McIntosh · Fingering weight · 437 yds per 100 g

Bluefaced Leicester 4-Ply substitutes

McIntosh Bluefaced Leicester 4-Ply is a Fingering-weight 100% british bluefaced leicester wool yarn with a smooth finish, 437 yds (400 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
McIntosh Bluefaced Leicester 4-Ply	Fingering	437	100% British Bluefaced Leicester Wool	US 4	10 skeins	The original
McIntosh Fabulous 4-Ply	Fingering	437	55% British Bluefaced Leicester Wool, 45% Grade A Mulberry Silk	US 4	10 skeins	Same Fingering / 4 ply / 4ply / sock weight · 0% more metres per 100 g · Shared fibres: british, bluefaced, leicester, wool · Label tension ranges overlap · Fibre composition differs; check drape, stretch and care.
Symfonie Terra	Fingering	437	75% Superwash Extrafine Merino Wool and 25% Polyamide	US 1-3	10 skeins	Same Fingering / 4 ply / 4ply / sock weight · 0% more metres per 100 g · Shared fibres: wool · Label tension ranges overlap · Fibre composition differs; check drape, stretch and care.
Scheepjes Metropolis	Fingering	438	75% Extra Fine Merino Wool, 25% Nylon	US 1-2.5	20 balls	Same Fingering / 4 ply / 4ply / sock weight · 0% more metres per 100 g · Shared fibres: wool · Fibre composition differs; check drape, stretch and care. · Label tension differs by 1 stitches per 10 cm.
Schoppel Zauberball	Fingering	437	75% Virgin Wool and 25% Biodegradable Nylon	US 0-2.5	10 skeins	Same Fingering / 4 ply / 4ply / sock weight · 0% more metres per 100 g · Shared fibres: wool · Fibre composition differs; check drape, stretch and care. · Label tension differs by 2 stitches per 10 cm.
Malabrigo Mechita	Fingering	420	100% Superwash Merino Wool	US 1-2	11 skeins	Same Fingering / 4 ply / 4ply / sock weight · 4% less metres per 100 g · Shared fibres: wool · Fibre composition differs; check drape, stretch and care. · Comparable label tension is unavailable.
Urth Yarns Uneek Fingering	Fingering	435	100% Extrafine Merino	US 1-3	11 skeins	Same Fingering / 4 ply / 4ply / sock weight · 1% less metres per 100 g · Fibre composition differs; check drape, stretch and care. · Comparable label tension is unavailable.

Skein counts cover the same total length as 10 skeins of Bluefaced Leicester 4-Ply (4,370 yds). For your own pattern, use the Yarn Estimator Calculator.

Candidates to compare

Yarn substitute finder Back to Bluefaced Leicester 4-Ply

McIntosh

Fabulous 4-Ply

Fingering · 437 yds / 100 g

$32

Same Fingering / 4 ply / 4ply / sock weight · 0% more metres per 100 g · Shared fibres: british, bluefaced, leicester, wool · Label tension ranges overlap · Fibre composition differs; check drape, stretch and care.

Symfonie

Terra

Fingering · 437 yds / 100 g

$22

Same Fingering / 4 ply / 4ply / sock weight · 0% more metres per 100 g · Shared fibres: wool · Label tension ranges overlap · Fibre composition differs; check drape, stretch and care.

Scheepjes

Metropolis

Fingering · 219 yds / 50 g

$11

Same Fingering / 4 ply / 4ply / sock weight · 0% more metres per 100 g · Shared fibres: wool · Fibre composition differs; check drape, stretch and care. · Label tension differs by 1 stitches per 10 cm.

Schoppel

Zauberball

Fingering · 437 yds / 100 g

$19

Same Fingering / 4 ply / 4ply / sock weight · 0% more metres per 100 g · Shared fibres: wool · Fibre composition differs; check drape, stretch and care. · Label tension differs by 2 stitches per 10 cm.

Malabrigo

Mechita

Fingering · 420 yds / 100 g

$22.50

Same Fingering / 4 ply / 4ply / sock weight · 4% less metres per 100 g · Shared fibres: wool · Fibre composition differs; check drape, stretch and care. · Comparable label tension is unavailable.

Urth Yarns

Uneek Fingering

Fingering · 435 yds / 100 g

$28.50

Same Fingering / 4 ply / 4ply / sock weight · 1% less metres per 100 g · 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 Fingering 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.

All Fingering yarn

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