New yarn substitution website! (And a request for help...)

23/7/2014

Our brand-new yarn substitution website - Yarnsub.com - is up and running! Type in the name of a yarn and you'll be presented with a list of substitution options, each one matched by gauge, texture, fiber content and fiber characteristics. You can also look for a kind of yarn - "cotton worsted", for example - and see a list of possibilities.

When looking for a substitution myself I had assumed there would already be a website to help. I found lots of articles on the art of yarn substitution, but I couldn't find anywhere that I could just enter a yarn name and receive accurate suggestions for a replacement.

I thought something like that might be useful.

Luckily for me, my husband is a bit amazing at writing software and he liked the idea too. While he was working on the tech side, I got to work on some yarn research. (It was a tough job, but someone had to do it!) I researched different fibers, swatched, experimented with gauge and tried out all manner of exotic and not-so exotic yarns. I looked at textures, drape, warmth, elasticity, absorbency, durability, luster and softness. And then we condensed the knowledge into a form that could be processed by the software to find accurate substitutes.

Eventually, we are aiming to provide "buy it now" links to retailers from yarn pages. This will help us cover our costs and allow us to keep Yarnsub available and up-to-date far into the future.

But for now, I'd simply like to start getting the word out. Currently the website doesn't come up high in Google searches. To change that I need more sites to link to it. Would you be able to mention Yarnsub.com on your website, blog or on Facebook or Twitter? I would be extremely grateful! Do you have any other suggestions about how to get the word out? I'm not in any way a marketing expert, so any ideas you have would be very helpful.

I'd also like to improve the usefulness of the website, so if you have any suggestions or if you have any problems, please let me know. Already I've had the suggestion that more images would be helpful - those are being added as fast as I can get copyright permission from yarn manufacturers.

I'd love to hear if you like the site and if you find it useful, but I'd also really appreciate any criticism or feedback about it. Are the notes on a particular substitution clear and do they give you confidence? Are there any matches you don't agree with? Have I missed an important brand? Please don't hold back! The sooner I know about issues, the better.
Email me: hello@muddysheep.com

Thank you!
Wendy

51 Comments

HelenJones

24/7/2014 03:17:24 am

Amazing just what i have been looking for . Thankyou

awendy link

24/7/2014 04:10:09 am

Thanks Helen, I hope it can become a really useful site! Thanks for taking the time to comment.
Wendy

Bee

17/8/2014 03:30:11 pm

Great site, just discovered today

Judy

26/2/2015 10:32:22 am

Thank You sooo much for creating this site. Have used it several times and hope that it will be very long-lived. Your information is also great for actual yarn specs- especially finding that info quickly. Please continue! Sincerely, Judy

Wendy link

27/2/2015 05:11:41 am

Hi Judy, thanks for your comment - it's so nice to hear when real-life knitters and crocheters like the site, and fingers crossed for a long and happy life for YarnSub!!

Izzy Johanson

9/7/2015 06:47:04 pm

Can you tell me the current yarn which could be substituted for krysta by Abernathy. I have a pattern from1974 booklet 210. The barns name was bernat. Thank you

10/7/2015 07:54:11 am

Hi Izzy,

I think this is the Krysta that you mean? http://www.ravelry.com/yarns/library/bernat-krysta

I've added that yarn into YarnSub: http://yarnsub.com/yarns/bernat/krysta

There aren't a lot of acrylic yarns which are single ply though, so lots of the yarns that are coming up as possibilities have multiple plies instead. You could still use them, but if you're looking specifically for a single ply, you could try this search link:

http://yarnsub.com/search?q=single+ply+not+wrapped+14sts+acrylic+active

- which is a list of yarns which contain some acrylic, are single ply, 14 sts/10cm and are active (ie not discontinued). I hope you manage to find something!
Wendy

Armide Van den Bril

16/7/2015 03:30:33 pm

I, it so hapend I just discoverd your site,I have a problem,I want to knit a topfrom the creative knitting mag.Mag 2012 pg 29 called Pamono,in size L,knitted in (3)light109yds per ball,19¼x29¼,but I have received as a gift 10 balls of cotton(1)at 218yds given me 28x28on4'' will I have enough or shall I need more?
,Thank you in advance Armide

16/7/2015 03:42:50 pm

Hi Armide, What's the name of the cotton yarn that you've been given?

MaryJane Melton

10/10/2015 03:10:40 pm

What I'm looking for is a way to know if the name brands yarns suggested in some patterns are knitting worsted weights, sports yarns, baby yarns, crochet yarns, etc.-not necessarily other name brand yarns. I know this has something to do with The Bottom Line, but the patterns in older books I have just say which yarn weight to use instead of which name brand.

Wendy

12/10/2015 02:45:23 pm

Hi MaryJane, I'm not sure that I'm understanding you correctly, but do you mean that your pattern says you need (for example) a sport weight yarn and you don't know which yarns are available as sport weight?

If so, you can do a direct search on YarnSub for, say, sport weight wool (http://yarnsub.com/search?q=sport+weight+wool) or sport weight acrylic (http://yarnsub.com/search?q=sport+weight+acrylic).

If I've not understood you properly, then let me know, I'd like to help if I can!

Wendy

Kikukat link

23/2/2016 09:15:30 pm

I love your website and use YarnSub all the time. I will provide a link to it on my blog soon.

24/2/2016 11:34:54 am

Thank you so much!

Your Feels Like Fall apple cake has gone on my must-make list!

Gill

28/4/2016 03:22:11 pm

Hi, I'm looking for a substitute wool for Phildar nebuleuse, as it is so expensive! It seems to be somewhere between a chunky ( bulky) and super cunky.
Tension 12st 24 rows = 10cm using 6mm needles. Any ideas?

30/4/2016 07:46:26 pm

Hi, Phildar have the unfortunate habit of using the same name for completely different yarns! Is this the yarn that you want a substitute for?
http://www.ravelry.com/yarns/library/phildar-nebuleuse-nouveau
Let me know and I'll add it to YarnSub for you.

30/4/2016 08:12:07 pm

Hi,
it doesn't mention the word 'nouveau'...just Phildar - Nebuleuse 50g....if it means anything, the colour is Orage (0004) also available in Blush (0003), Biche ( 0005), Tomette (0001) and Celadon (0006).
I suppose the tension is the biggest clue though?
12st and 24 rows to 10cm using 6mm needles
Thank you for your help with this, I'm totally flummoxed!

1/5/2016 07:35:51 pm

The 'nouveau' is just someone on Ravelry trying to distinguish this yarn from the other Phildar Nebuleuse yarns I think! I'm pretty sure this must be the right one, since it has the same colour names that you mention, though the row gauge and needle size are different :
http://www.phildar.fr/fil-nebuleuse.r.html#skuId:87590~/fils-laine-fantaisie.r.html,type:SKU,img_lp:/*~defaultOrder:desc#skuId:38462

I've added the yarn to YarnSub, though the yarn construction is unusual, so it's difficult to know what to match it to!
http://yarnsub.com/yarns/phildar/nebuleuse

This search link might help if there's not much on the first link.
http://yarnsub.com/search?q=12sts+single+ply+acrylic+wool+not+discontinued+not+wrapped

I hope you find something!

CathyNoyb

15/6/2016 07:52:02 pm

I used YARNSUB.com to see if it would help me, but I'm not looking for a direct substitution; I want to find out how to replace one weight of yarn for another. My intended pattern calls for a 6-weight (chunky) yarn, but for color purposes, I want to use a 4-weight (worsted) yarn. Can I just use two strands of the worsted and achieve the same results? I intend to try it by making a swatch, but I'm wondering if you think I'll succeed. Thanks for helping.

15/6/2016 09:44:14 pm

I forgot to add: I intend to try it by making a swatch, but I'm wondering if you think I'll succeed, or if you have any other suggestions.

16/6/2016 10:44:54 am

Hi Cathy,
I've not looked into this myself, though it's something I have in mind for a future YarnSub 'how to' article. However, there is information out there. Looks like you'll need that swatch though!

This is from http://www.lionbrand.com/learn/faq

"Can I combine two strands of one weight to equal a larger weight?
Yes, you may use two strands of a finer weight yarn held together to approximate the gauge of a thicker yarn. The following are approximate equivalents; however, as with all substitutions, you should check to make sure you're obtaining gauge.

2 strands fingering = one strand sportweight
2 strands sport = one strand worsted weight
2 strands worsted = one strand chunky to super bulky weight*
*2 strands of a lighter worsted yarn (e.g. Wool-Ease or Fishermen's Wool) held together may approximate the thickness of a chunky yarn, while 2 strands of a heavier worsted weight yarn (e.g. Vanna's Choice) held together may approximate the thickness of a super bulky yarn. Because of this range, again, we recommend that you should make a gauge swatch to test."

Good luck, hope it works out.
Wendy

16/6/2016 03:56:34 pm

Thank you so much, Wendy! I made my swatch, several times in fact, and decided that I needed to change my hook size to get the stitch- and row-counts right. I am VERY happy to say that it WILL work, so the requested colors will be used. Thanks again.

Doreen Aust

9/10/2016 12:55:45 am

what would be a substitute for phildar phil coton 3?

7/11/2016 09:51:02 am

Hi Doreen,

So sorry I missed your question - the YarnSub page for Phil Coton 3 is here:

http://yarnsub.com/yarns/phildar/phil_coton_3

Hope you find something!
Wendy

Dianne

6/11/2016 03:41:55 am

I love this concept. It is very easy to use. Lots of substitutes were found for what I was looking for with great info on any differences. My only problem is that the ones that came up are brands that are just as foreign to me as the one I searched for. I don't make purchases online - I have to feel the yarn. Bit at least I have a little better idea of what I am looking for even if not a name brand! Thank you for the helpful tool.

7/11/2016 09:54:40 am

Hi Dianne,

I know what you mean, there are a crazy number of brands out there! It's especially difficult if you don't tend to buy yarn online. I like to buy from my local yarn shop as much as possible myself, but sometimes they just don't sell the right yarn!

I'm glad you found YarnSub useful anyway.

Jill

28/11/2016 07:15:02 am

I like yarnsub.com and often refer others to it; however, rarely does it help me in one area...subbing cheaper yarn for cascade. Also, it shows yarn with same fibers. Cascade has merino wool in it but I don't buy yarns with that due to cost. I want to know the less expensive yarns and the more attainable yarns like redheart or Vanna's choice or caron ...that can be a closer sub.

28/11/2016 07:43:59 pm

Hi Jill,
The aim of YarnSub is to find the closest match as possible to the selected yarn - so that does leave a problem if you're trying to find a yarn in a different fiber, as you say.

You can use a search on YarnSub to help though. You don't say which Cascade yarn you're looking to find a substitute for, but taking as an example the Cascade 220 Superwash Merino... if you search for "20 sts plied superwash wool not merino", then you get the following list:

http://yarnsub.com/search?q=20+stitches+plied+superwash+wool+not+merino

Some of those are still quite expensive, so you can include $-$$ in your search to only show less expensive yarns:

http://yarnsub.com/search?q=20+stitches+plied+superwash+wool+not+merino+%24-%24%24

Finally if you only want to find yarns with synthetics, you could search for "20 sts plied synthetic not discontinued"

http://yarnsub.com/search?q=20+sts+plied+synthetic+not+discontinued

It's a bit more work! Hope that helps for now. We might provide other search options in future to make this easier, but for now all the information is there, but you have to search for it.

All the best,
Wendy

28/11/2016 07:45:38 pm

Sorry Jill, I was hoping that the links would be clickable, but it doesn't look like they are. If you cut and paste them into your browser then they should still work!
Wendy

r owe

17/3/2017 06:31:37 pm

I found a pattern using AMERICAN THREAD COMPANY
"STAR" BLEND YARN, Article 75 and have no idea what this is because it's not sold anymore. Do you know

19/3/2017 07:54:48 pm

Hi,
I've tried searching for this yarn, but all I can find is other people also searching for it! I can't find enough information about the yarn to know what to recommend as a replacement - sorry.

Wendy

3/8/2018 12:02:01 am

Thank you so much for trying. And sorry about the late thank you. I didn't see this until now.I guess I must have given up on whatever it was I was going to make with the yarn I had the question about

Janet

16/4/2017 09:59:50 am

I've been referring to this site a lot over recent times and think that's it's a really valuable aid. Even if the direct sub does not appeal, it can set you off on a tangent that leads to something that works well. It's reliable about yarn content as well - great for those of us who can't wear wool, even finest merino and cashmere

20/4/2017 12:01:14 pm

Thanks Janet :-)

Sandy

18/5/2017 03:00:19 pm

It's a wonderful idea you've come up with. I discovered your site about 4-6 ago. I have every confidence in your ability to succeed in this endeavor. It's so brilliant it's just got to work and it will.

Michelle Forbes

29/5/2017 11:53:41 am

BRILLIANT. Has already become my go to source. Thank you so much for this great website.

12/6/2017 09:56:29 am

So glad you like it!

Alma

10/6/2017 01:34:37 pm

Thous is a great website , just what every knitter needs. And I note the inputs and comments from site users. This will help improve it.
I am amazed at the huge number of yarn producers and yarn types available. You have really done a thorough job.

12/6/2017 09:58:16 am

I was amazed myself at the number of manufacturers when I set up YarnSub. It made me realise that was part of the problem with substituting yarns - just not knowing what's available!

Fay link

20/7/2017 09:03:04 pm

Pattern says 119 stitches for Dk but have 4ply wool ....so how stitches would I need to convert using 4 ply.

Dawn

10/8/2017 03:37:28 pm

Does anyone know what I can use instead of Elle Velluto (also known as Fiesta (Saprotex) Velluto? I used this some years ago for patterns in a book called 'Beautiful Bears' but cannot find the yarn anywhere nor anything that looks remotely like it. I'd really be grateful for some help. Thanks.

Lou Ann Beck link

14/9/2017 01:33:22 am

Old pattern- calls for Patons Berber Cotton yarn - I understand it is discontinued. Have no idea of weight, yardage ,etc.

Mary link

7/11/2017 08:27:17 am

Hello, the Yarn Sub website cannot be located - I am hoping that this can be rectified?! Many thanks!

7/11/2017 10:09:20 am

Hi Mary,

The website is up and running... https://yarnsub.com

Let me know if you're still having troubles!

Wendy

patricia Valentino

29/3/2018 08:47:51 pm

Can you recommend a substitute yarn for Jaeger wool/silk 4ply 20g balls =100mts gauge 30sts and 34rows =10cm over patt on 3mm needles.many thanks Pat.

Phildar tamarinda 50g ball

8/7/2018 06:31:33 pm

Can you please recommend a substitute yarn using 2.75mm needles
Many thanks.

Judy phillips

31/7/2018 06:46:53 pm

Can you please recommend a substitute yarn using 2.75mm needles.of Phildar tamarinda. I need 1 50gram ball in apricot colour or contrast for shoulder straps. Thank you

Wendy Peterson

31/7/2018 08:11:19 pm

Hi Judy,

I can find any record of a yarn called Tamarinda by Phildar. Could you give me some more information?

2/8/2018 10:55:50 am

Hi Wendy
I need 1x50g ball of 3Suisse Phildar Tamarinda yarn or substitute using 2.75mm needles to complete an article in apricot colour or contrast for shoulder straps. Can you help please? Thank you.

2/8/2018 10:09:21 pm

I can't find any information about the yarn - I need a picture, yardage, gauge, ball weight and fiber content before I can help. I can't find any of this information online unfortunately - do you by chance have a ballband and a picture of the yarn?

Julie

19/9/2018 10:07:24 am

I've been using yarnsub for a while now but I have some difficulty when I try to find a substitute, what i like to call "designer yarn" for a cheaper or more common yarn (like rhss or caron or lion brand, etc) but it doesn't give me that option. For example, I'm trying to find a substitute for malabrigo sock and madelinetosh twist light, but I get yarn brands that I haven't heard of and I cant go out to try to find it to see if I like the feeling of it (I have a texture thing). How will I know if the yarn I have will work without a gage swatch (never done one before)?

25/9/2018 03:26:05 pm

Hi Julie,

With luck, one day we will include the option to filter the results based on price (and also on specific fiber content etc) but that's not available at the moment - Mr YarnSub is focussing on other projects for now unfortunately.

You can do a manual search which includes price though. Say for the Malabrigo Sock, you might want to look for a yarn that's plied, with a gauge of 32 sts per 10cm and in the lowest price bracket (on YarnSub, yarns are categorised from $ to $$$$$).

Here's a link to that search on YarnSub: https://yarnsub.com/search?q=plied+32sts+%24

As for trying yarn out - it is hard if you don't have access to a local yarn store. Some online yarn stores offer free returns though, so unopened yarn can go back free of charge. You'd have to pay the initial shipping cost though, unless you order enough to earn free shipping. LoveKnitting are one example of an online store that does free returns.

I personally love swatching new-to-me yarn and I find washing and blocking it an exciting part of the process - though I do know not everyone thinks the same way!

If you want to give it a go, here's an article about how to do it: https://yarnsub.com/articles/how-to-swatch

New yarn substitution website! (And a request for help...)

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