Lion Brand Basic Stitch Anti-Pilling vs Red Heart Super Saver

Technical verdict: Lion Brand Basic Stitch Anti-Pilling vs Red Heart Super Saver

Weight category, yardage and value per ball

Lion Brand Basic Stitch Anti-Pilling and Red Heart Super Saver are both Medium (CYC 4) 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.

Their linear density is practically identical: Lion Brand Basic Stitch Anti-Pilling gives 170 m per 100 g and Red Heart Super Saver gives 168 m per 100 g. A project that uses 1,000 m of yarn weighs about 588 g in the first and 595 g in the second, so the finished piece will feel equally heavy.

Per ball, Lion Brand Basic Stitch Anti-Pilling holds 170 m in 100 g and Red Heart Super Saver holds 333 m in 198 g. Five balls of Lion Brand Basic Stitch Anti-Pilling (850 m) are replaced by 3 balls of Red Heart Super Saver, and five balls of Red Heart Super Saver (1,665 m) by 10 balls of Lion Brand Basic Stitch Anti-Pilling. Always convert by length, never by weight or by number of balls.

Drape, fibre and texture

Both yarns share the same fibre family: Lion Brand Basic Stitch Anti-Pilling is 100 % acrylic and Red Heart Super Saver is 100 % acrylic, so they wash, block and wear in a similar way. Acrylic is light, affordable and machine-washable; it hides small tension changes and suits blankets and everyday pieces, but heat relaxes it permanently, so it should not be ironed.

With such similar density, Lion Brand Basic Stitch Anti-Pilling and Red Heart Super Saver 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: Lion Brand Basic Stitch Anti-Pilling (Smooth) versus Red Heart Super Saver (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

Both ball bands recommend the same hook, 5 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?

Red Heart Super Saver is a strong substitute for Lion Brand Basic Stitch Anti-Pilling, with a Match Score of 91 %. Convert by length with the calculator above, work a quick swatch, and most patterns will need no other changes.

Red Heart Super Saver 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 Lion Brand Basic Stitch Anti-Pilling data sheet → Full Red Heart Super Saver data sheet → Calculate yarn for a whole project →