Ever found yourself with a partially finished skein of yarn or wanting to replicate a completed project but unsure how much yarn you used? Calculating yardage from a finished project or leftover skein can save you time, help you plan future projects, and make sure no yarn goes to waste. In this guide, I’ll show you a simple method to determine yardage from what you have on hand.
Why Calculate Yardage from a Finished Project or Skein?
Knowing how much yarn you used (or have left) can help you:
- Replicate a favorite project with confidence.
- Plan projects for partial skeins of yarn in your stash.
- Track and manage your stash effectively.
- Share accurate yardage details with others, especially for pattern testing or development.
- Accurately price finished items for sale by knowing the amount of materials you used.
What You’ll Need
To calculate yardage, gather these materials:
- A small kitchen scale (preferably digital for accuracy).
- Your completed project or partial skein.
- The yarn label or information about the total yardage and weight of a full skein.
Now here’s what you do:
Using your kitchen scale, weigh the finished project or the remaining partial skein in ounces (or grams).
Example: 4 ounces
Locate the yarn label for the original skein and find the total yardage.
Example: 888
Now multiply your projects weight by the total yards in one full skien.
Example: 4 X 888 = 3,552
**If you don’t have the label, try to find the details online or use an approximate weight-to-yardage ratio for the type of yarn (e.g., worsted weight yarn is often around 180-200 yards per 100 grams).**
Find the total ounces (or grams) on the original skein.
Example: 9.9 ounces
Now, divide your total from the first part by the total weight of one full skein.
Example: 3,552/9.9 = 358.79 Yards Used
Again, the equation is WEIGHT OF FINISHED PROJECT x YARDS OF FULL SKEIN = TOTAL ONE –> TOTAL ONE / WEIGHT OF FULL SKEIN = Total yards used in your finished project!
For a visual walkthrough of this process, check out the full tutorial on the Woodland Stitchcraft YouTube channel, “How to Calculate Yardage for Any Crochet Project.”
With this method, you’ll never have to second-guess how much yarn you used for a crochet project again. The more you practice calculating yardage, the easier and faster it becomes—and you’ll feel empowered to take on projects of any size with confidence.
I have a printable for you to keep in your notebook or hang in your craft room to help you remember the steps for finding yardage! And it’s totally FREE when you sign up for the Woodland Stitchcraft email list.
