DROPS Children 49 · Lots of new kid designs!

How to change yarns or yarn amounts

Changing

1 strand of yarn for another:

If the yarn gives the same knitting gauge it is easy to change from one to the other.

Follow the given knitting gauge in the pattern – remember needle size is only a guide; change to the needle size you need. For more info on knitting gauge, see here

Be aware: When changing yarns, the amount of yarn might also need adjusting, because the meterage of yarn in a ball (50 gram = X metres) varies from yarn to yarn - see the calculation below.



1 strand within a yarn group:

All our yarns are spun to standard thickness and can be used for the same pattern if you change within the one DROPS Yarn group. See our yarn groups here.

Different yarns have different structures.

Be aware: When changing yarns, the amount of yarn might also need adjusting, because the meterage of yarn in a ball (50 gram = X metres) varies from yarn to yarn - see the calculation below.



1 strand of yarn to 2 or more strands:

DROPS yarns are spun so the thickness of the strands fit each other.
By working with more than one strand from one Yarn Group, you can easily find patterns in other Yarn Groups (see yarn groups here) or see our suggestions (see recommended yarn combinations here).

Be aware: When changing yarns, the amount of yarn might also need adjusting because the meterage of yarn in a ball (50 gram = X metres) varies from yarn to yarn - see the calculation below.

Here is a list of yarns which can easily be exchanged between Yarn Groups:

Yarn Group A 2 strands = 1 strand Yarn Group C
Yarn Group A 3 strands = 1 strand Yarn Group D
Yarn Group A 4 strands = 1 strand Yarn Group E
Yarn Group A 8 strands = 1 strand Yarn Group F
Yarn Group B 2 strands = 1 strand Yarn Group D
Yarn Group C 2 strands = 1 strand Yarn Group E
Yarn Group C 4 strands = 1 strand Yarn Group F
Yarn Group E 2 strands = 1 strand Yarn Group F

In DROPS patterns this is written as: A + A = C


The amount of yarn is adjusted when changing:

1 strand for 1 strand.

When changing yarns, the amount of yarn might also need adjusting, because the meterage of yarn in a ball (50 gram = X metres) varies from yarn to yarn - see the calculation below:

In the pattern you need 300 g Yarn-X
We need the meterage to be able to calculate how much Yarn-Y you need:


Yarn-X: 50 g = 170 metres = 186 yards
Total yarn required: 6 balls x 170 metres = 1020 metres = 1115 yards

Yarn-Y: 50 g = 150 metres = 164


Number of metres of Yarn-X = 1020 metres = 1115 yards
divided by the number of metres Yarn-Y = 6.8 balls

Result:
7 balls = 350 g of Yarn-Y
replaces
6 balls = 300 g of Yarn-X.

Need help to do the sums? Try our calculator!

1 strand for 2 strands with the same meterage.

This is an example, to show you how you calculate the yarn needed when changing from 1 strand DROPS Snow (Yarn Group E) to 2 strands DROPS Air (Yarn Group C) - see calculation below:

The pattern states 1150 g DROPS Snow.
We need the meterage to be able to recalculate:


DROPS Snow: 50 g = 50 metres = 54 yards
Total yarn required: 23 balls x 50 metres = 1150 metres = 1 257 yards

DROPS Air: 50 g = approx. 150 metres = 164 yards


Number of metres of DROPS Snow = 1150 metres = 1 258 yards
divided by number of metres of DROPS Air = 7.67 balls

You are going to work with 2 strands instead of 1 strand, therefore the number of balls is x 2: 7.67 x 2 = 16 balls

Result:
1150 g DROPS Snow
is replaced by
800 g DROPS Air

Need help to do the sums ? Try our calculator!

2 strands of different meterage to 1 strand.

This is how to calculate the yarn needed when you wish to work with 1 strand in a pattern which uses 2 strands
Example: 1 strand DROPS BabyAlpaca Silk (from Yarn Group A) and 1 strand DROPS Kid-Silk (from Yarn Group A)
is changed to:
1 strand DROPS AIR (from Yarn Group C)

The pattern states:
300 g DROPS BabyAlpaca-Silk and 125 g DROPS Kid-Silk
(= 2 strands from Yarn Group A)

Re-calculate this to:
1 strand DROPS Air (Yarn Group C)
We need the meterage to be able to re-calculate:

DROPS BabyAlpaca-Silk: 50 g = 167 metres = 183 yards,
Total yarn required: 6 balls x 167 metres = 1002 metres = 1 096 yards

DROPS Kid-Silk: 25 g = 200 metres = 218 yards
Total yarn required: 5 balls x 200 metres = 1000 metres = 1 093 yards

Alternative new yarn:
DROPS AIR: 50 g = 150 metres = 164 yards


Begin with the yarn with the shortest meterage = 1000 metres = 1093 yards
Divide by the number of metres of DROPS Air:
1000 metres divided by 150 metres = 1093 yards divided by 164 yards = 6.7 balls; so 7 balls


Result:
300 g DROPS BabyAlpaca-Silk
125 g DROPS Kid-Silk
is replaced by:
350 g DROPS Air

Comments (590)

Country flag Anita Francois wrote:

Je voudrais realiser le modele 47/1 pour femme mais il manque les coloris 14 36 et 49 de la laine KARISMA que puis je faire comment les remplacer merci

28.03.2022 - 11:08

DROPS Design answered:

Bonjour Mme François, n'hésitez pas à contacter votre magasin DROPS qui pourra vous aider, même par mail ou téléphone à choisir les couleurs appropriées en fonction de vos envies. Bon tricot!

28.03.2022 - 16:16

Country flag Alexandra Hetzel wrote:

Kann man auch ein Garn aus Baumwolle benutzen?

18.03.2022 - 13:30

Country flag Wagon wrote:

Bonjour 50g=140m et il faut 9 pelotes ,je voudrais remplacer par 25g =140m ,combien de pelotes dois je prendre. Merci

06.03.2022 - 15:27

DROPS Design answered:

Bonjour Mme Wagon, regardez ci-dessous: 1 fil par 1 autre; ou bien utilisez notre convertisseur sous le modèle, ce sera plus simple. Bon tricot!

07.03.2022 - 10:12

Country flag Mathilde Guiot wrote:

J'aimerais faire un pull qui ai preconisé en Muskat puis-je le faire dans une laine plus fine genre Nord?

03.03.2022 - 10:49

DROPS Design answered:

Bonjour Mme Guiot, pas vraiment car vous n'aurez pas la même tension avec ces 2 laines, Muskat appartient au groupe de fils B alors que Nord est du groupe de fils A; vous devez ainsi rester dans une alternative du groupe B (utilisez le convertisseur), ou bien si vous souhaitez utiliser plutôt Nord, cherchez des modèles du groupe A ou du groupe C (où vous pourrez tricoter Nord en double). Bon tricot!

03.03.2022 - 10:51

Country flag Cécile Marchal wrote:

Bonjour, je suis à la recherche de laine DK double knikking moyen, est ce que vous avez cette laine ou une laine équivalente. Merci

27.02.2022 - 12:45

DROPS Design answered:

Bonjour Mme Marchal, tout à fait, ces laines correspondent au groupe B de nos fils, retrouvez-les ici. Bon tricot!

28.02.2022 - 11:12

Country flag Frances Nelson wrote:

The pattern "Boston Vest" Pattern no u-899, calls for DK weight yarn. Is it possible to calculate how much worsted weight yarn can be used for this pattern? is it even possible/recommended to change yarn weight in this pattern?

20.02.2022 - 04:01

DROPS Design answered:

Dear Mrs Nelson, you wouldn't have the same tension with a worsted yarn, so that you should use an alternative same yarn group such as Karisma or Soft Tweed = our yarn group B or find another pattern matching with yarn group C. Happy knitting!

21.02.2022 - 11:25

Country flag Isabelle LAGRUE wrote:

Bonjour, je me suis trompée dans ma précédente question, je voulais savoir combien de Kid Silk pour le modèle Nougat Dreams en taille M sachant qu'il faut 2 fils. 400 g ou 800 g ? merci pour votre réponse

18.02.2022 - 09:07

DROPS Design answered:

Bonjour Mme Lagrue, pour le pull Nougat Dreams, il faut 150 g DROPS Kid-Silk/25 g la pelote = 6 pelotes DROPS Kid-Silk en taille M. Bon tricot!

18.02.2022 - 16:46

Country flag Isabelle LAGRUE wrote:

Bonjour, Pour le modèle Nougat Dreams en taille M, faut-il 400 g de Muskat ou 2 x 400 g soit 800 g au total ? merci pour votre réponse.

18.02.2022 - 09:03

Country flag Monica Djerfi wrote:

Is it possible to knit pattern Heim in Kid Silk instead of Alpaca?

17.02.2022 - 17:36

DROPS Design answered:

Dear Mrs Djerfi, do you mean this jumper, you technically can since both yarns belong to same group, just remember that the colour pattern will look different if you work it with Kid-Silk. Feel free to request help from your DROPS store - even per mail or telephone to choose the best matching yarn. Happy knitting!

18.02.2022 - 08:29

Country flag D OHalloran wrote:

Can I substitute cascade superwash 220 for this pattern?

11.02.2022 - 21:24

DROPS Design answered:

Dear D OHalloran, you are asking a question in a lesson used for almost all patterns, so we can't help you substitute the yarn if we don't know the pattern you are referring to.

13.02.2022 - 18:01

Country flag Mana wrote:

Hi, Sorry if this is a weird question but how will I be able to use Flora (group A) for Lima (group B)? Will I use 1.5 of Flora?

08.02.2022 - 16:38

DROPS Design answered:

Dear Mana, Flora will not give you the same tension as Lima, you can try to work it with 2 strands, but the fabric might be tighter than desired with Lima. Make your own swatch to make sure you get the desired fabric, that's the best way to find out your alternatives. Your DROPS store can also help you even per mail or telephone. Happy knitting!

09.02.2022 - 09:16

Country flag Asuncion Etxeberria wrote:

Buenos días😊\r\nMi pregunta es: Si el patrón me pide 16 cm. De tensión y el hilo con el que quiero trabajar es de 21 cm. de tensión? Como hago el cálculo. \r\nMuchas gracias 🙏💕

05.02.2022 - 14:13

DROPS Design answered:

Hola Asunción, te refieres a 16 pts en 10 cm o 21 pts en 10 cm? Son diferentes grupos de lana, el que pide el patrón es de grupo C y el tuyo es de grupo B. Por lo tanto, no puedes sustituir uno por otro; necesitas ajustar los cálculos con una regla de 3 (si para tensión de 16 pts se trabajan p.e 120, para tensión de 21 pts necesitas X ).

13.02.2022 - 18:10

Country flag Paola wrote:

Posso sostituire Drops Paris con Drops Brushed Alpaca Silk? Per il modello Love Letter

05.02.2022 - 04:24

DROPS Design answered:

Buonasera Paola, questi 2 filati appartengono entrambi al gruppo filati C, per cui può usarli per gli stessi modelli: si ricordi di controllare che il campione corrisponda a quello indicato. Buon lavoro!

05.02.2022 - 21:11

Country flag Aafke wrote:

Hi! Ik vroeg me af tot welke garengroep een draad van garengroep A + een draad van garengroep B behoort. Alvast bedankt!

04.02.2022 - 18:14

DROPS Design answered:

Dag Aafke,

Twee draden van Garengroep A geeft een stekenverhouding van Garengroep C en 2 draden van Garengroep B geeft een stekenverhouding van Garengroep D. De combinatie van A + B zit daar dus ergens tussenin. Als je wat strakker breit of dunnere naalden neemt kom je op Garengroep C, als je wat losser breit of dikkere naalden neemt kom je op Garengroep D.

13.02.2022 - 10:38

Country flag Lynn Booth wrote:

Can I use Drops Snow in place if Drops Air?

04.02.2022 - 12:35

DROPS Design answered:

Dear Lynn, they belong to different Yarn groups. Working with Snow (D) is the same as working with 2 threads of Air (C). So unless the pattern is for working with two threads of Air, you can't work the pattern, because you won't be able to get the same gauge. Happy knitting!

05.02.2022 - 17:59

Country flag Thalia wrote:

Good day, there are so much beautiful patterns for toddlers to knit. We don't get Drops yarn here. I although have lots of DK yarn. Which Drops yarn is the same as DK?

03.02.2022 - 09:29

DROPS Design answered:

Dear Thalia, great news: there are DROPS stores shipping worldwide, you will find the whole list here - feel free to contact them for any information or assistance. Happy knitting!

04.02.2022 - 09:37

Country flag Gerie Blankesteijn wrote:

Ik wil graag Drops 170-40 haken. Quito mandje. Hoe kom ik aan dit patroon en kan ik het eventueel ook in vasten haken? Ik ben links, zijn de video's ook in het links te zien?

01.02.2022 - 18:37

DROPS Design answered:

Dag Gerie,

Het patroon staat hier en is gratis te downloaden vanaf de website via de printbutton onderaan de lijst met materialen. Het telpatroon is gebaseerd op stojes, als je met vasten wilt haken, moet je misschien 2 keer zoveel toeren haken.

03.02.2022 - 12:18

Country flag Sylvia Huguenin wrote:

Hallo, Ik wil graag het vest Autumn Elegance DROPS 134-43 breien, maar het garen Puddel is niet meer verkrijgbaar. Kunt u me zeggen wat het gewicht en de looplengte was van dit garen? Ik kan dan een alternatief zoeken en berekenen hoeveel ik er van nodig heb. Alvst bedankt. Groet, Sylvia

01.02.2022 - 12:36

DROPS Design answered:

Dag Sylvia,

Op de pagina niet meer leverbare garens kun je alle informatie vinden (klik op 'Zie meer' naast de afbeelding van het garen voor meer info over looplengte etc.

Overigens kun je ook de garenvervanger gebruiken, hiervan staat een link bij ieder patroon onder de lijst met materialen.

03.02.2022 - 12:21

Country flag Mia Wriedt wrote:

Jeg har fundet en opskrift på en poncho med snoning til garngruppe F. Men jeg kunne så godt tænke mig at strikke den i tyndere garn (altså uden at strikke med flere tråde), så ponchoen ikke bliver så tyk. Er det på nogen måde muligt? Eller er der kun at finde en anden poncho at gøre? Hilsen Mia

30.01.2022 - 21:59

DROPS Design answered:

Hei Mia. Det enkleste er å finne en oppskrift i den tykkelsen på garnet du ønsker. Evnt kan du ut fra strikkefastheten i den tykkelsen du ønsker å strikke med, regne ut hvor mange masker du må legge opp, lengde du må strikke osv. mvh DROPS Design

31.01.2022 - 09:59

Country flag Claire Spencer wrote:

Planning to do the 5/6 size in Emu classic DK and Yarnfair supreme acrylic DK. I'm I'm tight crocheter, will I need to adjust hook size - up or down (for a tall 5yr size)? Or guess I'll just have to make a tension square?

28.01.2022 - 01:29

DROPS Design answered:

Dear Mrs Spencer, to get the finished measurements as in the chart, you should have the same tension as in the pattern; you will find this tension at the beginning of the pattern, if you don't get correct tension, change to a smaller/bigger crochet hook size, that's the best way to get the correct finished measurements. Your yarn store will help you if you need more individual assistance. Happy crocheting!

28.01.2022 - 10:08

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