Hi Im Pam and Im just trying to figure out how everything works.Im a slow learner !
I would like to understand better how I know if I have enough yarn for a project .I understand it’s not just about the weight but also the length.
My project calls for 500g aran and around 777m yarn
I have 400g aran but it’s is over 1000m long.Please can you halpvme be clear whether it is suitable or not?
Thank you everyone in advance
Pam
These are good things to think about before buying yarn or starting a project. What is the name of your pattern and designer?
What is the name of your aran yarn and what is the name of the pattern yarn (assuming a specific name is given)?
The pattern is by Audrey Wilson on Ravelry.Its called aran garter stitch jacket I think and the yarn is a cheapy one from lovecrafts It’s stylecraft aran with wool nepp
I just thought it would be a bit of fun .It was in their sale 400g for £ 12.99 so to buy another 400g isn’t really what I want.
Live and learn
The yarn is listed as 816m, so it is more than the 777m listed in the pattern, but wouldn’t leave a lot left over and I’d suggest ensuring your gauge is the same as the pattern as any difference in gauge could add up over the entire cardigan resulting in needling more yarn. Many of the finished projects in ravelry have used well over this, 900m+, 1200m+.
Maybe you misread the length of the yarn?
One way I have checked yarn amount before was to work out the area of fabric (from schematic measurements) for the whole project. Then knitted a large swatch in the stitch pattern and weighed it on kitchen scales, from this I calculated grams per cm squared, and from there how many grams for the entire project. It sounds complicated but isn’t really. Although it is still an estimate my finished sweater was remarkably close in weight to the calculation.
The yarns suggested in the pattern and the stitch gauge are all at 18sts/10cm or a typical aran weight yarn. Your yarn falls into that weight and should work but a swatch is a good way to be sure you can get gauge and like the knit fabric.
Buying an extra skein is the safest way to go but this sweater has long sleeves with a possible fold back cuff. Depending on the style you want you might adjust the number of sts at the cast ons for the sleeves so that you’re a little conservative on yarn usage. The length is fairly short so not so easy to shorten there.
That’s a really helpful answer 
.Thanks for taking the time and trouble to look into it.My yarn hasn’t arrived yet but I have been thinking about whether to buy more yarn.
I like the pattern and the yarn was attractive because it allowed me to try it out cheaply.
I’ve been thinking ,to be on the safe side I could do the cuffs on the sleeve ends with a toning colour from my stash to be safer.
Also will do a swatch and if I really like the yarn colour when it arrives will consider buying some more
Thanks again
Good ideas all around. Have fun knitting this cardigan and let us know how it’s going!
Will do
.I generally dont knit garments.I am into all things felt.I knit simple items and felt them in the washing machine.Then I needlefelt and/or embroider them or use them just as they are.
Hence I only usually need to know garter ,stocking and mattress stitch to do it.
Recently though I’ve had too much time on my hands being laid low with covid and a chest infection and have really got into looking at beautiful yarns and patterns to knit for myself. Just sent for some beautiful rich colours of Kate Davies Millarochie yarn and a wrap like cardigan she has designed.
Will have to get better soon as I am spending far too much money 
I do hope you feel better and all that lovely yarn will help along the way. I don’t know Kate Davies yarn but it does look beautiful. Enjoy the knitting, rest and be back to your usual self soon.
Sorry to hear you’re poorly.
A different colour on the folding cuffs would be a great feature. If you bought a second ball of the same colour you could make a matching bag with the remaining yarn and decorate it with embroidery or needle flting, which would make a stunning set too.
I’m all for trying things cheaply, I’m a budget knitter and don’t spend much more than this on my “best” sweaters. Usually around £15 to £25. I have spent more than this on occassion but ended up gifting the sweaters to the clothes bank as I found the yarn too itchy.
I know what you mean about itch problems.Since being a child I’ve never been able to wear wool especially round my neck.I think I’ve got into wool as I have to have 100%wool to felt and that can be expensive.Thank goodness for Drops yarn which is not.
But since Lovecrafts has had a sale on.I have realised just how reasonably priced non wool yarn is.Its very tempting to see what will fit with my own style of dressing.
Just need the time to knit it all now before the garden calls on my time 2😊
Ps good idea about extra yarn
Looks like you’ve got the yarn figured, but this Ravelry project might be helpful. She made extensive notes about the pattern.
This might solve my “what to do with my 2300 yards of sport weight in 2 dye lots” issue.
Thank so much that is so kind to go to that trouble.It will be very helpful when I start as I was reading the pattern and finding it hard to imagine without the knitting in front of me.
It was no trouble, as I’m thinking this will be perfect for some yarn I’ve had trouble matching to a pattern! So those notes will help me as well.