How Much Yarn Do I Need for a Jumper? A Size-by-Size Guide

Woman wearing the #149 Ingrid Lace Jumper in Scandi Soft XL with the loose collar – knitting pattern by Anette Eriksson

The needles are out, the pattern is open, and then comes the question knitters ask me again and again – how much yarn do I need for a jumper? It is a good question to settle before you reach the checkout, and the answer is more straightforward than it first appears.

Pull up a chair. I will take you through it step by step.

Why yarn amounts differ

The number of balls you need depends on four things working together: the size you knit, the style of the jumper, the thickness of the yarn and – this one surprises people – the weight of each ball.

That last point matters more than most knitters realise. Snö and Scandi Soft XL come in 100 g balls. Scandi Wool comes in 50 g balls. So when a pattern asks for 10 balls of Scandi Wool, that is the same weight of yarn as 5 balls of Snö. The number looks different; the yarn in your hands weighs the same. All three yarns are sold in packs of 5 balls, so it is worth thinking in packs as well as balls when you plan.

Style makes a difference too. A roomy, oversized shape uses more yarn than a closer fit in the same size, and cables pull the fabric in, so a cabled jumper needs more yarn than a plain one of the same measurements. The amounts in my patterns already account for the design as written.

If you are still choosing between the three yarns, my guide to the best yarn for knitting a jumper compares how each one feels and which needles it needs.

How to read the size table on my pattern pages

Each jumper pattern page has a size table that lists a bust measurement in centimetres and the number of balls for every size.

Here is how to use it:

Measure around the fullest part of your chest.
Find the size whose bust measurement suits you.
Read across to the number of balls for that size – that is what you buy.

For example, the #183 Meja Feel Good Sweater lists size M with a bust of 104 cm and 5 balls of Scandi Soft XL. Size L has a bust of 112 cm and also takes 5 balls – one pack covers either.

Always check your tension against the pattern before you start. If you knit more loosely or more tightly than the pattern, your jumper will come out a different size, and the yarn amount changes with it. A small swatch is the most reliable way to know you are on track.

Chunky jumpers in Scandi Soft XL and Snö

These patterns are knitted in Scandi Soft XL or Snö – both 100 g balls, both chunky and quick to knit. Most are worked on 6 mm needles; the #149 Ingrid Lace Jumper uses 7 mm so the lace stays open. Only the #150 Hedda Cable Roll Neck is written for both yarns, so you will find two versions of that pattern below.

Pattern	Yarn	Ball weight	S	M	L	XL	XXL	XXXL	4XL
#183 Meja Feel Good Sweater	Scandi Soft XL	100 g	4	5	5	5	6	6	7
#150 Hedda Cable Roll Neck – Snö version · Scandi Soft XL version	Snö or Scandi Soft XL	100 g	5	5	6	6	7	7	–
#145 Runa Icicle Sweater	Snö	100 g	4	5	5	6	6	6	–
#149 Ingrid Lace Jumper	Scandi Soft XL	100 g	5	5	6	6	7	8	–
#113 Elisabeth Cable Jumper	Scandi Soft XL	100 g	4	4	5	5	6	6	–
#172 Hooded Cable Jumper	Scandi Soft XL	100 g	4	4	5	5	6	7	–

The bust measurement for each size is on the individual pattern page.

A few things worth knowing when you order:

#150 Hedda: 1 pack for S–M, 2 packs for L–XXXL.
#145 Runa: 1 pack for S–L, 2 packs for XL–XXXL. The pattern also includes a matching scarf, which needs extra yarn.
#149 Ingrid: the ball counts include the loose collar, so there is nothing extra to add for it.
#113 Elisabeth: front and back are knitted exactly the same, and the cable panel can be left out if you would rather have a plain jumper – the yarn amount stays the same.

Lighter jumpers in Scandi Wool

Scandi Wool comes in 50 g balls, so the ball counts look higher – but the weight tells the real story. The #168 Pia Cable Lace Roll Neck in size M takes 10 balls of 50 g, which is 500 g of yarn: the same weight as 5 balls of Snö or Scandi Soft XL.

Pattern	Yarn	Ball weight	XS	S	M	L	XL	XXL	XXXL
#168 Pia Cable Lace Roll Neck	Scandi Wool	50 g	8	9	10	11	12	13	14
#160 Off Shoulder Sweater	Scandi Wool	50 g	–	9	10	11	12	14	–

#168 Pia is knitted in pieces from the bottom up on 5 mm needles, with 4 mm for the ribbing. In packs of 5: 2 packs for XS–M, 3 packs for L–XXXL.
#160 Off Shoulder is worked in the round on 5 mm circular needles. In packs of 5: 2 packs for S–M, 3 packs for L–XXL.

Buy enough in one go

This is the most practical advice I can give: buy all the balls for your jumper at the same time. Yarn is dyed in batches, and two batches of the same shade can differ slightly. Ordering everything together is the simplest way to keep the colour even from the cast-on to the last stitch.

If your size sits right at the edge of a pack, round up rather than down. Running short three-quarters of the way up a sleeve is far more annoying than having a ball left over – and leftovers are never wasted, they are useful for mending or a small accessory.

You will find all three yarns in the yarn shop, and every pattern in the pattern collection.

FAQ

Which size should I choose if I am between two?

Compare both sizes in the table on the pattern page. Often the two neighbouring sizes take the same number of balls – #183 Meja M and L both need 5 – so the yarn order is the same either way.

Why are the ball counts for Scandi Wool so much higher than for Scandi Soft XL?

Because the balls are half the weight. Scandi Wool comes in 50 g balls; Scandi Soft XL and Snö come in 100 g balls. Ten balls of Scandi Wool weigh the same as five of Scandi Soft XL.

Do I need extra yarn if I make the body or sleeves longer?

Yes. The amounts in each pattern cover the design as written, so any extra length needs extra yarn. Add it to the same order rather than trying to match a later batch.

I hope this makes how much yarn do I need for a jumper? an easy question to answer next time you sit down with a pattern. Pick your size, check the table, and order it all at once.

Happy Knitting!
Anette