Yarn substitution help

[nittany168]

I just got my copy of Interweave Crochet:yay I really want to try the Lacy Leaf Cocoon. It calls for Cascade Yarns Pima. What would be a good substitution for that?? I looked on their website and cant really tell what weight it is.

 

I probably either cant afford cascade pima, can't find it, or don't want to wait for it to be shipped. So, its off to Michael's (they didn't have a coupon in this weeks paper either:thair ) I must of been a crochet addict with an unlimited budget in another life:D

Thanks

[Beaglelady]

I looked at Cascase Yarns site as well. You could contact them and ask what "weight" catagory it falls in. Almost looks like either Sport or worsted to me.

[nightowl]

I just got my copy of Interweave Crochet:yay I really want to try the Lacy Leaf Cocoon. It calls for Cascade Yarns Pima. What would be a good substitution for that?? I looked on their website and cant really tell what weight it is.

 

Hi Kathy

 

With a name like Cocoon, I'm presuming it's the Pima Silk your pattern calls for? (There's a Pima Tencel as well.) The Cascade website says it knits at 4.5 sts to 1in and comes in 50g skeins of 109 yards.

 

Have a look at the Craft Yarn Council of America's Standard Yarn Weight System here and you'll see that the Pima, knitting at 4.5 sts/1in or 18 sts/4in, falls slap bang in the middle of the worsted or 4-Medium range.

 

You can check by looking in the Yarndex database, which confirms that Pima Silk is a worsted weight yarn knitting at 18 sts/4in. If you want you can "browse by gauge" at Yarndex and get it to show you possible substitutes. The only drawback is that these too will tend to be from the pricier end of the market, the sort of yarns that are carried by a specialist yarn store rather than the chains. If you want a budget alternative, you'll have to look around for yourself for a yarn that works to that gauge and has the "silky" feel you need.

 

Remember, though, that it's the yardage or length of yarn in the skein that's important when you're substituting. Work out the number of yards of Pima used in your pattern -- for example, if it calls for 10 skeins, we know each one is 109 yards, so you need 1,090 yards. Make sure to get this much and a little extra for luck of the substitute yarn.

 

It sounds really pretty. Good luck!

[nittany168]

Thanks for the help, I really appreciate it. I e-mailed them, and saved chart, I'll use that alot. If I only bought a little yarn, I could get the pricier stuff, but we all know you never have enough yarn.