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.
New
Tool
Crochet Yarn Calculator
Pick a project, a yarn weight and a stitch to see how much yarn to buy, in yards or meters, grams and whole skeins. Weigh a swatch for a number based on your own tension.
Loading Crochet Yarn Calculator…
Runs in your browser. What you enter is saved on this device only.
How to use the Crochet Yarn Calculator
- Choose what you’re making. Blankets, scarves and shawls use their measurements; hats and sweaters use a head or chest size.
- Pick the yarn weight and main stitch, then enter the length and weight of one skein from the yarn label.
- For a closer number, switch to “From my swatch”, crochet a 4 inch (10 cm) square in your stitch and weigh it.
- Read the skeins to buy. The extra (10% to start) covers tails, joins and changes in tension.
How it’s calculated
Each stitch has a typical yarn use per square inch in worsted weight: double crochet is about 0.65 yards, single crochet 0.85. Thinner yarn needs more stitches to cover the same area, so the figure is scaled by yarn weight; super bulky uses about half as much as worsted. The project’s area comes from its measurements (width × length, wingspan × depth ÷ 2 for a triangle, πr² for a circle), and hats and sweaters get an area from the head or chest size that allows for ease, ribbing and sleeves. From a swatch, your swatch’s grams are scaled up by area, then turned into length with your skein’s yards per gram.
Questions
How much yarn do I need for a crochet blanket?
A throw (50 × 60 in) in worsted weight double crochet takes about 1,950 yards (1,780 m), roughly ten 200-yard skeins, before extra. Single crochet uses about 30% more yarn than double crochet, and bulky yarn about a quarter less than worsted.
Why does single crochet use more yarn than double crochet?
Single crochet is a short, dense stitch, so each square inch holds more stitches and more yarn. Taller stitches like double and treble crochet cover height faster with more open space, and lacy stitches like granny clusters and mesh use the least.
How accurate is the estimate?
Estimates by stitch and yarn weight are typical figures: your tension, hook size and the yarn’s fibre can move the real amount by 20% or more. The swatch method measures your own fabric, so it’s usually within a few percent. Either way, buy from one dye lot, because a later lot can be a visibly different shade.
Does crochet use more yarn than knitting?
Usually a quarter to a third more for the same area, because crochet stitches are built from several loops stacked on each other. A knitting yardage chart will leave a crochet project short.
Are my numbers saved?
On this device only. Each calculator remembers what you last entered, in your browser, so you can pick up where you left off; nothing is sent to our server. Reset puts the starting values back.
Do I need an account?
No. Every craft calculator is free to use without signing in, with no limits.
Related calculators
- Granny Square Blanket Calculator How many squares a blanket takes, its finished size, and the yarn for every colour.
- Yarn Substitution Calculator Swap the yarn a pattern calls for and see how many skeins of yours to buy.
- Craft Project Cost Calculator Add up materials, time and overhead to see what a handmade item really costs.
- Handmade Pricing Calculator Find a selling price that covers materials, your time, fees and a profit.
Part of Craft Calculators
8 free craft calculators: yarn for any crochet project, granny square blankets, yarn swaps, resin, candle wax, 3D print costs and handmade pricing.
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