4 Ply Wool & Fingering Weight
4 ply yarn is not only renowned for being very easy to work with, it also produces wonderfully soft garments. It’s the ideal choice for squishy winter cardigans and jumpers, as well as blankets and bobble hats. Traditionally, 4 ply wool consisted of 4 standard weight strands of wool woven together. But nowadays the structure of a 4 ply yarn can vary. For extra guidance on this, please don’t hesitate to contact our friendly team.
Fingering weight or 4 ply wool?
Fingering yarn, or 4 ply yarn, is a lightweight knitting yarn that is very popular for hand knitting. This yarn makes lightweight garments and accessories, which are suitable for a wide range of climates and seasons.
Why choose 4 ply yarn?
- Many varieties: Fingering weight yarn is very popular, so you can find it in almost any colour or fibre - from delicate silk and alpaca to extra tough nylon and 4 ply merino wool.
- Lots of detail: Fingering weight yarn can be used for delicate lace and detailed colour work.
- Hand-dyed: Many hand dyers use fingering weight yarn, so it is available in a huge range of beautiful and unique colourways.
- Lots of patterns: 4 ply yarns can be used to make almost anything. Because it is so popular and practical, many designers choose to write their patterns for fingering yarn.
- Lightweight garments: 4 ply wool will create lighter garments that can be worn and enjoyed for more days out of the year.
Which 4 ply yarn should you choose?
It really depends on what you want to make! If you are following a pattern, it will tell you what the recommended fingering yarn is. Read our guide on substituting yarns for help with choosing an alternative yarn.
Yarn for socks: Fingering weight yarn made of a blend of merino and nylon is called sock yarn. Like the name suggests, this is the perfect choice for hard-wearing socks.
Yarn for shawls: For lots of drape, look for a yarn with a silk or alpaca content. This type of yarn is perfect for shawls, wraps, and anything that needs a beautiful drape.
Yarn for sweaters and jumpers: You can choose any fingering weight yarn for a sweater. 4 ply merino wool and cashmere are great soft fibres to be worn right against the skin. A ‘woollier’ blend will be good for traditional colourwork patterns such as Fair Isle. A firm, bouncy fibre will also work great for cables and textured knitting.
What size knitting needles should you use for 4 ply wool?
It really depends on what kind of fabric you want to create. Fingering wool can be knit with small needles at a very tight gauge. This type of fabric is usually used for socks, which need to be sturdy and stand up to a lot of wear. However, when knit on larger needles at a loose gauge fingering weight yarn will create an elegant, drapey fabric perfect for shawls and wraps.
Most of the time, you will use 2.5 to 3.5 mm needles when working with 4 ply yarns. Read more about matching needle sizes to yarn weight with our in-depth guide.
Why buy your fingering yarn from Yarn Worx?
We ethically source our 4 ply knitting wool from some of the world’s finest suppliers. Select your ideal option from our wide range and don’t hesitate to get in touch if you require any guidance from our expert team. If you’re interested in stocking up on supplies today, we are pleased to offer all of our customers free UK delivery on orders over £100. Want an in-depth guide to this type of wool? Check out our complete guide to fingering weight yarn.
