Schachenmayr Bravo vs Scheepjes Softfun

Technical verdict: Schachenmayr Bravo vs Scheepjes Softfun

Weight category, yardage and value per ball

Schachenmayr Bravo 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 266 m per 100 g for Schachenmayr Bravo, a difference of 5 %. For the same 1,000 m of yarn, the project weighs about 376 g in Schachenmayr Bravo 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, Schachenmayr Bravo holds 133 m in 50 g and Scheepjes Softfun holds 140 m in 50 g. Five balls of Schachenmayr Bravo (665 m) are replaced by 5 balls of Scheepjes Softfun, and five balls of Scheepjes Softfun (700 m) by 6 balls of Schachenmayr Bravo. Always convert by length, never by weight or by number of balls.

Drape, fibre and texture

Schachenmayr Bravo 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, Schachenmayr Bravo 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 3.5–4.5 mm for Schachenmayr Bravo and 3–3.5 mm for Scheepjes Softfun. The ranges overlap at 3.5 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 Schachenmayr Bravo with some adjustments (Match Score 74 %). 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 Schachenmayr Bravo data sheet → Full Scheepjes Softfun data sheet → Calculate yarn for a whole project →