My Favourite Yarn Substitute for the Sunday Cardigan Mohair Edition by PetiteKnit
When someone came into the shop wanting to knit the Sunday Cardigan Mohair Edition by PetiteKnit, she had one hesitation.
The pattern uses three strands of laceweight mohair held together throughout the entire cardigan.
Now, that's not necessarily a bad thing. The fabric it creates is beautiful. But if you've never knitted with multiple strands before, managing three balls of yarn at once can feel a bit daunting. It also makes it a fairly expensive project.
So we started wondering if there was another way to create a similar fabric.
I had an idea.
What if we used Alpaca Yarns Halo, a fluffy DK-Aran weight 100% alpaca yarn, as the main yarn and held it together with just one strand of laceweight instead?
We knitted a swatch, blocked it, checked the gauge... and it worked.
Really well.
Since then, quite a few customers have knitted the Sunday Cardigan Mohair Edition this way, and it's become one of my favourite substitutions for this pattern.
The yarn combination
For this version I use:
- 1 strand of Alpaca Yarns Halo
- 1 strand of laceweight yarn
For the laceweight, we've had beautiful results with:
- Lana Grossa Setasuri
- Silky Kid
- Kid Cotton
Each gives the cardigan a slightly different look, but they all work beautifully with Halo.
Why I like this combination
For me, there are a few advantages.
You're only managing two strands instead of three, which makes the knitting feel much less fiddly.
It's more affordable than buying three strands of laceweight.
And I love the finished fabric. Halo gives the cardigan that lovely soft, airy look, while the laceweight strand adds just enough halo and structure without changing the character of the design.
One important note
This is something I've tested specifically for the Sunday Cardigan Mohair Edition.
I wouldn't automatically use the same substitution for the Sunday Sweater Mohair Edition or every PetiteKnit mohair pattern. (because these hav difference guages)
Even when patterns look similar, the construction, shaping and gauge can be different enough that a substitution which works beautifully in one doesn't necessarily work in another.
That's why I always think about the finished fabric first, rather than simply matching yarn weights.
How much yarn will you need?
The original pattern gives the total metreage needed for three strands of laceweight yarn held together. To work out this version, I've used one third of that metreage for Halo and one third for the laceweight strand.
| Size | Alpaca Yarns Halo (150 m balls) | Laceweight (210 m balls) |
|---|---|---|
| XS | 5 balls | 3 balls |
| S | 5 balls | 4 balls |
| M | 5 balls | 4 balls |
| L | 5-6 balls | 4 balls |
| XL | 6 balls | 4 balls |
| 2XL | 6 balls | 4 balls |
| 3XL | 6 balls | 4 balls |
| 4XL | 7 balls | 5 balls |
| 5XL | 7 balls | 5 balls |
These quantities are based on the metreage given in the original PetiteKnit pattern. As always, make sure you knit and block a gauge swatch before starting your cardigan.
Choosing colours
One of the lovely things about this combination is the number of colour options.
Halo has beautiful depth on its own, but changing the laceweight colour can completely change the finished look. You can keep the two yarns similar for a soft, blended fabric, or add a little contrast to create more depth.
I'll add some of my favourite colour combinations below to give you a few ideas.
Thinking about knitting one?
If you're planning to knit the Sunday Cardigan Mohair Edition and would like to try this substitution, we're always happy to help.
We can help you choose colours, work out quantities, and make sure you've got everything you need before you cast on.
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