Yarn Calculator
Find out how much yarn to buy. For a quick answer, pick the project and the yarn weight. For an exact one, weigh your gauge swatch and enter the size of the pieces you will knit.
The length is a typical figure for this yarn weight. Change it to match your ball band.
Result
About 1,100 – 1,350 m (1,203 – 1,476 yd)
6 to 8 skeins of 185 m
Buy for the top of the range, all from one dye lot.
Typical amounts for plain stockinette in wool, from the guide "How much yarn do I need?".
Knitting a sweater?
Open a knitting chart in Knytstudio and choose "Knit a sweater at this gauge": you get a top-down raglan in your size, a chart for each piece and a written pattern with a yarn estimate. Free to start, no signup needed.
Start a knitting chartTwo ways to estimate
The quick estimate uses the typical ranges for plain stockinette in wool or wool-blend yarn from our guide "How much yarn do I need?". Your own number depends on your size, the length you knit, your gauge and the stitch pattern, so buy for the top of the range.
The swatch method is the accurate one: your swatch is knitted with your yarn, needles and stitch, so it already includes the extra yarn that cables or colourwork use.
How the swatch method works
- Knit your gauge swatch in the project yarn and stitch, and measure it: for example 15 x 15 cm = 225 cm².
- Weigh it on a kitchen scale: say 9 g.
- Add up the area of the pieces you will knit. A sweater is roughly front, back and two sleeves: two body pieces of 55 x 65 cm and two sleeves averaging 35 x 48 cm come to 10,510 cm².
- Grams needed = finished area / swatch area x swatch weight: 10,510 / 225 x 9 = 420 g.
- Add 10 percent for seams, bands and the unknown: about 460 g. With 100 g balls, buy five.
Tips so you do not run out
- Buy all the yarn from one dye lot, and buy the extra ball at the start.
- Compare lengths, not balls: a 50 g ball of DK can be 110 m or 130 m depending on the brand.
- Weigh as you go. After the body, weigh what is left: if one sleeve used 100 g, you know whether the second will fit.
Yarn amounts by project and yarn weight
Metres, for plain stockinette in wool or wool blends, from the guide "How much yarn do I need?". A dash means the guide has no figure.
| Project | Fingering | DK | Worsted / aran | Chunky |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sweaters (adult pullover, hip length) | ||||
| XS – S (chest 80 – 90 cm) | 1,200 – 1,500 | 1,000 – 1,250 | 850 – 1,100 | 600 – 800 |
| M – L (chest 95 – 110 cm) | 1,500 – 1,850 | 1,250 – 1,550 | 1,100 – 1,350 | 800 – 1,000 |
| XL – 2XL (chest 115 – 130 cm) | 1,850 – 2,300 | 1,550 – 1,900 | 1,350 – 1,650 | 1,000 – 1,250 |
| 3XL and up (chest 135 cm +) | 2,300 + | 1,900 + | 1,650 + | 1,250 + |
| Accessories | ||||
| Adult hat | 200 – 300 | 170 – 250 | 130 – 200 | 90 – 140 |
| Adult mittens (pair) | 200 – 280 | 170 – 230 | 130 – 180 | 90 – 130 |
| Adult socks (pair) | 350 – 420 | 300 – 380 | – | – |
| Cowl | 200 – 350 | 170 – 300 | 130 – 250 | 90 – 170 |
| Scarf (20 x 160 cm) | 500 – 650 | 400 – 550 | 300 – 450 | 200 – 300 |
| Shawl (medium) | 400 – 800 | 350 – 650 | – | – |
| Blankets | ||||
| Baby blanket (75 x 90 cm) | – | 800 – 1,000 | 650 – 900 | 450 – 600 |
| Lap throw (100 x 130 cm) | – | 1,500 – 1,900 | 1,200 – 1,600 | 850 – 1,150 |
| Single bed blanket (150 x 200 cm) | – | 3,000 – 3,800 | 2,400 – 3,200 | 1,700 – 2,300 |
Frequently asked questions
Knitting guides
More knitting tools
Knitting Chart Maker
Design colourwork, cable and lace charts drawn to your gauge, with every row written out.
KnittingKnitting Gauge Calculator
Stitches to cast on and rows to knit for any size, from your swatch.
KnittingIncrease / Decrease Evenly Calculator
Spread increases or decreases evenly across a row or round, written out stitch by stitch.
KnittingKnitting Graph Paper
Printable knitting chart paper at your gauge, with cells at the true stitch-to-row ratio. A4 or Letter.
KnittingKnitting Row Counter
A simple online row counter, and the chart tracker that counts rows from the bottom of your chart.