Lace Weight Yarn (Cobweb and Thread, CYC 0): Needle Size, Hook Size and Gauge
Lace weight yarn, CYC 0, knits at 33 to 40 stitches per 4 inches on 1.5 to 2.25 mm needles and crochets at 32 to 42 double crochet on 1.4 to 2.25 mm hooks. It measures 30 to 40 or more wraps per inch and runs about 600 or more 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 lace weight yarn is category 0. Labels also call it Fingering (CYC type), 10-count crochet thread, Cobweb, Light fingering. Its typical projects are lace shawls, doilies, fine lace scarves.
| CYC category | 0 (Lace) |
|---|---|
| Other names | Fingering (CYC type), 10-count crochet thread, Cobweb, Light fingering |
| Wraps per inch | 30 to 40 or more |
| Knit gauge (stockinette, per 4 in) | 33 to 40 stitches |
| Recommended needles | 1.5 to 2.25 mm (US 000 to 1) |
| Crochet gauge (per 4 in) | 32 to 42 double crochet |
| Recommended hooks | 1.4 to 2.25 mm (Steel 8 to B-1) |
| Yards per 100 g (retailer charts) | 600 or more |
From the CYC chart
CYC: lace gauge ranges are hard to pin down; lace yarns are usually worked on larger needles and hooks to make open patterns. Crochet gauge is in double crochet, not sc. CYC lists steel hooks 1.6 to 1.4 mm (steel 6, 7, 8) and regular hook 2.25 mm (B-1). WPI 40 is open-ended (40+).
What size knitting needles do you use for lace weight yarn?
CYC recommends 1.5 to 2.25 mm (US 000 to 1) needles for lace 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 000 | 1.5 mm | 000 | None | Only this weight |
| US 00 | 1.75 mm | 00 | None | Only this weight |
| US 0 | 2 mm | 0 | 14 | Only this weight |
| US 1 | 2.25 mm | 1 | 13 | super fine (fingering) |
What size crochet hook do you use for lace weight yarn?
CYC recommends 1.4 to 2.25 mm (Steel 8 to B-1) hooks for lace weight yarn. Most of that range is steel hooks, which run in reverse numbering, so see the steel crochet hook size chart. The top of the range is the regular B-1 hook at 2.25 mm.
How much lace weight yarn do you need for a project?
Published yardage guides do not list projects in lace weight yarn. For scale, the table shows the nearest published weight, fine (sport). Finer yarn needs more yards than this for the same size piece.
| Project | Knit (yd) | Crochet (yd) | 100 g skeins (fine) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 lace weight yarn
ChiaoGoo Twist Red Lace Double Point Needle Set, 6 inch, US 0 to 3
$74.89Six inch stainless steel double points in US 0, 1, 1.5, 2, 2.5 and 3, the fine sizes socks and lace use.
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Leslye Solomon's Original Blocking Wires Kit
$26.95Stainless steel straight and flexible blocking wires with T-pins, for opening up lace to its full size.
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OttLite 4-Inch Hands-Free LED Magnifier
$23.99A 4.33 inch lens that hangs from a neck cord, so both hands stay free for fine stitches.
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 lace weight yarn?
These counts use the full CYC gauge range for lace weight yarn: 33 to 40 stitches per 4 inches knit and 32 to 42 double crochet crocheted. Knit hat counts are rounded to a multiple of 4 for ribbing, and crochet counts add 1 turning chain. Lace crochet gauge is given in double crochet, which usually starts with a longer turning chain. Treat them as estimates and swatch first.
| Piece | Knit stitches | Crochet starting chain |
|---|---|---|
| Hat, 20 in around | 164 to 200 | 161 to 211 |
| Scarf, 8 in wide | 66 to 80 | 65 to 85 |
| Baby blanket, 42 in wide | 347 to 420 | 337 to 442 |
| Throw, 50 in wide | 413 to 500 | 401 to 526 |
| Queen blanket, 90 in wide | 743 to 900 | 721 to 946 |
How do you identify lace 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. Lace yarn measures 30 to 40 or more 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 lace 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 lace yarn at 36.5 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lace | 33 to 40 | 1.5 to 2.25 mm (US 000 to 1) | This weight |
| Super fine (fingering) | 27 to 32 | 2.25 to 3.25 mm (US 1 to 3) | about 24 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 lace weight yarn?
The Craft Yarn Council lists 1.5 to 2.25 mm (US 000 to 1) needles for lace weight yarn, which is CYC category 0. 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. Lace is often worked on larger needles than this to open up the pattern.
What size crochet hook do you use for lace weight yarn?
CYC lists 1.4 to 2.25 mm (Steel 8 to B-1) hooks for lace weight yarn, at a typical gauge of 32 to 42 double crochet per 4 inches. The smallest recommended hook is 0.1 mm smaller 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 lace weight yarn?
CYC gives 33 to 40 stitches per 4 inches (10 cm) in stockinette on 1.5 to 2.25 mm (US 000 to 1) needles. At 36.5 stitches per 4 inches, a 20 inch wide piece needs about 183 stitches and a 20 inch hat about 184. 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 lace weight yarn?
Lace weight yarn measures 30 to 40 or more 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), so an unlabeled yarn near the edge needs a gauge swatch to confirm. Fuzzy yarns read thicker than they knit.
How much lace weight yarn do I need for a blanket?
Published yardage charts do not give blanket figures for lace weight yarn. It is rarely used for blankets; its usual projects are lace shawls, doilies and fine lace scarves. For a sense of scale, a sport weight throw takes about 3,500 to 3,750 yards knit, and finer yarn needs more.
What can I substitute for lace weight yarn?
The nearest weight is super fine (fingering). If you work a pattern written for lace at 36.5 stitches per 4 inches with super fine (fingering) yarn at its typical gauge, the piece comes out about 24 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.