Calculate yarn separately for every colour

One total can hide an extra ball

Imagine a pattern needs 800m of blue and 400m of cream, with 196m in each ball. Blue needs 5 balls and cream needs 3: 8 in total. Combining the lengths gives 1,200 ÷ 196, rounded up to 7 balls. Seven is enough only for the combined length, not for those two colour requirements.

Group repeated uses of the same shade

If the border and the body use the same yarn and exact shade, add those requirements together before rounding. For example, 250m for a body and 100m for a border need 2 balls of 196m, not 2 plus 1. The planner asks you to combine duplicate yarn-and-colour rows so it does not inflate the purchase.

Write the shade code on the list

A label such as ‘green’ helps you recognise a colour, but it may not identify the product you intend to buy. Copy the exact shade name or code from your pattern or yarn label. Check the shop’s selected variant yourself; the planner’s shop links do not select a colour or reserve stock.

Do not split an unknown total evenly

A three-colour pattern that lists only an overall length does not necessarily use one third of each colour. Look for the designer’s separate quantities or ask the designer before purchasing. An evenly divided total would be a guess, not a verified shopping list.

Common questions