In a nutshell, DK yarn is a medium-weight yarn that knits up at 5.25-5.75 stitches per inch on US 5-7 (3.75-4.5 mm) needles. Simple, right? Or maybe for you this brings up more questions than it answers, because really there’s so much more to know about DK yarn. And once you’ve soaked up all the great knowledge in this handy guide, you’ll be able to answer them all, shop DK-weight yarns with confidence, and explore the fabulous DK-weight yarn patterns on our site. Read on!

What Is DK Yarn? | Purl Soho

What Does DK Even Mean?

Even an experienced knitter might use DK-weight yarns all the time without knowing what DK means. DK yarn used to be called “double knitting yarn” because it was about as thick as two strands of the most common yarn weight at the time (fingering weight). You may see “double knitting yarn” in older knitting patterns, but modern patterns are far more likely to simply say DK yarn. History lesson over!

What Is DK Yarn? | Purl Soho

Understanding Yarn Weight

Yarn is divided into categories of weight, from finest lace weight to thickest jumbo weight. Yarn weight is basic information that indicates about how thick a yarn is and serves as a starting point when you’re trying to find yarn that will work with your pattern or needles. DK weight falls about in the middle, right between sport-weight yarn (which is finer) and worsted-weight yarn (which is thicker). You’ll also see DK yarn referred to as “light worsted yarn,” a good reminder that these yarns are a little bit thinner than worsted-weight yarns. We use both terms on our site and in our patterns, so keep in mind they’re interchangeable!

By What Standard?

We use the Craft Yarn Council (CYC)’s standards for yarn weight across all of our yarns and patterns, as do many other yarn companies and pattern writers, but there are other standards out there and plenty of wiggle room and gray area. That’s where gauge comes in!

What Is DK Yarn? | Purl Soho

How Does Gauge Fit In?

Gauge is an important piece of the yarn weight puzzle. Gauge is simply how many stitches you knit over 1 or 4 inches. Yarn weights are defined by what gauge you can expect when you knit that weight yarn. DK-weight yarns are defined by the CYC at 5.25-5.75 stitches per inch on US 5-7 (3.75-4.5 mm) needles, so if you have a pattern that lists a gauge of 5.5 stitches per inch in stockinette stitch, shopping DK yarns would be a safe bet. But even in so clear a situation, you’ll need to knit a gauge swatch to make sure! For lots more information about gauge and swatching, check out our All About Gauge Tutorial.

What Is DK Yarn? | Purl Soho

How Many Yards In A Skein Of DK-Weight Yarn?

The yardage of a ball or skein of DK-weight yarn varies depending on the yarn’s fiber content and structure (how it’s spun). Heavier fibers, like linen, and densely-spun yarns give you less yardage per skein, while you get more with loftier spins and lightweight fibers, like cashmere. Some people may think that yardage gives them all the information they need, but consider that our DK-weight yarns range from 164 to 383 yards per 100 grams! Yardage is really just information to help you know if you’ll have enough yarn to cross the finish line, but weight and gauge are the key data points when you’re searching for the right yarn for your project.

Meet Our DK-Weight Yarns

What Is DK Yarn? | Purl Soho

Pepper
100% Superwash Merino

What Is DK Yarn? | Purl Soho

Cashmere Merino Bloom
Merino Wool + Cashmere

What Is DK Yarn? | Purl Soho

Knitting Yarn On A Cone
100% Merino Wool

What Is DK Yarn? | Purl Soho

Nigh DK
100% Cashmere

What Is DK Yarn? | Purl Soho

Knitting Yarn
100% Merino Wool

What Is DK Yarn? | Purl Soho

Morning
Organically Grown Cotton + Yak

What Is DK Yarn? | Purl Soho

Nine-Note Bundle
Extra Fine Merino + Baby Alpaca

What Is DK Yarn? | Purl Soho

Note
Extra Fine Merino + Baby Alpaca

What Is DK Yarn? | Purl Soho

Good Wool
100% Andean Highland Wool

Shop our collection of DK-weight yarns, which includes a wide variety of fibers and spins and hundreds of spectacular colors. All of these yarns can be knit up at a similar gauge, and some can be substituted easily for each other… But it’s always best to knit a gauge swatch to make sure you’re happy with the fabric and that you have the correct gauge for your project!

Wonderful Wool

  • Wool lovers will adore our truly classic merino wool Knitting Yarn. (Want lots of yardage? You’ll want Knitting Yarn On A Cone!)
  • Good Wool is our buoyant Andean highland wool in tons of amazing colors, including 5 undyed ones that come directly from the sheep.
  • For a soft-as-a-kitten single-ply wool yarn that’s also machine washable, check out hand-dyed Pepper!

Merino + Alpaca

  • Shop our amazing multi-ply Note, a mix of the softest extra-fine merino in the world (really!) and smooth baby alpaca spun into a plush and lofty strand.
  • Be sure to also explore our Nine-Note Bundles, made from the same yarn, but in a 9-skein gradient of color!

Cashmere + Other Very Special Fibers

  • Experience the incredible softness, lightness, and toasty warmth of cashmere with our 100% fine Monoglian cashmere Nigh DK.
  • Discover the difference just a little cashmere can make with Cashmere Merino Bloom. Mixed with extra fine merino, it’s a customer favorite and staff pick.
  • If you want to try another incredibly special, incredibly warm fiber, Simply Yak is a rare experience… Undyed and unbelievable to knit with!

Add Some Cotton

  • Bring the animal and plant kingdoms together with supple Plein Air, made with 50% merino wool and 50% organically grown cotton with a palette of colors like a field of wildflowers.
  • Fresh Morning, made with 75% organically grown cotton and 25% yak, is incredibly soft to the touch, with a pleasant weight from the cotton that makes it hang beautifully. It’s machine-washable, too!

100% Cotton

  • Cotton Chirp is 100% Peruvian Pima cotton with plump, round spin and lustrous hand feel. It comes in 25-gram Minis and a joyful array of colors.
  • Serif is also silky soft 100% Peruvian Pima cotton and is an undulating strand of cotton roving wrapped with thread… A wave of beauty!

And 100% Linen, Too!

  • Made with 100% French linen, our elegant yet hardworking Blackbird Linen is a great introduction to knitting with linen, cool to the touch, easy to care for, and a total classic!
What Is DK Yarn? | Purl Soho

Knitting With DK-Weight Yarn

You can knit any kind of project with DK-weight yarns. We call it the Goldilocks of yarn because it’s not too thick and not too thin. It makes wonderful year-round sweaters and blankets, elegant shawls and scarves, streamlined hats and mittens, and pretty much everything else you want to make! For tons of ideas, be sure to visit our collection of light worsted/DK-weight yarn knitting patterns. Most of them are free, and all of them were designed to bring joy to your knitting!

Looking for more inspiration? Explore all of our free knitting patterns and knitting tutorials, buy one of our many knitting kits and yarn bundles, and shop for beautiful yarn. We have over 35 gorgeous natural fiber yarns in 100’s of magnificent colors, designed to bring integrity, beauty, and joy to your next knitting project and only available at Purl Soho!