Fine Weight Yarn (Sport, CYC 2): Needle Size, Hook Size and Gauge
Sport weight yarn, CYC 2, knits at 23 to 26 stitches per 4 inches on 3.25 to 3.75 mm needles and crochets at 16 to 20 single crochet on 3.5 to 4.5 mm hooks. It measures 12 to 18 wraps per inch and runs about 300 to 380 yards per 100 grams.
Yarn weight means the thickness of the strand, not how heavy the ball is. The Craft Yarn Council (CYC) numbers its categories from 0 for lace to 7 for jumbo, and sport weight yarn is category 2. Labels also call it Sport, Baby. Its typical projects are baby clothes, light sweaters, socks, shawls.
| CYC category | 2 (Fine) |
|---|---|
| Other names | Sport, Baby |
| Wraps per inch | 12 to 18 |
| Knit gauge (stockinette, per 4 in) | 23 to 26 stitches |
| Recommended needles | 3.25 to 3.75 mm (US 3 to 5) |
| Crochet gauge (per 4 in) | 16 to 20 single crochet |
| Recommended hooks | 3.5 to 4.5 mm (E-4 to size 7) |
| Yards per 100 g (retailer charts) | 300 to 380 |
What size knitting needles do you use for sport weight yarn?
CYC recommends 3.25 to 3.75 mm (US 3 to 5) needles for sport weight yarn. Every size below falls inside that range. Start in the middle and change size until your swatch matches the pattern gauge; each size links to its own page with cast-on estimates.
| Needle | Metric | US | Old UK | Also suits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US 3 | 3.25 mm | 3 | 10 | super fine (fingering) |
| US 4 | 3.5 mm | 4 | None | Only this weight |
| US 5 | 3.75 mm | 5 | 9 | light (DK) |
What size crochet hook do you use for sport weight yarn?
CYC recommends 3.5 to 4.5 mm (E-4 to size 7) hooks for sport weight yarn, at 16 to 20 single crochet per 4 inches. The smallest recommended hook is 0.25 mm off the smallest recommended needle, because crochet fabric is denser than knitting.
| Hook | Metric | Old UK | Also suits |
|---|---|---|---|
| E-4 | 3.5 mm | 9 | super fine (fingering) |
| F-5 | 3.75 mm | None | Only this weight |
| G-6 | 4 mm | 8 | Only this weight |
| G | 4.25 mm | None | Only this weight |
| 7 | 4.5 mm | 7 | light (DK) |
How much sport weight yarn do you need for a project?
These are planning ranges from published yardage guides for sport weight yarn. Crochet figures run 25 to 33 percent above knitting. Skeins assume 100 gram skeins at 300 to 380 yards each.
| Project | Knit (yd) | Crochet (yd) | 100 g skeins, knit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Adult Hat | 250 to 325 | 325 to 425 | 1 to 2 |
| Scarf | 450 to 625 | 575 to 825 | 2 to 3 |
| Adult Socks | 300 to 450 | 375 to 600 | 1 to 2 |
| Shawl | 450 to 700 | 575 to 925 | 2 to 3 |
| Adult Sweater | 1,750 to 2,625 | 2,200 to 3,500 | 5 to 9 |
| Baby Blanket | 1,250 to 1,500 | 1,575 to 2,000 | 4 to 5 |
| Throw Blanket | 3,500 to 3,750 | 4,375 to 5,000 | 10 to 13 |
| Twin Size Blanket | 6,400 to 6,850 | 8,000 to 9,100 | 17 to 23 |
| Full Size Blanket | 7,750 to 8,300 | 9,700 to 11,050 | 21 to 28 |
| Queen Size Blanket | 9,700 to 10,400 | 12,150 to 13,850 | 26 to 35 |
| King Size Blanket | 11,650 to 12,450 | 14,550 to 16,550 | 31 to 42 |
Tools and yarn for sport weight yarn
Prym Ergonomics 32-Inch Circular Knitting Needles Set, US 2, 4 and 6
$24.1432 inch circulars in US 2, 4 and 6 with a round tip and a triangular body designed for grip.
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Knit Picks Sunstruck Wood Interchangeable Needle Set, US 4 to 11
$77.47Nine pairs of birch tips from US 4 to 11 (3.5 to 8 mm) with four cables, the budget way to own every mid size.
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Clover Amour Crochet Hook Set 3674, 2 to 6 mm
$90.22Clover Amour soft grip hooks in every half millimeter from 2 to 6 mm.
Check pricePrices change often, so confirm on Amazon. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.
How many stitches do you cast on with sport weight yarn?
These counts use the full CYC gauge range for sport weight yarn: 23 to 26 stitches per 4 inches knit and 16 to 20 single crochet crocheted. Knit hat counts are rounded to a multiple of 4 for ribbing, and crochet counts add 1 turning chain. Treat them as estimates and swatch first.
| Piece | Knit stitches | Crochet starting chain |
|---|---|---|
| Hat, 20 in around | 116 to 132 | 81 to 101 |
| Scarf, 8 in wide | 46 to 52 | 33 to 41 |
| Baby blanket, 42 in wide | 242 to 273 | 169 to 211 |
| Throw, 50 in wide | 288 to 325 | 201 to 251 |
| Queen blanket, 90 in wide | 518 to 585 | 361 to 451 |
How do you identify sport weight yarn by wraps per inch?
Wraps per inch (WPI) tells you the weight of an unlabeled yarn. Wrap it snugly around a ruler with the strands touching but not overlapping, count the wraps in one inch, and compare with the CYC ranges. Fine yarn measures 12 to 18 wraps per inch.
| CYC weight | WPI | Knit gauge per 4 in | Yards per 100 g |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0 lace | 30 to 40 or more | 33 to 40 | 600 or more |
| 1 super fine (fingering) | 14 to 30 | 27 to 32 | 380 to 600 |
| 2 fine (sport) | 12 to 18 | 23 to 26 | 300 to 380 |
| 3 light (DK) | 11 to 15 | 21 to 24 | 230 to 300 |
| 4 medium (worsted) | 9 to 12 | 16 to 20 | 170 to 230 |
| 5 bulky (chunky) | 6 to 9 | 12 to 15 | 100 to 170 |
| 6 super bulky | 5 to 6 | 7 to 11 | under 100 |
| 7 jumbo | 1 to 4 | 6 or fewer | Not published |
Can you substitute sport weight yarn for another yarn weight?
You can, as long as you match gauge. The last column shows what happens if you keep a pattern's stitch count for sport yarn at 24.5 stitches per 4 inches but knit the neighboring weight at the middle of its CYC gauge range.
| Weight | Knit gauge per 4 in | Needles | Same stitch count comes out |
|---|---|---|---|
| Super fine (fingering) | 27 to 32 | 2.25 to 3.25 mm (US 1 to 3) | about 17 percent narrower |
| Fine (sport) | 23 to 26 | 3.25 to 3.75 mm (US 3 to 5) | This weight |
| Light (DK) | 21 to 24 | 3.75 to 4.5 mm (US 5 to 7) | about 9 percent wider |
Estimates, not promises
Planning estimates only. The yardage stated on the pattern always wins. Buy 10 to 15 percent extra, from the same dye lot. The yarn substitution calculator works out how many skeins of a different yarn you need.
Frequently asked questions
What size knitting needles do you use for sport weight yarn?
The Craft Yarn Council lists 3.25 to 3.75 mm (US 3 to 5) needles for sport weight yarn, which is CYC category 2. Those are the most commonly used sizes, not a rule. Go down a size if your swatch has fewer stitches per 4 inches than the pattern, and up a size if it has more. Loose knitters often start one size smaller than the label suggests.
What size crochet hook do you use for sport weight yarn?
CYC lists 3.5 to 4.5 mm (E-4 to size 7) hooks for sport weight yarn, at a typical gauge of 16 to 20 single crochet per 4 inches. The smallest recommended hook is 0.25 mm larger than the smallest recommended knitting needle, because crochet fabric is denser. Many yarn labels print both a needle and a hook suggestion, and your gauge swatch has the final say.
What is the knitting gauge for sport weight yarn?
CYC gives 23 to 26 stitches per 4 inches (10 cm) in stockinette on 3.25 to 3.75 mm (US 3 to 5) needles. At 24.5 stitches per 4 inches, a 20 inch wide piece needs about 123 stitches and a 20 inch hat about 124. Your hands, the fiber and the stitch pattern all shift gauge, so knit a 6 inch swatch, wash it and measure the center.
How many wraps per inch is sport weight yarn?
Sport weight yarn measures 12 to 18 wraps per inch (WPI) on the CYC scale. Wrap the yarn snugly around a ruler, strands touching but not overlapping, and count the wraps in one inch. The range overlaps super fine (fingering) and light (DK), so an unlabeled yarn near the edge needs a gauge swatch to confirm. Fuzzy yarns read thicker than they knit.
How much sport weight yarn do I need for a blanket?
Published planning ranges put a throw blanket at about 3,500 to 3,750 yards to knit and 4,375 to 5,000 yards to crochet in sport weight yarn. That is 10 to 13 skeins of 100 grams for knitting. A queen size blanket takes about 9,700 to 10,400 yards knit. Pattern yardage always wins, and buy 10 to 15 percent extra from one dye lot.
What can I substitute for sport weight yarn?
The nearest weights are super fine (fingering) and light (DK). If you work a pattern written for sport at 24.5 stitches per 4 inches with light (DK) yarn at its typical gauge, the piece comes out about 9 percent wider. Match the pattern gauge with a swatch, not the weight name, and compare yards per 100 grams so you buy enough.
How we research: we compare manufacturer specifications, owner manuals, published standards and recurring themes in verified owner reviews. We do not test products in person, and this is researched guidance, not professional advice. Follow your machine manual and pattern, and take care with rotary cutters, hot irons and needles. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.