Lion Brand Truboo vs Stylecraft Naturals Bamboo + Cotton

Technical verdict: Lion Brand Truboo vs Stylecraft Naturals Bamboo + Cotton

Weight category, yardage and value per ball

Lion Brand Truboo and Stylecraft Naturals Bamboo + Cotton 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.

Stylecraft Naturals Bamboo + Cotton is the longer yarn per gram, with 250 m per 100 g against 220 m per 100 g for Lion Brand Truboo, a difference of 14 %. For the same 1,000 m of yarn, the project weighs about 455 g in Lion Brand Truboo and 400 g in Stylecraft Naturals Bamboo + 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, Lion Brand Truboo holds 220 m in 100 g and Stylecraft Naturals Bamboo + Cotton holds 250 m in 100 g. Five balls of Lion Brand Truboo (1,100 m) are replaced by 5 balls of Stylecraft Naturals Bamboo + Cotton, and five balls of Stylecraft Naturals Bamboo + Cotton (1,250 m) by 6 balls of Lion Brand Truboo. 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 Truboo is 100 % bamboo and Stylecraft Naturals Bamboo + Cotton is 60 % bamboo, 40 % cotton, so they wash, block and wear in a similar way. 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, Stylecraft Naturals Bamboo + Cotton has noticeably more meters per gram, so its fabric will be lighter and drape more softly, while Lion Brand Truboo 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: Lion Brand Truboo (Smooth) versus Stylecraft Naturals Bamboo + Cotton (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, 4 mm, so you can start your swatch with the hook size the pattern already calls for.

Their reference gauges differ: Lion Brand Truboo gives 18 stitches and Stylecraft Naturals Bamboo + Cotton gives 22 stitches in 10 cm. Over 100 stitches that is about 55.6 cm versus 45.5 cm, so check your gauge and adjust the hook before starting a fitted piece.

Verdict: can you swap them?

Stylecraft Naturals Bamboo + Cotton can replace Lion Brand Truboo 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.

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