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Question for you that knit /crochet

14 years ago

I posted this question on the knitting forum but it doesn't seem to be a very active forum so I thought I'd post here as well since I know we have some talented knitters and crocheters here.

I used to crochet a lot back in the 70's and early 80's but all I have made in the last 20 years is a scarf. Easy peasy.

I started making some baby booties for my daughter who is expecting in June. They call for back post half double crochet and front post half double crocet. I figured out how to do the stitches, but the yarn keeps splitting and got frustrated so I have given up on them for now. Maybe once I have some practice crochet under my belt I'll tackle them again.

For now I'd like to start with a baby afghan and I have found several nice patterns online. Problem is they aren't very specific on how much yarn is needed. One pattern recommends Premier Big Ball brand. Looks like the Big Ball is about 1000 yards of yarn. Another pattern just says "4-ply yarn" and another takes you to a website that sells another brand of yarn.

So....is there a way to figure out approximately how much yarn a small, simple baby blanket will require? I'd really like to get some hand-spun hand-dyed yarn from one of the sellers on Etsy.com, but I have no idea how much I will need for a simple 30 x 40 (or thereabouts ) size blanket.

Thanks in advance....

Linda

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Comments (5)

lindac
14 years ago
Well....that depends. First of all will you be knitting or crocheting? Crochet takes on an average 1/3 more yardage than knit to make the same size square.
Secondly what will your gauge be....that is the number of stitches to the inch? That is determined by the size of the needle you use and the weight of the yarn.
Once you figure out those things, you can find a pattern that uses the same gauge you plan on using and see what yardage of yarn they recommend, then use that figure for your baby blanket.
If you are just doing a fairly simple blanket without fringe or add on crocheted flowers and the like you should be able to get by for about 500 yards of worsted weight yarn.
Do you do Ravelry? There are a bazillion of adorable patterns there....for all sorts of wonderful things!

Here is a link that might be useful: ravelry
doucanoe
Original Author
14 years ago
Linda, I'll be crocheting, never learned how to knit.

That's a cool site, thanks! But even still....looking at two patterns that are very similar to the one I want to make, one says 364 yards and the other says 826 yards? How can one be nearly twice the yardage as the other when they are almost identical?

Here is a link the one I want to make. It says it takes 1087 yards of yarn. That just seems like an awful lot.

Linda

Here is a link that might be useful: Baby blanket
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Thanks Linda, but when you are doing the squares, you start with a tail, then start your granny, then finish and leave a tail. My other question is what do you do with the tails so they will not come loose or out of the afghan. I talked to one of the other ladies on here, mamalo3, and she said she sews them with color co-ordinating thread so they dont come loose. I figure that there has to be a better way, I just havent found one. That was her solution, which is a terrific idea, but I just finished an afghan for a baby 176 squares, and that seems like alot of sewing and to be honest with you I sew horrible...the squares were challenging enough for me. Now I saw some really cute ones on this site that is posted, and I am thinking that I just sew horrible, so i can crochet them together, but the tails are still there, and grrrrrrr!!! Thanks Linda for the help and advice, any at this point is well taken and appreciated.Mamalo3 had a great solution for her work, but she must love to sew, :( these old eyes are looking for an easier way....
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lindac
14 years ago
But...it doesn't say you will use all of that ball does it? And the site where you found that pattern is selling yarn. makes sense for them to sell you a huge ball of yard...16 oz?? Really? That's equal to 4 skeins of worsted.
Believe me....500 yards is more like it.
Yardage will vary with the weight and the "fuzziness" of the yarn. You will crochet looser with fuzzy yarn.
If you are having trouble splitting your yarn, I suggest you find a fairly tightly twisted worsted.....something simple like a red heart worsted....stay away from "Homespun"....which is lovely stuff, but hard to work with for someone who's not experienced.
Good luck!
Linda....the other one!
doucanoe
Original Author
14 years ago
Thanks for your help, Linda, I appreciate it! I'll try to remember to post a pic when I get it done.

Linda
lindac
14 years ago
Just for example...I recently made a shawl, using worsted weight yarn. It was 72 by 24....with a 5 inch fringe on each end and it took about 450 yards....but that was knitting...Figure 33% more an you come out about 600 yards.
That shawl was about twice the square inches as a 30 by 30 baby blanket.
500 yds will be good and plenty.

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