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No matter which pattern you want to crochet, you will need the right amount of yarn. Learn here how to do it with an easy step-by- step calculation.
Unless you have an endless amount of money laying around (or does it grow on trees for some? LOL), you will likely need to know exactly how much yarn you will need for a specific pattern. Although it might not be as important for a hat pattern, it’s more crucial for a blanket pattern. Blankets require a lot of yarn and it can really eat into your budget when you want to make a bigger blanket, especially if you use premium yarn.
Save money – don’t buy more yarn than needed
Well, technically a crocheter (or knitter) never has too much yarn. I even wrote about our incredible yarn obsession in a detailed article here. But when you are on a budget or a client wants a specific yarn for a specific pattern it is important to know how much yarn to buy.
Be aware that certain stitches require more yarn than others. Yes, I even did an experiment to show that off. Please also consider that all of us have different tension. So gauge is a huge factor. This is why I created this detailed article and formula/calculation for you to use whenever you need to know how much yarn you need to buy for a certain pattern.
To make it easier, I created a written tutorial as well as a video tutorial for this. So no matter how you learn new content, you will be able to learn this one easily and quickly.
If you love learning new crochet techniques, you might also love these crochet tips:
Learn how much you’ll need for any pattern
Video Tutorial
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How to calculate how much yarn is needed for a specific pattern – Written Tutorial
So in order to do this calculation for any pattern, be sure to have at least one skein of the yarn you want to use (or an exact equivalent).
You will also need a scale (I used one from WeCrochet), a calculator (I used my phone), a swatch of at least 4x4inches using the yarn (I used Billow yarn) you want to use. And you’ll need a pen and paper.
First, you will make a swatch using the exact stitch you will use for the pattern. I made a 9×9 inch square. Make at least a swatch that is 4×4, 10×10 is better. Then weigh it and count your stitches and rows for that swatch and write it down.
Next, calculate the amount of yardage you used in the swatch (step 4). And then figure out how many stitches (total amount) your pattern will have in the end.
Finally, on step 6 you will correlate your swatch to the pattern and calculate your yardage which then tells you (step 7) how many skeins you will need for that pattern. The video above goes through all the calculations step by step.
I hope you love this tutorial as much as I do. If you love this technique, then please use the social media share buttons above or below and share this pattern link with the world and your friends.
That way you will find it easily again when you need it and you also provide the world and your friends with the ability to gain extra crochet knowledge as well. And to top it off, you help me as it allows me to create more content that you love already and want to see more of – free crochet patterns and tutorials. So, thank you for sharing.
If you love my crochet patterns and the way I teach, then I would suggest subscribing to my newsletter below as I share new patterns, tutorials and special announcements often.
KAREN SHERMAN
Excellent tutorial! Thank you!
Tammie Fike
I really appreciate this post. I usually do a pretty good “guestimation” on the amount of yarn I need, but if I ever consider putting out a pattern, it would be ideal to be able to give a much more “educational” amount of yarn needed for the project.
Eileen Cooke
Nicki, you definitely get A+ for this awesome tutorial. You really did an outstanding job on it and as always, I very much appreciate all the work and effort you put into it. It is so good and like you, I’m usually not using the yarn called for in the pattern, so this is so helpful. I also want to complement you on your wonderful Newsletters; I so look forward to them. Your quotes are to die for! But then your comments regarding them are just as inspirational. Keep up the great work and thank you!