Yarn Substitution 101: STOP wasting your yarn $$$

Yarn substitution can be tricky, but it doesn’t have to be. In this 15-Minute Masterclass, learn how to choose the right yarn for any project—even when the original yarn is out of your budget, discontinued, or not your style.

I’ll cover weight, gauge, fiber content, and more to ensure your substitutions are a success. Needles up - Let's get to class!

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What I'm wearing: Love Note by Tin Can Knits

Stonecutter's Cardigan by Amy Christoffers
00:00 Introduction
00:58 The Basics
02:23 Weight & Gauge
03:06 Fibre Content
03:33 Drape & Elasticity
04:02 Durability
04:34 Texture & Spin
05:30 Real life examples
11:25 How I made my mistake
13:21 Swatching

[jayeclements]

An excellent summary of the issue of yarn substitution, thank you Nicole. If I may add a couple of comments from a 50+ year knitter, it's all very well suggesting you swatch to ensure you have the right gauge, loft, drape etc but in order to swatch, you have to buy at least one ball! If you end up not liking the tryout yarn, you have a single ball, stuck on its lonesome. Sometimes you have to do your best to match and take a leap of faith.

Try WPI. I think this technique is often forgotten but I have always found it useful and is particularly important if you have a small amount left of the yarn you want but, for some reason, you can't get hold of enough to complete the project. Wrap the recommended needle size with the yarn, making sure each turn butts up neatly to the one before without squishing it. Hold both ends neatly with a clothes peg or similar and make sure you do several inches. Now, with a ruler and a fine needle, count the wraps in an inch. Repeat with the yarn you have in mind to substitute. It won't give you the original yarn's WPI to compare with unless you have a small amount left over from something else but you can also use it as a quick comparison if you're trying to choose between several different yarns. It will tell you a lot about the yarn's loft and twist.

A few people have commented that they were so unimpressed by something they had made with a substitute yarn that they threw it away. Can I PLEAD with you NOT to do this! Complete the garment and donate to an homeless charity or (as I do) donate to a charity that sends garments to people in the Ukraine. You might be unhappy with your efforts but someone else will be delighted.

I had to create a portfolio for my C&G level 5 (that's like the Professional Knitter Certification and Knitting Instructor Certification all rolled into one) so I had to keep my swatches. I really like looking through each project section now and it's a great way to get ideas and fuse designs for something new. In each project zipper pocket bag is; copy of the pattern, MY copy of the pattern including my notes which include measurements, yardages, technique notes etc, swatch (to keep this in good shape I copied an idea from my tutor who blocked the swatch then sewed it very loosely to a piece of card), skein of yarn, band/s, pictures of the finished garment. Even if you're not thinking of doing the MKC or PKC I recommend this. Then if someone says "I LOVE that Any chance you can knit one for me?" or, more likely, "I LOVE What's the design and yarn you used?" if, like me, you only remember what you're actually working on, to have ALL the information at your fingertips is invaluable. The zipper pockets fit into an oversize A4 lever arch binder and I'm on my fifth binder now!

I expect everyone has completed their Christmas projects now and their thoughts are turning to spring garments. But for now, it's 'White Christmas' on the tv, brightly coloured packages under the tree and the duck about ready to go in the oven. A peaceful Christmas to everyone and happy knitting for 2025!

[karendiesner]

Big admission time! I have been knitting for 50 years, near enough. I also spin my own yarns and know all about drape, woollen vs worsted, the perils of alpaca etc. And what did I just do? I substituted Drops Nord 50/50 alpaca blend in place of a woollen spun, thicker yarn in an all-over colourwork cardigan pattern. Good grief! What kind of stupid? It took ages and looked so awful after I cut the steek (stretched out fronts etc) that I have got rid of it rather than try to rescue it (there was no way to rescue, actually). The yarn was not expensive but I wasted so much time and effort! And yet I KNEW alpaca’s habits, and I was still lured in by the Argh……..

[liondancebird]

The best and most comprehensive video blog on yarn ever. Plus it's kind of you to share your own mismatch between yarn and pattern. Thank you Knicoleknits!

[janedroll]

That is such a beautiful color. Alpaca just hangs… longer and longer. And it makes me itch a bit. Thanks for your videos. Love them… very helpful!!!

[rachelmolina]

I don't use patterns. I make my own. Not as fancy, but it always fits. Much better. Thanks for a great video.

[susanorfila]

Great information on yarns. I am the knitter who uses my yarn shop’s kits but you have inspired me to branch out and not be intimidated by picking my own yarn!

[bg]

You're right, Yarn Sub is a wonderful resource. Oscar was extra helpful in this episode, I hope Santa takes that into account! 😉 Wishing you, Oscar, and all of those that you love happy, healthy, and cozy holidays. 😊

[putrescentcadaver]

Peaceful Solstice to all! I'm fortunate to have really experienced and helpful knitters around me so they when I started knitting 3 years ago, any subs i made were well advised. My knitting mentor never swatches but I have a good influence on her and she does it on occasion now, instead of maybe thrice in two plus decades.

[dswportland]

Never thought to once swatch for the pattern AND swatch again for the yarn’s suggested gauge. Good idea, thanks!

[mariaknitsRN]

Hi Nicole & Oscar, Happy Holiday! Yarnsub is amazing. I've had successes using yarnsub. I have a large stash I am diligently knitting through, and use yarnsub or I pick another pattern in my also large pattern stash. My worst substitution was a superwash yarn that grew more than any superwash I ever used. Luckily it was a small cowl for my daughter. I hated it so much, I threw it away, yes, threw it away! That yarn will be given away (I have only 2 skeins left) in a white elephant yarn party, with a little index card stating the yarn grows up to 5 x its size like some kind of freaky alien. Edited to add: I did not swatch thinking it is a small cowl, my gauge is usually close, blah blah blah. Little did I know it would grow like crazy (because I didn't swatch).

[zillahrhodes]

Thanks so much for making things so simple to understand! 🥳

[juxydoss]

Love your videos. 10 years working on this sweater, almost finished, trying to save it, know in my heart I should just toss it. I always finish my projects even if I never wear them in the end.

[deniseyoung]

I am enjoying the Master Classes! Great information in a short time.

[debracoulter]

hi i always enjoy watching you i am always learning something as a new knitter

[elizabethtrimble]

These masterclasses are wonderful! Thanks, as always, for your informative content!!

[seagreenblue]

Thank you. This is the best advice for selecting yarns. I’m really bad at this. 💖🌹🌺

[dawnwilley]

Just an excellent video! Helped me tremendously and explained to me why my projects never turn out the way I envisioned! I have begun making swatching the most critical part of my projects. I liken this to dressing a loom. It’s not something I love about weaving, but it’s part of the whole process. Same as frogging when I’m not happy with an outcome or see a mistake. I have learned I will never be happy with something unless it’s the best I can do.

[mariannerodney]

Oooh you are so right. Ive wasted hours and hours trying to to match pattern to wrong wool and it just isn’t worth it unless you are able to get a good yarn sub. This nis great advice from Nicole so save yourselves a lot of heartache and ditch pattern unless you can get the right wool, Great video

[AnneluvsKatz]

I’ve been wanting to knit my 1st sweater/cardigan. I recently bought a beautiful 100% alpaca yarn and since the weight could work, I’ve been toying subbing the alpaca in. I think you just kept me from making a BIG mistake. Thanks for this!

[ChelleC]

Yarnsub is great! 😁 It will be even better when it lists more yarns for those of us living on the bottom half of the planet 😉