Yarn weight #1

What is fingering weight yarn? Super Fine (#1) yarn explained

Fingering weight yarn is a super fine yarn, category 1 in the Craft Yarn Council system, also sold as sock or baby yarn. Crocheters use a 2.25–3.5 mm hook, US B-1 to E-4, and get 21–32 single crochet per 4 inches. Fingering yarn suits socks, light shawls and delicate baby garments.

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

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Super Fine weight yarn with a matching hook and swatch
Super Fine yarn at a glance
DetailValue
CYC number#1
Also calledSock, Fingering, Baby
Crochet gauge21–32 sc per 4 in / 10 cm
Hook size (mm)2.25–3.5 mm
Hook size (US)B-1 to E-4
Yards per 100 gabout 350–500 yd
Best forSocks, Lightweight shawls, Baby garments, Small detailed amigurumi

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

Super Fine yarn is category 1 in the Craft Yarn Council system. You will also see it sold as sock, fingering, baby. It typically runs about 350–500 yd per 100 g, though the exact length depends on the fibre.

How does super fine yarn compare with the weights either side?

Lace (#0) is one step finer and works up at 32–42 dc per 4 in / 10 cm. Fine (#2) is one step thicker at 16–20 sc per 4 in / 10 cm. Moving one weight up usually means going up about one to two hook sizes.

Super Fine yarn and neighbouring weights
WeightCrochet gauge (4 in)Hook (mm)Hook (US)Yards per 100 g
#0 Lace32–42 dc per 4 in / 10 cm1.6–1.4 mm steel; up to 2.25 mm regularSteel 6, 7, 8; regular B-1about 600–900 yd
#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

What hook size should you use for super fine yarn?

Start with a hook between 2.25–3.5 mm (B-1 to E-4). Standard hooks in that range are 2.25 mm (US B-1), 2.75 mm (US C-2), 3.25 mm (US D-3), 3.5 mm (US E-4). Go down a size for tighter fabric such as amigurumi, and up a size for drape.

What is super fine yarn best for?

Super Fine yarn is a good choice for socks, lightweight shawls, baby garments, small detailed amigurumi. Our library has 94 patterns in this weight, such as crochet border for shawl, no. 23 (1888), crocheted cover for carriage strap no. 799 (1915), auto scarf with crossed double crochet and knotted fringe (1912), baby's crocheted bottle cover no. 796 (1915), baby's mittens in front-loop single crochet (1912).

Is fingering weight yarn the same as sock yarn?

Both are super fine (#1) yarns. Sock yarn is fingering weight yarn that is usually blended with nylon for strength at heels and toes, while fingering yarn in general can be any fibre, such as pure merino, cotton or alpaca. Either works for a pattern that calls for fingering weight, as long as your gauge swatch matches.

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 super fine yarn