# [Combine component quantities without mixing colors](https://threadcabin.com/explore/66/combine-component-quantities-without-mixing-colors)

> Two parts using 120 m and 80 m of color A total 200 m before reserve. Color B uses 60 m separately. At 100 m per ball and 10% reserve, buy three A balls and one B ball.

- Canonical page: https://threadcabin.com/explore/66/combine-component-quantities-without-mixing-colors
- Language: en
- Published: 2026-09-25T17:26:32.8850240+00:00
- Updated: 2026-09-25T17:26:38.2169992+00:00
- Primary image: [Combine component quantities without mixing colors — measured quantities](https://threadcabin.com/images/learning/s36-plan.png)

Two parts using 120 m and 80 m of color A total 200 m before reserve. Color B uses 60 m separately. At 100 m per ball and 10% reserve, buy three A balls and one B ball.

## Work through the example

1. Assign the same group only to interchangeable material and color. Keep the group letter beside the actual label in your project notes.
2. Enter component lengths before reserve: 120 and 80 in A, 60 in B. Leave unused rows empty.
3. Apply reserve once to each group total, then round its packages. Rounding each 120 m and 80 m component separately would hide opportunities to share the same A ball.

## Check before committing

The planner adds entered quantities; it cannot infer sleeves, borders or color proportions from a project name. Unknown component lengths need samples before totaling.

## Method and sources

These are original planning examples using the linked tools’ methods. Replace measured inputs with your own samples; a calculator cannot validate the construction. Keep the resulting measurements, choices and remaining checks with the project.

- [Craft Yarn Council: standard yarn weight system](https://www.craftyarncouncil.com/standards/yarn-weight-system)
- [Craft Yarn Council: information on yarn labels](https://www.craftyarncouncil.com/node/12)

[Report a correction](/corrections).

[Browse editable craft templates](/crafts)

## Sources and provenance

- [Yarn label anatomy: turn symbols and numbers into decisions](https://threadcabin.com/explore/15/yarn-label-anatomy-turn-symbols-and-numbers-into-decisions)
- [Component yarn planner](https://threadcabin.com/tools/component-yarn-planner)
- [Yarn & skein planner](https://threadcabin.com/tools/yarn-skein-planner)

## [Component yarn planner](https://threadcabin.com/tools/component-yarn-planner)

Combine measured yarn requirements by material and color, then round whole balls once for each group.

Enter each component’s base length before reserve and assign its material/color group. Components in one group share the same package facts; different colors stay in different groups.  The tool combines lengths and rounds packages once per group, so leftovers cannot cover a different color.

For each group, add component lengths; multiply once by (1 + allowance ÷ 100); divide by label length and round up. Multiply whole balls by label length and mass. Enter lengths before allowance. Do not add a second reserve to an estimate that already includes one.

- Component 1: material/color group: A
- Required length: 120 m
- Component 2: material/color group: A
- Required length: 80 m
- Component 3: material/color group: B
- Required length: 60 m
- Length per ball: 100 m
- Weight per ball: 50 g
- Extra allowance: 10 %
- Length per ball: 100 m
- Weight per ball: 50 g
- Extra allowance: 10 %
- Length per ball: 100 m
- Weight per ball: 50 g
- Extra allowance: 10 %
- Length per ball: 100 m
- Weight per ball: 50 g
- Extra allowance: 10 %

## [Yarn & skein planner](https://threadcabin.com/tools/yarn-skein-planner)

Convert required length into whole balls or skeins with a chosen allowance.

Choose length when the requirement is in metres, or weight when it is in grams. Use the matching amount printed on one ball’s label.  Apply reserve only if the requirement does not already include it. Whole-ball rounding explains why purchased yarn exceeds the estimated use.

Choose length or weight. The required amount plus reserve is divided by the matching label amount per ball and rounded up to a whole purchase unit. Buy the whole project from one dye lot when color consistency matters.

- Plan from: Length (metres or yards)
- Required length: 200 m
- Length per ball: 100 m
- Required weight: 400 g
- Weight per ball: 50 g
- Extra allowance: 10 %