What is Fingering Weight yarn? How do you choose what kind to use? Why is it called Fingering Weight? 

Whether you're new to knitting or just perusing your pattern library for what to knit next, you may wonder about some of the fine details of Fingering weight yarn. Today, we are here to help answer these questions and take a deeper look into the Fingering weight blends we offer at Plucky, and what projects they will work best with.

Fingering weight yarn is typically a 4-ply strand, thin, but still versatile. It is most often worked on small needles ranging from US 1-3 (2.25-3.25 mm), for a tight gauge. However, one example of the versatility of this yarn is that you can work with it on larger needles, like a US 6 (4.0 mm) for a looser gauge, giving you a drapey fabric. 

As you look through Fingering weight yarns in your LYS, you may notice it can also be referred to in other terms like "4-ply", "superfine", or "sock yarn." You may also run across more or less plies within this yarn weight too. The amount of plies in a yarn can be very important, depending on what project you have in mind, but we'll save that rabbit hole for a future blog post. 

So, now that we have a better grasp of what Fingering weight yarn is, let's look at the types of yarns we have and what they are best suited for.

90% Superwash Merino, 10% Recycled Nylon

The name says it all - your feet have found the perfect sock yarn! The tight twist of this yarn makes it an ideal option for strength and durability while still having a bit of softness due to the recycled nylon content. Being a superwash yarn, it’s also great for sweaters, baby knits, stuffies and more!

100% Superwash Bluefaced Leicester

Bluefaced Leicester (BFL) can be next-to-skin soft and has long fibers, making it a great choice for items that will take a lot of wear yet still quite comfortable. Its natural luster makes it perfect for all kinds of items including, but not limited to, shawls, scarves, socks, sweaters, baby items and especially for all forms of colorwork! This blend is a superwash and therefore may be machine washed on a gentle wool cycle, then laid flat to dry.

30% Superfine Merino, 40% Mulberry Silk, 30% Yak

This extraordinary, non-superwash, blend of extra fine merino wool, silk, and yak creates a fabric with beautiful drape and a luxurious sheen. The merino and yak provide elasticity and warmth, while the mulberry silk provides good tensile strength and sheen. Lustre is a great choice for all garments and accessories and is one of those yarns that works well knit at a looser gauge.

100% Peruvian Highland Wool 

A classic, lovely wool yarn spun from high quality fleece, it's the perfect choice if you don’t want to compromise. Peruvian Highland Fingering is a light, soft yarn that is sure to keep you nice and warm. The combination of the strong fibers and the exquisite softness lends itself to most projects. And the wool is durable enough to last for many years, even with frequent use. It has nice elasticity and strength, wears well, and is not prone to pilling. Being a non-super wash blend, it's perfect for colorwork, cables and steeking. Great for hats, mitts, neckwear, and garments too.

75% Superwash Merino, 20% Cashmere, 5% Nylon

The one that started it all–Primo Fingering– our custom milled flagship base, creates a luxurious fabric with its generous amount of cashmere. The merino content makes it a great option for colorwork, texture, cables, and lace. It has the perfect amount of drape when used for shawls and garments and is also perfect for hats, mitts, socks, and more! Colors will appear slightly softer than a 100% merino because of the cashmere content, but still vibrant.

87% Peruvian Merino, 13% Donegal Viscose

This is a fun-to-knit, non superwash base with the subtle tweed-like flecks of color that complement your fabric. Like a little party happening with every stitch. It's both sturdy, yet next-to-skin soft, making it a fun choice for socks, hats, shawls, and garments! 

Now for the question we probably all have wondered about from time to time... Why call this type of yarn "fingering weight?" The origin of the term “fingering” is actually derived from fingram, from the French fin grain, which means “fine grain”. In relation to yarn, this could imply that it is a more fine weight of a yarn, thus Fingering weight. Who knew it's from a French term? We love our wooly history though, right?

Now that we know all about Fingering weight yarns, what should we make with them? Check out these great patterns! 

For socks, this series of patterns by Kay of the Crazy Sock Lady are perfect for beginners or long time knitters. 

The Travel Mode 2.0 shawl by Susanne Sommer is also a great design, showcasing five colors in fingering weight.

And, if you're looking for a sweater pattern, we are loving the easy nature of the Cottage cardigan by Jacqueline Cieslak.

We hope you've enjoyed this fun journey into the world of Fingering weight yarns! We'd love to hear what's on your needles, so feel free to drop us a line in our inbox at customerservice@thepluckyknitter.com!