Colour Work Yarn Calculator — Yarn Per Colour for Stranded Knitting

Count the total stitches in the chart (width x height). Each stockinette stitch uses roughly three times its own width in yarn, so yarn per stitch (m) is about 3 x (10 / your stitch gauge) / 100. Multiply by the stitch count for the plain total, divide by the number of colours for each colour's rough share, then add a float waste factor of 10-20%. The exact amount depends on how often colours alternate — a checkerboard uses more yarn than wide stripes.

Stranded colourwork carries unused colours across the back of the work as floats. These floats add extra yarn length that does not appear on the right side. The more colours you use and the more frequently they alternate, the greater the float waste. Typically add 10-20% over a plain knitting estimate.

In two-colour stranded knitting, one colour appears more prominent than the other based on how you hold the yarns. The yarn held below or in your left hand (continental style) travels a slightly longer path and covers more stitch area, making it dominant. Use this for your main motif or foreground colour.

Keep floats to a maximum of 5-7 stitches to prevent the fabric from puckering and to maintain elasticity. For longer colour gaps, weave the float yarn through the back of stitches every 4-5 stitches. Long unworked floats also snag when the garment is worn.

Yes. Always buy at least one extra ball of each colour. Colourwork yarn estimates are less reliable than plain knitting because float length varies greatly depending on the chart design. It is far better to have extra than to run short mid-project, especially if dye lots matter.