Seam & Stitch

How much yarn for an adult sweater?

Typical yardage for an adult sweater in an average size. Bigger sizes, textured stitches and crochet need the top of the range or more.

Yarn weightYardsMetres
1 Super fine (fingering, sock)33753086
2 Fine (sport)1750–26251600–2400
3 Light (DK)1500–22501372–2057
4 Medium (worsted, aran)1125–16251029–1486
5 Bulky (chunky)950–1125869–1029
6 Super bulky825–1125754–1029
7 Jumbo825–1125754–1029

To turn yardage into skeins, divide by the length on the label and round up. The yarn calculator does this for you and can also estimate from a swatch of your own stitch pattern.

Source: Lion Brand – how much yarn do I need. Metres converted at 1 yd = 0.9144 m.

Frequently asked questions

How much worsted yarn for an adult sweater?

About 1125–1625 yards (1029–1486 m) of medium weight (4, worsted) yarn for an average size.

How much chunky yarn for an adult sweater?

About 950–1125 yards (869–1029 m) of bulky weight (5, chunky) yarn for an average size.

Does crochet need more yarn?

Usually 25 to 30 percent more than knitting the same size, so aim for the top of the range or add a margin.

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