What this calculator does
Patterns name a specific yarn, but you don't have to use it. To swap, you need a yarn of the same weight and enough total length. Skein sizes vary a lot, from 100 yards to over 400, so "6 skeins" in a pattern can mean 3 or 12 skeins of something else. This calculator converts by total length and rounds up to whole skeins.
How to use it
- Find the length per skein on the pattern yarn's label or the pattern's materials list.
- Find the length per skein of the yarn you want to use.
- Enter how many skeins the pattern calls for in your size.
- Buy the number of skeins shown, all from the same dye lot.
The math
total length = pattern skeins × pattern length per skein
new skeins = round up (total ÷ new length per skein)
6 skeins of a 220 yard yarn is 1,320 yards. A yarn with 183 yards per skein needs 1,320 ÷ 183 = 7.2, so 8 skeins.
Match the weight first
The Craft Yarn Council's system groups yarns from 0 (lace) to 7 (jumbo). Look for the number on the label, or compare the suggested gauge.
| # | Weight | Also called | Knit gauge / 4″ | Crochet / 4″ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | Lace | Fingering, 10-count crochet thread | 33–40 sts | 32–42 dc |
| 1 | Super Fine | Sock, fingering, baby | 27–32 sts | 21–32 sts |
| 2 | Fine | Sport, baby | 23–26 sts | 16–20 sts |
| 3 | Light | DK, light worsted | 21–24 sts | 12–17 sts |
| 4 | Medium | Worsted, afghan, aran | 16–20 sts | 11–14 sts |
| 5 | Bulky | Chunky, craft, rug | 12–15 sts | 8–11 sts |
| 6 | Super Bulky | Super bulky, roving | 7–11 sts | 7–9 sts |
| 7 | Jumbo | Jumbo, roving | 6 sts and fewer | 6 sts and fewer |
Fiber changes the fabric. Swapping wool for cotton or acrylic changes drape, stretch and warmth. Cotton has no spring, so ribbing and fitted pieces can sag. Swatch and wash the swatch before committing.
Questions people ask
Why compare length and not weight?
Different fibers weigh different amounts. 100 grams of cotton is much shorter than 100 grams of wool or alpaca of the same thickness. The length (yards or meters) is what your stitches use up, so that is what to match.
Do I need the same yarn weight?
Yes, start with the same weight category, such as worsted or DK, and then swatch to check you can get the pattern’s gauge. A yarn of the right length but the wrong thickness will not knit to the right size.
Should I buy an extra skein?
If the spare on the result is small, yes. Gauge differences, a longer body or a swatch can use more than the pattern says, and a later skein may come from a different dye lot.
What units should I use?
Any, as long as all three boxes use the same unit. If one label says yards and the other meters, multiply yards by 0.9144 to get meters.