Weaving - Calculating Yards Per Pound

I recently did some research regarding calculating the number of yards per pound for yarn.  This is mainly for weaving, but can be used for knitting as well.  This is a good way to classify yarn that you get from various places without any information attached.

There is a gadget you can buy called a McMoran balance seen here.  You can also get information on how to use this balance here.

I found some information on how to make my own balance.  Credit goes to an article by Christina Hammel in the May/June 2007 issue of Handwoven magazine.  This is the information provided:

Take a straight, well-balanced 12" long bamboo skewer. Cut off the pointed ends so that both ends are the same--it will now measure about 10" - 11."

Mark the center of the skewer and tie a string around it at that point - hold or suspend the string so that the skewer swings freely, level and is balanced.  Put a bit of glue on the knot.

Take a length of yarn (12") for which you know the YPP and tie it 1/4" from one end.

Take a piece of the yarn for which the count is unknown and tie it a 1/4" from the other end.  Make this piece of sufficient length to tip the balance down.

Now cut short pieces from the end of the unknown yarn until the skewer returns to a level position.

Measure the length of the unknown yarn and multiply by 100 which results in the YPP.