2 Ply Yarn (Lace Weight)

The most common 2ply yarns are blends with Mohair. The mohair in these yarns give a soft halo to your finished item when used on its own or even held with another yarn.

You can use lace weight yarns to subtly alter the tone of thicker yarns by holding different shades of 2ply with your other yarn. For example, if you hold 2ply white mohair with a bold, bright sock yarn you will get a more pastel shaded finished item, or if you hold a green strand of Maya lace with a blue shade of thicker yarn it will give a turquoise tint. It can also be used to create a gentle gradient by holding 2 strands together and swapping different shades in and out. 

As well as using 2ply yarn to knit or crochet with it can also be used for darning as well as in embroidery. It can be great to use as hair in your amigurumi projects or to add embroidered details. 

Lace weight yarn can be knitted and crocheted on a huge variety of needle/hook sizes from 1mm right up to 5 or even 6mm depending on the look you want to achieve. If you want a fairly solid knit using a single strand of 2ply you will need to use a needle size 2.5mm or below. If you are looking to create a looser finish then maybe use something up to a 3.25mm or go even larger for an open, lacy knit. 

If you need more help finding a yarn for your project feel free to send us a message, and we’ll get back to you with our expert advice or even pop into your local store.

Looking for Patterns?

Browse our collection of 2 ply patterns here

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Browse our collection of Knitting Needles here

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FAQs 

Is lace weight yarn the same as 2 ply?

In terms of yarn weight yes but ply also means the number of strands twisted together so you can have any yarn weight that's 2 plys twisted together as well as lace weight yarn that's single ply or multiple plys. 

What number is lace weight?

0—Lace ( Size 10 Crochet Thread) Lace yarn or thread is very thin and often used to give a lacy appearance to shawls, garments  and doilies.

What weight is two strands of lace?

Holding 2 strands of lace weight yarn together gives you a similar gauge to fingering/4ply yarns. If you are holding 2 strands of lace mohair however we would recommend knitting more to a 6-8 ply (sport-DK) tension to give room for the halo to bloom. 

What needle size should I use for Lace Weight yarn?

Lace weight yarn can be knitted on a huge variety of needle sizes from 1mm right up to 5 or even 6mm depending on the look you want to achieve. Using under a 2.5mm will give a fairly solid fabric but going higher will give a more open, lacy knit. You would use a similar size crochet hook for 2 ply yarn. Remember to always follow the gauge requirements for the pattern you are using and adjust the needle size to achieve this tension.