A shopping starting point, organized by category

Common Yarn Brands by Weight Category

A longer reference list of widely stocked yarns, grouped by their Craft Yarn Council weight category, with fiber content noted for each. The names below were chosen because their CYC weight number is printed directly on the manufacturer's own skein label, so the category assignment is not a guess. Use the yarn substitute finder if you want this filtered by fiber or paired with a yards-to-skeins calculator.

Not sure which category you need?

If you don't already know your pattern's weight category, check the full yarn weight chart for the gauge, needle and hook specs for every category, or search your yarn's name directly in the yarn substitute finder to have it matched automatically.

Category 1: Super Fine (sock, fingering, baby)

The category most sock knitters and lightweight shawl patterns call for. Sock-specific yarns in this category are usually blended with nylon for durability at the heel and toe.

Knit Picks Palette: 100% wool, popular for stranded colorwork because of its wide, consistent color range and firm twist.
Malabrigo Sock: 100% merino wool, known for being unusually soft for a sock-weight yarn, though without added nylon it wears faster at friction points than a wool/nylon blend.
Cascade Heritage: 75% wool, 25% nylon, a straightforward workhorse sock yarn with the nylon added specifically for heel/toe durability.

Category 2: Fine (sport, baby)

A step up from fingering, common for baby garments and lightweight adult sweaters where a fingering-weight fabric would be too sheer.

Knit Picks Wool of the Andes Sport: 100% wool, the sport-weight version of a well-known budget wool line.
Cascade 220 Sport: 100% Peruvian Highland wool, the lighter sibling of the well-known Cascade 220 worsted line, same fiber source and handle in a thinner strand.

Category 3: Light (DK, light worsted)

DK sits between sport and worsted, popular for garments that need drape without being sheer, and a common weight for European patterns in particular.

Knit Picks Wool of the Andes DK: 100% wool, the DK-weight version of the same line referenced above in sport and (see category 4) worsted weights, useful if you want a consistent handle across a project that mixes weights.
Rowan Handknit Cotton: 100% cotton, a widely used DK-weight cotton for garments and homewares where drape and washability matter more than wool's warmth and elasticity.

Category 4: Medium (worsted, afghan, Aran)

The single most common weight for beginner patterns, blankets and everyday sweaters, and the category with the widest brand selection.

Red Heart Super Saver: 100% acrylic, one of the most widely stocked budget yarns in the US, available in a very large color range.
Lion Brand Wool-Ease: 80% acrylic, 20% wool, a blend that behaves closer to pure wool (better stitch definition, some blocking ability) than a pure acrylic while staying machine washable.
Cascade 220: 100% Peruvian Highland wool, a widely used worsted-weight wool for sweaters and colorwork, known for consistent gauge across its large color range.
Caron Simply Soft: 100% acrylic, another very widely stocked budget worsted acrylic, a common substitute target for patterns that call for Red Heart Super Saver or vice versa.

Category 5: Bulky (chunky, craft, rug)

Fast-knitting weight, common for hats, cowls and heavier blankets where a project needs to go quickly.

Lion Brand Hometown USA: 100% acrylic, a bulky-weight acrylic aimed at quick blanket and scarf projects.

Category 6: Super Bulky (roving)

Very fast-knitting or crocheting, often used for one-evening projects and the trend-driven "chunky knit blanket" look.

Bernat Blanket: 100% polyester, an extremely widely stocked super bulky yarn built specifically for no-sew, quick blanket projects, often worked on very large needles or even by hand (arm knitting).
Lion Brand Wool-Ease Thick and Quick: 80% acrylic, 20% wool, the super bulky counterpart to the worsted-weight Wool-Ease listed under category 4, same fiber blend in a much thicker strand.

Frequently asked questions

Are these the only substitute options for each category?

No, this is a short, deliberately curated starting list, not an exhaustive database. Any yarn labeled with the same CYC category number on its own band is generally a workable substitute on the gauge front; always still check fiber content and yardage separately.

Why isn't category 0 (Lace) or category 7 (Jumbo) listed here?

These are more specialty weights with fewer instantly recognizable mass-market brand names, so this page focuses on the categories with the widest, most confidently verifiable brand selection. See the yarn weight chart for the full gauge/needle/hook specs for every category including these two.

Can I substitute an acrylic yarn for a wool one from this list?

Often yes for simple projects, but check the fiber notes above first: wool and acrylic behave differently for blocking, stretch and warmth. See the yarn substitute finder's fiber-content section for a fuller explanation.

How do I know the fiber percentages listed here are still accurate?

Manufacturers occasionally reformulate a yarn line, so always confirm the current fiber content on the specific skein's own label or the manufacturer's current product page before buying, especially for a project where fiber content matters for allergies or care requirements.

Does this page save anything I look up?

No. This is a static reference page with no calculator inputs to save. See the privacy page for how the rest of the site (the yarn substitute finder) handles what you type.

Want a substitute filtered by fiber, not just category?

The finder narrows this same list down to your preferred fiber and works out how many skeins to buy.

Go to the yarn substitute finder

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