Rico Design Ricorumi Nilli Nilli vs Scheepjes Softfun

Technical verdict: Rico Design Ricorumi Nilli Nilli vs Scheepjes Softfun

Weight category, yardage and value per ball

Rico Design Ricorumi Nilli Nilli 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.

Scheepjes Softfun is the longer yarn per gram, with 280 m per 100 g against 260 m per 100 g for Rico Design Ricorumi Nilli Nilli, a difference of 8 %. For the same 1,000 m of yarn, the project weighs about 385 g in Rico Design Ricorumi Nilli Nilli and 357 g in Scheepjes Softfun. 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, Rico Design Ricorumi Nilli Nilli holds 65 m in 25 g and Scheepjes Softfun holds 140 m in 50 g. Five balls of Rico Design Ricorumi Nilli Nilli (325 m) are replaced by 3 balls of Scheepjes Softfun, and five balls of Scheepjes Softfun (700 m) by 11 balls of Rico Design Ricorumi Nilli Nilli. Always convert by length, never by weight or by number of balls.

Drape, fibre and texture

Rico Design Ricorumi Nilli Nilli is 100 % polyester. Polyester is light, strong and machine-washable; it keeps its colour and shape but does not breathe like natural fibres and must 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, Rico Design Ricorumi Nilli Nilli 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.

Their construction differs: Rico Design Ricorumi Nilli Nilli (Smooth) versus Scheepjes Softfun (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 3 mm for Rico Design Ricorumi Nilli Nilli and 3–3.5 mm for Scheepjes Softfun. The ranges overlap at 3 mm, which is the safest hook to start a test swatch for either yarn.

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 Rico Design Ricorumi Nilli Nilli with some adjustments (Match Score 66 %). Expect small differences in gauge or drape: swatch first and be ready to change the hook by half a size.

Scheepjes Softfun 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 Rico Design Ricorumi Nilli Nilli data sheet → Full Scheepjes Softfun data sheet → Calculate yarn for a whole project →