We're going to finish our observation of this chart today with talking about the different types of yarn and their main projects. Below are the different yarn weights:

Yarn weight is very important in making sure that your gauge is accurate. With projects that call for a 5-weight yarn, you can get away with using two strands of 4-weight yarn held together as one, but otherwise, you'll need to specifically purchase the weight you need for the project. I'll be talking about how to know how much yarn to purchase in later chapters, but that's not important till we get to crochet patterns.

Lace (0), superfine (1), and fine (2) are used mostly for lace projects and amurigami (the art of knitting and crocheting stuffed animals). Light yarn (3) is common among baby projects and shawls - the project I showed at the beginning was made of DK yarn entirely. Medium (4) is what most projects call for, and it's used for scarves, hats, and so much more. Bulky (5) and Super-Bulky (6) are used for rugs and bags because they're thicker and better suited for the strength required.

Most projects will call for acrylic or cotton yarn, which are the two most common types (contrary to popular belief, most yarn is not made of wool; it's synthetic). If it calls for another material, like lurex or novelties, it will usually say on the pattern, and the brand of which to buy said yarn. My favorite places to shop yarn are Walmart or Hobby Lobby because they have good prices. Yarn is usually around $3 USD per medium skein, but you can buy it in bulk for around $6 if you have a big project. If you like online shopping, as do I, Hobby Lobby and Walmart have big selections there, or you can join a community like Ravelry and buy used yarn.