Choosing Your Yarn

Choosing yarn for your project is one of the most exciting things about creating a KnitFit bespoke garment!

When our pattern gene­­­rator creates instructions, your gauge determines the actual stitch counts. This represents an exciting evolution in knitting—it’s the first time that a knitter’s actual gauge is being factored into the pattern instructions, and this means that you can knit with whatever yarn weight or gauge that you prefer rather than adjusting to match the designer or yarn’s gauge.

In this guide we’ll discuss your choice of yarn weight and needle size, and yarn estimation charts for figuring out how much yarn to buy for custom patterns. If you already have yarn for your garment in your possession, learning to use these charts can help when you need to verify that you have enough yarn for the style of garment you are creating.

Using Yarn Estimation Charts to Determine Yarn Quantity

If you are just beginning to choose a yarn or if you already have yarn and want to verify that you have enough, our Yarn Estimation Charts can help you find the answers you need. The charts allow you to look up estimated yarn quantities needed for basic garment types, based on the yarn weight. You can look up sizes for garment types including long-sleeved, standard length pullovers, cardigans, and coats, short-sleeved tops, or sleeveless tops and view estimated yardage for the following yarn weight categories: Fingering/Sport/DK, Worsted, Worsted/Aran, Chunky, or Bulky/Super Bulky. You will also find corresponding gauges and needle sizes for these projects. The charts are for estimation purposes only and we recommend that you purchase a little more than you estimate you might need, particularly when it comes to custom sized patterns. The true yardage will ultimately be based on your exact body measurements, and the length you want the garment to be.

View Yarn Estimation Charts

Selecting A Yarn Weight and Fiber Type for Your Custom Project

Another important precursor to knitting your gauge swatch is deciding the fiber type and weight of yarn that you would like to use. This is an exciting customization option that the knitter gets to choose with KnitFit™ Custom Patterns! That’s because the pattern generator uses your gauge measurements, and basing the pattern off of your gauge means the yarn weight gets factored in from the start. Now you can make the choice based on your own preferences. Some thoughts to consider in your decision:

• Do you (or your wearer) tend to run hot or cold?
• In what season will this garment be worn?
• Will it be worn in a warmer or cooler climate?
• How fast do you knit and how much time will you spend on this garment?

Be sure to take a look at the custom pattern description to see if there is a recommended yarn weight. Designers will suggest a yarn weight and/or gauge that is ideal for each design While the pattern generator can generate patterns in almost all yarn weights, stay close to the recommended weight for best results.

Once you’ve chosen your desired yarn, it’s time to knit a gauge swatch! Make sure you don’t skip this step as it’s vitally important for getting the correct pattern instructions. We’ll explain why in the following article:

Gauge Swatching: Starting with Accuracy