Yarn comparison · data-first
DMC Natura Medium vs Lily Sugar'n Cream Ombres
DMC Natura Medium vs Lily Sugar'n Cream Ombres side by side: 150 vs 154 m per 100 g, fibre, hook, gauge and texture, plus how many balls you need when you swap one for the other.
DMC Natura Medium vs Lily Sugar'n Cream Ombres: specs side by side
86 % Match Score: how closely the second yarn can stand in for the first (density, weight, fibre, texture and hook).
| A DMC Natura Medium | B Lily Sugar'n Cream Ombres | |
|---|---|---|
| CYC weight category | 4 – Medium | 4 – Medium |
| Fibre composition | 100 % cotton | 100 % cotton |
| Ball (grams · meters · yards) | 50 g · 75 m · 82 yd | 85 g · 131 m · 143 yd |
| Linear density (m per 100 g) | 150 m | 154 m |
| Recommended hook | 4 mm | 5 mm |
| Standard gauge 10 × 10 cm | 18 sts × 24 rows | 20 sts in 10 cm |
| Texture / construction | Plied | Plied |
| See DMC Natura Medium colors & stock on Amazon → | See Lily Sugar'n Cream Ombres colors & stock on Amazon → |
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Data from the manufacturers' ball bands. Colour lots and availability vary by store.
Direct ball converter A ↔ B
If your pattern calls for balls of DMC Natura Medium (375 m), you need exactly 3 balls of Lily Sugar'n Cream Ombres.
Exact figure: 2.86 balls, rounded up so you never run short. Add one spare ball for swatching.
Technical verdict: DMC Natura Medium vs Lily Sugar'n Cream Ombres
Weight category, yardage and value per ball
DMC Natura Medium and Lily Sugar'n Cream Ombres 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: DMC Natura Medium gives 150 m per 100 g and Lily Sugar'n Cream Ombres gives 154 m per 100 g. A project that uses 1,000 m of yarn weighs about 667 g in the first and 649 g in the second, so the finished piece will feel equally heavy.
Per ball, DMC Natura Medium holds 75 m in 50 g and Lily Sugar'n Cream Ombres holds 131 m in 85 g. Five balls of DMC Natura Medium (375 m) are replaced by 3 balls of Lily Sugar'n Cream Ombres, and five balls of Lily Sugar'n Cream Ombres (655 m) by 9 balls of DMC Natura Medium. Always convert by length, never by weight or by number of balls.
Drape, fibre and texture
Both yarns share the same fibre family: DMC Natura Medium is 100 % cotton and Lily Sugar'n Cream Ombres 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, DMC Natura Medium and Lily Sugar'n Cream Ombres 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 4 mm for DMC Natura Medium and 5 mm for Lily Sugar'n Cream Ombres, 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: DMC Natura Medium gives 18 stitches and Lily Sugar'n Cream Ombres gives 20 stitches in 10 cm. Over 100 stitches that is about 55.6 cm versus 50 cm, so check your gauge and adjust the hook before starting a fitted piece.
Verdict: can you swap them?
Lily Sugar'n Cream Ombres is a strong substitute for DMC Natura Medium, 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.
Lily Sugar'n Cream Ombres 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 DMC Natura Medium data sheet → Full Lily Sugar'n Cream Ombres data sheet → Calculate yarn for a whole project →
Compare a different pair
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Frequently asked questions
Can I use Lily Sugar'n Cream Ombres instead of DMC Natura Medium?
Yes. Lily Sugar'n Cream Ombres is a strong substitute for DMC Natura Medium (Match Score 86 %). Convert the number of balls by length and work a gauge swatch before you start.
How many balls of Lily Sugar'n Cream Ombres replace 5 balls of DMC Natura Medium?
Five balls of DMC Natura Medium are 375 m of yarn. With 131 m per ball, you need 3 balls of Lily Sugar'n Cream Ombres (rounded up).
Which has more yardage, DMC Natura Medium or Lily Sugar'n Cream Ombres?
Lily Sugar'n Cream Ombres has more yardage per gram (154 m per 100 g) than DMC Natura Medium (150 m per 100 g), so it is the thinner, lighter strand of the two.