Loop yarn sizes: How do they compare?

Loop yarn sizes: How do they compare?

Loop yarn is rapidly becoming a worldwide hobby - but that doesn't mean we all have access to the same loop yarn brands!  

I am frequently asked if customers can use a different brand of loop yarn with my patterns. The answer is usually 'yes', but because different brands can have different size loops and skeins, the results can be a bit unpredictable!

I thought it might be helpful to write a blog post de-mystifying the differences between brands. 

 

Loop yarn strands in various colours and sizes against a white background.

 

There are three variables that you need to consider when converting a loop yarn pattern from one brand to another: The length of your balls, the loop height (this will affect the length of your blanket) and the space between loops (this will impact the width of your blanket).

I've made a chart detailing the dimensions for each yarn brand below. They generally fall into four size categories: 

  • Extra-large:  Bernat Alize EZ-Wool
  • Large: Bernat Alize Blanket-EZ, Alize Puffy
  • Medium: Lion Brand Off The Hook, Red Heart Loop-It
  • Small: Alize Puffy Fine, Alize Puffy More, Bernat Alize Blanket-EZ Graph It

Of note, I have found that Red Heart Loop-It yarns appear to have inconsistent loop sizes - see in the photo below: The loop size of Berry Gorgeous (on the left) is a full 3mm shorter than the loop size of Purr-ple (on the right). Because of this, I definitely recommend measuring your loop size when using this brand to confirm before estimating your results.

 

Two single loops of chenille loop yarn against a white background.

 

Also, many people confuse Alize Puffy and Alize Puffy Fine yarns - there is a big size difference between the two - Alize Puffy is the one that is most similar to Bernat Alize Blanket-EZ; whereas Alize Puffy Fine is much tinier, and most often used for baby blankets, baby clothing and knitted toys.

 

 YARN BRAND Material Skein weight Skein length Loop height Space between loops
Bernat Alize EZ-Wool Wool blend 150g / 5.3oz 10m / 11y 50mm / 2" 10mm / 0.4"
Bernat Alize Blanket-EZ Polyester Chenille 180g / 6.4oz 16m / 18y
40mm / 1.6"
20mm / 0.8"
Alize Puffy Polyester Chenille 100g / 3.5oz 9.2m / 10y 40mm / 1.6" 20mm / 0.8"
Lion Brand Crayola Off The Hook Polyester Chenille 100g / 3.5oz 7m / 8y 40mm / 1.6" 15mm / 0.6"
Lion Brand Off The Hook Polyester Chenille 100g / 3.5oz 7m / 8y
40mm / 1.6"
15mm / 0.6"
Red Heart Loop It Polyester Chenille 100g / 3.5oz 7m / 8y 38-41mm / 1.5-1.6"  15mm / 0.6"
Bernat Alize Blanket-EZ Graph It **NEW**
Polyester Chenille
180g / 6.4oz
14m / 15.3y
25mm / 1"
15mm / 0.6"
Alize Puffy Fine Polyester Chenille 100g / 3.5oz 14m / 15.3y
20mm / 0.8"
15mm / 0.6"
Alize Puffy More Polyester Chenille 150g / 5.3oz 11.5m / 12.6y 20mm / 0.8" 15mm / 0.6"

 

I've included a conversion chart below for the yarns you will find in my patterns. 

To use the chart: Find the yarn brand suggested in the pattern in the 'From' column, then scroll down to the yarn you want to substitute in the 'To' column. The 'Result' column tells you how the pattern dimensions will be affected, and how much more/less skeins of yarn you will need to complete the project as-is.

You can also find a link to our Loop Yarn Conversion Chart at the bottom of this page, along with other useful reference tables. If you'd prefer to print off your own copies of our charts, check out our Loop Yarn Worksheets download.

Conversion Chart

These results are only estimates and because of variations in manufacturing, your results may vary.

 From To Result
Bernat Alize Blanket-EZ Alize Puffy
  • Height: same
  • Width: same
  • Skeins: You will need 80% more skeins 
Lion Brand Off The Hook yarns
  • Height: same
  • Width: 25% narrower
  • Skeins: You will need 120% more skeins 
Red Heart Loop It
  • Height: May be slightly shorter (depends on the colour - size is irregular).
  • Width: 25% narrower
  • Skeins: You will need 120% more skeins
Alize Puffy Fine
  • Height: 50% shorter
  • Width: 25% narrower
  • Skeins: You will need 15% more skeins
Lion Brand Off The Hook yarns Bernat Alize Blanket-EZ
  • Height: same
  • Width: 33% wider
  • Skeins: You will need 55% fewer skeins
Alize Puffy
  • Height: same
  • Width: 33% wider
  • Skeins: You will need 20% fewer skeins
Red Heart Loop It
  • Height: May be slightly shorter (depends on the colour - size is irregular)
  • Width: same
  • Skeins: same
Alize Puffy Fine
  • Height: 50% shorter
  • Width: same
  • Skeins: You will need 100% more skeins
Red Heart Loop It Bernat Alize Blanket-EZ
  • Height: May be slightly longer (Red Heart yarn height is irregular).
  • Width: 33% wider
  • Skeins: You will need 55% fewer skeins
Alize Puffy
  • Height: May be slightly longer (Red Heart yarn height is irregular)
  • Width: 33% wider
  • Skeins: You will need 20% fewer skeins
Lion Brand Off The Hook yarns
  • Height: May be slightly longer (Red Heart yarn height is irregular)
  • Width: same
  • Skeins: same
Alize Puffy Fine
  • Height: up to 50% shorter
  • Width: same
  • Skeins: You will need 100% more skeins
Alize Puffy Bernat Alize Blanket-EZ
  • Height: same
  • Width: same
  • Skeins: You will need 45% fewer skeins
Lion Brand Off The Hook
  • Height: same
  • Width: 25% narrower
  • Skeins: You will need 25% more skeins
Red Heart Loop It
  • Height: May be slightly shorter (depends on the colour - size is irregular).
  • Width: 25% narrower
  • Skeins: You will need 25% more skeins
Alize Puffy Fine
  • Height: 50% shorter
  • Width: 25% narrower
  • Skeins: You will need 50% more skeins
Alize Puffy Fine
Bernat Alize Blanket-EZ
  • Height: 100% taller
  • Width: 33% wider
  • Skeins: You will need 12% fewer skeins
Lion Brand Off The Hook
  • Height: 100% taller
  • Width: same
  • Skeins: You will need 50% fewer skeins
Red Heart Loop It
  • Height: 100% taller
  • Width: same
  • Skeins: You will need 50% fewer skeins
Alize Puffy
  • Height: 100% taller
  • Width: 33% wider
  • Skeins: You will need 33% fewer skeins
Alize Puffy More Bernat Alize Blanket-EZ Graph It  **NEW**
  • Height: 25% taller
  • Width: same
  • Skeins: You will need 15% fewer skeins
Bernat Alize Blanket-EZ Graph It 
**NEW**
Alize Puffy More 
  • Height: 20% shorter
  • Width: same
  • Skeins: You will need 20% more skeins

 

Do you use a different brand of loop yarn? Want to help me make a more extensive resource list?

If you use a brand of loop yarn not shown here, please send me the details in the comment section below or using my contact form!

 

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12 comments

All fixed now – so to confirm, yes, if a pattern calls for 8 balls of Alize Puffy More, 7 skeins of Bernat Graph-It should be plenty!

Reena (ILoveMyBlanket)

Hi Kristen, The mistake is mine! I reversed the direction when I added the directions. Thank you so much for questioning it! I will correct it now.

Reena (ILoveMyBlanket)

Do I misunderstand the conversion between Alize Puffy More and Bernat Alize Blanket-EZ Graph It? If a pattern calls for 8 balls of Alize Puffy More and I will use Bernat Alize Blanket-EZ Graph It, then I should buy 8 × 1.20 = 10 balls? But this can’t be right if the Bernat balls are bigger than the Alize Puffy More balls.

From the pattern sales listing—Currently, the only substitute for [Alize Puffy More] is Bernat Alize Blanket-EZ Graph It yarn, a new product soon to be available in North America. This new yarn will come in larger skeins, so you will need approximately 15% fewer skeins to complete this project as-is.

So I think I’d actually want 7 balls of the Bernat yarn.

Kristen

I have not yet used Himalaya Dolphin Loop myself, so I’m not sure of the size of the loops. When and if I can find that information, I’m happy to add it!

Reena (ILoveMyBlanket)

Can you please let us know how himalaya dolphin loop compares?

Sneha

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