There is a particular sort of optimism that strikes when listing yarn for sale.
You look at a skein, think, “that seems about right,” type in a weight and yardage from memory, and carry on with your day.
Unfortunately, yarn has an astonishing talent for proving us wrong.
A skein that looks perfectly full may have had a bit used. A yarn cake may weigh less than expected. And somehow, despite every good intention, the listing that confidently promised “full skein” turns out to contain just enough yarn to knit one sock and a mildly disappointing coaster.
That is why taking a few moments to measure and weigh your yarn before listing it can make a tremendous difference.
When buyers shop on Fiber Market Exchange, they want to know exactly what they are getting.
Helpful details include:
The more information you provide, the more confident a buyer will feel.
After all, no one enjoys the unpleasant surprise of opening a parcel only to discover that “mostly full” turns out to mean “somewhere between half and a hopeful shrug.”
If a skein has been used at all, the easiest way to estimate how much remains is to weigh it.
For example:
If the original skein had 220 yards, you can estimate:
220 x 0.75 = 165 yards remaining
220 × 0.75 = 165 yards remaining
Then mention that estimate in your listing.
“Approximately 165 yards remaining” is far more helpful than “used a bit,” which could mean nearly anything, depending on how optimistic one is feeling.
One of the easiest ways to reassure buyers is to include a photo of the yarn on a kitchen scale.
This works especially well for:
A quick photo showing the weight helps buyers trust your listing and reduces questions.
It also saves you from trying to explain, for the fourth time, that yes, it really is nearly a full skein, it has simply fluffed itself up rather dramatically.
When selling a yarn lot, make sure to count and photograph every skein.
If the lot includes:
Say so clearly.
If some skeins have different dye lots or slightly different shades, mention that too.
A buyer planning a sweater project will want to know before discovering that one sleeve is very slightly more “winter fog” than the rest.
A few extra details can make your listing even better:
These details may seem small, but they help buyers feel more confident.
Particularly the labels. Many knitters become unexpectedly attached to labels and will cheerfully keep them in project bags for years, rather like tiny paper souvenirs.
Before listing your yarn, try this quick routine:
It only takes a few minutes, and it can make your listing look much more polished and trustworthy.
The more accurate your yarn listing is, the easier it is for buyers to say yes.
A little measuring now can prevent confusion later, help your yarn sell faster, and spare everyone the disappointment of receiving a parcel that is not quite what they expected.
And really, if you are already surrounded by yarn, a kitchen scale, and several labels you cannot quite bear to throw away, you are most of the way there already.
