Sarah M. Whitfield

Knitter & Yarn-Substitution Writer, 15 years

About Sarah

Sarah M. Whitfield is a knitter and yarn-substitution writer with over 15 years of hands-on experience in yarn analysis, fiber identification, and gauge-based substitution. Over the years she has personally test-knit hundreds of substitution pairings, building practical know-how about what makes two yarns reliably interchangeable — knowledge she now shares with crafters of all skill levels.

Her substitution approach rests on first-hand, real-world experience with the measurable properties that determine whether two yarns can be reliably swapped — stitch gauge, row gauge, weight category classification (CYC 0–7), and how different fibers behave under tension and blocking. Every match recommendation on StitchMatch draws on that practical experience, not guesswork.

Experience & Expertise

• 15 years of hands-on yarn substitution and gauge matching experience
• Practical expertise in weight category classification (Craft Yarn Council CYC 0–7 standards)
• Hands-on gauge matching methodology — stitch and row count precision
• Years of test-knitting and swatching across yarn weights and fiber types

Role at StitchMatch

Sarah writes and edits the yarn substitution guidance for StitchMatch. She reviews all yarn gauge data against manufacturer Technical Data Sheets (TDS), assigns weight categories per Craft Yarn Council standards, and uses her own test-knitting results to make sure substitution match scores reflect how the yarns actually behave in practice. Her goal is that every substitution recommendation feels both trustworthy and genuinely useful for crafters.