Cascade Yarns Cherub Aran vs Red Heart Unforgettable

Technical verdict: Cascade Yarns Cherub Aran vs Red Heart Unforgettable

Weight category, yardage and value per ball

Cascade Yarns Cherub Aran and Red Heart Unforgettable 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.

Red Heart Unforgettable is the longer yarn per gram, with 247 m per 100 g against 220 m per 100 g for Cascade Yarns Cherub Aran, a difference of 12 %. For the same 1,000 m of yarn, the project weighs about 455 g in Cascade Yarns Cherub Aran 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, Cascade Yarns Cherub Aran holds 220 m in 100 g and Red Heart Unforgettable holds 247 m in 100 g. Five balls of Cascade Yarns Cherub Aran (1,100 m) are replaced by 5 balls of Red Heart Unforgettable, and five balls of Red Heart Unforgettable (1,235 m) by 6 balls of Cascade Yarns Cherub Aran. Always convert by length, never by weight or by number of balls.

Drape, fibre and texture

Cascade Yarns Cherub Aran is 55 % nylon, 45 % acrylic. The nylon content adds strength and abrasion resistance, so the yarn holds up to washing and wear in socks, toys and hard-wearing pieces.

Red Heart Unforgettable, on the other hand, is 100 % acrylic. 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.

Within the same weight class, Red Heart Unforgettable has noticeably more meters per gram, so its fabric will be lighter and drape more softly, while Cascade Yarns Cherub Aran will feel denser and more structured. Choose the lighter one for shawls, tops and baby items, and the denser one for bags, amigurumi and pieces that must hold their shape.

Their construction differs: Cascade Yarns Cherub Aran (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 5–6 mm for Cascade Yarns Cherub Aran and 6 mm for Red Heart Unforgettable. The ranges overlap at 6 mm, which is the safest hook to start a test swatch for either yarn.

Their reference gauges differ: Cascade Yarns Cherub Aran gives 18 stitches and Red Heart Unforgettable gives 19 stitches in 10 cm. Over 100 stitches that is about 55.6 cm versus 52.6 cm, so check your gauge and adjust the hook before starting a fitted piece.

Verdict: can you swap them?

Cascade Yarns Cherub Aran 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.

Red Heart Unforgettable gives more meters per ball, so you will usually buy fewer balls. Red Heart Unforgettable makes the lighter fabric; Cascade Yarns Cherub Aran makes the denser one.

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 Cascade Yarns Cherub Aran data sheet → Full Red Heart Unforgettable data sheet → Calculate yarn for a whole project →