Knit Picks · Worsted weight · 217 yds per 100 g
High Desert Worsted substitutes
Knit Picks High Desert Worsted is a Worsted-weight 100% american wool yarn with a rustic, woolen-spun finish, 217 yds (198 m) per 100 g. These yarns are the closest candidates in the shop, ranked by weight, length per 100 g, fibre, texture and available label tension. These are not swatch-verified replacements.
Side by side
| Yarn | Weight | Yds / 100 g | Fiber | Needle | To replace 10 skeins | How it compares |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Knit Picks High Desert Worsted | Worsted | 217 | 100% American Wool | US 6 - 9 | 10 skeins | The original |
| Cowgirl Blues Fluffy Mohair | Worsted | 220 | 78% Kid Mohair, 13% Wool, 9% Nylon | – | 10 skeins | Same Worsted weight · 2% more metres per 100 g · Shared fibres: wool · Surface texture differs. · Fibre composition differs; check drape, stretch and care. · Comparable label tension is unavailable. |
| Malabrigo Rios | Worsted | 210 | 100% Superwash Merino Wool | US 7 | 11 skeins | Same Worsted weight · 3% less metres per 100 g · Shared fibres: wool · Surface texture differs. · Fibre composition differs; check drape, stretch and care. · Comparable label tension is unavailable. |
| Blue Sky Fibers Woolstok | Worsted | 246 | 100% Fine Highland Wool | US 6-11 | 18 balls | Same Worsted weight · 14% more metres per 100 g · Shared fibres: wool · Surface texture differs. · Fibre composition differs; check drape, stretch and care. · Comparable label tension is unavailable. |
| Schoppel Alpaka Queen | Aran | 219 | 50% Virgin Merino Wool, 50% alpaca | US 8-10 | 10 skeins | 1% more metres per 100 g · Shared fibres: wool · Surface texture differs. · Fibre composition differs; check drape, stretch and care. · Comparable label tension is unavailable. |
| Lang Yarns Donegal Tweed+ | Aran | 230 | 100% Virgin Wool | US 7-8 | 19 balls | 6% more metres per 100 g · Shared fibres: wool · Surface texture differs. · Fibre composition differs; check drape, stretch and care. · Comparable label tension is unavailable. |
| Madelinetosh Tosh DK | DK | 204 | 100% merino wool | US 6-7 | 10 skeins | 6% less metres per 100 g · Shared fibres: wool · Surface texture differs. · Fibre composition differs; check drape, stretch and care. · Comparable label tension is unavailable. |
Skein counts cover the same total length as 10 skeins of High Desert Worsted (2,170 yds). For your own pattern, use the Yarn Estimator Calculator.
Candidates to compare
Yarn substitute finderBack to High Desert Worsted
Editor's pickCowgirl Blues
Fluffy Mohair
Worsted · 220 yds / 100 g





+4Same Worsted weight · 2% more metres per 100 g · Shared fibres: wool · Surface texture differs. · Fibre composition differs; check drape, stretch and care. · Comparable label tension is unavailable.

Editor's pickMalabrigo
Rios
Worsted · 210 yds / 100 g





+4Same Worsted weight · 3% less metres per 100 g · Shared fibres: wool · Surface texture differs. · Fibre composition differs; check drape, stretch and care. · Comparable label tension is unavailable.


Blue Sky Fibers
Woolstok
Worsted · 123 yds / 50 g





+4Same Worsted weight · 14% more metres per 100 g · Shared fibres: wool · Surface texture differs. · Fibre composition differs; check drape, stretch and care. · Comparable label tension is unavailable.


Schoppel
Alpaka Queen
Aran · 219 yds / 100 g






1% more metres per 100 g · Shared fibres: wool · Surface texture differs. · Fibre composition differs; check drape, stretch and care. · Comparable label tension is unavailable.


Lang Yarns
Donegal Tweed+
Aran · 115 yds / 50 g





+46% more metres per 100 g · Shared fibres: wool · Surface texture differs. · Fibre composition differs; check drape, stretch and care. · Comparable label tension is unavailable.


Madelinetosh
Tosh DK
DK · 228 yds / 112 g





+46% less metres per 100 g · Shared fibres: wool · Surface texture differs. · Fibre composition differs; check drape, stretch and care. · Comparable label tension is unavailable.
Before you swap
- Match the length per 100 g, not just the label. Two yarns sold as Worsted can differ by a fifth in thickness. Compare yards per 100 g, or weigh a length with the yarn weight calculator.
- Make a tension square (gauge swatch). A close match on paper still needs to hit your pattern's stitches per 10 cm (or per 4 inches) after washing before you cast on.
- Buy by total length. Multiply the skeins your pattern asks for by their length, then divide by the new yarn's length per skein.
- Mind the fiber. Cotton and linen have no spring, mohair hides stitch detail, and tweeds and woolen-spun yarns bloom after washing. See the yarn guides by weight and fiber.
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