Frequently Asked Questions
Everything you might want to know about the calculators and how we keep them free.
It is ideal for avoiding over- or under-buying yarn, maximizing the use of leftover skeins, and using up your yarn stash.
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We offer the following calculators:
- Yarn Weight Calculator
- Combines multiple strands of yarn to calculate the equivalent yarn weight. By inputting the weights of individual yarns, the tool determines the resulting weight when strands are held together.
- Don't have multiple strands to combine? No problem! This calculator also calculates the weight of a single skein and standardizes all yarn weights to their 100-gram equivalents.
- Leftover Yarn Calculator
- Helps you calculate the remaining length of yarn in partially used skeins. Simply enter the original skein weight, original length (both found on the label), and the remaining weight.
- Yarn Project Estimator Calculator
- Estimates how many skeins you need for your project based on your selected pattern requirements.
Our tools can do a lot, but they can't:
- Weigh or measure your hank of yarn.
- Replace the need to create a swatch! Our tools give you the best indicator of a final combined yarn weight and skein quantities, but everyone should swatch to achieve the correct gauge.
- Yarn Weight Calculator results are best suited for WOOL yarns. 100% plant fibers or acrylic yarns have different properties and should use the wpi method instead.
Look for the icon on each calculator and follow the steps provided.
Yarn Weight Calculator
Yarn weight describes how thick a yarn is — from very fine lace up to chunky and jumbo. It's measured by how many meters (or yards) you get per 100 grams: finer yarns give more length per 100g, thicker yarns give less.
Both are printed on the ball band (the paper label around the skein). Look for the meters/yards and the grams/ounces of the full ball.
Yes — holding strands together is a common way to get a heavier weight or blend colors. This calculator tells you the equivalent weight category so you can match it to a pattern.
It's an excellent guide based on standard yarn-weight ranges, but always knit or crochet a gauge swatch before starting a project to confirm the fit.
Leftover Yarn Calculator
Use a digital kitchen scale set to grams. Place just the leftover yarn on the scale (remove the ball band first) and read the weight.
The calculator works out the yarn's length-per-gram from the full ball's stats, then multiplies by your leftover weight. Without the original length and weight it can't convert grams into meters.
Search the yarn name online — manufacturers list the length and weight on their site and on retailer pages. Use those figures as the original ball values.
Yarn Estimator Calculator
Most patterns state the total yardage or meterage required. If you're improvising, find a similar finished project and use its yarn requirement as a starting point.
Yes — buy at least one extra skein. It guards against running short and means your spare comes from the same dye lot, so the color matches exactly.
A dye lot is a batch of yarn dyed together. Different lots of the same color can vary subtly, so buy all the yarn for a project from one lot when you can.