When I set out to estimate T-shirt yarn quantity for my projects, I encountered a familiar headache: figuring out how much self-made yarn, cut from old clothes, would be needed. This wasn’t about store-bought yarn but recycling materials, a cornerstone of this blog. In “Estimating T-shirt Yarn Quantity- A Proposal and Case Studies‘ I will propose a way to count the quantity of yarn and exemplify it through two case studies.
Why Estimating T-shirt Yarn Quantity is Tricky:
- Variable Clothing Sizes: Clothes come in all shapes and sizes, from baby garments to oversized adult tops, making it difficult to standardize yarn quantities across different projects.
- Fabric Composition Differences: Even clothes of the same size can yield different amounts of yarn. For instance, pure cotton T-shirts are less flexible than blends, affecting how much yarn they produce.
- Cutting Variations: The amount of yarn produced can vary depending on how you cut the strips. Different cutting techniques can lead to different quantities of yarn from the same garment.
So, What’s the Solution?
Many tutorials suggest measuring the length of yarn obtained, but this method has its drawbacks. Yarn stretches over time, and measuring it immediately after cutting can give inaccurate results. I found this process tedious and impractical, especially after spending time cutting the strips.
After much trial and error, I discovered that using weight to estimate T-shirt yarn quantity was the most effective method. Here’s how I do it:
Estimating T-shirt Yarn Quantity for Your Project Using Weight
- Define Your Project Dimensions: Determine the width and height of your project. The width determines how much yarn you need for each row, and the height determines the total number of rows. For example, with a size 6 crochet hook, you’ll need approximately 10–11 stitches for every 10 cm (4 inches) of width and 11–12 rows for every 10 cm (4 inches) of height.
- Plan Your Color Scheme: Decide how many rows each color will cover based on your desired height. If a color is repeated, ensure you have enough yarn to cover the additional rows.
- Crochet the Foundation Chain: Start with the yarn that comes from the largest item, as the foundation chain often requires extra yarn.
- Weigh the Yarn: Using kitchen scales, weigh the yarn you plan to use first in your pattern. Exclude any small bits or the foundation chain. For example, if you have 90 grams/ 0,2lb of yarn after the foundation chain, record this as your starting weight.
- Crochet the First Row: Complete the first row of your project with the yarn you weighed.
- Re-Weigh the Yarn: Weigh the remaining yarn after completing the row. Subtract this new weight from your starting weight to determine how much yarn was used for the row. For instance, if your starting weight was 90 grams/0,2lb and the yarn now weighs 72 grams/0,16lb, you used 18 grams/0,05lb. for the row.
- Estimate Total Rows: Divide the original yarn weight by the yarn used per row to estimate the total number of rows that color will yield. For example, if you started with 90 grams/0,2lb and used 18grams/0,05lb per row, you can crochet 5 rows with that color.
- Repeat with every new color: Repeat this process for each color in your pattern.
- Adjust as Needed: If a color doesn’t yield enough rows, adjust your color pattern by including yarn from another item or rearranging the color order.
Estimating T-shirt Yarn Quantity- Case Study A: Estimating Yarn for a Blue Rug
This project involved creating a 60 cm by 40 cm rug using a size 6 crochet hook. I planned a color pattern with six colors, aiming for seven repetitions to achieve the desired 42 rows. Here’s how the yarn quantities worked out:
| Color | Starting Weight (g) | Weight After Row 1 (g) | Yarn Used per Row (g) | Total Rows Possible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| White | 96g | 80g | 10g | 9 rows |
| Petrol Blue | 95g | 83g | 12g | 7.9 rows |
| Light Gray | 105g | 90g | 15g | 7 rows |
| Navy Blue | 133g | 115g | 18g | 7.4 rows |
| Dark Blue | 127g | 113g | 14g | 9 rows |
| Dark Gray | 136g | 121g | 16gr | 8,5 rows |
The final rug met the project goal of 44 rows, with minor adjustments to the gray yarn supply, using scraps.
Estimating T-shirt Yarn Quantity -Case Study B: Estimating Yarn for a Pastel Color Rug
This project is worth mentioning because the pattern was more complex and things didn’t work as originally planned.
I used the same dimensions (60 cm by 40 cm) and the same size 6 crochet hook. I planned an eight-row pattern, repeated five times for 40 rows, or six times for 48 rows if possible.
Yarn and Color Plan:
- R1: White
- R2: Multi-color
- R3: Light Purple
- R4: Light Green
- R5: Light Purple
- R6: Multi-color
- R7: White
- R8: Light Blue (for transition)
This pattern required:
- 12 rows of white, multi-color, and light purple (2 rows per repetition, 6 repetitions).
- 6 rows of light green and light blue (1 row per repetition, 6 repetitions).
Step-by-Step Yarn Estimation:
- Start with White Yarn: I weighed my total white yarn before starting. After crocheting the first row, I weighed it again to ensure I had enough for 12 rows, which I did.
- Proceed with Multi-color Yarn: After crocheting the second row, I realized I could only get 11 rows from the multi-color yarn, one less than needed. I decided to proceed and hoped to finish the 6th repetition with scraps.
- Check Light Purple Yarn: Light purple yielded only 10.5 rows, not enough for the original plan. To avoid undoing the entire rug, I added gray yarn as a new color in 2 rows. I opted for two rows because this would ensure symmetry. Find out more about this in “Tips for Color Compilations to Turn Textiles into Beautiful Rugs”.
- Revised Color Pattern: R1: White, R2: Multi-color, R3: Light Purple, R4: Gray, R5: Light Green, R6: Gray, R7: Light Purple, R8: Multi-color, R9: White, R10: Light Blue (for transition).
- This new pattern had 10 rows, allowing me to reach 50 rows with 5 repetitions or slightly less with 4.5 repetitions.
- Weigh and Adjust Remaining Colors:
- Light Green: Yielded 6 rows, as required.
- Light Blue: Yielded 5.5 rows, slightly short but workable.
Results and Adjustments:
The rug turned out as desired, with the correct dimensions and an appealing color scheme, despite the initial challenges. Adding a new color to make up for shortages was necessary, but it required careful consideration to maintain the overall aesthetic.
Lessons Learned:
- Plan Ahead: Weighing the yarn for every color used avoids shortages and allows for timely adjustments.
- Stay Flexible: Be prepared to modify your pattern and consider making a sample piece when working with multiple colors.
- Set Realistic Goals: My initial plan for the pastel rug relied too heavily on just three T-shirts, which was unrealistic.
Coclusion:
I hope Estimating T-shirt Yarn Quantity: A Proposal and Case Studies has provided you with a practical and straightforward method for estimating T-shirt yarn for any project. Using weight to estimate yarn quantity not only offers flexibility in customizing rugs to your specific needs, preferences, and materials but also helps identify and resolve potential issues early on. By following this approach, you can confidently tackle your next project with the assurance that your yarn quantities are just right, or you can make them just right. You can give it a try at the three rugs in the “Tutorials for Crocheting the Easiest Customizable Tshirt Rugs” in the Recycle and Upcycle section of the blog.
