Substituting Yarn in Crochet and Knit Patterns

There are so many types and colors of yarn available for the fiber artist to choose from. There will probably come a time when you wish to change the yarn that is called for in a crochet or knitting pattern. Here are some tips to help you choose which yarn to use.

The first thing you need to do is figure out what type of yarn the pattern is calling for. Is it bulky? Or sport weight? Is it acrylic or wool? Or maybe a blend of several types of fiber. If you are making a sweater or some type of garment that requires a certain fit, you will want to keep as close to the type of yarn that the pattern calls for as you can.

On many balls of yarn, there will be a symbol that will tell you the weight of the yarn. It will look like a skein of yarn and have a number in the middle of the symbol. There will be a small variation between brand and types of yarn within the same group. But, generally, you can rely on this to help you stay within a certain weight of yarn. This will help you stay with the same gauge and your item should be very close to the same size as was the intention of the pattern author.

Next, look at the fiber content. You may want to use a different type of yarn, or you can try and find something similar to the original yarn in the pattern. Each ball of yarn will have the contents listed on the label. Be sure to also check the washing instructions.

If you are making an item in which the gauge does not matter to you, go ahead and choose whatever yarn catches your fancy. On the label will be a recommendation for the size of needle needed for either crochet or knitting. You are not required to use that size needle, but it is a good starting place.

Using a different type and size of yarn can give an entirely different look to the item you are crafting. Depending on which way you choose to go, the item can be either larger or smaller. If you use a bulkier yarn, the item will turn out larger than the original pattern. The reverse will be true for smaller yarn. However, this gives the fiber artist an abundance of freedom when producing items.

No matter what you are making, you can make it unique by changing the type of yarn that is used for your crochet or knitting project. The final product will be something similar to the pattern, but it will be your own creation, as well. And, if you desire to produce an item that is exactly like the pattern, you can still choose a different yarn, as long as you make an informed choice. Hopefully, these tips will help you on your way to producing an end product you can be satisfied with and proud of.