Look familiar? You have probably seen this symbol on a ball band or on a pattern. These symbols were developed by the Craft Yarn Council has worked with folks in the knitting and crochet industry to come up with standards for abbreviations, chart symbol and yarn weight. Don't be mistaken - this is not the recommended gauge for a given yarn. The symbol at the left is for Bulky weight yarn. The Craft Yarn Council standard gauge for Bulky weight yarn is 6 to 11 stitches over 4 inches in stockinette on US Size 11 or larger needles. A zero in the symbol at the left would denote lace weight yarn with a recommended gauge of 33 to 40 stitches over 4 inches of stockinette on US Size 000 to 1 needles. The Craft Yarn Council also has similar gauge for crochet.