Paintbox Yarns Simply DK vs Scheepjes Softfun

Technical verdict: Paintbox Yarns Simply DK vs Scheepjes Softfun

Weight category, yardage and value per ball

Paintbox Yarns Simply DK and Scheepjes Softfun 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.

Their linear density is practically identical: Paintbox Yarns Simply DK gives 276 m per 100 g and Scheepjes Softfun gives 280 m per 100 g. A project that uses 1,000 m of yarn weighs about 362 g in the first and 357 g in the second, so the finished piece will feel equally heavy.

Per ball, Paintbox Yarns Simply DK holds 276 m in 100 g and Scheepjes Softfun holds 140 m in 50 g. Five balls of Paintbox Yarns Simply DK (1,380 m) are replaced by 10 balls of Scheepjes Softfun, and five balls of Scheepjes Softfun (700 m) by 3 balls of Paintbox Yarns Simply DK. Always convert by length, never by weight or by number of balls.

Drape, fibre and texture

Paintbox Yarns Simply DK is 100 % acrylic. 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.

Scheepjes Softfun, on the other hand, is 60 % cotton, 40 % acrylic. 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, Paintbox Yarns Simply DK and Scheepjes Softfun will give fabrics of comparable weight and drape at the same gauge; any difference in hand will come mainly from the fibre.

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 4 mm for Paintbox Yarns Simply DK and 3–3.5 mm for Scheepjes Softfun, 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?

Scheepjes Softfun can replace Paintbox Yarns Simply DK 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.

Paintbox Yarns Simply DK 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 Paintbox Yarns Simply DK data sheet → Full Scheepjes Softfun data sheet → Calculate yarn for a whole project →