Regular Spruce OK preferabley small knots only

I have a very old set of stern steerer plans from 1880 and they clearly call for 'pine' and not sitka spruce. Sitka is the preferred wood as its usually knot free and tight grained. If you can pick thru the local lumber yards supply of regular spruce and find relatively knot free low weight pieces then go for it. Knots should be a quarter inch in size or less. Leave the lumber piles neater than you found them. Be sure the pieces are light in weight meaning not much moisture content.