A Comparison with Mominoki Yarn German Merino Light + Cost Breakdown
I recently picked up Hamanaka Amelie again because I’m planning to knit the FIVE pattern—a design I fell in love with the second it popped up on my Instagram feed. The original yarn is absolutely gorgeous, but once I checked the price… yeah, it was a bit much for my budget.
So I decided to walk myself through the whole “find a good substitute yarn” process—something that keeps the spirit of the design while staying wallet-friendly. Here’s how I landed on Amelie.
The Challenge: The Designated Yarn Is Stunning… and Pricey
The pattern I’m knitting is “FIVE pattern by issuelyric Tae” on Ravelry,
a beautiful collaboration using mominoki yarn German Merino Light.
For the color combo I wanted (Size 2, 7 skeins), the total cost looked like this:
- Europe (online shop): about €129.65 with shipping (~$160 USD)
- Japan (domestic retail): ¥4,400 × 7 = ¥30,800 JPY (~$210 USD)
Once I saw those numbers, I knew I needed to find a more approachable option.
The Yarn That Fit the Bill: Hamanaka Amelie
After checking the needle size (US 7 / JP 7) and browsing color options, one yarn immediately stood out: Hamanaka Amelie, a popular and easy-to-find Japanese yarn.
| Spec | Designated Yarn (German Merino Light) | Substitute Yarn (Hamanaka Amelie) |
| Recommended Needle | 2–4mm (Approx. JP 7 / US 7) | JP 6–7 (US 6–7) |
| Yarn Weight | Sport / Light DK | Light DK / Worsted |
| Fiber Content | Merino Wool | 70% Wool, 30% Acrylic |
What really convinced me is how well Amelie works with the pattern’s required gauge and how comfortably it knits up on the recommended needles. With a tiny bit of gauge tweaking, it slots into the pattern surprisingly well.
Cost Breakdown in Japan (The Best-Case Scenario)
For this project, I’d need 22 balls of Amelie
(13 MC / 5 CC1 / 4 CC2).
Here’s the math:
- Regular retail: ¥693 × 22 = ¥15,246 JPY
- Sale price (online): ¥498 × 22 = Around ¥10,846 JPY (~$75 USD)
Even full price is less than half the cost of the original yarn.
On sale? It honestly feels like a steal.
A Note for International Knitters
A. Don’t Look at the Price First—Check the Specs
Amelie works well here not just because it’s easier on the wallet,
but because the practical specs—like gauge, needle size, and how the fabric behaves—line up nicely with what this pattern needs.
Even if shipping bumps up the total, choosing a yarn with similar “working vibes” will get you much closer to the look and feel the designer had in mind, without having to splurge on the original yarn.
B. Use Amelie as a Template for Finding Your Own Substitute
If importing Amelie gets too expensive or complicated, you can still use it as a “guide yarn.”
Look for something local that matches its key specs:
| Local Substitution Target Specs |
| Yarn Weight: Sport or Light DK (approx. 250–300m per 100g) |
| Recommended Needle Size: 4.0–4.5mm (US 6–7) |
| Fiber: A wool/acrylic blend for a similar balance of structure and softness. |
If you follow this method, you’ll be able to find your own version of Amelie—wherever you live.
Related Article
Choosing the right substitute yarn can make or break a project.
It’s not just about matching the color or texture—checking the weight, gauge, and yardage is just as important. Otherwise, you might end up thinking, “Wait… why doesn’t this fit?” or “Uh oh, I’m running out of yarn…”
If you’re new to picking substitute yarns (or just want to get better at it),
I’ve put together a more detailed guide that walks you through how to choose alternatives, how to search for them, and how to calculate the yardage you’ll need.
