I immediately responded to to title of this thread because I just finished looking for a less pricey yarn for a blanket. It wasn’t because the yarn was so expensive per skein, but by the sheer number of skeins needed it would be quite an investment for a blanket. I have just gotten the the book I ordered for starting colorwork (building in color). I looked at ravelry initially for different color ways used on projects done and what yarn was used. Then I decided to put the yarn used in the book in “yarn sub site”. So I came up with a yarn that was 91% match but would require half the amount of yarn. It was pretty good match for fibers and plies. So I am hoping this will work out since it is not like a fitted garment. Maybe I should be considering different aspects but not sure what. And it’s kind of practice anyway.
KnitinGigi the things I would look out for, even with a blanket which does need to “fit” like an item of clothing, are
Needle size - what needle size the pattern suggests and what needle size the yarn you chose suggests and what size is best for your individual knitting style/gauge. I swatched for my son’s cardigan (stranded colour) in the size the pattern said, the fabric was horrible, so stiff and tight. Then I realised I had already swatched for a previous project in the same yarn and the needle size the yarn band suggested and the fabric had been great so I decided that’s a better size to use to get a fabric I liked.
Overall size - similar to what knitterless is doing, working out from your swatch if the cast on number is going to give the size you want in the finished project. With a blanket it is not so crucial, but id still want to know what size it would turn out, especially if its a big blanket. For me I’d be bothered if I made a king size blanket which then didn’t reach the edge of my bed if you see what I mean. Working out the size etc is not too hard and you can ask for help. Of course there may also be options such as adding a border to make it wider if needed.
Some people like to work in a slightly larger needle for stranded colour work so perhaps swatch a stranded piece in a slightly larger needle too.
Sounds exciting.
So I looked at needles and gauge. The substitute yarn uses a size 5 needle and gauge on band is 21 stitches and 27 rows whereas the recommended yarn uses a size 6 needle and has 22 stitches and 32 rows. Not too bad but I will need to swatch