Tension Tables

Yarn Tension Information - How to substitute yarns using manufacturers' tension and meterage figures.

Yarn tables:

To work out yarn substitutions,multiply the number of balls of the original yarn by the length per ball,then divide this number by the length per ball of the substitute yarn which will give you the number of balls for the substitute yarn ( length per ball is approximate,probably best to round up rather than down especially on one colour items,or add one extra ball ). If the length is approximately the same for both yarns you can probably miss working this out,but differences of 10 metres or more it is worth doing. Tensions are as given on the ball bands,you may need to change your knitting pin size to match the tension. Example: Original yarn requirement 9 balls at 100 metres per ball = 900 metres. 900 divided by meterage of substitute yarn, we'll say 107 metres, 900/107 = 8.41 balls so in this case you would need to order 9 balls of the substitute yarn as well to guarantee sufficient yarn for garment.

Lace weight yarns:

Fine Lace - smooth,ball band suggests 20-39 sts/33-54 rows

Kidsilk Haze and Kidsilk Haze Eclipse - fluffy,tension variable depending on what is needed - ball band suggests 18-25 sts/23-34 rows

3-ply yarns:

Rowan Fine Art ( 400 m /100 g ) 32 sts/42 rows

4-ply yarns:

Angora/Mohair Haze ( 137 m / 25 g ) 28 sts/36 rows

Rowan Pure Wool 4-ply ( 160 m / 50 g) 28 sts/36 rows

Rowan Finest ( 87 m/ 25 g ) 28 sts/ 38 rows

Debbie Bliss Rialto 4-ply ( 180m / 50g ) 26.5 sts/38 rows

Rowan Fine Tweed ( 90 m / 25 g) 26 sts /38 rows

Rowan Wool Cotton 4-ply (180m/ 50g) 28 sts /36 rows

Lightweight DK yarns:

Debbie Bliss Baby Cashmerino ( 125 m/ 50g ) 25 sts /34 rows

Debbie Bliss Eco Baby cotton ( 125 m/ 50g ) 225 sts/ 34 rows

Rowan Wool Cotton ( 113 m / 50 g) 22-24 sts/30-32 rows

Rowan Felted Tweed DK ( 175 m / 50 g) 22-24 sts/30-32 rows

DK yarns:

22 sts/30 rows - all the following: Rowan Alpaca Colour ( 120 m / 50 g ) Rowan Pure Wool DK ( 130 m / 50 g ) Rowan Baby Merino Silk DK

( 135 m / 50 g)  Rowan Colourspun ( 135 m / 50 g) Debbie Bliss Rialto DK ( 105m / 50 g )

Debbie Bliss BFL DK ( 108 m/ 50 g ) 22 sts/28 rows

Rowan Tweed DK ( 118 m / 50 g ) 21 sts/30 rows

Rowan Chenille ( 110 m/50 g) 20 sts/33 rows

Worsted weight yarns ( between DK and aran ):

20 sts/26 rows: All the following: Rowan Lima Colour ( 110 m / 50 g ) Rowan Lima ( 110 m/50 g)

Rowan Pure Wool Worsted ( 200 m/100 g ) 20 sts/25 rows

Rowan Creative Focus Worsted ( 200 m/ 100 g) 20 sts/24 rows

Aran yarns:

Rowan Fine Art Aran ( 170 m/100 g )19 sts/25 rows

Rowan Kid Classic ( 140 m / 50 g ) 18-19 sts/23-25 rows

18 sts/ 24 rows  - all the following: Debbie Bliss BFL Aran ( 75m / 50 gms ) Debbie Bliss Cashmerino Aran ( 90 m/ 50g) Debbie Bliss Luxury Tweed Aran ( 88m /50g )

Debbie Bliss Milano ( 95 m/ 50 g ) 17 sts/24 rows

Rowan Frost ( 75 m /50 gms )16 sts/23 rows

Rowan Alpaca Cotton ( 135 m / 50 g) 16 sts/23 rows

Rowan Felted Tweed Aran ( 87 m / 50 g) 16 sts/22 rows

Chunky yarns:

Rowan Fazed Tweed ( 70 m/ 50 g ) 15 sts/19 rows

Rowan Cocoon ( 115 m /100 g )14 sts/18 rows

Rowan Brushed Fleece ( 105 m/50 g ) 13 sts/19 rows

Rowan BSB Chunky ( 110 m/100 g ) 13 sts/18 rows

Debbie Bliss Paloma/Paloma Tweed ( 65 m/ 50g ) 12 sts /18 rows

Rowan Fur 9 60 m /50 g ) 12.5 sts/17 rows

Super chunky yarns:

Rowan Alpaca Chunky ( 70 m / 100 g )11 sts/14 rows

Debbie Bliss Winter Garden ( 100 m/ 100 g) 10 sts/ 15 rows

Rowan Thick 'n' Thin ( 50 m / 50 g ) 10 sts/ 15 rows

Debbie Bliss Roma ( 80 m/100 g ) 9 sts/12 rows

Rowan Big Wool  and Rowan Big Wool Colour ( 80 m/100 g ) 9 sts/12.5 rows

Rowan Kidsilk Haze Amore/Amore Shimmer ( approx 40m /50 g ) 7.5 -9 sts/10 - 12.5 rows

Rowan Tumble ( 70 m /100 g ) 8 sts /11 rows