Yarn weight #2

What is sport weight yarn? Fine (#2) yarn explained

Sport weight yarn is a fine yarn, category 2 in the Craft Yarn Council system, a little thinner than DK and often labelled baby yarn. Crocheters work sport yarn with a 3.5–4.5 mm hook, US E-4 to 7, at 16–20 single crochet per 4 inches, for baby blankets, summer tops and lightweight cardigans.

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

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Fine weight yarn with a matching hook and swatch
Fine yarn at a glance
DetailValue
CYC number#2
Also calledSport, Baby, 4-ply (UK/AU, approximate)
Crochet gauge16–20 sc per 4 in / 10 cm
Hook size (mm)3.5–4.5 mm
Hook size (US)E-4 to 7
Yards per 100 gabout 250–350 yd
Best forBaby blankets, Summer tops, Lightweight cardigans, Amigurumi

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

Fine yarn is category 2 in the Craft Yarn Council system. You will also see it sold as sport, baby, 4-ply (uk/au, approximate). It typically runs about 250–350 yd per 100 g, though the exact length depends on the fibre.

How does fine yarn compare with the weights either side?

Super Fine (#1) is one step finer and works up at 21–32 sc per 4 in / 10 cm. Light (#3) is one step thicker at 12–17 sc per 4 in / 10 cm. Moving one weight up usually means going up about one to two hook sizes.

Fine yarn and neighbouring weights
WeightCrochet gauge (4 in)Hook (mm)Hook (US)Yards per 100 g
#1 Super Fine21–32 sc per 4 in / 10 cm2.25–3.5 mmB-1 to E-4about 350–500 yd
#2 Fine16–20 sc per 4 in / 10 cm3.5–4.5 mmE-4 to 7about 250–350 yd
#3 Light12–17 sc per 4 in / 10 cm4.5–5.5 mm7 to I-9about 200–280 yd

What hook size should you use for fine yarn?

Start with a hook between 3.5–4.5 mm (E-4 to 7). Standard hooks in that range are 3.5 mm (US E-4), 3.75 mm (US F-5), 4 mm (US G-6), 4.5 mm (US 7). Go down a size for tighter fabric such as amigurumi, and up a size for drape.

What is fine yarn best for?

Fine yarn is a good choice for baby blankets, summer tops, lightweight cardigans, amigurumi. Our library has 99 patterns in this weight, such as shetland floss tam from the new ruffle sweater set (1920), baby's mittens with bean-stitch cuff (1912), campus queen woven plaid shawl (1951), fantasy star stitch stole (1960), gentleman’s sleeping boots no. 570 (1919).

What is the difference between sport and DK weight yarn?

Sport (#2) yarn is thinner than DK (#3). In the Craft Yarn Council ranges, sport yarn gives about 16–20 single crochet per 4 inches and DK about 12–17, so the same pattern worked in DK comes out larger. Substitute one for the other only after making a gauge swatch and changing hook size to match the pattern.

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 fine yarn