Try using a sport weight or thinner yarn and see how close you come to the gauge. I wonder if baby or fingering yarn might work.

I think it's a thicker yarn that that....can't imagine anything knit of baby yarn on number 10 needles.
I would try worstead weight....and if that doesn't do it....go to a larger needle.

Linda C

I agree with the needle size matching the yarn size, Linda, but to me 7 stitches to the inch is the question. I am only guessing, but I think you would get fewer stitches to the inch with worsted or fatter yarn. Anyhow, the gauge is the answer to the question.

Patons have a "yarn switcher" facility in which you can select an approximate gauge and it gives you the available yarns.

It might also be worth contacting them and requesting an equivalent.

Here is a link that might be useful: http://www.patonsyarns.com/

That tension indicates it is a chunky weight yarn, so anything that gets that gauge (generally about 15-16 sts per 4 inches) should work. Paton's still produces Shetland Chunky, a acrylic/wool blend that is the present form of Beehive yarn. It's a nice yarn btw, washes and wears well, so might be a good substitute for the Chieftan.

Good luck!

Confirming Crazyknitter's posting, Lily's Yarn Weight chart lists "chunky weight" at 15 stitches x 20 rows over a 10cm square on 6mm (US size 10) needles.

Now, if I could only find what I'm looking for - a chart that gives a comparison between US yarns described by "weight" with Australian yarns which are described by "ply". I'd love to knit up some of those fabulous patterns that I've downloaded.

Hi Wombat,
The link below will be useful for you. Ir's from an online Canadian retailer.
Happy knitting!

Here is a link that might be useful: Yarn Forward gauge info

She says 7 stitches to TWO inches.
As for switching yarns....make as watch and check your gauge....
Linda C

Greetings from Canada! I am an avid knitter, but seem to hang around those lovely people at the care givers forum! anyways can you believe your question haunted me - lol so i have spent the better part of an hour in my "junk" room (crafting room, but it's to messy to call it that!) just to find an old chieftan yarn pattern of which i have many and also for a ball of paton's craft yarN - call me crazy but we knitters have to stick together! these yarns are "bulky weight" yarns as i am looking at 2 yellow balls right now. i will tell you that when my kids were little and because of the cost of bulky yarn (i think it was a whole 1.85 for 50 grams!), i would buy double the amount of worstedweight yarn and use 2 strand instead of one. i also have tons of mary maxim patterns - they are grafted patterns and they seem to have used - sports, figures, sesame street, and pictures of cars etc. these patterns are also knitted mostly with bulky yarns too, if you see these when you are out and about, snap them up they are hard to find and are real jems! if you have any other problems with canadian patterns, feel free to contact me, i'd love to help you out! debbie

Lindac, 7 stitches to 2 inches would work out at around 14 stitches to 4 inches. And Rominda has the pattern, not the yarn. She'll have to buy that before she can knit a swatch.

Thank you for that link, Crazyknitter. Just what I wanted. You sound pretty experienced so ... I have a pattern for a felted article using 2 strands "Knitting Worsted Weight Wool" (4 ply according to Yarn Forward). Could I use 1 strand of Double Knitting (8 ply)? Or should I use another thin wool with it?

Hi Wombat,

I don't think that would work, as double knit or dk weight yarn (22 sts/10 cm) is actually thinner than the worsted weight(20 sts/10cm). Remember that there are two different meanings for 4 ply; in the UK, it is used to refer to a yarn that knits up 28sts/10 cm, but in the US it refers to the worsted weight (20 sts/10 cm).

Is your pattern a US one? I'm assuming it is. If that's the case, Your best bet for a substitute to using two strands of your 10 ply, which appears to be the Aussie equivalent to worsted weight. You could probably get away with using a dk/8 ply weight yarn if you went up a needle size or two. Just be sure to do a tension swatch first.

If you wanted to use a single strand of yarn, try a chunky weight yarn (tension of about 14 to 16 sts per 10cm/4inches) which I believe for you is a 14 ply. You're best bet is to go by the tension given in the pattern. Something like Cleckheaton's Merino Supreme might work.

BTW, if you're ever wondering what the tension of a yarn would be when using it double-stranded, multiply the tension achieved by a single strand by .7 . For a example, the tension of a double strand of worsted weight which knits single strand to a tension of 20 sts/10 cm would be 20 x .7, or 14 sts/10 cm.

If you have a link to the pattern, give it to us and we might be able to help.

Oops, I did read it wrong--as said on Saturday Night Live, Never Mind!

Romida: the chieftain wool - is 100% wool and the craft yarn is acrylic yarn. i also noticed you are from ontario, me too, but in northern ontario. perhaps you could check out lewiscraft or michaels or even wal-mart, just to check out the plys. goodluck with your quest!

Knitting Worsted/Knitting Worsted Weight - Good grief!! Apparently I can use 2 strands of Patons Classic (10 ply?). Patons Australia don't have it - they don't go thicker than 8 ply. I'm throwing in the towel and looking for another pattern.

anyone have a pattern for sesame street sweater? Thanks so much! Michelle rworobow@aol.com

Wombat, try 2 strands of the DK weight yarn that you have and do a gauge swatch. It should work. I am in the USA and have been told that 2 strands DK are approx. equivilant to worsted weight.

Tami