Yarn Substitution Success Stories

Have you substituted Knit Picks yarns for the suggested yarn in your pattern? Share your success stories and pictures here!

Permalink Reply by Susan the Blue Lake Knitter on October 10, 2009 at 6:00pm: I have done the same thing very successfully. KP has good quality yarn, as good or better I think, than the "high end" yarn. I was in a local fiber shop last weekend, and they had lace weight alpaca yarns for $75/250 yds. I cringed! I can get alpaca cloud for a fraction of that cost... no $75 yarn for me. --S; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Ulrike Clevenger on October 12, 2009 at 8:42am: You are right, Susan! I cringe with you and I think it is a bit sad. How many people can afford $ 75/250 yards. Knit a shawl out of that and the instructions for filing bankruptcy should be included in the pattern. That sort of pricing puts our hobby (or addiction) out of reach for most folks. There are so much fewer outlets for our artistic and creative sides in our lives now when everything is bought readymade and prefab. KP has the right idea. Make it affordable so that as many people as possible can join in the fun.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Woolybelle on October 14, 2009 at 7:15am: I'd like to make the Cabled Blanket Coat from Scottish Inspirations and remember seeing a note in one of the Knit Picks catalogues about substituting Swish DK. I'd rather a non-Superwash 100% Wool yarn and am wondering if anyone has made this coat yet? Do you think Telemark would work? WOA?
Also, could I substitute WOA Bulky for the Rowan yarn called for in the same publication's Moss Stitch Jacket?
Thanks for any advice; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Greta Eisenhauer on November 27, 2009 at 10:52am: I need some advice regarding a yarn substitution where weight/guage is different. I have loved the Half-Linen stitch toddler sweater http://www.curiouscreek.com/patterns_kits/toddler_sweater.pdf (which uses quite a bit of Curious Creek Serenghetti). For two years, ever since I saw it, I've wanted to make it for my daughter. But I can't afford to $120+ for the yarn. It calls for a sport-weight superwash. I love the stroll hand-paint and think color-wise, I could get the look I'd love BUT...
Would the difference in wieght (after gauge adjustment calculations to the pattern) give me a fabric that wouldn't hold it's shape properly or be too flowy. The cost would be so much more reasonable.
Thanks,
Greta; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Marta on November 27, 2009 at 3:35pm: You might have a problem trying to use a fingering weight yarn to do half linen stitch where sport weight is asked for. If you go up in needle size to get the gauge (the pattern says stitch gauge is important, while row gauge is not), You might end up with a more open fabric. I love linen and half linen stitches, but the tight, dense stitch pattern is what makes it work. I hear you about the price of the Serenghetti! KP has some sport weight yarns, but you might want to get a skein of the Stroll hand-paint you like and experiment with needles and see what sort of fabric you get as a result. If you feel that you must use the larger needle, you might double the Stroll and get that tight fabric look that way. Since the row gauge doesn't matter, it seems to me that the important thing is the neatly fitting-together stitches. Love to hear what you end up doing! And see the final results. Cute outfit and, as I said, I love that half linen stitch 'look'.

OK, I went back and looked at the gauges: Your pattern is 24 stitches in 4" using size 5 needles.
Stroll is 28-32 stitches in 4" using #1-3 size needles. I'm thinking that using the 5s and doubling the yarn might be your best bet. Using hand paints doubled helps mix up the color pattern too. Stroll is also I think more than double the length per skein than the original yarn. Even using Stroll doubled would save a ton over the Serenghetti...; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by tbloomn1 on November 27, 2009 at 4:12pm: I want to make a fingerless glove pattern that calls for DK yarn but I do have any at this time. Can I substitute two strands of fingering/sock yarn instead??? ~Tish; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Susan the Blue Lake Knitter on November 27, 2009 at 4:45pm: Yes, if you get the correct gauge when using the two strands together... --S; ▶ Reply to This