Sport
The forgotten middleweight. Sport is heavier than fingering and lighter than DK — beautiful for a refined cabled pullover or a child's cardigan, but sometimes hard to source.
Typical gauge & needles
| CYC number | 2 |
| UK / Australian name | 5-ply |
| Wraps per inch | 12 |
| Stitch gauge (per 4 in) | 23–26 |
| Row gauge (per 4 in) | 30–34 |
| Recommended needle (metric) | 3.25–3.75 mm |
| Recommended needle (US) | US 3–5 |
| Yardage per 50 g | 150–180 yds |
Best uses
- Lightweight pullovers
- Children's garments
- Detailed cabled hats
- Lightweight blankets
About this weight
Sport's typical gauge of 24 sts to 4 inches gives it more drape than DK and more visible stitch definition than fingering. Cables in sport-weight wool are crisp without being heavy; lace at sport weight blocks to a substantial fabric that holds up to wear.
Sport-weight is one of the least-stocked weights at major yarn shops; substituting a lightly-held DK at the same needle size often works.
Swatching at this weight
Sport's gauge sits at a noticeable boundary — at the same needle size, two different sport yarns can produce visibly different fabrics. Always swatch.
If a pattern calls for sport and you only have DK, swatch on the next-smaller needle and check both stitch and row gauge.
Stitch patterns that wear well in Sport
The stitches below were curated as flattering at this weight; you can also browse all 480 charted stitches.
Substituting yarn weights
A heavy fingering or a light DK will both substitute for sport with a one-needle adjustment. Read the full yarn weight conversion reference before swapping any yarn.