[Nfb-krafters-korner] substituting yarns

[Becky Frankeberger]

I got this article from the Lion Brand site.

Wonderful site by the way.

Becky 

Tips on Substituting Yarn
By: Barbara Breiter
The time will come when you need or want to substitute a yarn in a pattern.
The reasons
for this are varied. Perhaps the yarn recommended is discontinued; perhaps
it's too
expensive, or perhaps it's a fiber you don't wish to use.
First, what is the weight of the yarn? Worsted? Bulky? You need to select a
yarn
in the same weight class. If you don't, you won't be able to obtain the
correct gauge
and your project will not be the correct size. You may eventually be able to
obtain
the gauge of the pattern but it will be as stiff as cardboard or very loose
(depending
on if you selected a lighter or heavier weight). For a project such as a
sweater,
this will have a huge impact.
For a listing of Lion Brand yarns by weight
click here
.
You can often combine multiple strands of a lighter weight yarn to achieve
the same
weight as a heavier one. Be sure to check your gauge very, very carefully
when doing
this. Yarns within the same weight class still work to various gauges. For
example,
a worsted weight yarn is usually classified as one that works between 16 and
20 sts
per inch. These are approximate equivalents:
2 strands fingering = one strand sport.
2 strands sport = one strand worsted.
2 strands worsted = one strand super bulky.
Second, think about the fiber content and construction of the original yarn.
Although
you may your project turns out perfect if you substitute a polyester
chenille for
a 4-ply cotton, these two fibers/yarns produce a knitted garment with
entirely different
looks and feel. The way the knitted fabric will drape is another
consideration in
terms of fiber. You should also be aware of the look of the yarn. A complex
cable
pattern will look entirely different in a textured yarn that it will in a
smooth
yarn that provides good stitch definition.
Third, make sure you purchase sufficient yarn from the same dye lot to
complete your
project. The pattern may call for 8 balls of X yarn but this does not mean
the equivalent
amount is the same for Y yarn which you are going to substitute. Do not
substitute
by buying the same number of balls or by the total number of ounces or
grams.
You must substitute by making sure you have bought the equivalent number of
yards
or meters (plus extra to be safe). Even in closely equivalent yarn, there
are differences
in the number of yards per skein; if the fiber content is different, you
will likely
find a big difference in yardage because some fibers are heavier than others
(cotton
is heavier than wool and will have fewer yards, all things being equal).
Determine how many yards per skein the original yarn contained. Let's say it
had
100 yards per skein and you needed 8 skeins. That is a total of 800 yards.
The yarn
you selected as a substitute has 85 yards per skein. Divide 800 by 85 and
you'll
find you need 9.4 balls of the new yarn. Round this up to 10; do not round
down.
It's always a good idea to purchase one extra skein in addition to the
number you've
come up with.
If you are substituting by double stranding, you must double the yardage you
will
need to purchase.
By considering all of these different factors, you will be able to make good
buying
decisions when substituting yarns, so good luck and happy knitting!
Authored by Barbara Breiter
Barbara Breiter is the author of THE COMPLETE IDIOT'S GUIDE TO KNITTING &
CROCHETING.
Find her online at http://www.knittingonthenet.com/