Yarn Weight Chart: CYC 0 to 7
Compare the eight CYC yarn categories, their common names and suggested hook and needle ranges. Search for DK, worsted, sport or a category number to narrow the table. These ranges are starting points for planning, not guarantees that two yarns can be substituted without changing the fabric. Always check your pattern gauge with the yarn you intend to use.
Find a yarn category
Showing all eight categories.
| CYC | Category | Common names | Hook mm | Needle mm | Knit sts / 4 in | Crochet sts / 4 in |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Not assigned | Lace | Lace, thread, fingering | Steel 1.4–1.6; regular 2.25 | 1.5–2.25 | 33–40 | 32–42 dc |
| 1 | Super Fine | Sock, fingering, baby | 2.25–3.5 | 2.25–3.25 | 27–32 | 21–32 sc |
| 2 | Fine | Sport, baby | 3.5–4.5 | 3.25–3.75 | 23–26 | 16–20 sc |
| 3 | Light | DK, light worsted | 4.5–5.5 | 3.75–4.5 | 21–24 | 12–17 sc |
| 4 | Medium | Worsted, afghan, aran | 5.5–6.5 | 4.5–5.5 | 16–20 | 11–14 sc |
| 5 | Bulky | Chunky, craft, rug | 6.5–9 | 5.5–8 | 12–15 | 8–11 sc |
| 6 | Super Bulky | Super bulky, roving | 9–15 | 8–12.75 | 7–11 | 7–9 sc |
| 7 | Jumbo | Jumbo, roving | 15+ | 12.75+ | 6 or fewer | 6 or fewer sc |
Read the gauge columns correctly
The knitting ranges refer to stockinette. Crochet ranges use single crochet, except the lace entry, which uses double crochet. Open lace structures are especially variable. Measure the stitch used by your pattern rather than comparing unrelated fabrics.
Substitute yarn with a swatch, not just a name
Names overlap: baby appears in more than one category, and roving can describe different thicknesses. Fiber content, twist and finishing can also change drape. Compare both stitch and row gauge before calculating a finished size in the crochet pattern maker.
What about ply and wraps per inch?
Ply can describe construction or a regional weight name, so counting strands alone does not establish the category. Wraps per inch can help compare unlabelled yarns, but tension while wrapping affects the count. This chart does not assign an exact CYC category from WPI or regional ply names.
Are worsted and aran interchangeable?
They share the Medium category in this chart, but that does not guarantee identical gauge or drape. Test the particular yarns and adjust your plan.
Is jumbo limited to a 25 mm hook?
No. The suggested jumbo range begins at 15 mm for hooks and has no upper limit in this table.
Ranges adapted from the Craft Yarn Council Standard Yarn Weight System. They are guidelines, not mandatory dimensions. Checked October 4, 2026.