Yarn subsitutions and size conversions

General Knitting
1

I have a particular pattern for a sweater but it calls for wool. I am allergic to wool so I was wondering what other yarn would work…is there a website that I can type in the kind of yarn it calls for and find other yarns in similar weight?

Also, I was told there is a website (that you have to pay for) which you can give them a particular pattern and your body measurements and then they alter the pattern for your body size. Is anybody aware of this website? I can’t seem to find it and the person that told me about it didn’t know the website name.

Thank you!

P.S. This is the pattern I was thinking about doing and I’d like a variegated yarn, like the one shown.
http://www.cascadeyarns.com/patternsFree/W242_EcoDuo.pdf

2

Here’s a website that has a basic sweater pattern generator where you can input your data and it’s free. I’m not sure if this is what you’re looking for. It appears as if this pattern is a multiple of 4 plus 7 stitches (the 5 for the beginning of the row and the 2 at the end). You may have to adjust your cast on stitches accordingly. I don’t see why you couldn’t substitute an acrylic of the same weight, sport, worsted, etc. You’d have to check your gauge.

http://www.knittingfool.com/pages/sweater_wheel.guest.cfm

3

I can’t wear wool either. Just look at the gauge and find another yarn that is the same gauge. The yarn called for in your pattern is 4 stitches to the inch which is a worsted to heavy worsted weight yarn. Choose a yarn and then do a gauge swatch.

What type of yarn are you thinking of… acrylic? Acrylic blend? Or what?

4

Well, I was thinking about using this yarn: http://yarndex.com/yarn.cfm?yarn_id=5771

But, I would like a variegated yarn, such as the one shown in the pictures.
Any ideas on what yarn I can use that would look similar to the one shown?

I’m not thinking of any specific type of fiber…just not wool. And, not too expensive.

Thanks.

5

Berroco Weekend doesn’t come in variegated yet as far as I know.
http://www.berroco.com/shade_cards/weekend_sh.html

I saw this one on the Berroco site and it’s variegated and similar weight.
http://www.berroco.com/shade_cards/linsey_sh.html

6

I really like the berroco linsey but it has 64% cotton. Isn’t that a lot? Won’t it stretch too much?
Thanks!

7

A cotton blend shouldn’t stretch as much as all cotton. The linen would help hold it together.

8

I haven’t tried it so I don’t know. As Sue says though blends shouldn’t be too bad. :think:

9

Ok- last question, I hope.

Would this first links yarn be better because it only has 50% cotton as opposed to the second link, which has 64% cotton?

http://www.yarn.com/webs-new-items/berroco-linsey/

Is one better than another for the variegated look? (like the original picture in the first post)