You wanted it, you got it. This is my primo source. I NEVER (and I repeat: NEVER) knit a pattern with the yarn that is recommended. There are a plethora of reasons for this, mostly centering around the fact that the brain currently housed in my little head isn’t very organized.
But enough of that. I have enough yarn in my stash room to substitute just about anything. So what do I do?
I find out how many yards of yarn I need for my project. Then I connect to www.yarndex.com and find the brand and name of the yarn that is required and find out both the weight of the yarn and how many yards are on each skein. From there I multiply how many yards on each skein by how many skeins are called for to give me the total yardage suggested for my project. I then take that number into my own private lys yarn room and go from there.
That’s my best advice for substituting yarn. You can always take 2 or more lighter weight yarns and hold them together to get a heavier weight also, but that’s kind of sketchy.
Jeanne says
THANK YOU!! My private yarn room – closet, garage, under the bed, behind the sofa – will appreciate the help too!
Jan says
Thank you so much for your endorsement of Yarndex.com and your description of how you use our yarn reference library. We at Yarndex really appreciate hearing about how knitters, crocheters, weavers, designers, really anyone with a passion for yarn enjoys exploring all those options (over 5,000 yarns to date and still growing)!
Thanks again for your support,
Jan and the Yarndex Yarn Enthusiasts
Tina says
I love Yarndex and use it all the time. It’s a super resource!
Tina Hanks says
Can anyone advise me on a substitute yarn for Red heart and TLC Baby Amore Yarn. The size of hook is 5mm. I need various soft baby colour. I don’t understand the term worsted but the blanket is the first I have done. Will using a different wool affect the size or the pattern which is of little baby ducks, dogs, cats and dogs. I would appreciate some advice. Thank you in anticipation.
Terrye says
Hi Tina,
Worsted is a standard size, a tad bit heavier than DK but less than bulky. I don’t know how crochet hooks size up as far as worsted weight yarns, you’d have to ask JD, our crochet editor. I’d think, with a child’s sweater that will most likely be machine washed and dried, you’d want to have all the same makeup of yarn (ie, all cotton, or all wool….).
Hope this helps!
Terrye
Bev. says
Have a Beret pattern caling for Croajingolong yarn. Haven’t been able to find m uch on it. How about a substitute, please.