{"id":1718,"date":"2024-05-25T14:46:05","date_gmt":"2024-05-25T13:46:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wemadewardrobe.com\/?p=1718"},"modified":"2026-03-23T16:29:31","modified_gmt":"2026-03-23T15:29:31","slug":"substitute-yarn-your-ultimate-guide-to-swapping-yarns-in-knitting-patterns","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wemadewardrobe.com\/en\/substitute-yarn-your-ultimate-guide-to-swapping-yarns-in-knitting-patterns\/","title":{"rendered":"Substitute Yarn: Your Ultimate Guide to Swapping Yarns in Knitting Patterns"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Have you ever fallen head over heels for a knitting pattern only to discover the suggested yarn is either too expensive, not available in your county or is not made in the colour you want the project to be in? Or maybe you already have a huge stash (like some of us have accumulated over the years) and want to use something that you already own? Don’t worry; how to substitute yarn for knitting patterns is not only easy to learn but opens up so many possibilities and can be an exciting part of the knitting process. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Understanding Yarn Weight and Yardage to substitute yarn in knitting patterns<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Knitting patterns like the saddle shoulder sweater knitting pattern \u201cThe Elva Sweater\u201d<\/a> typically specify the yarn used in the sample design, but this doesn’t mean you must use the same one. The key to successful yarn substitution starts with understanding yarn weight and yardage requirements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How to substitute Yarn in Weight<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Yarn weight is crucial as it determines the thickness of the yarn and, consequently, the gauge of your project. Yarn weights range from lace (very fine) to super bulky (very thick). When substituting, aim to match the yarn weight specified in the pattern. For example, if the pattern calls for worsted weight yarn, select another worsted weight yarn. It can be beneficial to know the different yarn weight categories, their names and what they stand for. If you want to know more about different yarn weights for knitting check out the blog article Standard Yarn Weight Guide \u2013 How to choose the correct yarn weight for your knitting project<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How to substitute yarn in length<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Knitting patterns also most likely specify how many meters\/yardage the original yarn has that was used for the sample and how many balls of yarn you\u2019ll need for each size. This helps to estimate how much yarn you\u2019ll need for your project. Remember, yardage is an estimate because different fibers and spinning styles can alter the meter-to-weight ratio. Small gauge differences can significantly affect the total yardage needed, especially in larger projects like sweaters. Designers usually add a bit extra to yardage requirements to account for these variations, making the specified yardage a good guideline when substituting. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here is an example on how to calculate the meter\/yardage of a sweater:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If the knitting pattern (for example the V-Neck Slipover Knitting Pattern \u201cSelma Slipover\u201d<\/a>) calls for 250 g of \u201cAvio\u201d by Lana Grossa (50 g = 150 m) in a size Large you would divide the 250 g by 50 g to find out how many balls of yarn you\u2019d need. In this case it would be 5. 5 times the 150 m, that the original yarn has, would be 750m. So this pattern in the size Large needs a total of 750 m of yarn.<\/p>\n\n\n