Yarn / Blankets
How Much Yarn Do I Need for a Blanket?
The amount of yarn you need for a blanket depends on the finished size, yarn thickness, stitch pattern, hook or needle size, and your personal tension. That is why two blankets with the same dimensions can use noticeably different amounts of yarn.
How to approach it
The most reliable way to estimate yarn is to work from a sample. Make a swatch using the yarn, hook or needles, and stitch pattern you plan to use. Measure the swatch, record how much yarn it consumed, and scale that consumption to the area of the finished blanket. Add a safety margin so you do not run out near the end.
If you do not have a swatch yet, you can still make an early estimate from the blanket dimensions and yarn category, but treat it as a planning range rather than an exact promise. Dense stitches usually consume more yarn than open or lacy fabrics. Borders, textured stitches, cables, bobbles, joining seams, and tassels can also increase the total.
Before you start
When buying yarn, check the length on the label rather than comparing skeins only by weight. Two 100 g skeins can contain very different lengths of yarn. Once you know the estimated total length, divide it by the length in one skein and always round up to a whole skein.
For a project where matching dye lots matters, buying a little extra at the beginning is usually safer than trying to find an identical skein later.