DROPS Alaska vs DROPS Big Merino

Technical verdict: DROPS Alaska vs DROPS Big Merino

Weight category, yardage and value per ball

DROPS Alaska and DROPS Big Merino 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.

DROPS Big Merino is the longer yarn per gram, with 150 m per 100 g against 140 m per 100 g for DROPS Alaska, a difference of 7 %. For the same 1,000 m of yarn, the project weighs about 714 g in DROPS Alaska and 667 g in DROPS Big Merino. 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, DROPS Alaska holds 70 m in 50 g and DROPS Big Merino holds 75 m in 50 g. Five balls of DROPS Alaska (350 m) are replaced by 5 balls of DROPS Big Merino, and five balls of DROPS Big Merino (375 m) by 6 balls of DROPS Alaska. Always convert by length, never by weight or by number of balls.

Drape, fibre and texture

DROPS Alaska is 100 % wool. Wool is elastic and warm and keeps its shape well; it blocks easily and forgives uneven tension, but non-superwash wool can felt with heat and agitation.

DROPS Big Merino, on the other hand, is 100 % wool. Merino is soft, warm and elastic: it blocks beautifully and recovers after stretching, which makes it a classic for garments and baby items; non-superwash merino must be washed by hand to avoid felting.

With such similar density, DROPS Alaska and DROPS Big Merino 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

Both ball bands recommend the same hook, 5 mm, so you can start your swatch with the hook size the pattern already calls for.

Both labels give the same reference gauge of 17 stitches in 10 cm, a strong sign that a pattern will come out the same size with either yarn.

Verdict: can you swap them?

DROPS Big Merino is a strong substitute for DROPS Alaska, with a Match Score of 89 %. Convert by length with the calculator above, work a quick swatch, and most patterns will need no other changes.

DROPS Big Merino 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 DROPS Alaska data sheet → Full DROPS Big Merino data sheet → Calculate yarn for a whole project →