Nobody wants to play yarn chicken with a blanket. Running out three rows from the end, with a dye lot the store no longer has, is the worst. Here’s how to figure out how much to buy before you start.
Ballpark yardage chart
These ranges are estimates in yards. The lower number is for knitting and the higher for crochet, since crochet usually uses more yarn for the same area. Add about 10% on top so you don’t come up short.
| Blanket (inches) | DK | Worsted | Bulky | Super bulky |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Baby (36 × 36 in) | 1,450–1,900 | 1,050–1,350 | 600–800 | 400–500 |
| Stroller (30 × 35 in) | 1,150–1,500 | 850–1,100 | 450–650 | 300–400 |
| Crib (45 × 60 in) | 2,950–3,900 | 2,150–2,850 | 1,200–1,600 | 800–1,100 |
| Throw (50 × 60 in) | 3,300–4,350 | 2,400–3,150 | 1,350–1,800 | 900–1,200 |
| Twin (66 × 90 in) | 6,550–8,600 | 4,750–6,250 | 2,650–3,550 | 1,800–2,400 |
| Queen (90 × 90 in) | 8,900–11,750 | 6,500–8,500 | 3,650–4,850 | 2,450–3,250 |
Stitch pattern matters a lot. Dense textured stitches like moss, bobbles, cables or the waffle stitch can take noticeably more than plain stitches. Lacy, open patterns take less.
The accurate way: weigh your swatch
- Make a swatch at least 6 × 6 inches in your blanket stitch, then wash and dry it.
- Weigh it on a kitchen scale and measure it.
- Grams per square inch = swatch weight ÷ (width × height).
- Multiply by the blanket’s area (width × length) to get total grams.
- Divide by the grams in one skein and round up. Then add one extra skein.
Example: a 6 × 6 inch swatch weighs 14 g. That’s 14 ÷ 36 = 0.39 g per square inch. A 50 × 60 inch throw is 3,000 square inches, so 3,000 × 0.39 = about 1,170 g. With 100 g skeins, that’s 12 skeins, so buy 13.
The blanket size calculator does this for you. Pop the swatch weight into the “More accurate yarn amount” section and it also gives you your starting chain and row count.
Free calculatorBlanket size & starting chainCalculate my blanket yarn →Tips so you don’t run out
- Buy from one dye lot. The lot number is on the label. Different lots can look different side by side.
- Ask about returns. Many yarn shops take back unopened skeins, so buying one extra is low risk.
- Borders eat yarn. Budget an extra skein or two for a wide border.
- Weigh as you go. Weigh the blanket at the halfway point and you’ll know early if you need more.
Questions
How many skeins of yarn for a baby blanket?
For a 36 × 36 inch baby blanket in worsted yarn, plan on roughly 1,050 to 1,350 yards plus 10%. With 200-yard skeins that’s about 6 to 8 skeins. Check the yardage on your label, since skein sizes vary.
How much yarn for a throw blanket?
A 50 × 60 inch throw in worsted yarn takes roughly 2,400 to 3,150 yards. In super bulky yarn it’s closer to 900 to 1,200 yards.
Does crochet use more yarn than knitting?
Usually yes, often around a quarter to a third more for the same area, because crochet stitches are thicker and more textured. Your stitch choice matters more than the craft, though.