DROPS Muskat vs Lion Brand Truboo

Technical verdict: DROPS Muskat vs Lion Brand Truboo

Weight category, yardage and value per ball

DROPS Muskat and Lion Brand Truboo 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.

Lion Brand Truboo is the longer yarn per gram, with 220 m per 100 g against 200 m per 100 g for DROPS Muskat, a difference of 10 %. For the same 1,000 m of yarn, the project weighs about 500 g in DROPS Muskat and 455 g in Lion Brand Truboo. 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 Muskat holds 100 m in 50 g and Lion Brand Truboo holds 220 m in 100 g. Five balls of DROPS Muskat (500 m) are replaced by 3 balls of Lion Brand Truboo, and five balls of Lion Brand Truboo (1,100 m) by 11 balls of DROPS Muskat. Always convert by length, never by weight or by number of balls.

Drape, fibre and texture

DROPS Muskat is 100 % cotton (mercerized). 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.

Lion Brand Truboo, on the other hand, is 100 % bamboo. Bamboo-based fibres are cool, smooth and drapey with a subtle sheen, ideal for summer tops and baby items; they have little elasticity, so swatch and block before measuring.

Within the same weight class, Lion Brand Truboo has noticeably more meters per gram, so its fabric will be lighter and drape more softly, while DROPS Muskat 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: DROPS Muskat (Mercerized) versus Lion Brand Truboo (Smooth). 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

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?

Lion Brand Truboo can replace DROPS Muskat with some adjustments (Match Score 70 %). Expect small differences in gauge or drape: swatch first and be ready to change the hook by half a size.

Lion Brand Truboo gives more meters per ball, so you will usually buy fewer balls. Lion Brand Truboo makes the lighter fabric; DROPS Muskat 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 DROPS Muskat data sheet → Full Lion Brand Truboo data sheet → Calculate yarn for a whole project →