Cascade 220 yarn substitutes

for Australian knitters and felters

Searching for Cascade 220 yarn substitutes? Cascade 220 wool is a 100% peruvian knitting wool and is often specified for knit-to-felt patterns - particularly those written in the USA.

What readily available - reasonably priced - wool can be substituted, and where could I purchase this Cascade 220 in Australia if I don't want to substitute?

These are two questions aussie knitters find themselves frequently asking.

Substitutes - Panda woolbale ( 8ply equivalent) approx $3.40 50g ball regular price is widely available from most knitting wool stores. Spotlight stores stocked this wool for a while, check with your local store in case they still carry the range.

K-mart Homemaker "Clinker" (8 ply equivalent) felts the same as woolbale $5 for 100g ball. Not in all stores and only in basic colours.

Big W - from time to time stock " Holiday" (8 ply equivalent) approx $3.50 . Again this felts the same as Woolbale and is available in a nice variety of colours. WARNING - read the label look for the "felting" symbol. Big W also stock "Holiday" in acrylic - which doesn't felt, confusing. Make sure you purchase the correct yarn.

Lincraft stores bought out a "feltable" 100% wool yarn last year calling it their "purple label" range, this should have been one of the really good Cascade 220 yarn substitutes.

But this feltable yarn release was not well done. Why? Lincraft also sell a purple coloured label on their other yarns - so check the labels carefully, before you buy. Make sure it states - felting and 100% wool and hand-washable only. We haven't purchased this yarn for felting ourselves.

Bendigo Woollen Mills (Victoria) - stock "Rustic" this is 100% wool, felts beautifully and is available in a nice colour range. Their (8ply equivalent) is a sold in 200g balls $10.70 + $3 postage (for orders under $30) which makes it approximately the same price delivered as the wools from the above stores.

We purchase online from Bendigo mills -

"Rustic" for felted purses and bags instead of cascade 220 wool,

"Harmony" for summer socks

"8 ply cotton" for beach bags and shopping totes.

We've been happy with their secure payment service and fast delivery.

There are obviously other 8ply equivalent 100% wools (non machine washable) you could use but those noted above are the most readily available and reasonable prices yarns we've found.

Cascade 220 yarn - now if you really don't want to substitute, want the exact colour your pattern suggests and are happy to pay more for your project, then www.yarnsonline.com.au could be the site for you - they stock Cascade 220 yarn and are based in Victoria.

The cost is approx A$9.95 per 100g skein. If you don't have a ball winder (or someone willing to hold the skein for you) they will convert it to a ball for you for an additional cost.

We haven't purchased from them ourselves but they do have an online ordering facility. So go ahead and check them out for yourself.

Hopefully the above information has clarified in your mind whether you want to choose Cascade 220 yarn substitutes or stick with the pattern's suggested yarn.

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