SectionYarn & Needlecraft
Tools14 calculators
Last reviewed28 July 2026
Calculator dataProject details are not saved

14 yarn and needlecraft tools, grouped by craft

Every yarn project starts with the same two questions: how much will it take, and will it come out the right size. Neither is quite as simple as the pattern makes it look, because gauge, yarn weight and your own tension all move the answer.

These tools were previously part of the wider hobbies section. They now sit together, so that a knitter looking for a needle conversion is not scrolling past telescopes and epoxy resin to find it. Every calculator carries a full explanation: what it works out, the method, a worked example, and where a rule of thumb is weaker than its popularity suggests.

If you are not sure where to begin, these tools answer the questions readers ask most often in this section.

Knitting Yarn CalculatorAnswers the question every knitter asks before casting on. Knitting Gauge AdjusterExplains why a finished garment came out the wrong size. Yarn Substitution CheckerCompares a substitute against the yarn the pattern assumed. Crochet Yarn CalculatorCrochet eats more yarn than knitting for the same area. Cross Stitch Fabric CalculatorFabric size from stitch count and count of the cloth. Blanket Size PlannerDimensions and yarn for the project most likely to be abandoned.

Knitting and crochet 12 tools

Yarn quantities, gauge, needle and hook conversion, substitution and project planning.

Knitting Yarn CalculatorWork out how many balls or skeins you need, including a safety margin. Knitting Gauge AdjusterCompare pattern gauge with your gauge and see how the finished size changes. Knitting Needle ConverterConvert UK, metric and US knitting needle sizes. Knitting Size ConverterConvert knitting measurements between cm, inches and garment ease. Knitting Time EstimatorEstimate how long a knitting project may take from stitches and speed. Knitting Project Cost CalculatorEstimate the full cost of a knitting project including yarn and extras. Knitting Row Counter PlannerPlan shaping, repeats, increases and decreases across a row range. Crochet Yarn CalculatorEstimate yarn needed for a crochet project. Crochet Hook ConverterConvert hook diameter into an approximate size. Yarn Substitution CheckerCompare original and substitute yarn by length, weight, gauge and fibre. Blanket Size PlannerPlan blanket size, stitch counts, rows and a rough yarn estimate. Scarf & Shawl PlannerPlan scarf or shawl dimensions, yardage and knitting time.

Sewing, stitching and thread 2 tools

Fabric sizing and thread quantities for counted and surface embroidery.

Cross Stitch Fabric CalculatorEstimate finished stitched size. Embroidery Thread CalculatorEstimate thread required.

Common questions

Why does the yarn calculator suggest more than the pattern does?

Patterns quote the yarn used by the sample, knitted at the pattern's stated gauge by the designer. If your gauge is looser, if you are working a larger size, or if you want a safety margin against dye lots running out, you will need more. The calculators add an adjustable allowance for exactly this reason — running out two rows from the end with no matching dye lot available is the failure mode worth avoiding.

How much does gauge really matter?

More than almost anything else. A difference of half a stitch per inch across a 100-stitch garment front changes the finished width by several centimetres, which is the difference between a jumper that fits and one that does not. Knit a proper tension square, measure it flat and unstretched, and use the gauge adjuster before trusting the pattern's stitch counts.

Is anything about my collection or projects stored?

No. Item values, project details and measurements are processed in your browser and never transmitted or retained as calculator records.

Questions rarely sit inside a single subject. These sections cover the calculations most often needed alongside a yarn project.

Hobbies & InterestsScale models, 3D printing, photography, astronomy and collections. Home & DIYStorage, shelving and workspace for materials and finished pieces. Finance & BudgetingProject costs, cost per use and pricing work for sale. Everyday LifeGift budgets, clothing cost per wear and the value of your time.
Back to top