Yarn Substitutions: Using a Yarn Weight Chart Part Two

If you are a beginner, we recommend choosing a project that tells you what yarn and/or weight they recommend. But sometimes the suggested yarn for a project is no longer available, or difficult to find. You can use your knowledge of yarn weights to help you find a substitution.

Start by referring to the yarn weight chart and get to know the yarn you are considering using. Work the WPI yourself and see how it compares to the number of your yarn category. If you are exact or very close, this gives you a great starting point to swatch.

Start with the pattern’s recommended needle or hook size and swatch in its suggested stitch pattern.

Once you have a blocked swatch, measure it across in both directions based on the pattern’s directions.

Do you have the same number of stitches across the specified measurement that the pattern calls for? If you have more stitches, that indicates that you knit or crochet tighter than the recommended pattern gauge. Try the next larger size of needle or hook and swatch again. If you have fewer stitches, go down a needle or hook size.

Swatching is still work, but using the yarn weight chart will save you from wasting time arbitrarily swatching.

In some cases, you may only be able to achieve stitch OR row gauge but not both. Again, everyone is different and no one will ever work at the exact same tension. When this happens, refer to the stitch gauge and remember as you work through your pattern to measure the length as you go. You may need to omit or add rows accordingly to achieve overall gauge.

One thing we haven’t even mentioned yet is the different types of fiber, for example, wool and cotton. Two of the same weight skeins in these two different fibers could have all of the same information but still work up very differently due to their differing characteristics. Swatching would be the only way to find this out.

And always remember, the more you swatch, the more you will understand your unique relationship with your yarn and always be able to get the most enjoyable and successful use of it!

Learn more about the elements of a yarn chart in Part One of our gosadi Yarn Guide.

our crochet yarn weight chart



our knitting yarn weight chart

Remember to share this post with your community when they need help with yarn substitutions for your patterns.