Helpful Hints Pt. 3

I saw this article on a web blog: LoveKnitting.com that I follow and I thought it was ingenious! :)  It's about how to figure out yarn weight (when the wrapper is no longer with you) and wraps per inch. I've always heard of wraps per inch and even seen tools for this but I couldn't really figure it out - until now. :P  Here's an excerpt from the article: 

You’ll need a pencil and a measuring tape or ruler.

We’ll be using Wraps per Inch to figure out your yarn weight. You might notice that most ball bands have the wraps per inch, or WPI, indicated.  This is meant to overcome the difficulties of regional terminology.  Wrap your mystery yarn around the pencil, making sure that the strands are touching, but not overlapping.

Next, you’ll measure the pencil with yarn wraps against a ruler or a measuring tape to make sure you’re wraps are within an inch.

Count the wraps within the inch, and compare against these measurements below:

– Lace or 2 ply: 35 or more

– Light fingering, sock, or 2 ply: 22 – 34

– Fingering or 4 ply: 19 – 22

– Sport: 15 – 18

– DK: 12 – 17

– Worsted or Aran: 9 – 11

– Bulky or Chunky: 8 – 10

– Super Bulky or Super Chunky: anything that has 7 or less wraps per inch

[The] mystery yarn clocked in at 10 wraps per inch, making it a worsted weight yarn.  It’s no longer a mystery yarn!

Thank you, Angie for making Wraps Per Inch clear and easy to (finally) figure out! :)