A yarn meter is a tool used by crafters and fabric artists who work with yarn. The purpose of a yarn meter is to quickly and accurately measure a length of yarn. This tool comes in handy for determining if there is enough yarn to complete a pattern, especially if the original label is missing, and also to eliminate wasted yarn. A yarn meter can also be used to measure the amount of yarn being loaded to a take-up device.
A typical yarn meter has two posts mounted on either side of a slotted, visual counter, which yarn is threaded through. Mounted on a base, usually made of wood, the entire yarn meter can be mounted or clamped to a crafting table or workbench for ease of use. A digital yarn meter, which is typically used in textile manufacturing, measures the length of yarn being uploaded to a mechanical take-up device before production begins.
For fabric crafts such as knitting and crocheting, a yarn meter allows users to measure the lengths of leftover or mystery yarn, helping them to determine if there is enough yarn to complete a pattern. A yarn meter measures yarn in lengths of feet, most measuring up to 999 feet. Yarn is threaded into a slot and pulled through, guided by tiny rollers inside that count the number of rotations, translating into the length of yarn as displayed on the counter.
Pairing a yarn meter with a ball winder, users can also make balls of yarn, label them, and thus, quickly and efficiently organize yarn remnants in their crafting supplies. A typical yarn meter can be purchased at many fabric and specialty craft stores, as well as online. Pricing varies, but is typically between $50.00 and $60.00 US Dollars. Most varieties are sold with a case of some sort for storing or transporting to classes or group projects.