Yarn Substitution Chart
Compare fibre, ball weight, length, tool sizes and gauge before choosing a replacement. The alternatives are candidates for a swatch, not guaranteed equivalents. Specifications and reading dates appear beside each yarn.
Showing 11 yarns
Official specifications read on 2026-10-24. Lengths are manufacturer nominal values. Alternatives are editorial comparisons (inferences), not manufacturer-approved equivalents; match a washed swatch before substitution. All gauges use a 10 x 10 cm reference square. Missing row counts remain not published. Converted gauges are marked converted from 4 in: 4 in = 10.16 cm; each stitch or row count is multiplied by 10 / 10.16 and rounded to two decimals. These are mathematical conversions, not new swatch measurements. Metric values already stated by the manufacturer are retained. Paintbox Simply DK was removed after the official product page failed to load again and the official yarn directory did not supply the missing specifications.
| Brand | Yarn | Fibre | Grams per ball | Metres per ball | Needle size | Hook size | Gauge | Alternatives | Source | Read on |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bernat | Blanket (300 g) | 100% polyester | 300 | 201 | 8 mm | 8 mm | Knit: 8 sts x 13 rows; crochet: 7 sc x 8 rows / 10 x 10 cm | Candidate (inference): Premier Parfait Chunky; same fiber, different gauge; swatch first. | https://www.yarnspirations.com/products/bernat-blanket-yarn-300g-10-5oz | 2026-10-24 |
| DROPS | Air | 65% alpaca; 28% polyamide; 7% wool | 50 | 150 | 5 mm | not published | Knit: 17 sts x 22 rows / 10 x 10 cm | Compare Malabrigo Rios (inference); fiber and construction differ; no direct match. | https://www.garnstudio.com/yarn.php?cid=17&show=drops-air | 2026-10-24 |
| Lion Brand | Wool-Ease Thick & Quick (standard solids; excludes fiber exceptions) | 80% acrylic; 20% wool | 170 | 97 | 9 mm | 9 mm | Knit: 8.86 sts x 11.81 rows; crochet: 6.50 sc x 7.87 rows / 10 x 10 cm (converted from 4 in) | Compare Bernat Blanket (inference); fiber and gauge differ; no direct match. | https://www.lionbrand.com/products/wool-ease-thick-and-quick-yarn | 2026-10-24 |
| Stylecraft | Special DK | 100% premium acrylic | 100 | 295 | 4 mm | 4 mm | Knit: 22 sts x 30 rows / 10 x 10 cm | Compare Caron Simply Soft (inference); same fiber, different gauge; swatch first. | https://stylecraft-yarns.co.uk/yarns/special-dk | 2026-10-24 |
| YarnArt | Jeans | 55% cotton; 45% acrylic | 50 | 160 | 3.5 mm | 3.5 mm | Knit: 24 sts x 30 rows; crochet: 19 sts x 28 rows / 10 x 10 cm | Compare Scheepjes Catona (inference); fiber blend and gauge differ; swatch first. | https://yarnart.info/product/jeans/jeans-23/ | 2026-10-24 |
| Premier | Parfait Chunky | 100% polyester | 100 | 120 | 8 mm | 8 mm | Knit: 9.84 sts x 13.78 rows; crochet: 8.86 sc x 8.86 rows / 10 x 10 cm (converted from 4 in) | Candidate (inference): Bernat Blanket; same fiber, different gauge; swatch first. | https://www.premieryarns.com/products/parfchunky | 2026-10-24 |
| Caron | Simply Soft (170 g) | 100% acrylic | 170 | 288 | 5 mm | 5 mm | Knit: 18 sts x 24 rows; crochet: 13 sc x 14 rows / 10 x 10 cm | Candidate (inference): Red Heart Super Saver; same fiber, different gauge; swatch first. | https://www.yarnspirations.com/products/caron-simply-soft-yarn | 2026-10-24 |
| Red Heart | Super Saver (solids) | 100% acrylic | 198 | 333 | 5 mm | 5.5 mm | Knit: 17 sts x 23 rows; crochet: 12 sc x 15 rows / 10 x 10 cm | Candidate (inference): Caron Simply Soft; same fiber, different gauge; swatch first. | https://www.yarnspirations.com/products/red-heart-super-saver-yarn | 2026-10-24 |
| Scheepjes | Catona (50 g) | 100% mercerised cotton | 50 | 125 | 2.5 mm; 3.5 mm | not published | Knit: 26 sts x 36 rows / 10 x 10 cm on 2.5 mm needles | Compare YarnArt Jeans (inference); fiber blend and gauge differ; swatch first. | https://www.scheepjes.com/en/catona-50g-322/ | 2026-10-24 |
| Cascade | 220 | 100% Peruvian Highland wool | 100 | 200 | 4.5-5 mm | 5-6 mm | Knit: 18-20 sts; crochet: 13-14 sc / 10 x 10 cm; rows: not published | Candidate (inference): Malabrigo Rios; wool type and care differ; swatch first. | https://www.cascadeyarns.com/product/cascade-220 | 2026-10-24 |
| Malabrigo | Rios | 100% superwash merino wool | 100 | 192 | 4-5 mm | 5.5-6.5 mm | Knit: 17.72-21.65 sts / 10 x 10 cm; rows: not published (converted from 4 in) | Candidate (inference): Cascade 220; wool type and care differ; swatch first. | https://malabrigoyarn.com/yarns/rios | 2026-10-24 |
Use the comparison with your project sample
Compare the listed specifications, then check the replacement in your actual pattern. Keep the yarn, strands, tool marking, measured dimensions and unresolved problems together in your notes. See the substitution record in the guide for the checklist.
A missing specification remains “not published”; it is not a zero. The reading dates describe when the source was checked, not a promise that the manufacturer's specifications will never change.