Knitr

Yarn substitution calculator

Looking for a substitute yarn for a pattern that isn't on Knitr? Tell us about the pattern's yarn and we'll find yarn with a similar gauge in Knitr's database. Add how much of the "pattern yarn" you need, too, and we'll work out how many balls of the substitute you need.

* required field

1 · pattern's data

Pattern gauge, per 10 cm (4 in) (required)

How the yarn is held

Ball band

Without it we can't compare thickness, so the substitutes may be less precise. If you want the amount worked out from grams or balls, we need it too.

fill in the field marked * above to continue

2 · how much the pattern needs

See substitutes first, then add this to see how many balls of each one you'd need.

Amount for your size, as the pattern states it

how the calculator works

Based on the pattern's gauge, we recommend yarns that will knit to the same size. If you give us more details, we can get closer to the original: the yarn the designer recommends, whether you'll hold it double, or the yarn itself if it's on Knitr. Then we match on its character and thickness too.

For patterns where two different yarns are held together, we recommend combinations used in patterns on Knitr that reach the same gauge.

We can calculate how much of the substitute you need if you enter the length (in metres) of any yarn used in the pattern and the amount needed for your size. This works for patterns worked in one solid colour throughout. We can't calculate amounts for multicolour items yet, but you can enter the amount for your size yourself.

a worked example

A pattern recommends 5 balls of DROPS Air, which has 150 m (164 yd) per 50 g. That means you need 750 m to finish the garment. If you pick CaMaRose Snefnug as a substitute (50 g / 110 m), Knitr calculates 750 m / 110 m = 6.8 balls. You can't buy 0.8 of a ball, so the calculator shows 7.

open this example in the calculator

questions

How do I know a yarn can replace the one in my pattern?
Compare gauge first: the substitute should knit to within 1 or 2 stitches per 10 cm of the pattern's yarn, and be of similar thickness in metres per 100 g. You may need different needle sizes to reach the same gauge, but it is alright.
How much yarn do I need if I use a different one?
The same length, not the same weight. Multiply the pattern's balls by its yarn's metres per ball, divide by the new yarn's metres per ball, and round up to a whole ball. Or Knitr can do it for you.
Why does the substitute need more balls?
Yarns that have the same gauge can hold very different lengths per ball. DROPS Air and DROPS Nepal both reach 17 stitches per 10 cm on 5 mm, but Air has 150 m per 50 g and Nepal 75 m, so Nepal takes twice the balls.
Does it work for yarn held double?
Yes. Set how the yarn is held to double and add the pattern's gauge. We list single yarns that reach that gauge on their own (= you would hold them single), and yarns like the original that you would hold double too, with the length worked out for each.
What if my pattern's yarn isn't on Knitr?
Enter the pattern's gauge and the yarn's ball band: metres and grams per ball. Without the ball band we can compare gauge but not thickness, so the list is looser.