Yarn substitution help

I have a pattern for a great afghan to knit. The yarn called for has been discontinuted. When I find another similar yarn (super bulky), how do I know how much to buy? Do I go by the number of yards in the skein or weight of the skein?

You should pay more attention to the yardage than the weight of the skein. Whenever I purchase yarn for an afghan pattern, I always get an extra skein, just in case, and many times I have had to use it!

Super bulky should knit up fast! Have fun with it!

MGM

Hello Sue
Can you post a link to the pattern or let us know what the discontinued yarn is, we might be able to give you better suggestions with more info.

Welcome to the forum too.

Link: http://www.lionbrand.com/cgi-bin/patternFinder.fcgi?search=Search&store=%2Fstores%2Feyarn&resultPageTemplate=ResultPage.html&resultItemTemplate=ResultItem.txt&noResultPageTemplate=NoResultPage.html&case=no&primaryServer=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.lionbrand.com&minPrice=0&noBoolean=1&searchText=crossword+afghan&sT=1&Go.x=13&Go.y=14

If link doesn’t work, it’s a free pattern “Crossword Afghan” from Lion Brand website. I am currenting working on one using Lion Brand Wool-Ease Thick & Quick. All the colors don’t seem to have the same texture. Some seem much thicker than others, more like I’m making a rug, not an afghan. Though I’ve been knitting for years, I don’t consider myself an experienced knitter, hence the simplistic question. I found Bernat Softee Chunky yarn which seems like it should work in this pattern. Any help you can give is greatly appreciated.

Your link works. Did you see that they off substitution suggestions?

From the pattern:

GAUGE
9.5 sts + 13.5 rows = 4” [10 cm] in Stockinette st (k on RS, p on WS).

From Bernat Softee Chunky:

Tension
11 sts - 14 rows = 4" (10 cm)
Suggested Knitting Needle
8.00 mm, US 11

It looks to me as if all squares are stockinette and if you needed to you might be able to adjust the number of stitches if for the correct size of squares. If you’re doing the letters though, that might be a problem. Hmmmm.

FWIW

I’m using a substitute yarn suggested by Lion Brand. My plan is (was?) to knit several for Christman presents, with the personalization, using duplicate stitch as in the pattern. I don’t want to make them all the same; would like to make them really personal with colors in addition to personalization. I’m afraid of not ordering enough yarn to complete all the squares. I’ll search for more super bulky yarn. I thank you for your reply.