What Can I Knit With 500 Yards of Yarn?
You'd be surprised how much you can do with 500 yards of yarn!
Many of us find patterns that we want to knit and then go out and purchase the yarn for it (or shop our stash for a suitable substitute). This way, we find ourselves with exactly what we need for any given project—no more, no less. However, there are certainly people who work backwards. You might even do this sometimes! It's not uncommon for people to find a special skein (or five) of gorgeous yarn in-store and purchase it impulsively, only to find yourself searching "how many yards of yarn for a blanket?" or "how much yarn do I need for..." and so on.
If you've somehow found yourself with about 500 yards of yarn, the world is actually your oyster. Not only can you knit a bunch of 100 or 200-yard patterns with that much yardage, you can find yourself able to complete some of the heftier kinds of projects out there, such as shawls, scarves, and even tops, that you wouldn't be able to pull off with just a skein or two of yarn. Go ahead and peruse the weight category of the yarn that you've found for some pattern ideas (or just inspiration) of how to use your new treasure trove of yarn.
Table of Contents
Fingering Weight Patterns
Fingering yarn very commonly comes in skeins of 400-500 yards, as typically you're expected to knit a pair of socks with that skein. That said, there are plenty of non-sock options for your new gorgeous skein of yarn, so I've chosen to list other types of patterns below. Just know that you can knit just about any kind of sock pattern you'd like with 500 yards of fingering weight yarn.
If you have five skeins of 100 yards of yarn... maybe you'd rather knit 5 separate things! Check out our collection of36 100-Yard Knitting Patterns
Sport Weight Patterns
Besides not being a very common type of yarn to begin with, sport weight yarn is a bit of an anomaly because it's not used in a ton of patterns, either. Resting in that awkward space between super-fine and baby-weight yarn, you'd think it wouldn't have many uses, but it's actually extremely versatile because of how thin it is. Here are some of my favorite sport-weight patterns in 500 yards (or fewer).
DK Weight Patterns
DK weight yarn is just perfect for baby knitting. Those who knit for babies typically love it; not only do you get to knit the same thing for less yarn, but what you can come up with is just so adorable! I've definitely found myself finishing up a sweater and not wanting to give it away... even though it would obviously never fit me. With 500 yards, you can knit so much, baby pattern or otherwise.
Worsted Weight Patterns
Since worsted weight yarn is probably the most versatile weight of yarn out there and 500 yards is nothing to sneeze at, if you've found yourself with 500 yards of yarn in this weight, you won't find yourself wanting for any options. From shawls to dog sweaters, you can pull off just about anything with that much yarn.
Not sure what worsted weight yarn even means? We're here to help! Check out this article:What is Worsted Weight Yarn?
Bulky Weight Patterns
Your yardage takes you a little less far the heavier you go up in yarn weights, and that's not just because skeins tend to have less yardage in the bulky and super bulky territories. That said, there's still plenty that you can knit with 500 yards of bulky yarn, but you may not be able to, say, knit a woman's top the way you might have been able to get away with using DK weight yarn.
Super Bulky Weight Patterns
You almost need to have at least 500 yards of super bulky yarn to knit anything worthwhile, because this is about the range you get into where you can knit sizable torso accessories like scarves and shawls, and even home decor knits like rugs. That isn't to say that you're out of options if you have less than 500 yards, but you'll find yourself with a lot more patterns you can complete with 500.
Up Next:
What Can I Knit With 400 Yards of Yarn?
What's your favorite thing you've knit with 500 yards of yarn?