Need Yarn substitution help. Please??

[bailsmom]

I'm going to make that afghan in the Cables Untangled book, the beeeeyouteeeefullllll one. The annoying part is the 26 hanks of classic elite montera that they call for, (4-heavy worseted weight; 50% llama/50%wool; ea approx 3.5 oz/100g) it's at least $10.00 a skein!! If my math is right, that's $260.00 No way in heck I can afford that, ever!

So I was looking on the Elann website for a substitution last night and found this yarn but it's only 1.75 oz. so that would mean I'd have to by double the amount of yarn, right? I am so not good with this substitution business.

Then I thought about using some cheapy yarn, but then I thought, it's such a gorgeous blanket, how can I do that to it?

Anyone have any ideas??

[brendajos]

Well this is the specs for the Monterra:

Brand Classic Elite [www]

Distributor Classic Elite Yarns, Inc. [www]
Yardage 127 yds.
Weight 100g
Yarn Weight Heavy Worsted
Fiber Content Wool , Llama
Texture Plied
Gauge (st. /4 in.) 16
Needle Size(s) 9 US (5.5mm)
Availability Currently Produced
MSRP $9.95
Care Hand Wash Cold & Dry Flat.

and here's the specs for the elann stuff:

Fibre Content: 50% Highland Wool/ 50% Llama
Made In: Peru
Care: Hand Wash/ Dry Flat
Gauge: 17 st/4 inches 5.0 mm (US 8)
Yardage: 83 m (91 yards)
Size: 50g (1.75 oz) ball
Price: $2.98 USD

So you definitely have less yardage and the gauge seems like it may be off some. I would think it is close enough though for a blanket...but i may be off there.

[brendajos]

hmmm... something i was just thinking of, if you are comfortable playing with your gauge a bit you might want to consider Plymouth Encore. It is about 200 yards per skein and Webs has it on sale for something like $3.80 right now. It isn't a heavy worsted but like i said before, it is a blanket so it isn't terribly critical. I am not sure which pattern you are talking about though so I don't know if you can just add another panel of the cable or if the cable isn't in panels (I don't have the book, sorry)

Yardage 200 yds.
Weight 100g
Yarn Weight Worsted
Fiber Content Acrylic , Wool
Texture Plied , Fuzzy
Gauge (st. /4 in.) 20
Needle Size(s) 8 US (5mm)
Availability Currently Produced
MSRP $5.29
Care Machine Wash & Machine Dry.

[Hildegard_von_Knittin]

I was going to suggest Encore too.

The thing is, since it's an afghan, you don't NEED to be spot on gauge. Just use needles that are appropriate for whatever yarn you choose, and know that it might come out different than the given demensions... but since it doesn't have to "fit" that doesn't matter.

You might try yarndex to find other substitutions, too.

[suzeeq]

You could knit with the elann yarn on 9s and it may come out about the same yardage as what's originally called for. Just a few more skeins.

sue

[bailsmom]

I was going to suggest Encore too.

The thing is, since it's an afghan, you don't NEED to be spot on gauge. Just use needles that are appropriate for whatever yarn you choose, and know that it might come out different than the given demensions... but since it doesn't have to "fit" that doesn't matter.

You might try yarndex to find other substitutions, too.

See, I normally wouldn't care about the different yarn or what kind of yarn, but since it's a cabled afghan there are certain panels that do need to match the length of the other panels.

Here's a picture. http://www.loopyarn.com/detail.aspx?ID=590

See how the long narrow strips are matching up with the 2 other pannels?? I suppose I could maybe try to knit it up like the log cabin blanket by picking up the sts, but that thing is huge and I would really rather do it in sections rather than carry that big thing around with me.

[brendajos]

hmm... well as far as the panels matching each other it should be fine as long as your gauge remains consistent and you aren't using different yarn for each panel. At least that's what i THINK... maybe i am not thinking right though.

however it would probably change your finished product size since encore is a lighter weight gauge. just not sure how much it would change it.

the elann stuff would match pretty close but yes you would need more skeins than the pattern calls for since it is something like 30 yards shorter.

[bailsmom]

hmm... well as far as the panels matching each other it should be fine as long as your gauge remains consistent and you aren't using different yarn for each panel. At least that's what i THINK... maybe i am not thinking right though.

however it would probably change your finished product size since encore is a lighter weight gauge. just not sure how much it would change it.

the elann stuff would match pretty close but yes you would need more skeins than the pattern calls for since it is something like 30 yards shorter.

That would be just fine, I don't really care about the size. Now, I wonder which I should get. :thinking:

Thank you all for your help.