How to change yarns or yarn amounts

Tags: alternative yarn,

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 (145)

Anne Molberg 15.07.2021 - 07:09:

Jeg har endel Safran garn og hadde tenkt å strikke et babyteppe. Nå vil jeg heller hekle et. Bruker man mer garn til hekling enn til strikking?

Aud Sissel 11.07.2021 - 09:19:

Skal strikke en genser i drops air. Må ha en mønsterfarge i ett annet garn pga at jeg finner ikke fargen i air. Hvilket annet garn kan jeg bruke sammen med air

DROPS Design 13.07.2021 - 12:17:

Hej. Du kan använda ett annat garn med samma stickfasthet, dvs ett garn i Garngrupp C (som t.ex. Nepal). Mvh DROPS Design

Karin 10.07.2021 - 10:48:

Tenkte bytte ut drops Paris med drops extra fine Merino superwash på pleddet Catch the Rainbow. Hvor mye tilsvarer et nøste Paris?

DROPS Design 14.07.2021 - 11:22:

Hej Karin, prøv vores garnkalkulator som du finde inde på hver opskrift: Finn garnalternativer Vælg DROPS Paris, vælg antal gram i Paris, vælg 1 tråd og se hvilke alternativer du får op fra samme garngruppe (DROPS Merino Extra Fine tilhører ikke samme garngruppe, men det gør DROPS Big Merino)

Nina Eidsten 30.06.2021 - 09:01:

Hei. Har funnet en cardigan m Love Mohair (african expressions) Hvilket garn kan jeg bytte ut det med - og få omtrent samme effekt? Pus? Påfugl? Andre?

DROPS Design 05.07.2021 - 08:08:

Hei Nina. Hverken Love Mohair, Pus eller Påfugl er et garn fra oss, så disse har jeg ikke kjennskap til. Om du ønsker å bytte til en av våre kvaliteter, kan du sjekke løpelengden, anbefalt strikkefasthete og det matcher en DROPS kvalitet, f.eks DROPS Melody, DROPS Brushed Alpaca Silk evnt DROPS Kid-Silk. Husk du kan også bruke 2 eller 3 tråder av 1 kvalitet for å oppnå et tykkere garn. mvh DROPS design

Hanne Aagaard Kjær 29.06.2021 - 15:35:

Hvis jeg har garn i Dropps Alaska og kid silk for Dropps som jeg godt vil lave en sweather af hvad garn tyve skal jeg så kigge efter i opskrift på forhånd tak

Claudia E P Silva 29.06.2021 - 03:15:

Existe alguma referência com as lãs brasileiras?

Birgit 28.06.2021 - 12:32:

Har Drops et garn som kan erstatte Tibet Yak merino

DROPS Design 29.06.2021 - 13:35:

Hej Birgit. Jag känner dessvärre inte till det garnet, men se på stickfastheten och om vi har ett garn med samma stickfasthet så kan du använda det istället. Mvh DROPS Design

Sherry 22.06.2021 - 15:47:

I'm looking to use yarn bee dazzling { 3.5 oz,100 g, 249 yards, 228 meters} is this ok to use for either pattern and how much do I need?

DROPS Design 23.06.2021 - 08:31:

Dear Sherry, we do not know this yarn so that we cannot help and can only recomand you to contact the store where you bought your yarn for any further help & assistance. Thank you for your comprehension.

Paula 20.06.2021 - 21:52:

What yarn would Hobbi Twirls cotton cake be? A or B yarn group?

DROPS Design 22.06.2021 - 08:22:

Dear Paula, we do not know this yarn sorry, it might be a good idea to contact your yarn store, they should be able to help you. Happy knitting!

Karin Post Rasmussen 18.06.2021 - 09:22:

Hej - kun godt bruge hjælp til at fine noget garn der er knap så fint end det der står i min opskrift som er Bella by permin strikkefasthed 10 m x 15 p i glat på p nr 10 i 2 trd Bella= 10x10 cm håber det er nok info fra opskriften til at i kan hjælpe mig. Mvh Karin pr

DROPS Design 21.06.2021 - 07:10:

Hei Karin. Vi har ingen garn som macher dette garnet 100%. Det nærmeste er DROPS Melody (71% Alpakka, 25% Ull, 4% Polyamid). Der har vi en veiledene strikkefasthet på pinne 8, 12 masker i bredden x 14 pinner i høyden = 10 x 10 cm og løpelengden på 50 gram = 140 meter. Anbefaler å strikke en prøvelapp for å se om du greier å få den strikkefastheten som er oppgitt i den oppskriften du skal strikke. mvh DROPS design

Sherry Zimmerman 16.06.2021 - 18:08:

I'm going to make two projects(The Kamelia Drops bolero with lace (knitted) and the Trondheim Drops knitted jacket in lace ) and I was wondering how much yarn I would need for both projects?

DROPS Design 17.06.2021 - 08:39:

Dear Mrs Zimmerman, you will find the amount of yarn in each size for each pattern, ex. DROPS Safran for Kamelia or DROPS Snow forTrondheim - in each pattern you will find a link to our yarn converter if you rather use an alternative. Your DROPS store will help you choosing the best matching yarn, even per mail or telephone. Happy knitting!

MaryJo 11.06.2021 - 20:04:

What weight would an A+C be? I’m looking to use one strand. Thank you.

DROPS Design 14.06.2021 - 09:13:

Dear MaryJo, a yarn group A + a yarn group C would give a yarn group D thickness - find some examples here. Happy knitting!

Anne Ingvartsen 09.06.2021 - 12:20:

Jeg vil gerne hækle denne trøje i Teddy go handmade garn. Kan man det? Og hvordan omregner jeg det så? Kan man evt få hjælp til omregningen, for er ikke så god til sådan noget, da jeg er rimelig nyopstartet hækler.

DROPS Design 14.06.2021 - 07:08:

Hei Anne. Garnet Teddy go handmade er ikke et garn fra oss og det kjenner jeg ikke til. Sjekk garnets informasjon opp mot det garnet som står på den genseren du ønkser å hekle, løpelengde og strikke/heklefasthet, evnt kontakte de som selger dette garnet. mvh DROPS design

Tarja Mielikäinen 05.06.2021 - 16:04:

Voinko käyttää Nepal lankaa tässä puserossa. (Yksinkertainen Nepal lanka) Kuinka paljon on langanmenekki s-kokoiseen puseroon?

Sandra 15.05.2021 - 21:59:

Ciao, vorrei fare il modello Drops 208-15. Viene proposto con il filato B merino extra fine, io vorrei usare Alpaca. Posso farlo? Grazie!

DROPS Design 16.05.2021 - 20:58:

Buonasera Sandra, il filato Alpaca appartiene al gruppo filati A, che è più sottile del filato utilizzato per il modello. Deve utilizzare un filato che le permette di ottenere il campione indicato. Buon lavoro!

Sandra 15.05.2021 - 21:57:

Vorrei fare il modello n, me-194 ma usando Alpaca , è possibile? Grazie

DROPS Design 16.05.2021 - 20:59:

Rosa María Verdasco Ruiz 15.05.2021 - 21:01:

Me gustaría sustituir la lana drops por: Valeria 100 Grs. Lana Merino Extra , 240m =100Grs. Ya que tengo cuatro ovillos sobrantes. Por favor, pueden ayudarme a crear esta labor? El patrón me encanta. Desde que conozco las lanas Drops son mis preferidas, pero conservo estos ovillos que estan bastante bien y quisiera aprovecharlos en talla cuatro años.

DROPS Design 30.05.2021 - 20:20:

Hola Rosa María, esta es una leccion, no incluye ningún patrón. ¿Podrías especificarnos a qué patrón te refieres? Los ovillos de Drops están calculados a base de 50gr, es decir, sería equivalente a un ovillo de DROPS de 120m (del grupo B). Por lo que podrías sustituirlo por uno de ese grupo.

Hanne Bendix 15.05.2021 - 12:05:

Hvordan omregner man fra Paris strikkefasthed 17m =10 cm til Muscat 24m=10 cm? Model Becca

Kirsi Kangas 07.05.2021 - 17:03:

Hi! Can i use Novita cotton soft as yarn on this model..??!

DROPS Design 10.05.2021 - 11:39:

Dear Mrs Kangas, sorry we do not know this yarn - you will find all informations about our yarns there this might help you - for any further assistance, please contact the store where you bought the yarn. Happy knitting!

Kirsi Kangas 07.05.2021 - 16:57:

Hei! Voinko käyttää lankana tähän malliin novita cotton soft puuvillalankaa (50g, 4-kert.)??!