The 5 checks
| What to compare | Where to find it | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Weight category (0–7) | Ball band or yarn weight chart | The first filter: super bulky for super bulky |
| Yardage per 3.5 oz | Ball band: yards ÷ ounces × 3.5 | Tells you how thick or airy the strand is |
| Gauge | Your washed swatch vs the pattern's gauge | The final proof that the size will come out right |
| Fiber | Fiber content | Changes drape, weight and stretch |
| Construction | Plied, roving, chenille, tape | Changes stitch definition and texture |
How to knit and measure a swatch: knitting gauge swatch.
How many skeins to buy
- Total yardage in the pattern = skeins called for × yards per skein.
- Skeins of your yarn = total yardage ÷ yards in your skein. Round up.
- Add one skein if your gauge came out looser or you are lengthening the garment.
Example: a pattern calls for 7 skeins of 3.5 oz / 98 yd, which is 686 yd. With FACES (7 oz / 109 yd) you need 686 ÷ 109 = 6.3, so 7 skeins. Another: 10 balls of 1.75 oz / 65 yd make 650 yd; with BeMe (3.5 oz / 131 yd), that is 5 skeins.
Yardage of our yarns
| Yarn | Skein | Yards per 3.5 oz | Stockinette gauge |
|---|---|---|---|
| FACES | 7 oz / 109 yd | about 55 yd | 6–6.5 sts per 4 in, US 19 needles |
| BeMe | 3.5 oz / 131 yd | 131 yd | 12 sts per 4 in, US 11 needles |
| NOVA | 1.75 oz / 164 yd | about 328 yd | 6 sts per 4 in, US 17 needles |
NOVA shows why gauge rules: it has a lot of yardage per ounce, but it is a light, airy strand knitted on US 17 needles. Yardage alone is not enough.
What changes when you change fiber
- Wool for acrylic: wool is warmer, breathes and recovers its shape better; acrylic tends to pill more and lose loft with wear.
- Wool for cotton: cotton is heavier and has almost no stretch; ribbing at cuffs and neck loses grip and the garment drops more.
- Plied wool for chenille or unspun roving: chenille hides stitch definition and roving pills; best kept for simple blankets.
- Merino for Highland: Highland has a slightly thicker fiber, is springier and shows stitches more clearly. We compare them in Highland wool vs merino.
- Paper raffia for viscose raffia: paper raffia is stiffer; a bag designed for one will turn out differently with the other.
Holding yarn double
Two strands held together roughly give you the next weight category up: two strands of a bulky yarn come close to super bulky. Always swatch, because the result depends on the yarn, and remember you will use twice the yardage. More in chunky vs bulky vs super bulky yarn.
FAQ
Can I use any yarn of the same weight?
It is the starting point, but not enough: within one category some yarns are finer and some thicker. Gauge decides.
Should I calculate by weight or by yardage?
Always by yardage. Two yarns of the same weight can have very different yardage.
Can I knit your patterns with another yarn?
Yes, if you match the gauge. They are written for our yarns, so with them the size comes out right the first time.
What if I run out of a skein halfway through?
Look for the same dye lot. If there is none, alternate two rows from each skein for 4–6 in to blend the color difference.
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