Rowan · Fingering weight · 360 yds per 100 g
Island Blend Fine substitutes
Rowan Island Blend Fine is a Fingering-weight 70% wool, 15% silk, 15% alpaca yarn with a smooth finish, 180 yds (165 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rowan Island Blend Fine | Fingering | 360 | 70% Wool, 15% Silk, 15% Alpaca | US 3 | 10 balls | The original |
| Koigu KPPPM | Fingering | 350 | 100% Merino Wool | US 0-3 | 11 balls | Same Fingering / 4 ply / 4ply / sock weight · 3% less metres per 100 g · Shared fibres: wool · Fibre composition differs; check drape, stretch and care. · Comparable label tension is unavailable. |
| Madelinetosh Tosh Merino Light | Fingering | 393 | 100% merino wool | US 1-2 | 5 skeins | Same Fingering / 4 ply / 4ply / sock weight · 9% more metres per 100 g · Shared fibres: wool · Fibre composition differs; check drape, stretch and care. · Comparable label tension is unavailable. |
| Dream in Color Smooshy Cashmere | Fingering | 339 | 70% Superwash Merino Wool, 20% Cashmere, 10% Nylon | US 0-2 | 5 skeins | Same Fingering / 4 ply / 4ply / sock weight · 6% less metres per 100 g · Shared fibres: wool · Fibre composition differs; check drape, stretch and care. · Comparable label tension is unavailable. |
| Dream in Color Smooshy Yak | Fingering | 339 | 80% Superwash Merino Wool, 10% Yak, 10% Nylon | US 0-2 | 5 skeins | Same Fingering / 4 ply / 4ply / sock weight · 6% less metres per 100 g · Shared fibres: wool · 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 | Same Fingering / 4 ply / 4ply / sock weight · 9% less metres per 100 g · Shared fibres: silk · Fibre composition differs; check drape, stretch and care. · Comparable label tension is unavailable. |
| Knit Picks Nova | Sport | 328 | 92% Superfine Alpaca, 8% Mulberry Silk | US 4 - 7 | 11 balls | 9% less metres per 100 g · Shared fibres: silk, alpaca · Fibre composition differs; check drape, stretch and care. · Comparable label tension is unavailable. |
Skein counts cover the same total length as 10 balls of Island Blend Fine (1,800 yds). For your own pattern, use the Yarn Estimator Calculator.
Candidates to compare
Yarn substitute finderBack to Island Blend Fine

Koigu
KPPPM
Fingering · 175 yds / 50 g





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

Editor's pickMadelinetosh
Tosh Merino Light
Fingering · 421 yds / 107 g





+4Same Fingering / 4 ply / 4ply / sock weight · 9% more metres per 100 g · Shared fibres: wool · Fibre composition differs; check drape, stretch and care. · Comparable label tension is unavailable.


Dream in Color
Smooshy Cashmere
Fingering · 400 yds / 118 g





+4Same Fingering / 4 ply / 4ply / sock weight · 6% less metres per 100 g · Shared fibres: wool · Fibre composition differs; check drape, stretch and care. · Comparable label tension is unavailable.


Dream in Color
Smooshy Yak
Fingering · 400 yds / 118 g





+4Same Fingering / 4 ply / 4ply / sock weight · 6% less metres per 100 g · Shared fibres: wool · Fibre composition differs; check drape, stretch and care. · Comparable label tension is unavailable.

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





+4Same Fingering / 4 ply / 4ply / sock weight · 9% less metres per 100 g · Shared fibres: silk · Fibre composition differs; check drape, stretch and care. · Comparable label tension is unavailable.


Knit Picks
Nova
Sport · 164 yds / 50 g





+29% less metres per 100 g · Shared fibres: silk, alpaca · 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 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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