How Much Yarn Is Enough? Part 2: Estimate Yarn Requirements by Area

This this two-part series walks you through proven ways to know in advance if your yarn supply is adequate for the project you have in mind. In the first part, you learned how to make rough estimates of yarn requirements by weight and how to make more specific estimates by measuring a sample swatch. In part two, explore Rita's second method: estimating yarn requirements by area. Though this process takes longer, it gives more accurate estimates than a simple comparison of weights.

Estimating Yarn Requirements by Area

Although carrying this method through may take an evening, I think it’s worthwhile insurance for projects that will require several weeks’ knitting. To estimate yarn use by area, you figure the approximate area of your intended project in square inches, measure a sample swatch to determine the number of yards or grams of yarn per square inch of knitting, and multiply to find the total yardage or weight required.