The formula
skeins = round up (yarn needed ÷ yarn per skein)
Always round up: you cannot buy part of a skein, and running short mid-project can mean a dye-lot mismatch. Example: 1200 yards at 180 yards per skein is 6.67, so 7 skeins without any margin. With a 10% margin you need 1320 yards, which is 7.33, so 8 skeins.
Yards and meters
1 yard = 0.9144 meters, so 1 meter ≈ 1.094 yards. The calculator works in either unit as long as both fields use the same one.
Tips
- Buy all skeins for a project from the same dye lot.
- Hand-dyed yarns vary in color between skeins; alternate skeins every few rows.
- If the pattern lists skeins of a particular yarn, use the yarn substitution calculator.
Frequently asked questions
Why add a safety margin?
Your gauge, a longer size or a swatch can use more yarn than the pattern estimate. A 10 to 15% margin or one spare skein is commonly recommended.
How many yards in a meter?
1 meter is about 1.094 yards, and 1 yard is exactly 0.9144 meters.
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