How to change yarns or yarn amounts

Changing

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

1 strand of yarn for another:

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

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

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
Total yarn required: 6 balls x 170 metres = 1020 metres

Yarn-Y: 50 g = 150 metres

Number of metres of Yarn-X = 1020 metres
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
Total yarn required: 23 balls x 50 metres = 1150 metres

DROPS Air: 50 g = approx. 150 metres

Number of metres of DROPS Snow = 1150 metres
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,
Total yarn required: 6 balls x 167 metres = 1002 metres

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

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

Begin with the yarn with the shortest meterage = 1000 metres
Divide by the number of metres of DROPS Air:
1000 metres divided by 150 metres = 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 (502)

Marionet Simons-genugten wrote:

Hallo Ik zou het gehaakte patroon vest nr149-19 wat gemaakt is van Babyalpaca silk, graag met Merino 100 % fijne wol willen doen, mijn kleding maat is 38,Hoeveel heb ik van deze wol nodig ik kom er niet uit! Hartelijke dank alvast en ik hoor graag van u. Marionet Simons

10.09.2015 - 19:52:

DROPS Design answered:

Hoi Marionet. Je kan vervangen door DROPS Baby Merino ipv DROPS Merino Extra Fine, dan hoef je niet het patroon opnieuw te berekenen. Je gebruikt de formule zoals hier uitgelegd: 8 bollen Baby Alpaca Silk voor maat M (circa maat 38 - maar kijk op de maattekening onderaan het patroon om zeker te zijn): 8 x 167 m = 1336 m / 175 m = 7,6 of te wel ook 8 bollen DROPS Baby Merino. Vergeet niet om een proeflapje te breien om zeker van de stekenverhouding te zijn!

14.09.2015 - 14:01:

Millot Sophie wrote:

Bonjour, si je remplace un fil E par 2 fils C, quelle quantité de pelotes de fils C dois-je prendre ? Pour 1150 g de fil E, est-ce que je double la quantité de fils C, soit 2300 g puisque j'utilise ce fil en double? Merci pour votre réponse.

01.09.2015 - 23:14:

DROPS Design answered:

Bonjour Mme Millot, la méthode de calcul est sensiblement la même, si, par ex, il faut 1150 g Eskimo (groupe E) que vous voulez remplacer par 2 fils Nepal (groupe C), on procède ainsi: 1150 g Eskimo = 23 pelotes x 50m = 1150 m Eskimo / 75 m la pelote Nepal = 15.3 x 2 fils = 30,6 = 31 pelotes Nepal. Bon tricot!

04.09.2015 - 10:53: