Katia Capri vs Phildar Phil Coton 3

Technical verdict: Katia Capri vs Phildar Phil Coton 3

Weight category, yardage and value per ball

Katia Capri 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.

Katia Capri is the longer yarn per gram, with 250 m per 100 g against 242 m per 100 g for Phildar Phil Coton 3, a difference of 3 %. For the same 1,000 m of yarn, the project weighs about 400 g in Katia Capri 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, Katia Capri holds 125 m in 50 g and Phildar Phil Coton 3 holds 121 m in 50 g. Five balls of Katia Capri (625 m) are replaced by 6 balls of Phildar Phil Coton 3, and five balls of Phildar Phil Coton 3 (605 m) by 5 balls of Katia Capri. Always convert by length, never by weight or by number of balls.

Drape, fibre and texture

Both yarns share the same fibre family: Katia Capri is 100 % cotton (mercerized) 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.

With such similar density, Katia Capri and Phildar Phil Coton 3 will give fabrics of comparable weight and drape at the same gauge; any difference in hand will come mainly from the fibre.

Their construction differs: Katia Capri (Mercerized) versus Phildar Phil Coton 3 (Plied). 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

The ball bands recommend 2–3 mm for Katia Capri and 3.3–3.8 mm for Phildar Phil Coton 3, 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?

Phildar Phil Coton 3 can replace Katia Capri with some adjustments (Match Score 79 %). Expect small differences in gauge or drape: swatch first and be ready to change the hook by half a size.

Katia Capri 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 Katia Capri data sheet → Full Phildar Phil Coton 3 data sheet → Calculate yarn for a whole project →