Knit Picks · Sport weight · 328 yds per 100 g
Nova substitutes
Knit Picks Nova is a Sport-weight 92% superfine alpaca, 8% mulberry silk yarn with a smooth finish, 164 yds (150 m) per 50 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 balls | How it compares |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Knit Picks Nova | Sport | 328 | 92% Superfine Alpaca, 8% Mulberry Silk | US 4 - 7 | 10 balls | The original |
| Lang Yarns Classic Silk | Sport | 328 | 70% Mulberry Silk, 30% Extra fine Virgin Merino | US 4-6 | 10 balls | Same Sport weight · 0% more metres per 100 g · Shared fibres: mulberry, silk · Fibre composition differs; check drape, stretch and care. · Comparable label tension is unavailable. |
| Symfonie Serra | Sport | 328 | 80% Extrafine Merino, 20% Alpaca | US 2.5-4 | 5 skeins | Same Sport weight · 0% more metres per 100 g · Shared fibres: alpaca · Fibre composition differs; check drape, stretch and care. · Comparable label tension is unavailable. |
| Schoppel Cashmere Zauber | Sport | 306 | 80% Virgin Wool and 20% Cashmere | US 4-7 | 11 balls | Same Sport weight · 7% less metres per 100 g · Fibre composition differs; check drape, stretch and care. · Comparable label tension is unavailable. |
| Madelinetosh Pashmina | Fingering | 328 | 75% Merino, 15% Silk, 10% Cashmere | US 3-5 | 5 skeins | 0% more metres per 100 g · Shared fibres: silk · Fibre composition differs; check drape, stretch and care. · Comparable label tension is unavailable. |
| Lang Yarns Baby Alpaca | Sport | 372 | 100% Baby Alpaca - Easywash - Anti-felting finish | US 2.5 | 9 balls | Same Sport weight · 13% more metres per 100 g · Shared fibres: alpaca · Fibre composition differs; check drape, stretch and care. · Comparable label tension is unavailable. |
| Rowan Island Blend Fine | Fingering | 360 | 70% Wool, 15% Silk, 15% Alpaca | US 3 | 10 balls | 10% more metres per 100 g · Shared fibres: alpaca, silk · Fibre composition differs; check drape, stretch and care. · Comparable label tension is unavailable. |
Skein counts cover the same total length as 10 balls of Nova (1,640 yds). For your own pattern, use the Yarn Estimator Calculator.
Candidates to compare
Yarn substitute finderBack to Nova

Lang Yarns
Classic Silk
Sport · 164 yds / 50 g





+4Same Sport weight · 0% more metres per 100 g · Shared fibres: mulberry, silk · Fibre composition differs; check drape, stretch and care. · Comparable label tension is unavailable.


Symfonie
Serra
Sport · 328 yds / 100 g





+4Same Sport weight · 0% more metres per 100 g · Shared fibres: alpaca · Fibre composition differs; check drape, stretch and care. · Comparable label tension is unavailable.


Schoppel
Cashmere Zauber
Sport · 153 yds / 50 g





Same Sport weight · 7% less metres per 100 g · Fibre composition differs; check drape, stretch and care. · Comparable label tension is unavailable.

Editor's pickMadelinetosh
Pashmina
Fingering · 371 yds / 113 g





+40% more metres per 100 g · Shared fibres: silk · Fibre composition differs; check drape, stretch and care. · Comparable label tension is unavailable.


Lang Yarns
Baby Alpaca
Sport · 186 yds / 50 g





+4Same Sport weight · 13% more metres per 100 g · Shared fibres: alpaca · Fibre composition differs; check drape, stretch and care. · Comparable label tension is unavailable.


Rowan
Island Blend Fine
Fingering · 180 yds / 50 g





+410% more metres per 100 g · Shared fibres: alpaca, silk · 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 Sport 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 balls your pattern asks for by their length, then divide by the new yarn's length per ball.
- 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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