Yarn comparison · data-first
Hobbii Friends Cotton 8/4 vs Katia Fair Cotton
Hobbii Friends Cotton 8/4 vs Katia Fair Cotton side by side: 320 vs 310 m per 100 g, fibre, hook, gauge and texture, plus how many balls you need when you swap one for the other.
Hobbii Friends Cotton 8/4 vs Katia Fair Cotton: specs side by side
78 % Match Score: how closely the second yarn can stand in for the first (density, weight, fibre, texture and hook).
| A Hobbii Friends Cotton 8/4 | B Katia Fair Cotton | |
|---|---|---|
| CYC weight category | 1 – Super Fine | 2 – Fine |
| Fibre composition | 100 % cotton | 100 % cotton |
| Ball (grams · meters · yards) | 50 g · 160 m · 175 yd | 50 g · 155 m · 170 yd |
| Linear density (m per 100 g) | 320 m | 310 m |
| Recommended hook | 2.5–3 mm | 3 mm |
| Standard gauge 10 × 10 cm | 26 sts in 10 cm | 27 sts in 10 cm |
| Texture / construction | Plied | Plied |
| See Hobbii Friends Cotton 8/4 colors & stock on Amazon → | See Katia Fair Cotton 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 Hobbii Friends Cotton 8/4 (800 m), you need exactly 6 balls of Katia Fair Cotton.
Exact figure: 5.16 balls, rounded up so you never run short. Add one spare ball for swatching.
Technical verdict: Hobbii Friends Cotton 8/4 vs Katia Fair Cotton
Weight category, yardage and value per ball
Hobbii Friends Cotton 8/4 is a Super Fine (CYC 1) yarn while Katia Fair Cotton is a Fine (CYC 2) 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.
Hobbii Friends Cotton 8/4 is the longer yarn per gram, with 320 m per 100 g against 310 m per 100 g for Katia Fair Cotton, a difference of 3 %. For the same 1,000 m of yarn, the project weighs about 313 g in Hobbii Friends Cotton 8/4 and 323 g in Katia Fair Cotton. 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, Hobbii Friends Cotton 8/4 holds 160 m in 50 g and Katia Fair Cotton holds 155 m in 50 g. Five balls of Hobbii Friends Cotton 8/4 (800 m) are replaced by 6 balls of Katia Fair Cotton, and five balls of Katia Fair Cotton (775 m) by 5 balls of Hobbii Friends Cotton 8/4. Always convert by length, never by weight or by number of balls.
Drape, fibre and texture
Both yarns share the same fibre family: Hobbii Friends Cotton 8/4 is 100 % cotton and Katia Fair Cotton 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.
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 2.5–3 mm for Hobbii Friends Cotton 8/4 and 3 mm for Katia Fair Cotton. The ranges overlap at 3 mm, which is the safest hook to start a test swatch for either yarn.
Their reference gauges differ: Hobbii Friends Cotton 8/4 gives 26 stitches and Katia Fair Cotton gives 27 stitches in 10 cm. Over 100 stitches that is about 38.5 cm versus 37 cm, so check your gauge and adjust the hook before starting a fitted piece.
Verdict: can you swap them?
Katia Fair Cotton can replace Hobbii Friends Cotton 8/4 with some adjustments (Match Score 78 %). Expect small differences in gauge or drape: swatch first and be ready to change the hook by half a size.
Hobbii Friends Cotton 8/4 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 Hobbii Friends Cotton 8/4 data sheet → Full Katia Fair Cotton data sheet → Calculate yarn for a whole project →
Compare a different pair
Related comparisons in this weight
1 – Super Fine
Frequently asked questions
Can I use Katia Fair Cotton instead of Hobbii Friends Cotton 8/4?
Yes, with adjustments. Katia Fair Cotton has a Match Score of 78 % as a substitute for Hobbii Friends Cotton 8/4: swatch first and change the hook if your gauge does not match the pattern.
How many balls of Katia Fair Cotton replace 5 balls of Hobbii Friends Cotton 8/4?
Five balls of Hobbii Friends Cotton 8/4 are 800 m of yarn. With 155 m per ball, you need 6 balls of Katia Fair Cotton (rounded up).
Which has more yardage, Hobbii Friends Cotton 8/4 or Katia Fair Cotton?
Hobbii Friends Cotton 8/4 has more yardage per gram (320 m per 100 g) than Katia Fair Cotton (310 m per 100 g), so it is the thinner, lighter strand of the two.