Bernat Softee Baby vs Red Heart Unforgettable

Technical verdict: Bernat Softee Baby vs Red Heart Unforgettable

Weight category, yardage and value per ball

Bernat Softee Baby is a Light (CYC 3) yarn while Red Heart Unforgettable is a Medium (CYC 4) yarn. Because they sit in different weight categories, a pattern written for one will not give the same size, gauge or drape with the other unless you change the hook and rework the stitch counts after a swatch.

Red Heart Unforgettable is the longer yarn per gram, with 247 m per 100 g against 236 m per 100 g for Bernat Softee Baby, a difference of 4 %. For the same 1,000 m of yarn, the project weighs about 423 g in Bernat Softee Baby and 405 g in Red Heart Unforgettable. A lower m/100 g figure means a thicker or denser strand, so the heavier yarn will also make a slightly thicker, warmer fabric.

Per ball, Bernat Softee Baby holds 331 m in 140 g and Red Heart Unforgettable holds 247 m in 100 g. Five balls of Bernat Softee Baby (1,655 m) are replaced by 7 balls of Red Heart Unforgettable, and five balls of Red Heart Unforgettable (1,235 m) by 4 balls of Bernat Softee Baby. Always convert by length, never by weight or by number of balls.

Drape, fibre and texture

Both yarns share the same fibre family: Bernat Softee Baby is 100 % acrylic and Red Heart Unforgettable is 100 % acrylic, so they wash, block and wear in a similar way. Acrylic is light, affordable and machine-washable; it hides small tension changes and suits blankets and everyday pieces, but heat relaxes it permanently, so it should not be ironed.

Their construction differs: Bernat Softee Baby (Plied) versus Red Heart Unforgettable (Roving). This changes stitch definition and how easy it is to see your stitches, so expect a different look even at the same gauge.

Hook size and gauge

The ball bands recommend 4 mm for Bernat Softee Baby and 6 mm for Red Heart Unforgettable, 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 Softee Baby gives 22 stitches and Red Heart Unforgettable gives 19 stitches in 10 cm. Over 100 stitches that is about 45.5 cm versus 52.6 cm, so check your gauge and adjust the hook before starting a fitted piece.

Verdict: can you swap them?

Bernat Softee Baby and Red Heart Unforgettable are not direct substitutes for each other. They can still work in forgiving projects such as blankets or scarves, but for garments and amigurumi choose a yarn with a closer Match Score.

Bernat Softee Baby 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 Softee Baby data sheet → Full Red Heart Unforgettable data sheet → Calculate yarn for a whole project →