Here's your guide to finding the ideal (and perhaps more wallet-friendly) yarn alternatives for your beloved PetiteKnit children's patterns. 👶👧🧶 We've selected these alternatives and the number of skeins by comparing them to the gauge specified for the recommended yarn. It's important to note that these alternatives haven't been tested. Always make sure to knit a gauge swatch (and wash it) to verify your gauge matches the pattern you're using. Keep in mind, the finished look might differ with alternative yarns. 🫶

Psst! Check out the tips at the bottom of this page for working with yarn alternatives (click here 😉).


Shortcuts to Yarn Substitutions:

Anker's Bonnet | Anker's Jacket | Anker's Onesie | Anker's Sweater | Beginner's Jacket | Celeste Christmas Stocking | Celeste Mittens | Celeste Sweater Junior | Cloud Sweater Junior | Novice Cardigan Junior - Chunky Edition | Novice Cardigan Junior - Mohair Edition | Novice Cardigan Mini - Chunky Edition | Novice Cardigan Mini - Mohair Edition | Novice Sweater Junior | Novice Sweater Junior - Mohair Edition | Selma’s Sleep Suit

Did we forget a pattern? Let us know at [email protected].

Updated on September 3, 2024.

PATTERNSIZESSUBSTITUTE YARN(S) AND HOW MUCH YOU NEEDFIBERS / CONTENT
Anker's Bonnet 0-2 months (2-4 months) 4-6 months (6-12 months) 1-2 years 1 thread Friends Extra Fine Merino: 1 (1) 1 (1) 1 skein.

Or

1 thread Easy Care: 1 (1) 1 (1) 1 skein.

Or

1 thread BabyWool: 1 (1) 1 (1) 1 skein.

Or

1 thread Soft Alpaca: 1 (1) 1 (1) 1 skein.

Or

1 thread Alpaca Silk: 1 (1) 1 (1) 1 skein.		 Friends Extra Fine Merino: 100% Superwash Merino Wool.

Easy Care: 100% Superwash Merino Wool.

BabyWool: 100% Superwash Merino Wool.

Soft Alpaca: 100% Alpaca.

Alpaca Silk: 70% Alpaka, 30% Mulberry Silk.
Anker's Jacket 0-3 months (3-6 months) 6-9 months (9-12 months) 1-2 years (2-3 years) 3-4 years (4-5 years) 5-6 years (6-7 years) 7-8 years (8-9 years) 9-10 years (10-12 years) 1 thread Friends Wool: 3-4 (4) 4 (5) 5 (5) 6 (6) 7 (7) 8 (8) 9 (9) skeins.

Or

2 threads Friends Extra Fine Merino: 4-5 (5) 5 (5-6) 6 (6) 8 (8) 9 (9) 9-10 (10) 10 (10) skeins.

Or

1 thread Easy Care Classic: 3-4 (4) 4 (5) 5 (5) 6 (6) 7 (7) 7 (7) 8 (8) skeins.		 Friends Wool: 100% Wool.

Friends Extra Fine Merino: 100% Superwash Merino Wool.

Easy Care Classic: 100% Superwash Merino Wool.
Anker's Onesie 0-2 (2-4) 4-6 (6-9) 9-12 (12-18) 18-24 months 1 thread Friends Extra Fine Merino: 3 (3) 5 (5) 5 (6) 8 skeins.

Or

1 thread Easy Care: 3 (3) 4 (4) 4 (6) 7 skeins.

Or

1 thread BabyWool: 3 (3) 5 (5) 5 (6) 8 skeins.

Or

1 thread Soft Alpaca: 3 (3) 5 (5) 5 (6) 8 skeins.

Or

1 thread Alpaca Silk: 3 (3) 5 (5) 5 (6) 8 skeins.		 Friends Extra Fine Merino: 100% Superwash Merino Wool.

Easy Care: 100% Superwash Merino Wool.

BabyWool: 100% Superwash Merino Wool.

Soft Alpaca: 100% Alpaca.

Alpaca Silk: 70% Alpaca, 30% Mulberry Silk.
Anker's Sweater 0-3 months (3-6 months) 6-9 months (9-12 months) 1-2 years (2-3 years) 3-4 years (4-5 years) 5-6 years (6-7 years) 7-8 years (8-9 years) 9-10 years (10-12 years) 1 thread Friends Wool: 4 (4) 4 (5) 5 (6) 6 (7) 7 (8) 8 (9) 9 (10) skeins.

Or

2 threads Friends Extra Fine Merino: 6 (6) 6 (6) 6 (8) 8 (8) 8 (10) 10 (10) 10 (12) skeins.

Or

1 thread Easy Care Classic: 4 (4) 4 (5) 5 (6) 6 (7) 7 (7) 7 (8) 8 (9) skeins.		 Friends Wool: 100% Wool.

Friends Extra Fine Merino: 100% Superwash Merino Wool.

Easy Care Classic: 100% Superwash Merino Wool.
Beginner's Jacket 0-3 months (3-6 months) 6-9 months (9-12 months) 12-18 months (18-24 months) 2-3 years (3-4 years) 4-5 years (5-6 years) 6-7 years (7-8 years) 1 thread Highland Wool: 3 (3) 3 (4) 4 (4-5) 5 (5) 6 (6) 6 (7) skeins.

Or

1 thread Friends Extra Fine Merino: 4 (4) 4 (5) 5 (5-6) 6 (6) 7 (7) 7 (8) skeins.		 Highland Wool: 100% Peruvian Highland Wool.

Friends Extra Fine Merino: 100% Superwash Merino Wool.
Celeste Christmas Stocking One size 1 thread Friends Wool: 2 skeins of the main color and 1 skein of each of the 4 contrast colors. Friends Wool: 100% Wool.
Celeste Mittens 3-6 years (6-10 years) 1 thread Friends Wool: 1 (1) skein of the main color and 1 skein of each of the 4 contrast colors. Friends Wool: 100% Wool.
Celeste Sweater Junior 1-2 (2-3) 3-4 (4-5) 5-6 (6-7) 7-8 (8-9) 9-10 (10-12) 12-14 years 1 thread Friends Wool: 4 (4) 5 (5) 6 (6) 7 (7) 8 (8) 9 skeins of the main color and 1 skein of each of the 4 contrast colors. Friends Wool: 100% Wool.
Cloud Sweater Junior 1-2 (2-3) 3-4 (4-5) 5-6 (6-7) 7-8 (8-9) 9-10 (10-12) 12-14 years 1 thread Divina: 3 (3) 4 (4) 5 (5) 5 (5-6) 6 (6) 7 skeins held together with 1 thread Friends Kid Silk: 3 (4) 4 (4) 4 (5) 5 (5) 5 (5) 6 skeins. Divina: 65% Alpaca, 28% Polyamide, 7% Merino Wool.

Friends Wool: 100% Wool.

Friends Kid Silk: 72% Mohair, 25% Silk, 3% Wool.
Novice Cardigan Junior - Chunky Edition 6-7 (7-8) 8-10 (10-12) 12-14 years 1 thread Divina: 3 (3) 4 (4) 5 skeins held together with 1 thread Friends Kid Silk: 4 (4) 4 (4) 4 skeins.

Or

1 thread Friends Wool: 5 (5) 6 (6) 8 skeins helt together with 1 thread Friends Kid Silk: 4 (4) 4 (4) 4 skeins.		 Divina: 65% Alpaca, 28% Polyamide, 7% Merino Wool.

Friends Kid Silk: 72% Mohair, 25% Silk, 3% Wool.

Friends Wool: 100% Wool.
Novice Cardigan Junior - Mohair Edition 6-7 (7-8) 8-10 (10-12) 12-14 years 2 threads Friends Kid Silk: 7 (7) 8 (8-9) 9 skeins.

Or

2 threads Diablo: 6 (6) 7 (7-8) 8 skeins.		 Friends Kid Silk: 72% Mohair, 25% Silk, 3% Wool.

Diablo: 40% Acrylic, 30% Mohair, 30% Polyamide
Novice Cardigan Mini - Chunky Edition 1-2 (2-3) 3-4 (4-5) 5-6 years 1 thread Divina: 3 (3) 3 (3) 3 skeins held together with 1 thread Friends Kid Silk: 3 (3) 3 (3) 3-4 skeins.

Or

1 thread Friends Wool: 5 (5) 5 (5) 5 skeins held together with 1 thread Friends Kid Silk: 3 (3) 3 (3) 3-4 skeins.		 Divina: 65% Alpaca, 28% Polyamide, 7% Merino Wool.

Friends Kid Silk: 72% Mohair, 25% Silk, 3% Wool.

Friends Wool: 100% Wool.
Novice Cardigan Mini - Mohair Edition 6-9 months (9-12 months) 1-2 years (2-3 years) 3-4 years (4-5 years) 5-6 years 2 threads Friends Kid Silk: 4 (4) 5 (5) 5 (6) 6-7 skeins.

Or

2 threads Diablo: 3 (3) 4 (4) 4 (5) 5-6 skeins.		 Friends Kid Silk: 72% Mohair, 25% Silk, 3% Wool.

Diablo: 40% Acrylic, 30% Mohair, 30% Polyamide.
Novice Sweater Junior 1-2 (2-3) 3-4 (4-5) 5-6 (6-7) 7-8 (8-9) 9-10 (10-12) 12-14 years 1 thread Divina: 2-3 (3) 3 (3) 3 (4) 4 (4) 4 (5) 5 skeins.

Or

2 threads Unicorn or Unicorn Solid: 2 (2) 2 (2) 4 (4) 4 (4) 4 (4) 5 skeins held together with 1 thread Friends Kid Silk: 3 (3) 3 (3) 3 (3-4) 4 (4) 4 (4) 4 skeins.		 Divina: 65% Alpaca, 28% Polyamide, 7% Merino Wool.

Friends Kid Silk: 72% Mohair, 25% Silk, 3% Wool.
Novice Sweater Junior - Mohair Edition 1-2 (2-3) 3-4 (4-5) 5-6 (6-7) 7-8 (8-10) 10-12 (12-14) years 2 threads Friends Kid Silk: 4 (5) 5 (6) 6 (7) 7 (7) 7 (8) skeins.

Or

2 threads Diablo: 3 (4) 4 (5) 5 (6) 6 (6) 6 (7) skeins.		 Friends Kid Silk: 72% mohair, 25% silke, 3% uld.

Diablo: 40% Acrylic, 30% Mohair, 30% Polyamide.
Selma's Sleep Suit 0-3 months (3-6 months) 6-12 months (1-2 years) 2-3 years 1 thread Friends Wool: 6-7 (8) 9 (10) 11 skeins.

Or

1 thread Woolpower: 4-5 (5) 6 (7) 7 skeins.

Or

1 thread Easy Care Big: 8-9 (10) 11 (12) 13 skeins. 		Friends Wool: 100% uld.

Woolpower: 100% uld.

Easy Care Big: 100% Superwash Merino Wool.

Couldn't you find the pattern you were looking for? Send us an e-mail at [email protected].

Tips for Choosing the Right Yarn Substitutes

Here, we've gathered some advice for you to consider before you start your project. ❤️🧶

  • Pay attention to yardage and gauge. When you decide to knit a pattern with a different yarn than the one suggested, it’s crucial that both the yardage and gauge match in order to achieve a great finish and size that fits properly.
  • Yarn substitutes can alter the look. Be aware that different yarns can change the appearance of your project, especially if the substitute yarn is made from a different material (for example, choosing merino wool over regular wool or acrylic instead of wool). Also, consider whether the pattern calls for knitting with a single strand or double and how the result may vary if you choose to change this.
  • ALWAYS knit a gauge swatch. Starting with a gauge swatch when working with yarn substitutes is essential. Yes, making a gauge swatch might seem tedious when you're eager to begin a project. BUT it will save you from potential frustration later on!
  • Wash your gauge swatch. If you’re knitting a project with one or more substitute yarns, the yarns may behave differently after washing. Therefore, it’s ALWAYS a good idea to wash your gauge swatch before you start your project.
  • Adjust needle size if necessary. The yarn substitutes listed are only suggestions. Everyone knits differently. When using a yarn substitute, you might need to adjust your needle size up or down to meet the gauge in the pattern. If your gauge swatch ends up too big, try knitting a new one with a smaller needle size. If it ends up too small, try using a larger needle size.
  • Consider buying an extra skein of yarn. In this overview, we have calculated the number of skeins needed for each project based on the gauge specified in the pattern. You may need an extra skein if your gauge doesn't match exactly. Plus, it's always more enjoyable not to run out of yarn, right?


Happy knitting!