How to Crochet With Different Yarn Weights

The key to working with different yarn weights is pairing them together so that the stitches will match up. It’s imperative to work a gauge swatch before you embark on your project so you get a feel and look for how the yarns will work together. Working with different yarn weights can create a pattern that offers different textures to the rows as well as different colors.

Sometimes to create the appearance of texture in a crocheted item you have to follow a specific stitch pattern, but you can achieve different textures in your project using different yarn weights and working a simple stitch like double crochet. You could create an amazing blanket, a cool scarf, and even a sweater with different colors and yarn weights.
 

As you can see with the image below, if you were to work alternating rows of a bulky yarn with a fine yarn the rows with the fine yarn are just about matching up with the thicker yarn ones. I was able to achieve this by using the same size crochet hook, specifically the hook size suggested for the thicker yarn. This allowed the stitches on the thinner yarn to be almost the same size as the thicker yarn enabling the rows to match up.

Granted, the thinner yarn is looking a little "lacy," if you want the stitches to be tighter, I would suggest going down a hook size.  Another idea is to hold two strands of the thinner yarn together to create a thicker yarn with the two. It all depends on the look you are trying to achieve and what yarn you have available.
 

Something you wouldn’t want to do, though, is use the designated hook size for each yarn to create these rows. In the sample below I used a large hook to work with the thicker yarn and a much smaller hook to work with the thinner yarn.

As you can see in the image below, the rows don’t match up at all and it also caused the swatch to curl up since the stitches with the smaller hook are much tighter.
 

Now, if you were to pair a bulky weight yarn with a medium weight yarn the rows would look seamless. This is because even though the yarns are different weights, they are close enough in thickness that working with them is much easier and requires less trial and error.

Below is a picture of a swatch using a bulky yarn (blue) and a medium-weight yarn (white) crocheted using the suggested hook size for the medium yarn (I/5.5mm). I could have gotten away with using a larger hook as well and all that would have happened was that the stitches would have been looser.
 

One of the best ways to work with different yarn weights is to create an array of squares that are all the same size. This will require a bit of planning and a ruler.

You could create an amazing patchwork or sampler design using the same or different crochet stitches as long as your squares (or even rectangles) are the same size or if you are patient enough you could map out different sized ones to create something as well. 

As you can see in the image below, this mix of squares are all different weights but the same size. These can be collected and sewn together to create a cohesive piece of any larger rectangle or square.
 

Another way to work with different yarn weights is to use a thinner yarn to embellish your finished project. A cute flower or heart on a hat or a pair of gloves/mittens. Or maybe stitched haphazardly (or in a pattern) on a finished item.  
 

One last suggestion for you on how to crochet with different yarn weights! You could also use a different yarn weight to create a decorative picot edge or border in the same, complementary or contrasting color on a blanket, a pair of socks, a placemat, and so forth.
 

Once you get the hang of working with different yarn weights the possibilities are endless.