Buying guide
A small kit.
A clearer yarn plan.
Start with your pattern, yarn labels and the tools you already own. Add something only when it solves a specific measurement or making task.
A scale for leftover yarn
Use a scale you already have if it resolves the amount you need to weigh. Check its displayed increment, stated accuracy and minimum load; a display with more decimal places does not by itself prove accuracy. Tare an empty container first and weigh only the yarn.
At 200m per 100g, a 1g difference changes the label-based estimate by 2m. A 10g difference changes it by 20m. Very small samples make any weighing error a larger part of the estimate. Weigh several identical squares together when practical, then divide by the count.
- Look for a tare function and a capacity suitable for your yarn and container.
- Check the manufacturer’s stated measurement limits and power requirements.
- Avoid buying a new scale solely because a calculator exists: a known measured length also works.
A tape measure or ruler
A clear centimetre scale is enough for the square-grid planner. Measure a representative square in the condition your pattern specifies and use the same method for the other squares. Our grid dimensions multiply square size by count; joins and borders must be considered separately.
- Use a tool that lies flat without stretching the fabric.
- Check that zero is at the edge or marking you are actually using.
- Record your measured square size with its yarn and hook, so the number has context.
Markers and a record of each colour
Use whatever safe, suitable markers your pattern calls for and keep a simple note of repeated sections. Before buying a set, check how it opens, its dimensions and whether it suits your stitch size. A large bundle is useful only if you need that many.
Keep the yarn band or copy the brand, range, shade code and dye-lot information. A photograph or paper note can be sufficient; an extra paid app is not required to keep these details.
The hook your pattern and swatch require
Read the pattern’s hook size in millimetres and its tension instructions. A label recommendation is a starting reference, not proof that a particular hook will produce the required fabric for you. Our tools do not prescribe a hook or verify tension.
If buying, check the exact sizes included, whether sizes are clearly marked and the return terms. Handle shape is a preference we cannot assess from a listing. We do not call any set “best” or “most comfortable” without relevant evidence.
For a guide to label fields, see the Craft Yarn Council label reference.
Already have what you need?
Use your measurements to buy only the yarn your plan calls for.
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