Hobbii Rainbow Cotton 8/6 vs Phildar Phil Coton 3

Technical verdict: Hobbii Rainbow Cotton 8/6 vs Phildar Phil Coton 3

Weight category, yardage and value per ball

Hobbii Rainbow Cotton 8/6 and Phildar Phil Coton 3 are both Fine (CYC 2) 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.

Phildar Phil Coton 3 is the longer yarn per gram, with 242 m per 100 g against 210 m per 100 g for Hobbii Rainbow Cotton 8/6, a difference of 15 %. For the same 1,000 m of yarn, the project weighs about 476 g in Hobbii Rainbow Cotton 8/6 and 413 g in Phildar Phil Coton 3. 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 Rainbow Cotton 8/6 holds 105 m in 50 g and Phildar Phil Coton 3 holds 121 m in 50 g. Five balls of Hobbii Rainbow Cotton 8/6 (525 m) are replaced by 5 balls of Phildar Phil Coton 3, and five balls of Phildar Phil Coton 3 (605 m) by 6 balls of Hobbii Rainbow Cotton 8/6. Always convert by length, never by weight or by number of balls.

Drape, fibre and texture

Both yarns share the same fibre family: Hobbii Rainbow Cotton 8/6 is 100 % cotton and Phildar Phil Coton 3 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.

Within the same weight class, Phildar Phil Coton 3 has noticeably more meters per gram, so its fabric will be lighter and drape more softly, while Hobbii Rainbow Cotton 8/6 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.

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 3–3.5 mm for Hobbii Rainbow Cotton 8/6 and 3.3–3.8 mm for Phildar Phil Coton 3. The ranges overlap at 3.3–3.5 mm, which is the safest hook to start a test swatch for either yarn.

Their reference gauges differ: Hobbii Rainbow Cotton 8/6 gives 23 stitches and Phildar Phil Coton 3 gives 26 stitches in 10 cm. Over 100 stitches that is about 43.5 cm versus 38.5 cm, so check your gauge and adjust the hook before starting a fitted piece.

Verdict: can you swap them?

Phildar Phil Coton 3 can replace Hobbii Rainbow Cotton 8/6 with some adjustments (Match Score 71 %). Expect small differences in gauge or drape: swatch first and be ready to change the hook by half a size.

Phildar Phil Coton 3 gives more meters per ball, so you will usually buy fewer balls. Phildar Phil Coton 3 makes the lighter fabric; Hobbii Rainbow Cotton 8/6 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 Hobbii Rainbow Cotton 8/6 data sheet → Full Phildar Phil Coton 3 data sheet → Calculate yarn for a whole project →