Yarn Weight Chart for Crochet & Amigurumi
Every yarn sold in the US carries a number from 0 to 7 on its label — the Craft Yarn Council’s standard yarn weight. Here is what each number means, what the same yarn is called in the UK and Australia, and which hook to pick, including the smaller hooks we use for amigurumi.
| # | Weight | Also called | Single crochets per 4 in (10 cm) | Hook on the label | Hook for amigurumi |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | Lace | Crochet thread size 10, 1–2 ply | 32–42 dc | 1.5–2.25 mm (steel) | 1.0–1.75 mm (mini) |
| 1 | Fingering / Super Fine | Sock, Baby, UK 4-ply, AU 3–4 ply | 21–32 | 2.25–3.5 mm (B-1 → E-4) | 1.75–2.5 mm |
| 2 | Sport / Fine | Baby, AU 5-ply | 16–20 | 3.5–4.5 mm (E-4 → 7) | 2.25–3.0 mm |
| 3 | DK / Light | Light Worsted, UK/AU 8-ply | 12–17 | 4.5–5.5 mm (7 → I-9) | 2.5–3.5 mm |
| 4 | Worsted / Medium | Aran, Afghan, AU 10-ply | 11–14 | 5.5–6.5 mm (I-9 → K-10½) | 3.5–4.5 mm |
| 5 | Chunky / Bulky | Craft, Rug, AU 12-ply | 8–11 | 6.5–9 mm (K-10½ → M-13) | 4.5–6.0 mm |
| 6 | Super Bulky | Super Chunky, Roving, most plush / blanket / chunky chenille yarns | 7–9 | 9–15 mm (M-13 → Q) | 5.0–7.0 mm |
| 7 | Jumbo | Roving, arm-knitting yarn | ≤ 6 | 15 mm and up (Q and up) | — |
Gauge and label hook sizes follow the Craft Yarn Council Standard Yarn Weight System. The amigurumi column is our own rule of thumb, not part of the standard.
How to tell which weight your yarn is
- Look for the yarn-ball symbol on the label: the number inside it (0–7) is the weight.
- No symbol? Compare the length per ball with a yarn you know: the more meters per 50 g, the thinner the yarn. Cotton is heavier than acrylic, so a cotton yarn has fewer meters per 50 g than an acrylic of the same weight. Fluffy and plush yarns don’t follow this rule.
- “4-ply” can mean two things. In the UK it is Super Fine (#1), but many milk-cotton yarns sold as 4-ply are closer to Fine (#2).
- Still unsure? Crochet a small circle with the hook from the pattern. If the stitches look loose and stuffing would show, the yarn is too thin for that hook.
Why amigurumi uses a smaller hook
Toys need tight stitches so the stuffing stays hidden and the shape stays firm. That’s why amigurumi patterns usually call for a hook one or two sizes smaller than the yarn label suggests — for example a 2.5–3.5 mm hook with DK yarn instead of 4.5 mm. If you can see stuffing between your stitches, go down a hook size.
Swapping the yarn in a pattern
Any yarn of the same weight will work, and your toy will come out close to the size in the pattern. A thicker yarn (with a bigger hook) makes a bigger toy, a thinner one makes a smaller toy — the pattern stays the same, only the finished size changes. Buy enough yarn of the same dye lot for the main color.
Picking a hook? See the crochet hook size chart for mm, US, UK and Japanese sizes.
