This is a really nice upgrade from Lion Wool-Ease. It is 10 per cent alpaca so it has a wonderful feel to it. It also is less liable to split. I would call this a #4 weight comparable to Wool-ease which is labelled #5 weight but is also a 4. This yarn costs a little more but you are also getting 200 yards vs 162 and 3.5 ounces vs 3.0. This yarn is perfect for the Knit your own Zoo book. The honey color makes a great Lion, a nice camel and I plan on using it for a golden retriever too. I can get 3 animals out of one skein. The only downside is that it doesn't come in a lot of colors.