Yarn weight #5

What is chunky weight yarn? Bulky (#5) yarn explained

Chunky weight yarn is a bulky yarn, category 5 in the Craft Yarn Council system, also sold as craft or rug yarn. Crocheters use a 6.5–9 mm hook, US K-10½ to M-13, and get 8–11 single crochet per 4 inches. Chunky yarn works up quickly into warm hats, scarves, cowls and throws.

By the crochetpatterns.io editorial team · Updated · Editorial policy

Save to Pinterest

Bulky weight yarn with a matching hook and swatch
Bulky yarn at a glance
DetailValue
CYC number#5
Also calledChunky, Craft, Rug, 12-ply (AU/NZ)
Crochet gauge8–11 sc per 4 in / 10 cm
Hook size (mm)6.5–9 mm
Hook size (US)K-10½ to M-13
Yards per 100 gabout 80–150 yd
Best forChunky hats, Scarves and cowls, Quick throws, Rugs

What is bulky weight yarn called in the US and UK?

Bulky yarn is category 5 in the Craft Yarn Council system. You will also see it sold as chunky, craft, rug, 12-ply (au/nz). It typically runs about 80–150 yd per 100 g, though the exact length depends on the fibre.

How does bulky yarn compare with the weights either side?

Medium (#4) is one step finer and works up at 11–14 sc per 4 in / 10 cm. Super Bulky (#6) is one step thicker at 7–9 sc per 4 in / 10 cm. Moving one weight up usually means going up about one to two hook sizes.

Bulky yarn and neighbouring weights
WeightCrochet gauge (4 in)Hook (mm)Hook (US)Yards per 100 g
#4 Medium11–14 sc per 4 in / 10 cm5.5–6.5 mmI-9 to K-10½about 150–220 yd
#5 Bulky8–11 sc per 4 in / 10 cm6.5–9 mmK-10½ to M-13about 80–150 yd
#6 Super Bulky7–9 sc per 4 in / 10 cm9–15 mmM-13 to Qabout 40–90 yd

What hook size should you use for bulky yarn?

Start with a hook between 6.5–9 mm (K-10½ to M-13). Standard hooks in that range are 6.5 mm (US K-10½), 7 mm, 8 mm (US L-11), 9 mm (US M/N-13). Go down a size for tighter fabric such as amigurumi, and up a size for drape.

What is bulky yarn best for?

Bulky yarn is a good choice for chunky hats, scarves and cowls, quick throws, rugs. Our library has 24 patterns in this weight, such as day and night shell stitch rug (vintage american thread), ribbed half double crochet chunky scarf, country home round rug (vintage american thread), dot dot dash rug (vintage american thread), garden gay rug, no. 26 (1970).

What is the difference between chunky and super chunky yarn?

Chunky is bulky (#5) yarn and super chunky is super bulky (#6). In the Craft Yarn Council ranges, chunky yarn gives about 8–11 single crochet per 4 inches with a 6.5–9 mm hook, while super chunky gives about 7–9 with a 9–15 mm hook. Super chunky projects grow faster but use more weight of yarn.

Sources and scope

  • Craft Yarn Council: Standard Yarn Weight System

    Source for categories 0–7 and the crochet gauge and hook ranges. These are starting guidelines; use the gauge in your pattern. Regional ply names and yards per 100 g are approximate comparisons, not CYC specifications.

Patterns using bulky yarn