Hey gals..concerning your yardage
Ok, there's been some talk about yardage and how much do you need. If there wasn't, then maybe it was me in the back of my mind doubting that 2 ounces alone (no matter how thinly spun) won't knit up a great big shawl. So, I did some research on the topic. I was wondering if there was a great way to use a conversion table in finding out how many yards I need without having to knit the darn shawl in the first place only to find out I got half way through. Or worse, all the way to the last row and be completely out of fiber.
So, in my research, I came across this site. It's perfect for spinners and knitters. Here's some great topic points that stuck out at me.
"The Hundred Yard Rule
Check out Priscilla Gibson-Roberts' Knitting in the Old Way for her "100 yard Rule": Basically, WPI of your yarn times 100, equals the yardage needed to knit a size 36" stockinette stitch "standard" fitting long sleeved sweater. Add or subtract 10% for each size above or below the 36. Add 20% for cables. Guesstimate color work by % and divide for each color by it's percentage of the garment. "
"Now how many yards per inch? Or inches per yard?
Now you go back to your final swatch - the one that has the gauge and pattern stitch you intend to use for this garment. Carefully measure the total area of the swatch, pinning it flat if needed. Mark on the yarn, with a pin or a knot, where the swatch begins, and gently pull it out, having of course written down all the specifics of gauge to two places, and needle size (no you won't remember - write it down). When you have pulled out the swatch, measure the yardage of the yarn used. Now you know that it took, say 25 yards to make a 4 x 4.5 inch swatch. Now you figure the area of the swatch. 4 x 4.5 is 18 square inches. So you know that it takes 25 yards exactly for 18 square inches. How many yards does it take for 253 square inches?"
"Measuring options:
- Skein winder with yarn counter - it's possible to buy an add on yarn counter to attach to a skein winder or ball winder. Accurate and expensive.
- Two yard skeins - just count them. Cheap, not very accurate. It depends a lot on how evenly and loosely the skein is wound, so check that it's really two yards - just cause you wound it on a two yard skein winder doesn't mean it stayed that way. Multiply length of standard wrap (off the winder) by number of wraps."
This site can be found here
There is also another site that converts yardage into ounces, butit actually only does it per pound basis. Unless I'm wrong, but I didn't see how many yards of lace weight would convert into 1 ounce. Although I'm sure some quick math would take care of that.
Yards into Pounds.
These sites were a great help to me, so I'm hoping to pass on some ease of stress to you guys. :D
2 comments:
Great info Teresa. Thanks. I too use the "chair" method to measure my yardage, but rather than the legs, I wrap it around the back of the chair.
A baking rack works well too. The advantage here is that you can dunk the whole thing in the sink to set your spin.
Thanks for posting this! I estimate my yardage after washing and setting the twist. I measure the length of the hank, multiply by two, then count the loops and multiply again by the number of loops. Typically it works, though the last time I was off by half a spindle.
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