There are some yarns that are simply lovely to knit with, and Ancient Arts Yarns Merino Silk Fingering is one of them. The combination of superwash merino and silk gives you a yarn that is soft, smooth and wonderfully drapey, with just enough sheen from the silk to make stitch patterns feel a little extra special.

But even when you’ve found a yarn you adore, there are plenty of reasons you might need an alternative. Perhaps your local yarn shop doesn’t carry Ancient Arts, the colour you have your heart set on has disappeared, or you simply want to compare a few options before committing to a project.

The good news is that merino-and-silk fingering yarns are not difficult to find, and there are some excellent alternatives that offer very similar yardage, fibre content and knitting characteristics.

Quick Yarn Information

Ancient Arts Yarns lists fingering-weight bases in the 400 m / 437 yd per 100 g range, while Ravelry’s listing for the Merino Silk Fingering base records the 75% merino / 25% silk blend and approximately 28 stitches per 4 inches.

The beauty of this particular blend is that the merino provides softness and elasticity while the silk adds strength, smoothness, subtle shine and lovely drape. That makes it especially appealing for projects where you want the finished fabric to feel luxurious without becoming overly heavy.

A Quick Note

Every knitting project is unique, and while the yarns below have similar characteristics, no substitute is ever an exact match. Before casting on, I always recommend knitting a gauge swatch and considering how differences in fibre, construction, and drape may affect your finished project.

How I Chose These Substitutes

Rather than simply matching yarn weight, I look for yarns with similar fibre content, yardage, gauge, construction, and intended use.

For this particular yarn, I gave extra weight to substitutes containing both merino and silk, especially those close to the original 75/25 blend and approximately 400 m per 100 g. This means you aren’t just swapping one fingering-weight yarn for another—you’re looking for a similar fabric and knitting experience.

You may still need to make small adjustments, particularly if the substitute is plied differently or has a slightly different amount of drape, but these recommendations should give you a very good starting point.

Best Yarn Substitutes for Ancient Arts Yarns Merino Silk Fingering

• Dye For Yarn – Fingering Merino / Silk
• Eden Cottage Yarns – Titus 4ply
• La Fee Fil – Mérinos et Soie Fingering
• Wollelfe – Merino Silk Fingering
• La Pelote Vegabond – Journey
• Schmusewolle – Seidnehimmel Delux Sockenwolle
• Honey Girl Farms – Silky Sock
• Sundara Yarn – Extra Fine Fingering Silky Merino
• Arcoiris Yarns – Silkwalker
• Sheep on Mars – 4 Ply Merino Silk

Patterns That Use Ancient Arts Yarns Merino Silk Fingering

If you already have this yarn in your stash—or you’ve decided on one of the substitutes above—you might be wondering what to knit with it.

• Alessia: This shawl was designed specifically to showcase the beautiful combination of lace, texture, and twisted stitches in this smooth merino-silk blend. The silk adds lovely drape and a subtle sheen, while the merino provides excellent stitch definition.
• Ursula: Cables, eyelets, and lacework give this shawl plenty of texture for the yarn to show off. The smooth merino-silk blend works particularly well here, allowing the stitch patterns to remain crisp while giving the finished shawl beautiful drape. Ursula was originally designed using Ancient Arts Merino Silk Fingering in the Under the Sea colourway.
• Victoria: The combination of merino and silk makes this a lovely choice for Victoria, particularly if you’re looking for a soft, lightweight shawl with plenty of drape. The smooth yarn helps the stitchwork stand out without overwhelming the design.
• Penelope: This shawl is another lovely way to use a merino-silk fingering yarn. The blend gives the finished fabric softness and fluidity while still providing enough stitch definition to show off the design.

Looking for more inspiration? Browse the full collection of sock, shawl, hat, cowl, and mitten patterns.

Tips for Choosing the Right Substitute

• Match the fibre content whenever possible.
• Pay attention to total yardage, not just skein count.
• Remember that silk adds drape, smoothness and a little sheen to the finished fabric.
• A merino/silk blend will behave differently from a merino/nylon sock yarn, even when the yardage is almost identical.
• Plied and singles yarns can create noticeably different fabrics.
• Superwash and non-superwash yarns behave differently.
• Plant, animal, and synthetic fibres all create different fabrics.
• Knit a gauge swatch before starting your project.
• Consider the intended use of the finished item.
• For hand-dyed yarns, consider buying enough yarn from the same dyelot whenever possible.

One final little reminder: yardage is more useful than skein count when substituting yarn. If your pattern calls for 700 yards / 640 metres, for example, you need to make sure your substitute gives you at least that much yarn—not simply buy the same number of skeins.

Looking for More Options?

If none of these yarns are quite what you’re looking for, both Yarnsub.com and Ravelry.com maintain extensive yarn databases that can help you discover additional alternatives.

Your local yarn shop can also be an excellent resource. They’re often familiar with regional yarns and may be able to recommend substitutes that suit both your project and your budget while introducing you to wonderful independent dyers.

And if you’re lucky enough to have a local indie dyer, don’t be afraid to ask what merino/silk bases they carry. Sometimes the perfect substitute is hiding much closer to home than you expect.

Learn More

• How to Substitute Yarn Successfully
• Sock Yarn Guide
• Caring for Merino Wool
• Canadian Yarn Dyers
• Yarn Weight Guide

Disclaimer

The yarns recommended in this guide are suggestions based on fibre content, yarn weight, yardage, gauge, construction, and intended use. While every effort has been made to recommend comparable alternatives, they have not all been personally tested as direct substitutes, and results may vary depending on your project and knitting style.

rhyFlower Knits is not affiliated with the yarn manufacturers, dyers, or retailers mentioned in this guide and cannot provide information about their stock availability, colourways, pricing, or business operations. For questions about a specific yarn or company, please contact the manufacturer or retailer directly.