Practical guide 3 min read
How much yarn do you need for a crochet blanket?
Yardage for every blanket size in single and double crochet, why the stitch changes it so much, and how a swatch gives you a number for your own tension.
The short answer
A crochet throw of 50 × 60 inches in worsted weight yarn and double crochet takes about 1,950 yards (1,780 m). With 10% extra for tails, joins and tension changes, that is about 2,150 yards: eleven 200-yard skeins.
The same blanket takes about 30% more yarn in single crochet, and about a quarter less in bulky yarn. Open the Crochet Yarn Calculator to get the figure for your own size, yarn and stitch.
Yarn for common blanket sizes
These are worsted weight (#4) amounts before any extra. Multiply by about 1.3 for single crochet.
| Blanket | Size | Double crochet | Single crochet |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lovey | 12 × 12 in | 94 yd | 122 yd |
| Stroller | 30 × 35 in | 683 yd | 893 yd |
| Crib | 36 × 52 in | 1,217 yd | 1,591 yd |
| Throw | 50 × 60 in | 1,950 yd | 2,550 yd |
| Twin | 66 × 90 in | 3,861 yd | 5,049 yd |
| Queen | 90 × 100 in | 5,850 yd | 7,650 yd |
| King | 108 × 100 in | 7,020 yd | 9,180 yd |
In bulky (#5) yarn, a double crochet throw takes about 1,400 yards, and in super bulky (#6) about 1,000.
Why the stitch matters so much
Yarn use depends on how many stitches fill a square inch, and how much yarn each one takes. Single crochet is short and dense, so it packs the most yarn into each inch. Taller stitches like double and treble crochet cover height faster and leave more open space. Lacy stitches, granny clusters and mesh use the least, and textured stitches like puff, bobble and waffle use the most.
Yarn weight works the other way: thinner yarn needs more stitches to cover the same area, so it needs more length even though each stitch uses less.
Estimate it, step by step
- Under What are you making?, choose a blanket size or My own size, and check the Width and Length.
- Choose the Yarn weight and Main stitch. The stitch names show UK terms too: US double crochet is UK treble.
- Copy the Length per skein and Weight per skein from your yarn's label.
- Leave Extra to buy at 10%, or raise it if your yarn is hard to find.
- Read Skeins to buy. Open Same project in other stitches to compare stitches before you decide.
Get a closer number from a swatch
Estimates by stitch are typical figures. Your tension, hook and the yarn's fibre can move the real amount by 20% or more. A swatch measures your own fabric:
- Crochet a square of at least 4 × 4 inches (10 × 10 cm) in your yarn, hook and stitch, and block it.
- Weigh it on a kitchen scale, ideally one that reads to 0.1 g.
- Switch the calculator to From my swatch and enter the swatch's size and weight.
For example, a 4 inch double crochet swatch weighing 6.5 g scales up to 1,219 g for a 50 × 60 inch throw. At 200 yards per 100 g that is 2,438 yards, about 25% more than the typical estimate, and 14 skeins with 10% extra instead of 11. It's worth knowing before you buy.
Buy it all at once
Buy every skein from the same dye lot, printed on the label next to the colour name. A skein from a later lot can be a visibly different shade, and the line where you switched shows across a whole blanket. Most shops take back unopened skeins, so buying one extra is cheaper than running out.
Hats, scarves and sweaters
The calculator also sizes scarves, cowls, triangle shawls, round rugs, hats from a head measurement and sweaters from a chest measurement. Garments are estimated from an allowance for ease, ribbing and sleeves, so if your pattern gives yardage for your size, go with the pattern.