

Yonder
50% Alpaca, 50% Highland Wool

Hedgerow
93% Merino Wool, 3.5% Cashmere, 3.5% Mulberry Silk

Shop all of our worsted-weight yarns, including the ones above, and all of our other inspiring yarn… You’ll find a wide variety of fibers and spins and hundreds of spectacular colors. These yarns can all be knit up at a similar gauge, and some can be substituted easily for each other, but we always recommend you knit a gauge swatch to make sure you love the fabric and that you get the gauge you need for your project!

Light Worsted To Worsted-Weight Yarns

• Our hand-dyed Norwegian Vinter Wool is technically a light-worsted yarn, but it has so much loft and bloom that you can very happily knit it at a worsted weight, too!

• A uniquely textured 100% Pima cotton yarn, Serif is another light worsted-weight yarn that you can knit on larger needles for a very light and lofty fabric!

True Worsted-Weight Yarns

• Hedgerow is our very charming Irish tweed worsted-weight yarn, speckled with “burrs” of colored fiber in a mix of merino wool, silk, and cashmere.

• Our Daily Wool yarn is made with machine wash- and dry-able superwash wool. It has a tidy 4-ply spin and is incredibly soft, bouncy, and beautiful!

• Our playful Sunshower Cotton yarn is 100% organically grown cotton with a soft and supple feel, printed with a serendipitous drizzle of color!

• June Worsted is a squishy and supple plant-based yarn made with 70% cotton and 30% linen for a gorgeous textured finish and a cool yet cozy feel!

Aran-Weight Yarns

• On the slightly thicker side of worsted weight, Plenty is an aran-weight yarn made with the softest 100% extra fine merino in the world, spun into a generous, plump strand.

• A very classic 50/50 alpaca and Andean highland wool yarn, Yonder is also an aran-weight yarn, mostly because of how much it blooms. You’ll love Yonder’s robust and earthy feel!

Aran To Chunky-Weight Yarns

• Till is a timeless yarn that straddles the worsted/aran and chunky/bulky categories… Very happy knitting no matter what! Made with 100% Andean highland wool, Till is big and bouncy, soft and warm, and super easy to knit with.

Knitting With Worsted-Weight Yarn

Worsted-weight yarn is the most classic yarn weight and can be used to knit everything from sweaters and blankets to hats and scarves… Nice and cozy but not bulky! You’ll find that worsted-weight yarn knits up quickly, with plump, defined stitches that you can easily see and count on your needles and in your fabric, making it a great choice for beginners. For tons of ideas, spend some time with our collection of worsted/aran-weight yarn knitting patterns. Most are free, and all are thoughtfully designed and thoroughly explained… You’re sure to be inspired!

Looking for more inspiration? Explore all of our free knitting patterns and knitting tutorials, buy one of our many knitting kits and yarn bundles, and shop for beautiful yarn. We have over 35 gorgeous natural fiber yarns in 100’s of magnificent colors, designed to bring integrity, beauty, and joy to your next knitting project and only available at Purl Soho!