8 Threads/Ply

When you're looking for the right yarn for your next project, the first thing to look for is whether the quality matches the knitting gauge given in the pattern. One way to do this is to look at how many strands the yarn is spun from - and therefore how thick it is.

In our selection you will find a huge range of beautiful and exciting yarns spun in just 8 strands. It's one of the most widely used categories, and there are virtually no limits to what you can knit and what qualities it comes in.

What is 8-thread yarn?

There are many different ways to determine if a yarn has the right thickness for the project you want to put on the needles.

An 8-thread yarn is also known by a number of other names such as:

• Light / lightweight
• Light worsted

All of these names refer to a yarn that can be knitted on a needle size of 3.75-4.5, depending on how tightly you knit and the knitting tension you want to achieve. This will usually give a knitting tension of 21-24 stitches, which means that you will need to knit 21-24 stitches to achieve 10 cm in width in your work.

8 count cotton yarn

An 8-thread cotton yarn is a strong yarn that has a short running length. For many years, cotton yarn was the most popular choice for knitting children's clothes because it is both soft and easy to hold. Today, however, it has been overtaken by wool, which is both soft, durable and insulating.

The 8-thread count cotton is great for knitting chunky cloths, small teddy bears or other smaller projects that won't get too heavy to sit on if you need to use a lot of needles.

Running length

When we talk about loop length, it's an indication that tells you how many needles you'll need for a project. On the banderole you will find a running length of the given yarn, which tells you how many meters of yarn are in the key i.e. how many meters go in 50g (as typically an 8 ply key weighs). This kind of yarn usually runs between 200 and 300 meters per 50g.

8 ply wool yarn

Because wool is a lighter fibre than cotton, it usually also has a longer running length. So even if you are left with two 50g spools of yarn of the same thickness, there can be a big difference in the running length.

An 8-thread wool yarn means that the yarn consists of 8 thinly spun threads twisted together to give the yarn the desired thickness and greater durability and strength than a yarn spun from, say, 4, 2 or even 1 thread.

The 8-thread wool yarn is an obvious choice for sweaters in both children's and adult sizes. It is great for hats, for scarves and can provide the ultimate feeling of luxury for those who have the patience to knit beautiful blankets and swaddles.

Different types of wool

There are a variety of different types of wool, and there are big differences in how they work and behave when you wash them.

Superwash wool

Is a wool yarn that has been surface treated so it can go in the washing machine without felting or shrinking. It's a very popular choice for those knitting baby and children's clothes because it stays nice for a really long time. However, be aware that it can give quite a bit when washed, and therefore should always be left to dry.

Cottonwool

Another very popular quality is the blend of wool and cotton, where you get the best qualities of both fibres in one yarn. It is an extremely popular choice for those knitting for the more wool shy, as it is virtually scratch free, instead feeling like cotton on the body.

Buy your 8 count yarn from us!

We love all things crafty and creative, which is why our site is an adventure universe of everything you might need - or didn't even know you needed - for your next creative project.

If you're looking for some great 8 count yarn, take a look at the selection above and get tempted or inspired for your next project today!