Stash Secrets: Sizing Up Skeins and Saving Yardage

This week's Mwah! Keep it Simple Sweetie is all about how to find hidden yardage in your yarn stash and avoid running out.

Picture this: You're halfway through knitting a cozy scarf, and suddenly, you realize you're out of yarn. 😱 You frantically search your stash, only to find a skein that looks like it might work, but there's no label. Sound familiar? We've all been there! Knowing the yardage of your stash skeins is like having a secret weapon in your knitting and crocheting arsenal. It helps you:

• Plan Projects: No more guessing games! You'll know exactly how much yarn you have for your next project.

• Organize Your Stash: Group your yarn by yardage, not just color. This makes it easier to find the perfect yarn for any project.

• Mix and Match: Combine yarns from your stash with new acquisitions from your favorite local yarn store (LYS) for exciting and unique creations.

Here’s how you can estimate the yardage of those mystery skeins and avoid any future yarn emergencies!

The Handy Scale: Your Stash's Best Friend

Investing in a small postage or food scale is a game-changer for any yarn enthusiast. These scales are compact, affordable, and perfect for weighing your yarn. You can find digital food or postage scales for around $20 to $30, which is about the cost of a skein of artisan yarn. Keep one with your stash, and you'll always be ready to estimate yardage for those unlabeled skeins. Knowing the exact weight of your yarn helps you plan projects more accurately and avoid running out mid-row. Plus, it makes organizing your stash by yardage a breeze, facilitating more creative combinations and collaborations with new yarns from your favorite local yarn store (LYS).

And here's a little secret: Miss Purl has two scales in the store, and we're happy to help you weigh some stash! 😉 So, next time you're in, bring your mystery skeins, and we'll help you unlock their full potential.

Understanding Skein Sizes

It's also helpful to know the common sizes of skeins:

• Full Skeins: Typically 100 grams.

• Half Skeins: Usually 50 grams.

• Mini Skeins: Range from 15 to 25 grams.

Yardage per 100 Grams for Standard Yarn Weights

• Fingering Weight: Approximately 430 yards

• Sport Weight: Approximately 300 yards

• DK (Double Knit) Weight: Approximately 240 yards

• Worsted Weight: Approximately 220 yards

• Chunky Weight: Approximately 125 yards

• Bulky Weight: Less than 100 yards

You might be wondering why I’m telling you the yardage per 100 grams. Stick a pin in this information—it will make sense later when we dive into estimating the yardage of your unlabeled stash skeins. Trust me, this little detail is going to be your best friend!

Weighing Your Yarn

First things first, let's weigh that yarn. Place your skein on the scale and note the weight in grams. We use grams because it's the standard measurement for yarn weight worldwide, making it easier to compare and calculate yardage accurately. If your scale only measures in ounces, no problem! Just convert the ounces to grams using this conversion formula (1 ounce ≈ 28.35 grams).

Doing the Math

Now that you have the weight, it's time to do a little math.

1. Find the Original Yardage per Gram: If you know the original weight and yardage of the yarn (e.g., 100 grams = 220 yards for worsted weight), you can calculate the yardage per gram.

   • Example: 220 yards / 100 grams = 2.2 yards per gram.

   If you don't know the original weight and yardage, you can guesstimate using the chart above. For example, if you have a sport weight yarn:

   • Sport Weight: Approximately 300 yards per 100 grams.

   • 300 yards / 100 grams = 3 yards per gram.

2. Calculate the Yardage of Your Stash Skein: Multiply the weight of your stash skein by the yardage per gram.

   • Example: If your stash skein weighs 50 grams, then 50 grams × 3 yards per gram = 150 yards.

What If I Don't Know the Fiber Weight of the Yarn?

No worries! We can figure it out together. One handy method is using Wraps Per Inch (WPI). Here's how you can do it:

1. Grab a Pencil: Mark a one-inch space on its barrel.

2. Wrap the Yarn: Wrap the yarn around the pencil within the marked space without overlapping, making sure the wraps are snug but not too tight.

3. Measure the Wraps: Count how many wraps fit within the one-inch space.

Here are the WPI for each yarn weight:

• Fingering Weight: 19-22 WPI

• Sport Weight: 15-18 WPI

• DK Weight: 12-14 WPI

• Worsted Weight: 9-11 WPI

• Chunky Weight: 6-8 WPI

• Bulky Weight: 5-6 WPI

Example Walkthrough

Let's say you have a mystery skein and you want to figure out its weight. Here's how you can do it:

1. Mark a One-Inch Space: Take a pencil and mark a one-inch space on its barrel.

2. Wrap the Yarn: Wrap the yarn around the pencil within the marked space without overlapping, making sure the wraps are snug but not too tight. Let's say you count 10 wraps within the one-inch space.

3. Measure the Wraps: Count how many wraps fit within the one-inch space. In this example, you have 10 wraps per inch (WPI).

Now, compare your WPI to the chart:

• Worsted Weight: 9-11 WPI

Based on the 10 wraps per inch, you can estimate that your mystery skein is likely a worsted weight yarn.

With experience, you'll start to recognize and feel the differences in yarn weights. It's like developing a craft superpower! So, don't worry if it feels tricky at first—practice makes progress.

Remember, your yarn stash is a treasure trove of possibilities. By knowing the yardage of each skein, you can unlock its full potential. If you missed last week's article on understanding yarn weights and measurements, be sure to check it out for more tips and tricks. Next time you're tempted by that gorgeous skein at your LYS, you'll know exactly how to incorporate it into your stash and your projects.