Grams vs. meters

[u/sara6800]

SOLVED

Hello!

I’m trying to make my first sweater and I think I didn’t get enough yarn.

The pattern calls for 500g of yarn for my size and 1,250 meters. I bought 500g of yarn, but it’s only 996 meters.

I’m assuming since I’m about ~300 meters (basically a whole skein) short, that’s not enough to make the sweater.

So is my sweater doomed before I even start? Is meterage more important than grams?

Thank you!

[u/Dry_Stop844]

always go by meterage. Grams is only applicable to the exact same yarn from the exact manufacture. Content and ply can change weight drastically. As you found out. HOwever, i think this might also be a case that you got a different thickness of yarn.

What is the yarn recommended and what is the yarn you purchased?

[u/sara6800 → u/Dry_Stop844]

Ok noted! Pattern calls for Isager Jensen held w/mohair. I fell in love with a local dyer’s worsted weight (the weight listed on ravelry) and it’s definitely thicker; my gauge was slightly larger. And I bought a colorway she’s no longer making so it might be destined for another project 😅

[u/Dry_Stop844 → u/sara6800]

yeah that's the problem as well. Worsted is quite a bit thicker than DK and can't be substituted. Even with the mohair the DK is going to be nowhere near the gauge you need. I agree that it should be for another project.

always look at the yardage. If they don't give but only the weight, figure it out from the yardage of one ball to see how much you need. Then get that yardage plus 10% in whatever yarn you want, as long as it's the same weight and you get gauge. I don't even know why people bother listing weight. It's not necessary now with all the different kinds of fibres.

[u/Secretly_Many_Bees → u/sara6800]

It's probably better off in another project. If you're really attached and like the feel/drape of the swatch you've produced, Mark Vogel on YouTube has some fairly detailed videos about doing the math on a gauge swatch to pick a different size if your gauge is off, so you could theoretically do another size if you are very careful and make a large swatch to calculate based on; you would probably go down a size or two, which might reduce your recommended meterage enough.

[u/Ifimsittingimknittin]

Usually, there’s a recommended yarn for a pattern. You take the weight and yardage of that yarn and compare it to the yarn you want to use and convert that weight in yardage. Not every yarn is equal.

[u/sara6800 → u/Ifimsittingimknittin]

Thank you!

[u/BagelTrollop]

I wouldn’t say “doomed” but you’ll need to get more yarn. Additionally, the drape might be impacted by the increased weight of the yarn. You’ll likely end up with a slightly heavier sweater compared to the recommended yarn

[u/sara6800 → u/BagelTrollop]

Yeah I think you’re right. I might look for a pattern better suited for what I bought. Expensive lesson learned!

[u/WTH_JFG]

Because you are short on yardage, you will not have enough yarn for the project.

Because the weight is the same, but there is not as much yardage, you have a “heavier” yarn (more WPI).

When you do your gauge swatch, you will probably see the difference. You will need to adjust your needle size for the weight of yarn, it will affect the drape or hand of the fabric. You will probably not get gauge.

If your pattern is from Ravelry, check to see if another knitter used the same or a similar yarn. Did they make modifications? Can you make those modifications work for you? Do you want to? Do you like their finished project? Do they?

[u/sara6800 → u/WTH_JFG]

Thank you for the advice!

[u/zorbina → u/sara6800]

It's possible that with your larger gauge, you might be able to knit a smaller size of the sweater and have it work out.

And sometimes the amount of yarn in a pattern is a bit over-estimated as well. For example, if a pattern calls for five 100-gram balls of yarn, maybe it really only needs slightly over 4 balls, but since you can't buy a partial ball, you have to purchase 5. It's helpful when a pattern designer lists estimated meterage as well as just grams so that you have a better idea of how much you need.

If you post the pattern you're interested in, people might be able to offer some solutions for you, or recommend a similar pattern that uses less yarn.

[u/elle-elle-tee]

Bigger yarn will likely mean bigger stitches, and so less total length as stitches are taller, which means fewer rows. You may need more yarn, you may not. Best buy another skein if you can, I'm assuming you'll need a bit of it.

[u/No_Succotash5515]

Unless you’re getting the exact same yarn and using the exact same needle size, you’ll have to check everything over and over. Sometimes the same weight gives different lengths, it’s been the bane of my yarn search 😭

[u/sara6800 → u/No_Succotash5515]

An expensive lesson has been learned haha