Knitters often want to know why yarn substitutions can produce unexpected results. Take a look at the list below. I pulled this from Ravelry and then I added the weight/length ratio. All the yarns are 100% Alpaca, listed as light fingering. The ratio range is from 2.68 to 19.34. If I toss out the outliers, assuming something is wrong with the information or I goofed and made a calculation error, I still get a range from 3.1 to 8.74. Out of 11 yarns, 4 fall between 4.0 and 4.3. Which yarns do you think are interchangeable?
Ratio calculation: yards or metres divided by grams e.g. 410 yards divided by 100 grams = 4.1
Ratio calculation: yards or metres divided by grams e.g. 410 yards divided by 100 grams = 4.1
by BC
Garn
Light
Fingering: 100% Alpaca
Ratio
5.47
by Golden
Eagle
Light
Fingering: 100% Alpaca
Ratio
4,04
by Holst
Garn
Light
Fingering: 100% Alpaca
Ratio
8.74
by BC
Garn
Light
Fingering: 100% Alpaca
Ratio 5.47
by
Pacific Meadows Alpacas
Light
Fingering: 100% Alpaca
Ratio
4.05
by
wollerey
Light
Fingering: 100% Alpaca
Ratio
19.34
by Little
Gidding Farm
Light
Fingering: 100% Alpaca
Ratio N/A
no weight listed
by The
Mulberry Dyer
Light
Fingering: 100% Alpaca
Ratio 3.1
by
Alpacas d'Auxvasse
Light
Fingering: 100% Alpaca
Ratio
2.68
by Flat
Rocks Yarn
Light
Fingering: 100% Alpaca
Ratio 4.3
This is really interesting, thank you. I had never thought to calculate the ratio, although of course it makes perfect sense. So, I assume that when choosing a substitute yarn, you should go for the closest possible ratio to the recommended yarn?
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely, it works really well when you stay with the same fibre composition.
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