Was this answer right for your project?
How to substitute yarn
Here’s the golden rule: compare total length, never the number of skeins or the grams. Two 100 g skeins can hold 200 yards or 400 yards.
- Find the total length in the pattern. Skeins × length per skein. 9 skeins of 200 yd is 1,800 yd.
- Divide by the length of one skein of your yarn. 1,800 ÷ 109 = 16.5, so buy 17 skeins.
- Swatch. Your gauge has to match the pattern for the size to come out right.
Substituting a thicker or thinner yarn
A thicker yarn covers more area per yard, so a piece of the same size needs less length. A thinner yarn needs more. The calculator estimates yarn thickness from length per gram on the ball band and scales the total length to match.
Example: a shawl needing 2,400 yd of fingering (400 yd per 100 g) made in DK (250 yd per 100 g) needs about 1,900 yd of DK. That’s fewer yards but more skeins, because each DK skein holds less.
For fitted garments like sweaters and socks, a different weight changes the stitch counts too. Use this estimate for blankets, scarves, shawls and other pieces where you can adjust the size.
Holding yarn double
Two strands of a thin yarn behave like one thicker yarn. As a rough guide:
| Held together | Works roughly like |
|---|---|
| 2 strands of fingering | DK |
| 2 strands of sport | Worsted |
| 2 strands of worsted | Bulky |
Pick how many strands you’re holding and the calculator counts yarn for every one of them.
Typical yarn weights
| Weight | Typical yd per 100 g | Meters per 100 g |
|---|---|---|
| Lace (0) | 800 | 732 |
| Fingering / 4-ply (1) | 400 | 366 |
| Sport (2) | 330 | 302 |
| DK / light worsted (3) | 250 | 229 |
| Worsted / aran (4) | 200 | 183 |
| Bulky / chunky (5) | 130 | 119 |
| Super bulky (6) | 80 | 73 |
| Jumbo (7) | 40 | 37 |
Questions
Can I use worsted instead of DK?
For a blanket or scarf, yes. Expect a slightly larger, denser piece unless you change the stitch count, and you’ll need fewer yards in total. For a fitted garment, find a pattern written for worsted or recalculate the stitch counts from your swatch.
Why do I need more skeins but fewer yards?
Thicker yarn usually packs fewer yards into each skein. You use less length overall, but each skein runs out sooner.
How accurate is the estimate for a different yarn weight?
It’s an estimate based on yarn thickness. Fibre, twist and your own tension all change how much yarn a piece uses, and fluffy yarns like mohair or dense yarns like cotton can differ more. Swatch first, keep the safety margin on and buy from one dye lot.