What is the difference between a skein and a ball?

A skein (or hank) is yarn wound into a large loop and then twisted. It must be wound into a ball before knitting to avoid tangling. A ball is wound into a compact shape, either a round ball or a flat "cake". Some yarn is sold in pull-skeins that look like oblong cylinders and can be knit from directly.

Can I knit directly from a skein?

No, you should not knit directly from an unwound hank/skein. The loops will tangle very quickly. You need to wind the hank into a ball using a ball winder and swift, or by hand around your fingers. Pull-skeins (oblong cylinders) are pre-wound and can be knit from directly.

Why would I split a skein into smaller balls?

You might split a large skein into smaller balls for two-at-a-time sock knitting, for colourwork where you need the same colour in multiple places, or when you want to alternate skeins every few rows to blend slight colour variations between dye lots.

KnitCalcs

Skein to Ball Calculator — Convert Between Yarn Formats

Calculate how many balls you can wind from skeins, or how many skeins equal a given number of balls.

Metres Per Skein

Weight Per Skein

Total Skeins

Target Ball Weight

Weight of each ball to wind

How We Calculate This

This calculator converts between skein and ball measurements based on weight and meterage.

The formula

Metres per gram = Skein metres / Skein weight

Metres per ball = Target ball weight x Metres per gram

Balls from skeins = Total weight / Target ball weight (rounded down)

Frequently Asked Questions

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Last updated: February 2026

All calculations are estimates based on standard yarn weights and gauge. Results may vary with individual tension, yarn brand, and needle size.