yarn substitution question

[gimmesanity]

So, I'm thinking about making the Peek-a-Boob tank from Knitty. I found the yarn that the pattern asks for on this site.

My question: I really like the Twist from knitty.com. Because it's also DK weight, does this mean that it'll knit up the same? Can I use this as a substitution? It seems so different from the stuff that the pattern asks for, but really like this other yarn. Would you risk it, or should I suck it up and use the Sirdar Country Yarn?

This will be my next step up, project-wise. So, I don't want to mess it up.

tks,
~Sharon

[Nuno930]

Recomended yarn: 22 Sts/28 Rows = 4inch St st, 4 mm (US 6) Needle

Twist: Guage - 5.5 sts=1" on #5-6 needles

Ok I didn't do up the math, but just by looking and guestimating it looks like it should knit up the same.

[KellyK]

I say go ahead & use the twist! The gauge is the same, PLUS, the acrylic, nylon & viscose should make the cotton more stretchy....more like the wool blend of the sirdar might be.

What color are you thinking???

[Hildegard_von_Knittin]

do a swatch first; there's no cotton in the Sidar, but there is in the twist; that might make a difference when it knits up. (i'm thinking there would be a "support" difference, thought I can't imagine a knitted bra would give any support anyway to milk-filled breasts, but I don't have kids so what do i know?)

Also, be sure to calculate how much yardage you'll need, so you buy the right amount of yarn.
Sidar = 347 yards per ball
Twist = 99 yards per ball
So, 3.5 balls of twist = 1 ball of Sidar yardage wise.... If the pattern calls for 4 balls of Sidar, you'd really need like 14 balls of the Twist.

14 balls of Twist * 5.49each = $76.86
4 balls of Sidar * 7.95each = $31.80
... meaning you could make 2 and a half bras out of the Sidar for the same amout of money as one bra of the twist. (or 2 bras and a matching bandana)

AND, with the Sidar, 347 yards = 100 grams, but 99 yards = 50 grams in the Twist, OR 198 yards (2 balls) of the twist weights as much as 1 ball of the Sidar, but still has less yardage. This is a big weight difference, and might not matter with a bra, but in a sweater, for instance, one would for SURE be warmer than the other.... and in this case might add to the support issue as previously mentioned.

Anyway, thanks for the excuse to micro-analyze numbers. math rules.

[gimmesanity]

Hilde, you and your big brain are too great for words....I didn't realize that the price difference would be so big. Man... :(

Hrmmm, I'm gonna have to think about this a little more. I'll probably just go ahead and use the yarn that's called for. I just need to decide on a color -- none of the ones offered are really calling out my name, you know?

Kelly, I really wanted to used the red twist... Beach Ball. It looks like such a fah-bulous red. *sigh*

[KellyK]

HILDIE! I THINK YOU DO THIS ON PURPOSE TO MAKE MY HEAD HURT!!

That sirdar has some NICE colors, too! I like 501, 502, 595, 527, and that 402 looks like a nice BRIGHT red!!

[Hildegard_von_Knittin]

I didn't do it to make your head hurt, KK, I did it to PREVENT gimmesanity's head from hurting! :-D And because I like to micromanage. and I'm anal retentive.

Are either of the sidar colors like the beach ball twist?

[KellyK]

I didn't do it to make your head hurt, KK

But...it's all about ME! :(

[Hildegard_von_Knittin]

okay good, i hope your head hurts then!