how many skeins for a small sweater

by michelle bandyk
(plainfield il)

How many skeins of a bulky yarn will I need to make a bulky sweater?

YOUR ANSWER

It depends.

What size is the sweater you want to make, which yarn do you intend to use, and what kind of pattern?

You haven't told me whether it is a sweater for an adult or a child, so if I gave you a number I would only be guessing.

The type of yarn you intend to use will make a difference as well. Synthetics are lighter than natural fibres so there will be more yards (or metres) in a skein of Acrylic yarn than a pure wool yarn for example.

Another thing is that skeins come in a variety of weights. The skeins you want to use might be 50 grams, 100 grams or even 200 grams. Without knowing more about the yarn, I could not even hazard a guess.

As for the pattern, is it a plain sweater or is it patterned? A garter stitch sweater will take a different amount of yarn than an aran.

Is it long sleeved or short sleeved? Round or v neck, or a cowl neck. Maybe it is a boat neck. All will require a different amount of yarn.

Is it a snug fit design or loose fitting?

Long or short?

Knitted on small needles (tight weave) or large needles (loose weave)?

My suggestion would be that you find yourself a pattern for you sweater and check out the materials section of the pattern. Even if you plan to use a different yarn, the number of skeins specified in the pattern will give you a reasonable estimate of the amount of yarn you will need.