The Craft Yarn Council of America has put together a series of guidelines to bring consistency
to yarn, needle and hook labeling and to patterns. Their goal was to make it easier for you the
needleworker to select the proper materials for a project and complete it successfully.
Below are two of their guidelines; The Standard Yarn Weight System and Knitting Abbrevations.
For more on the Council and other guidelines, click on the link at the bottom of the page.
to yarn, needle and hook labeling and to patterns. Their goal was to make it easier for you the
needleworker to select the proper materials for a project and complete it successfully.
Below are two of their guidelines; The Standard Yarn Weight System and Knitting Abbrevations.
For more on the Council and other guidelines, click on the link at the bottom of the page.
 STANDARD YARN WEIGHT SYSTEM |
||||||
| Yarn Weight Symbol & Category Names |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
| Type of Yarns in Category |
Sock, Fingering, Baby |
Sport, Baby |
DK, Light Worsted |
Worsted Afghan Aran |
Chunky, Craft Rug |
Bulky, Roving |
| Knit Guage Range in Stockinette Stitch to 4 inches |
27-32 sts |
23-26 sts |
21-24 sts |
16-20 sts |
12-15 sts |
6-11 sts |
| Recomemended Needle In Metric Size Range |
2.25- 3.25 mm |
3.25- 3.75 mm |
3.75- 4.5 mm |
4.5- 5.5 mm |
5.5- 8 mm |
8 mm and larger |
| Recommended Needle U.S. Size Range |
1 to 3 | 3 to 5 | 5 to 7 | 7 to 9 | 9 to 11 | 11 and larger |
| Crochet Guage Ranges in Single Crochet to 4 inches |
21-32 sts |
16-20 sts |
12-17 sts |
11-14 sts |
8-11 sts |
5-9 sts |
| Recommended Hook in Metric Size Range |
2.25- 3.5 mm |
3.5- 4.5 mm |
4.5- 5.5 mm |
5.5- 6.5 mm |
6.5- 9 mm |
9 mm and larger |
| Recommended Hook U.S. Size Range |
B-1 to E-4 |
E-4 to 7 |
7 to I-9 |
I-9 to K-10.5 |
K-10.5 to M-13 |
M-13 and larger |
|
KNITTING ABBREVIATIONS |
|||
|
[ ]
|
Work instructions within the brackets as many times as directed |
pat(s)
or patt |
pattern(s) |
|
( )
|
Work instructions within the parentheses in the place directed |
pm
|
place markers |
|
* *
|
repeat instructions fillowing the asterisks as directed |
pop
|
popcorn |
|
*
|
repeat instructionns following the single asterisk as directed |
p2tog
|
Purl 2 stitches together |
|
"
|
inch(es) |
prev
|
previous |
|
Alt
|
alternate |
psso
|
pass slipped stitch over |
|
approx
|
approximatey |
pwise
|
purlwise |
|
beg
|
begin/beginning |
rem
|
remain/remaining |
|
bet
|
between |
rep
|
repeat(s) |
|
BO
|
bind off |
rev S st
|
reverse stockinette stitch |
|
CA
|
Color A |
RH
|
right hand |
|
CB
|
Color B |
rnd(s)
|
round(s) |
|
CC
|
Contrasting Color |
RS
|
right side |
|
cm
|
centermeter(s) |
sk
|
skip |
|
cn
|
cable needle |
skp
|
slip, knit, pass stitch over one stitch decrease |
|
CO
|
cast on |
sk2p
|
slip 1, knit 2 together, pass slip stitch over the knit 2 together; 2 stitches have been decreased |
|
cont
|
continue |
sl
|
slip |
|
dec
|
decrease/decreases/decreasing |
sl1k
|
slip 1 knitwise |
|
dpn
|
double pointed needle(s) |
sl1p
|
slip 1 purlwise |
|
fl
|
front loops |
sl st
|
slip stitch(es) |
|
foll
|
follow/follows/following |
ss
|
slip stitch (Canadian) |
|
g
|
gram |
ssk
|
slip, slip, knit these 2 stitches together - a decrease |
|
inc
|
increase/increases/increasing |
sssk
|
slip, slip, slip, knit 3 stitches together |
|
k or K
|
knit |
st(s)
|
stitch(es) |
|
k2tog
|
knit 2 stitches together |
St st
|
stockinette stitch/stocking stitch |
|
kwise
|
knitwise |
tbl
|
through back loop |
|
LH
|
left hand |
tog
|
together |
|
lp(s)
|
loop(s) |
WS
|
wrong side |
|
m
|
meter(s) |
wyib
|
with yarn in back |
|
M1
|
make one-an increase-several increases can be described as M1 |
wyif
|
with yarn in front |
|
M1p-st
|
make one purl stitch |
yd(s)
|
yard(s) |
|
MC
|
main color |
yfwd
|
yarn forward |
|
mm
|
millimeter(s) |
yo
|
yarn over |
|
oz
|
ounce |
yrn
|
yarn around needle |
|
p or P
|
purl |
yon
|
yarn over needle |
