Need help with substitute Yarn/Wool

[Jackie_Fabian]

So I have knitted for years, I was often making some horrible creation for my toys when I was only 5, now a few decades later I am still going.

I moved from the UK to the USA two years ago and I am still adjusting to the minor changes when it comes to knitting.

My issue today is I have a pattern I wish to create, but the yarn (or wool as I would have called it before) it is suggesting to use is ridiculously expensive so I am trying to figure out a cheaper alternative.

I have always been fairly confident when changing the yarn out, but for some reason this is frustrating me and I really don’t want to mess it up.

So the ones it suggests to use are Sunday Knits 5 ply Nirvana (92% merino, 8% cashmere), Angelic (75% merino, 25% angora), Eden (100% merino) or Brigadoon (100% merino tweed); (each blend has 137 yd/125 m to 13/4 oz/50g) I would need 17 balls (and they range from $10-$12.50 a ball. So you see my issue.

The Gauge is 18 sts and 36 rows = 4" / 10cm in thermal rib stitch on 8/5.0 mm needles; 16 sts and 32 rows =4" / 10 cm in rib stitch (k2 p2) on 6/4.0 mm needles.

Advice welcomed and gratefully received.

[salmonmac]

welcome to the forum!
I like Yarnsub for equivalent yarns (or close to). They give you a breakdown of similarities and in many cases an idea of cost (multiple dollar signs).
https://yarnsub.com/
The yarns you named are listed with several alternatives, for example:
https://yarnsub.com/yarns/sunday_knits/nirvana_5-ply

[Jackie_Fabian]

Thank you, I had tried that one.

But it only seems to come up with equally expensive yarns.

Ah well, I guess I will have to keep looking.

[salmonmac]

I saw Knit Picks Wool of the Andes Tweed which is reasonably priced; also Valley Yarns Amherst on the list. They may not be perfect matches however.
Good luck with your search!

[Jackie_Fabian]

oh right, maybe I missed them. Will have a look.

[Mike]

I would need 17 balls (and they range from $10-$12.50 a ball.

So prices are not like this in the UK?
I’ve also always run into that problem trying to step out of cheap acrylic. My wool blanket (a brand from Hobby Lobby) would’ve been $360 if I hadn’t shopped clearance. Even Knit Picks, which leans towards reasonable ends up being $10-$20 socks.
Beyond substitutes that’s my advice, watch for sales. Knit Picks has luxury fibers and a lot of sales. If they don’t have what I want on sale I’ll wait.

[Jackie_Fabian]

Oh they can be just as bad, but I am struggling with the change in name, different weights etc.
Also not got my normal places to check out, because the shipping costs from the UK would be ridiculous.

I will get there