Guide to yarn consumption

How to Calculate Yarn Usage for Your Knitting Projects

If you choose to use a different yarn than the one specified in the pattern, it’s important to select a yarn that has the same gauge as the one used in the pattern. The specific needle size the designer used is less important than using whatever needle size lets you achieve that gauge.

In addition, you should check that the yarn’s texture and appearance are suited to the design you plan to knit.

 

To make sure you can substitute one yarn for another, you need to knit a sample first. Even if many yarn labels state a gauge, we always recommend making a test swatch. There can be a big difference in which needle size is needed to achieve a given gauge — it depends a lot on whether you knit loosely or tightly.

 

When estimating yarn usage, it is also crucial that you match the gauge specified in the pattern. If your gauge doesn’t match, the calculated amount of yarn won’t be accurate — you’ll end up using either more or less yarn than expected. That’s why it’s worth taking the time to knit a swatch.

 

Once you’ve made your swatch and confirmed that your new yarn can substitute for the original, you can calculate how many skeins of the new yarn you’ll need.

  • First, find out how many metres (or yards) of the original yarn the pattern uses. You do this by multiplying the number of skeins called for in the pattern by the metreage per skein of that original yarn.

  • Make sure you note whether the metreage is given per skein of 25g, 50g, or 100g (or whatever unit the yarn uses).

  • Then divide the total metres from step 1 by the metreage per skein of your substitute yarn. The result is how many skeins of the new yarn you will need.

  • Round up to a whole skein, so you have enough yarn (better safe than sorry).

 

Yarn Substitution Example

Original Yarn:

Required: 350 grams

Yardage: 238 meters per 50 grams

Total Yardage: 350 grams ÷ 50 grams = 7 skeins

                             7 skeins × 238 meters = 1,666 meters

 

Substitute Yarn:

Yardage: 350 meters per 50 grams

Total Yardage Needed: 1,666 meters ÷ 350 meters = 4.76 skeins

Since you can't purchase a fraction of a skein, you would need to round up to 5 skeins of the substitute yarn.