You’ve found the pattern. You know which child it’s for and roughly when you need it finished. The only snag is the yarn. The pattern calls for Stylecraft Special DK in a shade you can’t find locally, or you have a ball of Yarnsmiths in your bag that looks close but you’re not sure it’s close enough. You don’t want to order four shades and hope for the best.
That’s where a yarn substitution chart comes in.
This post walks through how to use a free interactive yarn substitution chart uk knitting resource to find the nearest shade match across three popular DK yarns, Stylecraft Special DK, Yarnsmiths DK, and Cascade 220. Whether you’re working from a specific pattern or trying to use up what’s already in your stash, the chart will point you in the right direction without the guesswork.
Why shade matching matters more than brand matching
When a pattern specifies a yarn, it’s usually giving you a weight and a fibre type, not a legal requirement to use that exact brand. Stylecraft Special DK and Yarnsmiths DK are both machine washable acrylic DK yarns. They knit up to a similar tension, they wash the same way, and they behave almost identically on the needles. For baby and children’s knitting especially, where washability is non-negotiable, both are solid choices.
The part that actually needs some thought is the colour. Shade names don’t translate between brands. Stylecraft’s Claret is not the same red as Yarnsmiths’ Bordeaux. Cascade 220 has its own naming system entirely. Without a reference point, you’re holding balls of yarn up to a screen and squinting.
How to use the free yarn substitution chart
The free interactive yarn substitution chart lives here: janeburns.co.uk/yarn-substitution-chart
Type in the shade name or number from the yarn you have, or the yarn the pattern calls for, and the chart will show you the nearest equivalent across all three ranges. You can search by brand or by shade, and the results give you the closest colour match available, not just a rough category.
It’s free to use and works on mobile, which is useful if you’re standing in a yarn shop trying to remember what shade your pattern needs.
If you’d prefer a printed version to take with you, the PDF is available to purchase from the shop. More on that at the end of this post.
Which yarns does the chart cover?
Stylecraft Special DK
One of the most widely used DK yarns in UK knitting patterns, Stylecraft Special DK is an acrylic yarn with a huge shade range, good stitch definition, and a price point that makes it ideal for larger projects or anything likely to need frequent washing. It’s widely stocked in UK yarn shops and online.
Yarnsmiths DK
Yarnsmiths is a newer range with a carefully curated colour palette and a slightly softer handle than Stylecraft. It’s machine washable and works well for baby and children’s knitting. If you’ve picked up a few balls without a specific project in mind, the chart will help you find a Stylecraft equivalent when you’re ready to use them.
Cascade 220
Cascade 220 is a wool-based yarn rather than acrylic, which means it behaves differently on the needles and requires hand washing or a wool cycle. It’s worth noting this before substituting it into a pattern that calls for a machine washable yarn, particularly for baby items. The chart includes Cascade 220 shade matches for knitters who prefer a natural fibre option and are happy to adjust their care instructions accordingly.
Using the chart with the Blank Canvas Baby Sweater
If you’re working on the Blank Canvas Baby Sweater, the yarn substitution chart UK knitting is particularly useful for choosing motif colours. The base sweater uses a single shade of Stylecraft Special DK, but the motifs use small quantities of contrast colours, often less than 10 grams, which makes them ideal for using up oddments from your stash.
The chart will tell you which Yarnsmiths or Cascade shade sits closest to the Stylecraft colour the motif calls for, so you can work with what you already have rather than buying a full ball for a few rows of contrast.
You can browse the full range of available motifs in the Blank Canvas Motif Library. Each motif lists the contrast colours used so you can cross-reference with the chart before you cast on.
A note on tension when substituting yarn
Shade matching is usually the main concern when substituting within the same yarn weight and fibre type, but it’s always worth knitting a tension square before you begin, particularly if you’re switching between an acrylic and a wool-based yarn like Cascade 220. Even within the same weight category, different yarns can produce slightly different results depending on your needle size and knitting style.
The Craft Yarn Council has a clear reference guide to yarn weight standards if you want to double-check that your substitution is a like-for-like swap before you start.
Yarn substitution doesn’t need to mean starting from scratch with a different pattern. With the right shade reference, you can use what you have, buy with confidence, or adapt what the pattern calls for without spending an afternoon comparing swatches online.
The free interactive chart is at janeburns.co.uk/yarn-substitution-chart. Type in your yarn and shade and it will do the rest.
If you’d rather have the full chart on paper, the printable PDF is available in the shop. It covers all three yarn ranges in a format you can take to a yarn shop, tuck into your project bag, or keep next to your pattern.
Pick up the PDF.
Frequently asked questions
Can I substitute Yarnsmiths DK for Stylecraft Special DK in any pattern?
In most cases, yes. Both are machine washable acrylic DK yarns with similar tension and fibre behaviour. The main thing to check is the colour, since shade names don’t match between brands. Use the free chart at janeburns.co.uk/yarn-substitution-chart to find the nearest equivalent before you buy.
Does the yarn substitution chart work for crochet patterns too?
Yes. The chart matches shades across yarn ranges rather than being specific to knitting or crochet. If your pattern calls for Stylecraft Special DK and you want to work in Yarnsmiths, the shade matches apply regardless of whether you’re using needles or a hook.
What if the chart doesn’t have an exact match for my shade?
The chart shows the closest available equivalent, which may not be a perfect colour match in every case. Shade ranges vary between brands and new colours are added over time. If you’re working with a very specific colour, it’s worth ordering a small quantity to check against your main yarn before committing to a full purchase.
Is Cascade 220 suitable for baby knitting?
Cascade 220 is a wool yarn and requires hand washing or a wool cycle, unlike Stylecraft Special DK and Yarnsmiths DK which are both machine washable. For baby items that will need frequent washing, a machine washable acrylic is usually the more practical choice. If you do substitute Cascade 220, make sure the recipient knows the care instructions have changed.
Can I use the chart if I’m knitting with a different DK yarn altogether?
The chart currently covers Stylecraft Special DK, Yarnsmiths DK, and Cascade 220. If you’re working with a different brand, the chart won’t give you a direct match, but it can still be useful as a colour reference point if your yarn has a similar palette to one of the three ranges covered.
Never Miss Something New
Sign up to the Jane Burns newsletter and I will let you know the moment something new lands, free patterns, tips, and the occasional dry observation about the knitting life.
About Jane
I’ve been creating knitting and crochet patterns for 18 years, designing characterful pieces for babies and children that are as fun to knit as they are to wear. You can find all of my patterns at shop.janeburns.co.uk, follow along on Instagram and Facebook, or pin your favourites over on Pinterest.
This pattern is for personal use only. Finished items may be sold in small quantities with credit given to Jane Burns for the design. Pattern designed by Jane Burns, with 18 years of experience creating exclusive knitting and crochet patterns for babies and children.
