Berroco Circus® is discontinued — the best substitutes, compared
Berroco Circus® (Berroco · #5 Bulky · 136 yd / 100 g · 14 sts/4in · 58% Wool, 25% Nylon, 17% Acrylic) is marked discontinued on its maker's own page. Ranked below: in-production yarns from the same spec dataset, scored on weight class, ball-band gauge, fiber family, yardage density, and care — with every reason shown.
128 Superwash®
match 99/100
- goodSame weight class: #5 Bulky.
- goodGauge matches: 14 vs 14 sts/4 in on the makers' ball bands.
- goodSame dominant fiber family (animal): 100% Superwash Merino Wool replacing 58% Wool, 25% Nylon, 17% Acrylic.
- goodSame thickness by the density check: 1.3 vs 1.4 yd per gram.
128 Superwash® Hand Paints
match 99/100
- goodSame weight class: #5 Bulky.
- goodGauge matches: 14 vs 14 sts/4 in on the makers' ball bands.
- goodSame dominant fiber family (animal): 100% Superwash Merino Wool replacing 58% Wool, 25% Nylon, 17% Acrylic.
- goodSame thickness by the density check: 1.3 vs 1.4 yd per gram.
Baby Alpaca Chunky
match 94/100
- goodSame weight class: #5 Bulky.
- goodGauge matches: 14 vs 14 sts/4 in on the makers' ball bands.
- goodSame dominant fiber family (animal): 100% Baby Alpaca replacing 58% Wool, 25% Nylon, 17% Acrylic.
- cautionCare downgrade: the original is machine washable, this substitute is not (Hand Wash Cold; Lay Flat to Dry).
- noteSkein sizes differ: one skein of Berroco Circus® ≈ 1.3 skeins of Baby Alpaca Chunky by yardage — recount before buying.
220 Superwash® Grande
match 88/100
- goodSame weight class: #5 Bulky.
- noteGauge is close (13 vs 14 sts/4 in) — within a needle-size adjustment.
- goodSame dominant fiber family (animal): 100% Superwash Wool replacing 58% Wool, 25% Nylon, 17% Acrylic.
- noteSkein sizes differ: one skein of Berroco Circus® ≈ 0.6 skeins of 220 Superwash® Grande by yardage — recount before buying.
Hue + Me Wool Blend Yarn
match 85/100
- goodSame weight class: #5 Bulky.
- goodGauge matches: 14 vs 14 sts/4 in on the makers' ball bands.
- noteFiber overlaps but the blend differs: 80% Acrylic, 20% Wool vs 58% Wool, 25% Nylon, 17% Acrylic — drape and warmth will shift.
Cascade 220® Grande
match 84/100
- goodSame weight class: #5 Bulky.
- noteGauge is close (13 vs 14 sts/4 in) — within a needle-size adjustment.
- goodSame dominant fiber family (animal): 100% Peruvian Highland Wool replacing 58% Wool, 25% Nylon, 17% Acrylic.
- cautionCare downgrade: the original is machine washable, this substitute is not (Hand Wash Cold; Lay Flat to Dry).
- noteSkein sizes differ: one skein of Berroco Circus® ≈ 0.6 skeins of Cascade 220® Grande by yardage — recount before buying.
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