When crafting a blanket, you’d probably wonder how many yards of yarn for a queen size blanket would it take.
Well, the amount needed will depend on the quality of the yarn used. You’ll also need to do a lot of math, so fasten your seatbelts.
Ways To Determine How Many Yards Of Yarn For A Queen Size Blanket
Mentioning the quality of the yarn is vital as you purchase yarn by weight and not length.
As stated earlier, the amount of yarn you need depends on the weight.
More specifically, the higher the weight, the less yarn you’ll need.
To get a better idea of the measurements, you ought to know that the average queen-size blanket is 90″ x 100″.
Determine the yarn weight and hook size
Now, to figure out where to start, you have to determine the weight of yarn and the needle size that suits the yarn.
Given the previously stated measurements, you’ll want to use thicker yarn for your queen-size blanket.
Let’s say you want to use medium or worsted yarn, and the corresponding needle size ranges from 7-9.
Measure inches per stitch
You’ll want to find out how many inches you use in a single stitch. On average, worsted yarn will use about 1.8” per stitch.
The exact measurement still depends on individual technique and skill, though.
To get the precise amount, make a patch that’s ten stitches wide and ten rows high.
When you finish that, undo the last row and measure how many inches it took for those ten stitches.
Divide the result by 10 to find out how many inches you use per stitch.
Find out how many stitches you need
Usually, projects come with guides that tell you how many stitches are required. In this case, we can do the math by first determining the gauge or number of stitches per inch.
To do this, you’ll want to make a gauge swatch and have a measuring tool and some pins on hand.
Make the swatch at least 5 inches and mark which part of the fabric you want to start with using a pin.
Measure four inches from your starting point and use a second pin on the four-inch mark.
Count how many stitches there are and divide by 4. For example, you count 20 stitches, so your gauge is five stitches per inch.
For a more accurate gauge, you can wash and dry the swatch before measuring.
The gauge will depend on every crafter’s abilities, such as how tight or loose they stitch. You could say a gauge is as unique as a fingerprint.
Let’s multiply the example gauge above with the average size of a queen size blanket. The result brings us to 450 stitches.
Multiply the gauge by the number of inches per stitch. If you use the examples above, multiply 400 x 500 stitches.
That totals 225,000 stitches all in all.
Solve how many inches you’ll need
To get the inches, you need to multiply 225,000 by 1.8. You’ll get 405,000 inches.
Convert
As you might already know, a yard is 36 inches.
If you divide 405,000 by 36, you’ll get 11,250 yards with worsted yarn, a matching needle, and a gauge of 5 stitches per inch.
There you have it!
Sure, all the math involved can be overwhelming, but you’ll be able to adjust the proper measurements to your skills and choice of yarn and needles.
How Long Will It Take To Make A Queen Size Blanket?
The exact amount of time is dependent on a few factors, such as the level of expertise.
How much time a day you’re willing to dedicate to the project, how fast you can knit or crochet, or how many stitches you can accomplish at a given time will dictate how long the project will go.
Other factors include the yarn type as bigger yarn weights and faster to work with than lighter ones. Another factor is the type of pattern you want to set for the blanket.
It will take quicker to craft the blanket if you use simpler stitches. Even if you’re going to use different kinds of stitches on the same blanket, be prepared to dedicate more time to the project.
If you want your blanket to have more designs, it goes without saying that knitting or crocheting different pieces and stitching them together will consume a considerable chunk of your time.
Still, it’s worth it for that beautifully crafted queen-size blanket at the end.
As with every handmade project, you’ll get that sense of pride and fulfillment when you put your effort into it.
Just remember to be patient when crafting your blanket.
Also, you may want to keep a measuring tool around when you work on it to keep track of progress.
Conclusion
Like anything you want to accomplish, crafting a queen size blanket will take a lot of time and effort.
Still, if you enjoy what you’re doing, the time and effort spent will surely be a fun challenge.
As discussed above, knowing how many yards of yarn for a queen size blanket will be dependent on your individual preferences and skillset.
How the final result turns out will serve as your signature style. Wear that style with pride!