Quick answer: Knit a 4-inch swatch, weigh it, then divide your ball weight by the swatch weight to find swatches per ball. Calculate total project area vs swatch area for total balls. Add 15% buffer.
Method 1: Weigh your swatch
- Knit a 4x4 inch swatch in your pattern stitch.
- Weigh the swatch in grams on a kitchen scale.
- Divide ball weight (e.g. 100g) by swatch weight to get swatches per ball.
- Calculate finished project area vs swatch area to determine total balls. Add 10-15% buffer.
Method 2: Standard yardage estimates
- Adult hat: 100-200m worsted weight
- Adult socks (pair): 350-400m sock weight
- Child's sweater: 500-800m DK weight
- Adult sweater: 1000-2000m depending on size and weight
- Medium shawl: 400-800m lace or fingering weight
- Throw blanket: 1500-3000m bulky weight
Common mistakes
- Buying from different dye lots — lots can look different side by side
- Not adding a buffer for swatching, mistakes, and weaving in ends
- Estimating without accounting for yarn weight class