Math for Knitters - Substituting Yarns 

SafePet Haven - when it comes down to it, I think the math is easy enough to grasp for most people, but it's the concept and gathering the necessary info to put together to be able to do the math. Sort of like trying to solve an equation vs solving a story problem. The practical use of arithmetic. Anyway, this video should help folks, based on the dozens of questions I get on the topic. :)

Thanks for clarifying that up. I am pretty much a self taught knitter. If we didn't have you tube and your videos, I don't think I would ever be able to do the things I have done. Thank you for all the time you put into your videos.

Thanks for "putting up" with those of us who may need a little extra help, Staci; what may seem obvious & basic to some isn't always so clear on the first pass to others & it's hard for me to believe that people exist in this world who don't understand that. Sigh. Your videos are always so well-produced & informative & I've always learned something new, like the term "put up"! I recommend them to everyone, new & experienced knitters alike. And now I can't wait for that sweater pattern!

I learned this information on my own through the years by reading the labels and doing the math. On occasion, while perusing the yarn aisle in Walmart or in yarn shops, I have passed this information to others that are learning to knit and crochet.

Well done, so clear and easy to understand as usual. I’d already worked out my yardage but I was subtracting ! I love Rowan yarn, expensive but the yardage is much longer than many others and I always get very good results? Thanks Staci you are a star 🌟

This has to be one of the best tip on yarn substituting that I have ever seen I realize it worked out even and that is not always the case but its the explanation that is perfect I can refer questions to you ....I have been knitting for many years and I am always asked this....Why is new knitters want to sub the yarn????

Thanks for all your good tips and the way you clearly explain everything!

Thank you for sharing your knowledge of knitting with us, I just stared learning and your teaching makes very easy to understand it ! Love your Channel ! 😊💗

Thank you for sharing, sweetheart :) Love your channel. ♡ Your guidance, dedication & lovely tutorials are a breath of air. Wishing you and yours a beautiful week. Xx

YASSS Knit Picks is the best! Also thanks for the video, you did an amazing job! Thanks!

Love your video help. Thanks for helping all of us knitters!

The problem I have is how to figure out how much yarn I need if I decide to use another weight is ie bulky instead of worsted or worsted instead of DK. How do you figure that out and how you decide on gauge when substituting? I realize I'm changing a lot but I'd really like to know how to do that.

Thanks for the information. I'm trying a pattern for the first time and this was very helpful!

As a secondary ed. math & science teacher since 1968, it breaks my heart that so many people still can't even do the equivalent of third grade arithmetic. This calculation involves nothing more than multiplication & division. It's fractions/ratio & proportions concepts. Sigh.

Have a nice day. All videos are fine easy toknit but one thing how to organize a twisted yarn for use to knit. I bought mostly round but this time I got twisted yarns. I have this doubt. So please give a solution for this. Thank you very much. So nice of you. 👌👌👌👍👍👍

Thank you! That is always a great tip! You're awesome!

Thanks for the great tip. I love your videos.

Hi - I've been knitting for probably 70 years, and there's not much I haven't done or figured out. But one thing escapes me, and I was a math major! :D i have all my yarn on a database with much information about each skein. But I have an annoying problem when I try to match "stitches per inch" when I'm trying to choose a substitute. Example: I'm about to make a pretty cowl/shoulder shawl that calls for a yarn that's 15 stitches to the standard 4-inch scale, on a #9 needle. If I have a 4 spi yarn I want to use, do I go up or down, as to a #8 or a #10? I know this is a quick and simple answer, but duh! I keep forgetting! I might write it in black marker on the wall of my craft room!!! :D Thank you!!

Great video - it would also be good to compare very different yarns though!

Brilliant advice, thank you!

First I want to thank you for your video, I'm a real fan of your work, but I really don't understand how it is possible that exists people in the world that don't know how to do that... It is basic math... OMG

But cascade 220 reads 9 wraps per inch, while wool of the Andes reads 12 wraps per inch. What do you do in that case?

This is really helpful. I have one question though. I am allergic to wool and I have found many patterns that call for wool and I would like to know how to substitute it. I typically use 100% acrylic yarn that is soft so I don’t have any reactions. Can you help me find a substitute yarn for wool?

Do you think Cascade 220 is a higher quality yarn than the Kint Picks yarn? Is cascade more tightly spun? Thanks!

I remember I had made a hat that was way too long and way too wide for my head. Therefore I wanted not only to shorten it but also make it more snug by decreasing the number of stitches I used but it got very confusing especially since I used different weighted yarn. Do you have any math videos that deal with adjusting patterns?

I have a friend who is allergic to wool, so how do I find a search for a yarn that is similar in weight so I dont have to change from a bulkier size to a sport size? I was hoping to stick with natural fibers instead of acrylic. But I am unfamiliar with knowing how heavy a type of fiber might be. Thanks Oh, and I am not so great at math, and being new to this, I was also unsure if the yardage division was the only thing that would make a difference and as it turns out, it really doesnt come down to just simple division/multiplication when you need to switch weight.

Great video!.

it is not the "yardage" I have the problem with because yardage is simple add/subtract and reading the label - where I run into problems is when the pattern is lets say sport weight and I want to use a different weight - all basic math again and I do get it figured out in the end but I was wishing for a shortcut so I didn't have a bunch of equations

how do i work what type class yarn is like 0,2,3 in new sytem from unmark wool or ply as in australia we are not getting labels marked with ply as we use get ply but we dont have either

So essentially I can substitute any yarn so long as the yardage/meterage is the same per 100g? What if I want to use a yarn made of a different fibre? How does this apply when I want to use two yarns held double?

yes, its was awesome. enjoyed hearing you laugh.

My question is this. I obtained beautiful yarn (in excellent condition) from an estate sale. It was made in Belgium, imported by Joseph Galler in New York. It is 100% Virgin Wool, and the net weight is 2 ounces. No where on the label does it say how many yards. Am I just stuck with beautiful yarn or is there a way to determine the yardage. I did put the skein on the kitchen scale and it weighed 57 grams.

I want to substitute a fingering weight yarn for a sport weight yarn in a classic cardigan pattern. I understand how to substitute yarns, as in this example, that are the same weight by comparing the yardages. But I don't know how to substitute weights, in this case I guess fingering weight is #1 and sport yarn is #2 weight. Is there a formula for doing this? Or do I just have to knit a 4" swatch and figure out the measurements? A customer service rep at the yarn store told me to simply use the instructions for a larger size sweater (I am small). Is it possible it could be so simple? And I have a similar question re: plys as the individual below. When I learned to knit 4 ply was worsted weight (4 weight). Now, it seems sometimes 4 ply (as in cashmere) can be very fine. What does ply compare to?

What if I want to substitute a fingering yarn for worsted that the pattern calls for? It’s a sweater. Can I do this? And with this formula?

Thanks very helpful

If a pattern calls for worsted weight yarn how can you change the pattern to Dk yarn?

What do you do if the recommended yarn for a project is discontinued?

Gram per weight/ weight per gram unit calcute yarn

Form Bangladesh. I am textile Enginnering..

it's that new math..... it sucks when kids can't do simple math because those fools want to complicate things. sad is all can say. was hoping you would have shown us something a little different the same types more along the line of substituting dk for worsted or such

did it really just take 6 minutes to say total yards Yarn A divided by yards per skein of Yarn B? 🤦‍♀️🤦‍♀️🤦‍♀️