How the yarn calculator works
Thicker yarn covers more area per yard. The calculator multiplies your project's area by a typical yardage for your yarn weight, then adjusts for your stitch: single crochet uses about 1.6× the yarn of knit stockinette, half double about 1.45× and double crochet about 1.27×. Textured stitches like cables and bobbles use more yarn; open, lacy stitches use less.
yards = width × length × yards per sq in × stitch factor × texture factor × (1 + margin)
These are averages. Your own tension can easily move the real amount up or down by 20–30%, which is why the swatch method below is more accurate — and why the yardage printed on your pattern should win if it differs.
Our yardage estimates per square inch (knit stockinette)
| Yarn weight | Yards per sq in | 50" × 60" throw (knit) |
|---|---|---|
| Lace (0) | 1.8 | 5,400 yd |
| Fingering / Sock (1) | 1.3 | 3,900 yd |
| Sport (2) | 1.1 | 3,300 yd |
| DK / Light Worsted (3) | 0.9 | 2,700 yd |
| Worsted / Aran (4) | 0.7 | 2,100 yd |
| Bulky / Chunky (5) | 0.45 | 1,350 yd |
| Super Bulky (6) | 0.28 | 840 yd |
| Jumbo (7) | 0.15 | 450 yd |
Most accurate method: measure your swatch
Your tension, needle or hook size and stitch pattern matter more than any chart. To get a precise answer, make a swatch at least 4" × 4" (10 × 10 cm) in your project's stitch, then find out how much yarn it used:
- Weigh it: use a kitchen scale. If the label says 100 g = 200 yd, then each gram is 2 yards.
- Or unravel it and measure the yarn with a tape measure.
Choose From my swatch above and enter the swatch size and the yarn it used.
Example: crochet throw blanket
A 50" × 60" throw has an area of 3,000 square inches. In worsted weight, that's about 3,000 × 0.7 = 2,100 yards for knit stockinette. In double crochet, multiply by 1.27: about 2,670 yards. With a 10% margin, plan for about 2,930 yards, or 15 skeins of 200 yards. The same blanket in single crochet would need about 3,700 yards with margin.
Sources
- Knit vs crochet yarn use (stitch factors): Interweave — Yarn Usage for Knitting vs. Crochet: A Science Experiment.
- Typical blanket yardage ranges: Handy Little Me — Crochet Blanket Sizes and How Much Yarn.
- Yarn weight categories 0–7: Craft Yarn Council — Standard Yarn Weight System.
Yardage per square inch for each yarn weight and the texture adjustments are our own estimates, checked against these ranges.
Questions, answered
How much yarn do I need for a blanket?
It depends on the size, yarn weight, stitch and your tension. Our estimate for a 50" × 60" throw in worsted weight is about 2,100 yards knitted, or about 2,700 (double crochet) to 3,400 yards (single crochet) crocheted, before a safety margin. Published guides and patterns for that size range from about 1,500 to over 3,000 yards, so always check your pattern's yardage first.
Does crochet use more yarn than knitting?
Usually, yes, and it depends on the stitch. In a swatch experiment by Interweave using the same yarn, single crochet used about 60% more yarn than knit stockinette for the same area, and double crochet about 27% more. Taller crochet stitches cover more area per yard. The calculator uses these ratios.
How many skeins of yarn do I need for a baby blanket?
Guides usually give about 600–1,500 yards for a baby blanket. With our estimate, a 36" × 36" blanket in worsted weight is about 900 yards knitted or 1,150–1,500 yards crocheted — roughly 5–8 skeins of 200 yards. Chunky yarn needs fewer yards, but its skeins are shorter too, so compare yardage, not skein count.
How accurate is this yarn estimate?
Treat the size-based result as a planning estimate. Tension, hook or needle size, yarn fiber and stitch pattern change yarn use a lot, and published yardages for the same blanket size can differ by 30% or more. For an accurate number, make a swatch, measure how much yarn it used, and choose "From my swatch".
Should I buy extra yarn?
Yes. Buy at least 10% extra and buy all skeins from the same dye lot, because a later dye lot can look slightly different. Leftover skeins can often be returned if unopened.
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