Guestimating how much to buy

Denise Jackson wrote

on Apr 30, 2009 1:05 PM

Here is a helpful chart I use to guestimate weight of fiber to weight of finished yarn. This is only an estimate.

hopgal wrote

on May 9, 2009 7:56 AM

Thanks for this helpful chart!  I'm so impressed that you can do all this while raising a small child.  Makes me feel like a total slacker (I only have cats).

Denise Jackson wrote

on May 9, 2009 5:21 PM

I actually have 2 small kids, a husband, a dog, and 2 cats. My husband is awesome with the kids otherwise I'd be insane.

debbier wrote

on May 11, 2009 7:44 AM

Hi Denise and Rebecca,

I guess it comes down to the fact that we all make time for the things that are comforting to us....my husband and I have 5 children, 2 dogs, a cat,

2 bunnies and a horse (well, the horse is actually our daughters'--but guess who gets called on to help!).  If I didn't make time to make things

with my hands I'd be insane too.  I don't get much time to spin on a regular basis; but I spin enough time to keep me supplied in  yarn

for smallish projects that I can take with me. I  knit/spin during those moments I'm required to sit and wait (--usually waiting on a family member!) or

when I'm ready to dig a hole and climb in! :)

Happy Spinning to you both! 

And I wish you comfort when you need it. :)

debbie

StrandedYarns wrote

on Jul 23, 2009 12:36 PM

I know what you mean about making time for things which comfort us - I can always find time to spin and write, especially if I have a pressing deadline for something else to do !!

I am always struggling with how much to buy/dye etc., and have come to the conclusion that rather than stress about enough to finish a project, I concentrate on what would co-ordinate if I need to eck the fibre out...

Best wishes

Shani

ernie85017 wrote

on Nov 18, 2009 6:01 PM

How do you guesstimate for raw fleece? 

I am totally lost here.  Spin the whole darn thinG?

JillyB wrote

on Nov 18, 2009 8:35 PM

If you are really lost on the how much to buy thing, try weighing a sweater - then add on a bit extra especially if the sweater is made from thinner yarn than you usually spin.  Then the amount to buy in raw fleece is this amount plus 25% because that's about what will be lost in processing - grease, vegetation, weak bits and second cuts.  I generally buy about 1 kilo for a plain, long sleeved sweater, in a stocking stitch pattern, aiming for 600 to 750g of finished yarn.  Complicated patterns like Aran styles, and garter stitch will also need more, as do larger sizes.  If you have a pattern to knit from,  that usually tells how much to buy of the finished yarn by weight and this can be used as a guide. Any extras can be used in future projects as stripes etc.  Hope this is useful, it only a guesstimate after all, and I'd try to err on the "over" side.  Good luck.

Denise Jackson wrote

on Nov 28, 2009 8:56 AM

I look at how much is required by the pattern and then over-estimate from there.

Trust me, I cut it too close on a llama sweater. After washing, dehairing and spinning, I ended up 12" short on the last arm. I was not impressed with my math skills at that time. I had to wait until shearing time (every 2 years). The natural color is just slightly off. No one notices, but me.

I'd rather have leftovers for extra spontaneous projects that "arrgh" moments.