DROPS Cotton Light vs DROPS Lima

Technical verdict: DROPS Cotton Light vs DROPS Lima

Weight category, yardage and value per ball

DROPS Cotton Light and DROPS Lima are both Light (CYC 3) 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 Cotton Light is the longer yarn per gram, with 210 m per 100 g against 200 m per 100 g for DROPS Lima, a difference of 5 %. For the same 1,000 m of yarn, the project weighs about 476 g in DROPS Cotton Light and 500 g in DROPS Lima. 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 Cotton Light holds 105 m in 50 g and DROPS Lima holds 100 m in 50 g. Five balls of DROPS Cotton Light (525 m) are replaced by 6 balls of DROPS Lima, and five balls of DROPS Lima (500 m) by 5 balls of DROPS Cotton Light. Always convert by length, never by weight or by number of balls.

Drape, fibre and texture

DROPS Cotton Light is 50 % cotton, 50 % polyester. 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.

DROPS Lima, on the other hand, is 65 % wool, 35 % alpaca. 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.

With such similar density, DROPS Cotton Light and DROPS Lima 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, 4 mm, so you can start your swatch with the hook size the pattern already calls for.

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 Lima is a strong substitute for DROPS Cotton Light, with a Match Score of 82 %. Convert by length with the calculator above, work a quick swatch, and most patterns will need no other changes.

DROPS Cotton Light 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 Cotton Light data sheet → Full DROPS Lima data sheet → Calculate yarn for a whole project →