The following information is purely meant to assist you with your high -level calculations in determining how much wool you require for your project. There are many factors that contribute towards the amount of wool required and Woolcrate can therefore not be held responsible for incorrect quantities purchased by customers.
If you’re using the yarn called for in a pattern, the pattern usually tells you how many balls to buy for each size.
However, if you choose to use a yarn different from the pattern’s suggestion, you may need to do a little calculating:
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Number of skeins called for in the pattern × yards per skein = total yards needed for the pattern
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Total yards needed for the pattern ÷ yards per skein of your chosen yarn = number of skeins you need (round up to the nearest whole number, if necessary)
If you aren’t working directly from a pattern or are working at a different gauge than a pattern recommends, you don’t have a tidy way to determine how much yarn to buy. Estimate how much you need. This table gives yardage approximations for various projects in a variety of gauges.
| Yarn Weight Category | Stitches per Inch | Yards Needed for a Hat | Yards Needed for a Scarf | Yards Needed for an 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 yarn than you’ll actually use, but because you want to swatch and account for the unknown (you actually hate three-quarter sleeves, or you’ve had some terrible yarn accident), buy a little extra yarn, particularly if it’s being discontinued. A ribbed or cabled pattern takes more yarn than stockinette stitch, and your knitting may vary.
The following table provides another view on required wool:
Baby | Toddler | Kid | Teenager | Adult | |
Hat | 0-50 gm | 50 – 75 gm | 75 – 100 gm | 100 – 125 gm | 125 – 150 gm |
Scarf | NA | NA | 200 – 300 gm | 250 – 350 gm | 350 – 450 gm |
Baby Shoe | 0 – 50 gm | 0 – 50 gm | 50 – 100 gm | 100 – 150 gm | 100 – 150 gm |
Shawl / Poncho | NA | 150 – 200 gm | 200 – 300 gm | 300 – 400 gm | 400 – 500 gm |
Blanket / Bed Sheet | 300 – 500 gm | 500 – 800 gm | 800 gm – 1.5 kg | 1.5 – 2 kg | 3 – 5 kg |
Sweater / Pullover / Cardigan | 100 – 150 gm | 100 – 200 gm | 200 – 300 gm | 300 – 400 gm | 300 – 400 gm S 400 – 500 gm M 500 – 600 gm L 600 – 700 gm XL 700 – 800 gm XXL 800 gm – 1 kg XXXL |