#yarnstash — Public Fediverse posts
Live and recent posts from across the Fediverse tagged #yarnstash, aggregated by home.social.
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How Much Yarn Do You Actually Need for a Sweater?
Ah yes. The universal crochet and knitting experience:
You walk into the yarn store for “just enough” yarn for a sweater…
…and somehow leave with either 3 skeins too few, 12 skeins too many…or a new emotional support color you did not plan for.Let’s fix that.
Because figuring out sweater yarn amounts feels suspiciously like guessing how many fries your family will steal off your plate: technically there’s math involved, but chaos is always a factor.
The Short Answer
Most adult sweaters need somewhere between:
- 1,000–2,500 yards of yarn
- OR about 5–16 skeins
depending on:
- Size
- Yarn weight
- Stitch pattern
- Sleeve length
- Whether you crochet or knit
- And whether you make “cropped” mean actually cropped or “accidentally forgot to keep measuring”
The Biggest Thing Nobody Tells Beginners
Not all skeins are equal.
One skein can be:
- 90 yards
- 220 yards
- 400+ yards
which means:
“I used 8 skeins” tells us absolutely nothing useful.
That’s like saying:
“I drove 4 roads to get here.”
Great. Were they highways or Walmart parking lots?
Always check yardage. NOT just skein count.
Average Yarn Amounts for Sweaters
Fingering Weight
(Thin yarn. Beautiful. Takes approximately 84 years.)
Typical yardage:
- Small: 1,400–1,800 yards
- XL+: 2,000–3,000 yards
Perfect for:
- Lightweight garments
- Fancy drape
- People with patience and good wrist health
DK Weight
(The “I want it pretty but also sometime this decade” yarn.)
Typical yardage:
- Small: 1,200–1,600 yards
- XL+: 1,800–2,300 yards
One of the most common sweater weights because it balances:
- warmth
- drape
- sanity
Worsted Weight
(The yarn equivalent of mashed potatoes. Reliable. Comforting. Everywhere.)
Typical yardage:
- Small: 1,000–1,400 yards
- XL+: 1,600–2,200 yards
This is the sweet spot for a lot of crocheters.
Also:
Crochet in worsted weight can eat yarn like a teenage boy raiding the fridge after football practice.Especially if you love:
- puff stitches
- bobbles
- cables
- “texture”
Texture is beautiful.
Texture is also a yarn tax.Bulky Weight
(Fast projects. Sweaty projects.)
Typical yardage:
- Small: 700–1,000 yards
- XL+: 1,200–1,600 yards
You use fewer yards…
but the skeins themselves are often smaller than you expect.This is how people end up panic-ordering dye lots at 2 a.m.
Crochet vs Knitting: The Yarn Hunger Games
Here’s the truth:
Crochet usually uses 25–40% more yarn than knitting.
Why?
Because crochet stitches are thicker and taller.Knitting:
graceful fabric goddess
Crochet:
“I built this sweater with structural integrity.”
So if you see a knit sweater pattern using:
- 1,200 yards
a crochet version with similar coverage may need:
- 1,500–1,800 yards
Minimum.
The 3 Things That Secretly Destroy Your Yarn Estimate
1. Long Sleeves
Sleeves consume shocking amounts of yarn.
You think:
“They’re just arm tubes.”
Wrong.
Those tubes are greedy.
Especially oversized balloon sleeves that look cute online and then quietly inhale half your yarn stash.
2. Length
Cropped sweaters save yarn.
Tunic-length sweaters?
Those are practically blankets with neck holes.3. Stitch Choice
Some stitches are tiny yarn snacks.
Others are full buffet mode.
Low yarn usage:
- basic double crochet
- granny stitch
- mesh
High yarn usage:
- bobbles
- cables
- waffle stitch
- alpine stitch
- anything that makes you say: “Ooo texture.”
The “Buy Extra” Rule
Always buy extra yarn.
Always.
Because:
- dye lots change
- yarn gets discontinued
- manufacturers vanish into the mist
- and somehow one sleeve always needs more yarn than basic mathematics suggests
Safe rule:
- Buy 10–20% extra
Worst case:
You have leftovers.Which means:
Congratulations.
You now own “future project yarn.”Also known as:
a bin you refuse to throw away for the next 11 years.
What About Plus Sizes?
Let’s say this louder for the yarn companies in the back:
Plus-size sweaters need significantly more yarn.
And yes, sometimes pattern estimates are wildly unrealistic.
A rough estimate:
- Each size increase may add 100–300+ yards
depending on: - fit
- stitch density
- sleeve style
- length
Oversized cardigan + bulky texture + long sleeves?
You are entering “small yarn store purchase” territory. Ask me how I know…Quick Cheat Sheet
Yarn WeightAverage Adult SweaterFingering1,400–3,000 ydsDK1,200–2,300 ydsWorsted1,000–2,200 ydsBulky700–1,600 ydsFinal Advice From Every Fiber Artist Ever
If you’re standing in the yarn aisle asking:
“Should I get one more skein?”
The answer is yes.
It has always been yes.
Because the emotional pain of leftover yarn is NOTHING compared to:
- losing yarn chicken
- mismatched dye lots
- or making one sleeve 3 inches shorter and pretending it was intentional
And honestly?
#beginnerCrochetTips #Crochet #crochetBlog #crochetCardigan #crochetCommunity #crochetDesign #crochetFashion #crochetForBeginners #crochetHumor #crochetInspiration #crochetLife #CrochetPatterns #crochetProject #crochetSweater #CrochetTips #crochetTutorial #crochetPattern #fiberArts #handmade #handmadeWardrobe #howMuchYarnForASweater #sweaterQuantityCalculator #worstedWeightYarn #yarn #yarnAddict #yarnCrafts #yarnEstimation #yarnStash
We’ve all been there. -
Nobody Warns You How Expensive Crochet Actually Is
People outside the crochet world think this hobby is adorable.
“Oh, you just need yarn and a hook!”
Yes. Technically.
And technically, owning a cat just requires “a little food and a litter box.” We all know how that turns out.
ScreenshotCrochet has one of the biggest bait-and-switches of any hobby I’ve ever seen. You walk into it thinking you’re about to become a financially responsible handmade queen who saves money by making your own things.
Then three years later you’re explaining to your spouse why you needed twelve shades of sage green “because they’re completely different.”
It Starts Innocently
At first, crochet seems cheap.
You buy one hook.
One skein of yarn.
Maybe a little beginner pattern.You make a crooked scarf that somehow gets wider and narrower at the same time, and you feel unstoppable.
You think:
“This is great! I’ve found an affordable hobby!”That is exactly how crochet gets you.
Because crochet never stays at:
- one hook
- one skein
- one project
Never.
Suddenly You Have Opinions About Yarn
This is where the trouble begins.
At first, yarn is just yarn.
Then one day you touch a buttery soft merino wool blend and your brain rewires itself permanently.
Now acrylic feels “scratchy.”
Cotton has “structure.”
Alpaca is “dreamy.”
Mohair is “ethereal.”
Bamboo has “drape.”You become the kind of person who says things like:
“I just don’t think this fiber has enough bounce for the texture I’m envisioning.”Who ARE you anymore?
The Hook Situation Gets Out of Control Fast
Non-crocheters think we own one hook.
That’s adorable.
We own:
- ergonomic hooks
- inline hooks
- tapered hooks
- travel hooks
- backup hooks
- “I forgot where I put my favorite hook” hooks
- mystery hooks we found in couch cushions
And somehow the 5 mm hook you need is always missing despite owning seventeen of them.
Scientists should study this phenomenon.
Then There’s the “Small” Extras
Nobody warns you about the side purchases.
The stitch markers.
The row counters.
The blocking mats.
The tapestry needles.
The yarn bowls.
The project bags.
The storage bins.
The labels.
The scissors you refuse to let anyone in the house touch.At some point, your crochet supplies quietly become their own ecosystem.
Let’s Talk About Yarn Hoarding
Every crocheter reaches a point where buying yarn and using yarn become two entirely separate hobbies.
You don’t buy yarn because you need it.
You buy yarn because:
- it was on sale
- the color was pretty
- you “might use it someday”
- you absolutely did not have this exact shade already (you definitely did)
And somehow every yarn purchase feels completely justified in the moment.
Crochet Is Not Actually Cheaper Than Buying Clothes
This realization hurts.
You spend:
- $60 on yarn
- 40 hours making a cardigan
- emotional damage from frogging half of it twice
Then someone asks:
“Why not just buy one from the store?”Because THIS one contains suffering and personality, Karen.
But Here’s the Thing…
Even with all the expense, the chaos, and the mountain of yarn threatening to collapse onto us at any moment…
Most of us still wouldn’t trade crochet for anything.
Because crochet isn’t really about saving money.
It’s about:
- creating something with your own hands
- relaxing after a long day
- turning yarn into art
- feeling connected to generations of makers before us
- staring proudly at a finished project thinking:
“I MADE THAT.”
Even if it cost way more than expected.
And honestly?
That’s still worth it.
#craftingHumor #Crochet #crochetBlog #crochetCommunity #crochetFun #crochetHooks #crochetHumor #crochetInspiration #crochetLife #crochetLover #crochetMeme #crochetObsession #crochetProblems #crochetSupplies #crocheterLife #fiberArts #handmadeBusiness #yarnAddiction #yarnHoarder #yarnStash -
i grossly overestimated how much yarn i’d need for the crocheted tablecloth, so i ended up with loads of sport white cotton yarn plus a set of minis in different colours, same weight.
BUT
i found a tee that i like and that calls for sport cotton 🎉 -
i grossly overestimated how much yarn i’d need for the crocheted tablecloth, so i ended up with loads of sport white cotton yarn plus a set of minis in different colours, same weight.
BUT
i found a tee that i like and that calls for sport cotton 🎉 -
i grossly overestimated how much yarn i’d need for the crocheted tablecloth, so i ended up with loads of sport white cotton yarn plus a set of minis in different colours, same weight.
BUT
i found a tee that i like and that calls for sport cotton 🎉 -
i grossly overestimated how much yarn i’d need for the crocheted tablecloth, so i ended up with loads of sport white cotton yarn plus a set of minis in different colours, same weight.
BUT
i found a tee that i like and that calls for sport cotton 🎉 -
i grossly overestimated how much yarn i’d need for the crocheted tablecloth, so i ended up with loads of sport white cotton yarn plus a set of minis in different colours, same weight.
BUT
i found a tee that i like and that calls for sport cotton 🎉 -
When you add your latest yarn purchase to your Ravelry stash and it tells you that you now have 127 types of yarn... On the plus side I bought these for a specific project that I'm actually about to start 😂
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When you add your latest yarn purchase to your Ravelry stash and it tells you that you now have 127 types of yarn... On the plus side I bought these for a specific project that I'm actually about to start 😂
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When you add your latest yarn purchase to your Ravelry stash and it tells you that you now have 127 types of yarn... On the plus side I bought these for a specific project that I'm actually about to start 😂
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When you add your latest yarn purchase to your Ravelry stash and it tells you that you now have 127 types of yarn... On the plus side I bought these for a specific project that I'm actually about to start 😂
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When you add your latest yarn purchase to your Ravelry stash and it tells you that you now have 127 types of yarn... On the plus side I bought these for a specific project that I'm actually about to start 😂
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Don't mind me, I'm just hoarding sunset colors in my #yarnstash
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Don't mind me, I'm just hoarding sunset colors in my #yarnstash
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Don't mind me, I'm just hoarding sunset colors in my #yarnstash
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Don't mind me, I'm just hoarding sunset colors in my #yarnstash
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Don't mind me, I'm just hoarding sunset colors in my #yarnstash
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A tower of yarn. Just imagine all the gorgeous little birdees and piggees I'll be able to make with it all!
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A tower of yarn. Just imagine all the gorgeous little birdees and piggees I'll be able to make with it all!
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A tower of yarn. Just imagine all the gorgeous little birdees and piggees I'll be able to make with it all!
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A tower of yarn. Just imagine all the gorgeous little birdees and piggees I'll be able to make with it all!
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A tower of yarn. Just imagine all the gorgeous little birdees and piggees I'll be able to make with it all!
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Here's an unusual news item for all the #yarn, #yarnStash #knitting #weaving folk - balls of yarn can survive a house being blown up 🤯
From https://ksltv.com/639989/holladay-homeowner-apologizes-to-neighbors-for-home-explosion/
"Wojcik said she was able to take a few things from the home before it was detonated, but for the most part, lost everything in the explosion. She said what she retrieved from the site Thursday was a variety of papers from some of her favorite woven projects.
“They found all of my project notes, all my things about what I did on each piece was scattered in the buses and across the yard,” she said. “And the yarn survived, balls of yarn just sitting there.”
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Here's an unusual news item for all the #yarn, #yarnStash #knitting #weaving folk - balls of yarn can survive a house being blown up 🤯
From https://ksltv.com/639989/holladay-homeowner-apologizes-to-neighbors-for-home-explosion/
"Wojcik said she was able to take a few things from the home before it was detonated, but for the most part, lost everything in the explosion. She said what she retrieved from the site Thursday was a variety of papers from some of her favorite woven projects.
“They found all of my project notes, all my things about what I did on each piece was scattered in the buses and across the yard,” she said. “And the yarn survived, balls of yarn just sitting there.”
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Here's an unusual news item for all the #yarn, #yarnStash #knitting #weaving folk - balls of yarn can survive a house being blown up 🤯
From https://ksltv.com/639989/holladay-homeowner-apologizes-to-neighbors-for-home-explosion/
"Wojcik said she was able to take a few things from the home before it was detonated, but for the most part, lost everything in the explosion. She said what she retrieved from the site Thursday was a variety of papers from some of her favorite woven projects.
“They found all of my project notes, all my things about what I did on each piece was scattered in the buses and across the yard,” she said. “And the yarn survived, balls of yarn just sitting there.”
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Here's an unusual news item for all the #yarn, #yarnStash #knitting #weaving folk - balls of yarn can survive a house being blown up 🤯
From https://ksltv.com/639989/holladay-homeowner-apologizes-to-neighbors-for-home-explosion/
"Wojcik said she was able to take a few things from the home before it was detonated, but for the most part, lost everything in the explosion. She said what she retrieved from the site Thursday was a variety of papers from some of her favorite woven projects.
“They found all of my project notes, all my things about what I did on each piece was scattered in the buses and across the yard,” she said. “And the yarn survived, balls of yarn just sitting there.”
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Here's an unusual news item for all the #yarn, #yarnStash #knitting #weaving folk - balls of yarn can survive a house being blown up 🤯
From https://ksltv.com/639989/holladay-homeowner-apologizes-to-neighbors-for-home-explosion/
"Wojcik said she was able to take a few things from the home before it was detonated, but for the most part, lost everything in the explosion. She said what she retrieved from the site Thursday was a variety of papers from some of her favorite woven projects.
“They found all of my project notes, all my things about what I did on each piece was scattered in the buses and across the yard,” she said. “And the yarn survived, balls of yarn just sitting there.”
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my work week is over! time to celebrate with ... a Ferengi episode of #DS9!!! S3E16 Prophet Motive, to be precise
also I'll be continuing my #fiberArts project of inputting my #yarnStash into Ravelry
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my work week is over! time to celebrate with ... a Ferengi episode of #DS9!!! S3E16 Prophet Motive, to be precise
also I'll be continuing my #fiberArts project of inputting my #yarnStash into Ravelry
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my work week is over! time to celebrate with ... a Ferengi episode of #DS9!!! S3E16 Prophet Motive, to be precise
also I'll be continuing my #fiberArts project of inputting my #yarnStash into Ravelry
-
my work week is over! time to celebrate with ... a Ferengi episode of #DS9!!! S3E16 Prophet Motive, to be precise
also I'll be continuing my #fiberArts project of inputting my #yarnStash into Ravelry
-
my work week is over! time to celebrate with ... a Ferengi episode of #DS9!!! S3E16 Prophet Motive, to be precise
also I'll be continuing my #fiberArts project of inputting my #yarnStash into Ravelry
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Hello gens qui tricotent !
J’ai acquis de la TRÈS JOLIE laine colorée fancy et j’aimerais l’utiliser mélangée à autre chose d’une façon qui la mette en valeur. J’ai quelques idées mais j’aimerais voir d’autres exemples.
Est-ce que vous avez fait des choses comme ça ? Est-ce que vous me montreriez ? 👀 -
Hello gens qui tricotent !
J’ai acquis de la TRÈS JOLIE laine colorée fancy et j’aimerais l’utiliser mélangée à autre chose d’une façon qui la mette en valeur. J’ai quelques idées mais j’aimerais voir d’autres exemples.
Est-ce que vous avez fait des choses comme ça ? Est-ce que vous me montreriez ? 👀 -
Hello gens qui tricotent !
J’ai acquis de la TRÈS JOLIE laine colorée fancy et j’aimerais l’utiliser mélangée à autre chose d’une façon qui la mette en valeur. J’ai quelques idées mais j’aimerais voir d’autres exemples.
Est-ce que vous avez fait des choses comme ça ? Est-ce que vous me montreriez ? 👀 -
Hello gens qui tricotent !
J’ai acquis de la TRÈS JOLIE laine colorée fancy et j’aimerais l’utiliser mélangée à autre chose d’une façon qui la mette en valeur. J’ai quelques idées mais j’aimerais voir d’autres exemples.
Est-ce que vous avez fait des choses comme ça ? Est-ce que vous me montreriez ? 👀 -
Hello gens qui tricotent !
J’ai acquis de la TRÈS JOLIE laine colorée fancy et j’aimerais l’utiliser mélangée à autre chose d’une façon qui la mette en valeur. J’ai quelques idées mais j’aimerais voir d’autres exemples.
Est-ce que vous avez fait des choses comme ça ? Est-ce que vous me montreriez ? 👀 -
Last week after the group ride it was just slightly too cold for comfort, and now I'm eyeing my yarn stash to see if I can crank out a lightweight hat on the knitting machine before next week's ride. (Not like I haven't already knit a dozen hats, but you know.)
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Last week after the group ride it was just slightly too cold for comfort, and now I'm eyeing my yarn stash to see if I can crank out a lightweight hat on the knitting machine before next week's ride. (Not like I haven't already knit a dozen hats, but you know.)
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Last week after the group ride it was just slightly too cold for comfort, and now I'm eyeing my yarn stash to see if I can crank out a lightweight hat on the knitting machine before next week's ride. (Not like I haven't already knit a dozen hats, but you know.)
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Last week after the group ride it was just slightly too cold for comfort, and now I'm eyeing my yarn stash to see if I can crank out a lightweight hat on the knitting machine before next week's ride. (Not like I haven't already knit a dozen hats, but you know.)
-
Last week after the group ride it was just slightly too cold for comfort, and now I'm eyeing my yarn stash to see if I can crank out a lightweight hat on the knitting machine before next week's ride. (Not like I haven't already knit a dozen hats, but you know.)
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I do not understand how I keep finding More Yarn. I've gone through about half the boxes, and managed to empty one box just by taking out a bunch of #fabric and #yarn. of course, I don't have anywhere for the fabric to go, which is why it was in one of those boxes. I have three very large Rubbermaid-style tote boxes stuffed with fabric, and my #100DaysOfWardrobe is just as much about busting my #FabricStash as it is about my #YarnStash
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I do not understand how I keep finding More Yarn. I've gone through about half the boxes, and managed to empty one box just by taking out a bunch of #fabric and #yarn. of course, I don't have anywhere for the fabric to go, which is why it was in one of those boxes. I have three very large Rubbermaid-style tote boxes stuffed with fabric, and my #100DaysOfWardrobe is just as much about busting my #FabricStash as it is about my #YarnStash
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I do not understand how I keep finding More Yarn. I've gone through about half the boxes, and managed to empty one box just by taking out a bunch of #fabric and #yarn. of course, I don't have anywhere for the fabric to go, which is why it was in one of those boxes. I have three very large Rubbermaid-style tote boxes stuffed with fabric, and my #100DaysOfWardrobe is just as much about busting my #FabricStash as it is about my #YarnStash
