Category Archives: Knitting Terms

A yarn weight guide going from laceweight to super bulky yarn
Learn About Yarn Weights for Knitting

If you’ve been working with yarn awhile, you are probably aware that yarns come in different weights and what that means for your projects. But if you don’t, allow us to demystify yarn weights! Here’s a quick primer on what you need to know about yarn weights and choosing yarns for your knitting projects. What are yarn weights in knitting? Yarn weight is, at its most basic, the thickness of the yarn strand. Yarn comes in a variety of weights beginning with lace weight (which is very thin and fine), then fingering weight (which is slightly thicker), sport weight (even thicker), DK weight, worsted weight, and on to Aran/heavy worsted, bulky (a thick yarn), and super-bulky ...

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Anatomy of a Sweater

Does looking for your next sweater pattern leave you confused by all the terms casually thrown around? Raglan, saddle shoulder, empire waist ... all of these design elements have their pros & cons, but if you are new to sweater construction, it can be a little overwhelming. We're here to break down several of the most popular terms to help you find that perfect project!

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Knit Picks Inis Aran
Stitch Story: Aran Islands

Photo credit: www.aranisland.info Knitters in the know are often more than familiar with the classic Aran jumper; big chunky Irish ganseys (or guernseys), traditionally hand-knitted from unbleached wool. Originally worn by working fishermen, they also became popular fashion garments in the US during the “golden” era of Hollywood. Grace Kelly. Steve McQueen. Paul Newman. Marilyn Monroe. Icons in their own right, the stars of the silver screen adopted this classic garment as part of their everyday attire. As such, it’s no wonder the treasured Aran knit sweater continues to be reinvented to this day in the fashion industry. Love a good urban legend? There happens to be one based on the stitches of these namesake sweaters. The story goes that each jumper knit for fishermen ...

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Yarn Weights
Knitting Terms – Yarn Weights

For experienced knitters, we get so used to knitting terms that we don’t even think about them anymore, but for the beginner it can seem bewildering. A little understanding can go a long way, and I’ve always found a singular pleasure in “useless" knowledge, so let’s explore a little about yarn weights.

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