US pattern, UK wool
Hobby Lobby I Love This Yarn UK substitute
For solid Hobby Lobby I Love This Yarn, compare Paintbox Simply Aran and Stylecraft Special Aran. The original’s 355 yd is about 325 m, so two 100 g balls of either UK yarn replace one US ball by length.
I Love This Yarn: the verified original specifications
| Fibre | 100% acrylic |
|---|---|
| Weight | 4 Medium / Worsted (US category) |
| Ball and length | 198.4 g / 324.6 m (355 yd) |
| Recommended hook / needles | 5.5 mm / 5 mm |
| Tension | Crochet: 12 UK dc (US sc) × 15 rows; Knit: 18 sts × 23 rows per 4 in (10.16 cm) |
| Care | Machine wash warm; machine dry; no ironing or bleach; dry clean any solvent |
The checked solid Tropical Pink listing gives 7 oz, about 198 g, and 355 yd, converted here as 324.612 m before rounding purchases. A UK 100 g ball is roughly half the original weight, but length is the calculation that matters.
The source labels warm machine wash and machine drying without a Celsius value. We keep that wording rather than guessing a temperature. Printed or speciality variants need their own specifications and quantities.
Which UK alternative fits your project?
Closer acrylic by length: Paintbox Simply Aran
The 184 m per 100 g ball stays nearer this original’s length-to-weight ratio than Special Aran. Its 18-stitch knitting reference is a separate check; crochet tension still needs a square.
Another acrylic aran: Stylecraft Special Aran
A 196 m per 100 g ball gives a longer shopping length. It is not a claim of a lower current price or an identical handle.
| UK yarn / use | Fibre | Weight | Ball / length | Hook / needles | Knitting tension | Care |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paintbox Simply Aran Closer acrylic by length | 100% acrylic | Aran | 100 g / 184 m | 5 mm / 5 mm | 18 stitches × 24 rows per 10 cm | Machine wash 30°C; low tumble dry; cool iron; do not bleach; dry clean in specified solvents |
| Stylecraft Special Aran Another acrylic aran | 100% acrylic | Aran | 100 g / 196 m | 5 mm / 5 mm | 18 stitches × 24 rows per 10 cm | Machine wash 30°C; cool tumble dry; cool iron; may dry clean |
How many UK balls replace the US skeins?
| Original quantity | Total metres | Paintbox Simply Aran | Stylecraft Special Aran |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 US ball | 324.6 m | 2 × 100 g balls | 2 × 100 g balls |
| 2 US balls | 649.2 m | 4 × 100 g balls | 4 × 100 g balls |
| 3 US balls | 973.8 m | 6 × 100 g balls | 5 × 100 g balls |
| 4 US balls | 1,298.4 m | 8 × 100 g balls | 7 × 100 g balls |
Original balls × metres per original ball ÷ metres per UK ball, rounded up. Use the yarn substitution calculator for your own pattern. Calculate each colour separately; rounding one original ball and multiplying that shopping count can buy too much.
Texture, drape, colour and when to keep the original
These picks compare published specifications. We have not handled them together, so we cannot promise the same softness, sheen or drape. Make a square in the pattern’s stitch and compare stitches, rows and the washed fabric. For a fitted garment, check finished measurements as well as the weight name. If the square cannot match both dimensions with a fabric you like, keep the original or choose a pattern written for the UK yarn.
Choose colours from the actual retailer’s range; a similarly named shade is not a dye match. Keep colours and dye lots consistent within the project. Changing fibre or a special finish changes the result: acrylic is not a substitute for untreated wool in a felting pattern, and smooth acrylic does not reproduce chenille’s pile. Give a gift recipient the replacement’s care instructions.
Sources and scope
- Hobby Lobby I Love This Yarn: original specification
- Paintbox Simply Aran: manufacturer or retailer specification
- Stylecraft Special Aran: manufacturer or retailer specification
Two named options, not a full UK market ranking. “Closer” means only the stated comparison, not identical performance. Current prices and stock are checked at the destination; no Amazon prices or star ratings are copied here.