5 & 6 Ply Yarn (Sport Weight)

Recommended Needle Size

Commonly they use between a 3mm and a 3.75mm knitting needle or crochet hook. 

Common Yarn requirement

To knit a baby jumper you will need approximately 100-200g of yarn depending on your pattern. A toddler garment requires 200g to 300g and a child up to approximately 600g. Adult garments really depend on style and the size you knit but a t-shirt for a dress size 14 womens you will need in the region of 400-600g and a jumper would need 800g-1kg but follow the yarn requirements in your pattern. 

Selecting the right yarn

When selecting yarns it's important to be aware yarn weights are not an exact measurement. Some yarns classed as 6ply by one manufacturer could be a light 8py with another. This is why it's important to knit or crochet a gauge swatch. This allows you to both check the feel of the fabric and the needle size to use (again all knitters have a slightly different tension).

The fibres used to create the yarn also alter the finished piece. Cotton yarns tend to give a firmer finish to wool and fluffy yarns such as mohair and alpaca bloom to give a beautiful halo which often allows for a looser knit. 

For more information about substituting yarns click here.

For more information about gauge swatching click here.

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 5 ply and 6 ply patterns here

Need needles or hooks?

Browse our collection of Knitting Needles here

Browse our collection of Crochet Hooks here

FAQs

Is 5 ply yarn good for beginners?

5 ply yarn is a little on the thin side for beginners. While it is not difficult to work with, it can take a long time to finish your garment or accessory as the stitches are quite small. For a beginner knitter we recommend 14ply yarn with a 7mm knitting needle.

What is 5 ply yarn in US?

5ply yarn is classed as 2 - Fine yarn which is also known as Sport weight. This is very similar and generally interchangeable with 6 ply

Is sport weight yarn the same as DK?

Sport weight/ 6 ply yarn is a little thinner than DK yarn which is 8 ply here in Australia. This is where knitting a gauge swatch is important as you can often get away with using sport weight yarn for a DK pattern but your finished garment will be a slightly looser knit. Similarly you can use a think DK weight yarn to knit your 6ply pattern but the finished fabric may be a little denser. By knitting a gauge swatch before starting your project it allows you to feel what the finished fabric will feel like and assess if the yarn and/or needle size is correct.

What is sport weight yarn good for?

Sport weight yarn is great for lightweight garments, T-shirts and knits for children are especially popular. Being slightly thicker than 4ply your garment will knit a little quicker but still be nice and lightweight for the Australian climate