DK Weight Yarn: Ultimate Guide for Knitters and Crocheters (2024)

FAQs

How do you calculate DK weight yarn? ›

Take your skein and then wrap it around a ruler, fully covering one inch without pulling too tightly. Now count how many times you can fit into one inch. A DK weight yarn will give 12-17 wraps per inch.

DK (Double Knit) is a light yarn, for example of 50 grams. DK yarns are thinner than Aran yarns and are often used for projects that require lightweight yarns, such as a summer sweater, cap, accessories or children's clothing.

Recommended Needle/Hook Size: The most common knitting needle sizes for DK yarn are US size 5 to 7, or 3.75-4.5 mm. The most common hook sizes for crocheting are US sizes 7 to I/9, or 4.5-5.5 mm.

The higher the number, the more plies, and the thicker the yarn. Some very thick yarns can have 16 plies or more. DK yarn is 8-ply, which makes it a light to medium weight. It is usually sold in balls of 50g, and there will generally be around 100 - 125m of yarn per ball.

DK or Double Knitting This is a term that originated in Britain and is used by all types of manufacturers. It refers to a yarn size very close to a sport weight, but slightly heavier. The gauge is about 5 1/2 stitches per inch and is usually knit on a U.S. 6 needle.

Is worsted weight yarn the same as DK? No. Worsted is thicker than DK. Worsted is sometimes known as 10 ply yarn, while DK is referred to as 8 ply.

DK yarn is equivalent to #3 Light on the Standard Yarn Weight System. It is often used for infant wear and lightweight garments. Gauge for DK is 5-6 stitches per inch on a US 4-6 needle.

When crocheting with DK wool, it's a good idea to use a hook of 4.5 - 5.5 mm.

What is the best yarn for crochet? A Dk weight yarn in acrylic, wool or cotton is what we would recommend as the best yarn for crochet for beginners. This is because they are generally quite uniform in thickness, plus if you make a mistake you can easily undo it.

YARN WEIGHTS "two strands of DK is the equivalent of ARAN, and two strands of ARAN is equal to CHUNKY. " | Yarn colors, Yarn, Color chart.

Is it better to size up or down in knitting needles? ›

Bigger needles make bigger stitches, which means you produce more surface area quicker - this is helpful to know if you want to knit something up quickly, like a scarf. As long as you don't mind quite open, loose stitches you could make a big scarf quickly using bigger needles than the yarn recommends.

You may also hear DK weight yarn called “baby yarn” or “light yarn”. According to Craft Yarn Council's Standard Yarn Weight System, DK weight yarn falls into the category 3-Light yarn weight, along with light worsted yarns.

Stitch together something soft, smooth, and sensational with Yarn Bee Soft & Sleek DK Yarn! This light yarn will be just the right touch for completing sophisticated projects such as afghans, garments, and baby items.

For the best results replace a DK yarn with a DK, a chunky with a chunky etc. It is possible to adapt a pattern for a different thickness of yarn, it will need quite a bit of maths and rewriting, so you might be better looking for a similar pattern for the thickness of yarn you have.

Simply grab 3 colours in DK, hold them together, and start crocheting to get a super-chunky tension, great for 10mm and 12mm hooks. The same could work for 4 strands of 4-ply, or 2 strands of aran.

Based on the manufacturer's recommended gauge as listed on the ball band, this is an Aran weight (heavy worsted weight) yarn, not a DK (light worsted weight) yarn.

Structure of a 4 ply yarn

ply (lace weight), DK was known as 10 ply and 4 ply lies somewhere in between. This was great and you could easily see that 2 strands of 4 ply are about the same thickness as DK, 2 strands of lace weight are about the same as 4 ply.

Can I substitute worsted weight yarn for DK yarn? ›

You can substitute a different yarn weight (for example using a DK weight yarn instead of a worsted weight) in a particular knitting pattern but it's best to only go up or down one yarn weight/size (do not expect a worsted weight pattern to work well with a fingering weight yarn).

Sport weight yarn and DK (double knitting) weight yarn are often viewed as interchangeable, but they do have a slight difference. Sport weight yarn is a teeny bit lighter or finer than DK weight. Use these weights for mid-weight socks, accessories, shawls, wraps, and sweaters.

Two-ply yarn generally refers to super-fine yarn. Four-ply yarn is lightweight (also known as DK or double knitting yarn)

I'm using Rico Cotton DK as their colours are divine and the all their yarns are very reasonably priced so these baskets are an affordable addition to any crochet home! Working with 2 strands at once to make one larger strand allows you to mix the colours and create beautiful blends.

What is The Most Commonly Used Crochet Hook Size? The most common size is a H/8 5 mm crochet hook. It is the perfect size to make blankets, scarves and more since it is not too small and not too large.

Smaller hooks make finer and tighter crochet, while larger hooks produce a bulkier, more open weave. Patterns and yarn labels always suggest what size hook to use, but you may need to switch to a different size to achieve the correct gauge.

An inexpensive, smooth, worsted or bulky weight yarn in a single color is the best choice for crochet beginners. Choose a fiber that you like (acrylic, wool, or cotton, typically) and a neutral or pastel color.

As explained above, crochet and knitting use the same yarns and fabrics, 99% of the time. But there is one thing that a crocheter can use that a knitter cannot: thread. Thread is too thin and delicate to use in a knitting project. But a thin crochet hook can handle thread.

Try using a V-stitch, filet stitch, or trellis stitch instead of a basic single, double, or treble crochet. These stitches all have spacing that allow for the project to progress without using a ton of yarn.

Fingering held together with lace weight is then 800 m/300 g. Divide both numbers above and below the division bar by 3 and you get (approximately) 270 m/100 g. That's DK. That was still pretty straightforward with a made-up example of evenly divisible numbers.

Can you double up yarn to make it thicker? ›

Yes, you may use two strands of a finer weight yarn held together to approximate the gauge of a thicker yarn.

The easiest possible decrease in knitting is called k2tog - knit two together. It's nothing else but doing a simple knit stitch through two loops at once instead of just one. The result will be a slightly right-slanting stitch.

Your hands shouldn't make the stitches smaller, that is what needles are for. Never try to knit tighter (or looser, for that matter). Let the needle do the work for you. Relax your shoulders, loosen your grip, breathe.

While you might think that having a blanket made from bulky or super bulky yarns would be ideal, they can often become too hot. When it comes down to it, DK weight yarns are great for blankets and afghans, and they're just as cozy as those made from their bulky counterparts.

DK: 5.5-6 stitches per inch, 240-280 yards/3.5 oz.

According to Craft Yarn Council's Standard Yarn Weight System, DK weight yarn falls into the category 3-Light yarn weight, along with light worsted yarns. It is thinner than category 4-Medium yarns (a.k.a. worsted weight yarn) and heavier than 2-Fine yarns (a.k.a. sport weight yarn).

Light / DK weight yarn is perfect for any type of crochet project! From sweaters and cardigans to crop tops and singlets, this yarn is wearable in any season! Light weight yarn is a category 3 yarn in the US, called DK (Double Knitting) yarn in the UK and 8ply yarn in Australia and New Zealand.

For the best results replace a DK yarn with a DK, a chunky with a chunky etc. It is possible to adapt a pattern for a different thickness of yarn, it will need quite a bit of maths and rewriting, so you might be better looking for a similar pattern for the thickness of yarn you have.

Double knitting weight yarn: definition

You'll often find it abbreviated to DK. Some companies also call it light worsted. In the US, this specific yarn weight is sometimes labeled with “size 3” or “light”.

Does Hobby Lobby carry DK yarn? ›

Yarn Bee Soft & Sleek DK Yarn | Hobby Lobby. FREE SHIPPING* on orders of $50 or more.

Yarn Weight #3 - DK, Light, Light Worsted

Light #3 yarn is perfect for creating crocheted light clothing, lacy scarves and fall hats.