How Much Yarn for a Shawl?
A medium triangular shawl takes about 700 yards of fingering-weight yarn — the classic two-skein shawl, since hand-dyed fingering often comes in 400-yard skeins. In lace weight, plan on about 900 yards; in worsted, about 450.
Shawls are the signature two-skein project: many patterns are written specifically for two skeins of fingering yarn.
Yardage chart: shawl by yarn weight
| Yarn weight | Estimated yardage | Skeins needed* |
|---|---|---|
| Lace (0) | 900 yds | 2 skeins |
| Super Fine / Fingering (1) | 700 yds | 2 skeins |
| Fine / Sport (2) | 550 yds | 2 skeins |
| Light / DK (3) | 500 yds | 2 skeins |
| Medium / Worsted (4) | 450 yds | 3 skeins |
| Bulky (5) | 425 yds | 4 skeins |
*Skein counts use typical skein sizes for each weight and include a 10% safety buffer, rounded up. Always check your yarn label — skein sizes vary by brand.
Get your exact numbers
Run shawl through the free calculator with your yarn's label details.
Frequently asked questions
How many skeins for a shawl?
Most shawls take 1 to 2 skeins. Two 400-yard fingering skeins is the classic shawl quantity; one 800–1,000-yard lace skein also works beautifully.
How much yarn for a large wrap shawl?
Large wraps and stoles need 1,000–1,400 yards of fingering — roughly 3 skeins.
What is the best yarn weight for shawls?
Fingering (1) and lace (0) give the drape shawls are known for. DK and worsted make cozier, faster winter shawls.
Can I make a shawl from one skein?
Yes — one-skein shawlettes are a whole pattern category, designed for a single 400-yard fingering skein.
