When planning a new project, the first question that comes to mind is “How much yarn do I need?”. Whether you’re substituting one yarn for another in a pattern or whether you just have a general sense of what you’d like to make, you can figure out the yardage by using yarn calculations.
Table courtesy of Lion Brand Yarns
A pattern will usually tell you how much yarn you will need if you’re using the recommended yarn for the pattern but if you decide to substitute a different type (making sure it’s the same weight) then you will need to recalculate how much you will need.
This is quite a simple calculation:
- Number of skeins called for in the pattern × yards per skein (this will be given on the label or can be found online) = total yards needed for the pattern
- Total yards needed for the pattern ÷ yards per skein of your chosen yarn (again, you can find this on the label or online) = number of skeins you need (round up to the nearest whole number)
So how much yarn do I need?
If you decide to go with a different weight of yarn but adjust the size according to the gauge, then this is a little more complicated. The table below give you an approximation of how much you will need. This table gives yardage approximations for various projects in a variety of gauges.
Yarn Weight Category | Stitches per Inch | Hat | Scarf | Adult Sweater |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 Superfine | 7 to 8 | 300 to 375 | 350 | 1,500 to 3,200 |
2 Fine | 6 to 7 | 250 to 350 | 300 | 1,200 to 2,500 |
3 Light | 5 to 6 | 200 to 300 | 250 | 1,000 to 2,000 |
4 Medium | 4 to 5 | 150 to 250 | 200 | 800 to 1,500 |
5 Bulky | 3 to 4 | 125 to 200 | 150 | 600 to 1,200 |
6 Super bulky | 1.5 to 3 | 75 to 125 | 125 | 400 to 800 |
Patterns usually call for a little more than you’ll actually use. However, because you want to swatch and account for the unknown (you may want to lengthen the sleeves or make the body length a bit longer), buy a little extra. Especially if it’s being discontinued. Different stitches also use more yardage than others. For example, a ribbed or cabled pattern takes more yarn than stockinette stitch, and your tension may vary.