DROPS Alpaca vs EuroRoma Fiore

Technical verdict: DROPS Alpaca vs EuroRoma Fiore

Weight category, yardage and value per ball

DROPS Alpaca is a Super Fine (CYC 1) yarn while EuroRoma Fiore is a Lace (CYC 0) 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.

DROPS Alpaca is the longer yarn per gram, with 334 m per 100 g against 322 m per 100 g for EuroRoma Fiore, a difference of 4 %. For the same 1,000 m of yarn, the project weighs about 299 g in DROPS Alpaca and 311 g in EuroRoma Fiore. 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 Alpaca holds 167 m in 50 g and EuroRoma Fiore holds 322 m in 100 g. Five balls of DROPS Alpaca (835 m) are replaced by 3 balls of EuroRoma Fiore, and five balls of EuroRoma Fiore (1,610 m) by 10 balls of DROPS Alpaca. Always convert by length, never by weight or by number of balls.

Drape, fibre and texture

DROPS Alpaca is 100 % alpaca. Alpaca is warmer than wool and has a beautiful drape and halo; it has little memory, so fitted pieces can grow with wear and are best blocked flat.

EuroRoma Fiore, on the other hand, is 85 % cotton, 15 % other fibres. 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.

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 3 mm for DROPS Alpaca and 2 mm for EuroRoma Fiore, 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.

At least one manufacturer does not publish a reference gauge, so work a 12 × 12 cm swatch with your usual hook before comparing sizes.

Verdict: can you swap them?

DROPS Alpaca and EuroRoma Fiore 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.

EuroRoma Fiore 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 Alpaca data sheet → Full EuroRoma Fiore data sheet → Calculate yarn for a whole project →