Bernat Handicrafter Cotton vs DMC Natura Medium

Technical verdict: Bernat Handicrafter Cotton vs DMC Natura Medium

Weight category, yardage and value per ball

Bernat Handicrafter Cotton and DMC Natura Medium are both Medium (CYC 4) yarns, so on paper they are interchangeable in the same patterns. The weight class only tells half the story, though: the ball band data below shows how much they really differ in thickness, yardage and behaviour once they are on the hook.

Their linear density is practically identical: Bernat Handicrafter Cotton gives 146 m per 100 g and DMC Natura Medium gives 150 m per 100 g. A project that uses 1,000 m of yarn weighs about 685 g in the first and 667 g in the second, so the finished piece will feel equally heavy.

Per ball, Bernat Handicrafter Cotton holds 73 m in 50 g and DMC Natura Medium holds 75 m in 50 g. Five balls of Bernat Handicrafter Cotton (365 m) are replaced by 5 balls of DMC Natura Medium, and five balls of DMC Natura Medium (375 m) by 6 balls of Bernat Handicrafter Cotton. Always convert by length, never by weight or by number of balls.

Drape, fibre and texture

Both yarns share the same fibre family: Bernat Handicrafter Cotton is 100 % cotton and DMC Natura Medium is 100 % cotton, so they wash, block and wear in a similar way. Cotton is inelastic and absorbent: stitches look crisp and defined, the fabric holds its shape in amigurumi, bags and dishcloths, but garments can feel heavy and stretch downwards when wet.

With such similar density, Bernat Handicrafter Cotton and DMC Natura Medium will give fabrics of comparable weight and drape at the same gauge; any difference in hand will come mainly from the fibre.

They also share the same construction (Plied), so stitch definition and the way the yarn behaves on the hook should feel familiar when you switch.

Hook size and gauge

The ball bands recommend 5 mm for Bernat Handicrafter Cotton and 4 mm for DMC Natura Medium, with no hook size in common. Substituting one for the other will change the fabric, so swatch with each yarn's own hook and recalculate your stitch counts.

Their reference gauges differ: Bernat Handicrafter Cotton gives 20 stitches and DMC Natura Medium gives 18 stitches in 10 cm. Over 100 stitches that is about 50 cm versus 55.6 cm, so check your gauge and adjust the hook before starting a fitted piece.

Verdict: can you swap them?

DMC Natura Medium is a strong substitute for Bernat Handicrafter Cotton, with a Match Score of 86 %. Convert by length with the calculator above, work a quick swatch, and most patterns will need no other changes.

DMC Natura Medium gives more meters per ball, so you will usually buy fewer balls.

Whichever you choose, buy all the balls for a project from the same dye lot and keep the ball band for its care instructions.

Full Bernat Handicrafter Cotton data sheet → Full DMC Natura Medium data sheet → Calculate yarn for a whole project →