A common misconception is that all yarns are alike, and that substituting one for another is merely a process of swapping needle sizes until it knits at your pattern's intended gauge.

At the other end of the spectrum are knitters who live in fear of varying at all from a pattern's requirements, even if it means working with a yarn they don't particularly like.

Whether your substitution is inspired by allergies, finances, availability, or aesthetics, it takes just a few extra minutes to think through the substitution process. I promise you, the end results will be worth it.

Next:
  Common Yarn Weights and Gauges
  Determining How Much You'll Need
  Working with Handspun Yarns
  Textural and Aesthetic Considerations
  Fine-Tuning Your Swatches

This series was originally published on January 24, 2002, and was reprised on February 22, 2011.