Everything you need to know about substituting yarns
Yes, in most cases you can! The key is finding a substitute with a similar yarn weight and gauge. The fiber composition affects how the finished piece feels and drapes. Our similarity score helps you find good matches — anything above 80% is usually a safe swap.
A gauge swatch is a small test piece (at least 4x4 inches) you knit before starting your actual project. You count how many stitches and rows fit in that space. This matters because everyone knits differently — some tighter, some looser. If your gauge doesn't match the pattern, your sweater will end up too big or too small. You can fix this by changing your needle size.
It depends on the project and yarn weight. As a rough guide: a simple scarf needs about 200-400m, a hat about 100-200m, and a sweater (size M) about 1000-1500m. The exact amount is always listed in the knitting pattern. When substituting yarn, convert by total meters needed — not by number of skeins, since different yarns have different run lengths.
The score shows you at a glance how well a yarn works as a substitute. It compares three things: How similar is the fiber composition? Does the gauge match? And does the run length fit? Above 90% means the yarn is nearly identical, above 80% it's a solid substitute, and below 70% you should take a closer look before swapping.
Absolutely! Cotton is great for summer projects and baby items. Bamboo viscose has a lovely sheen and drapes similarly to silk. Acrylic yarns are affordable, easy-care, and come in countless colors. For warm winter projects, an acrylic-cotton blend works well. Use our "Animal-free only" filter to find vegan options specifically.
A big one! Wool is warm, elastic, and springs back — perfect for sweaters and hats. Cotton is cool, has no stretch, and is great for summer wear. Silk adds shine and flowing drape. Polyamide makes socks durable. Alpaca is soft and warmer than wool but has less elasticity. Your best bet is to check which fibers are in the original yarn and look for a substitute with a similar blend.
No, the needle size on the yarn label is just a starting point! What really matters is your gauge. If you knit tightly, you might need to go up half a size. If you knit loosely, go down. Just knit a gauge swatch with the recommended needle size and adjust until your stitch count matches the pattern.
Yarn prices change constantly and vary widely between shops, colorways, and sales. Instead of showing outdated prices, we focus on finding you the technically best alternatives. You can then find the best deal at your favorite yarn shop or online store. The price filter still helps you find yarns within your budget.