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What Is DK Yarn? Meet The Goldilocks Of Yarn Weights
DK yarn is a versatile, medium-weight yarn category 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-weight yarn. Once you’ve soaked up all the great knowledge in this handy guide, you’ll be ready to shop DK-weight yarns with confidence and explore all our fabulous DK-weight knitting patterns… Read on!
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!
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 knitting 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 knitting patterns, so keep in mind they’re interchangeable!
| Yarn Weight | Other Names | Recommended Gauge (Stitches Per Inch) | Recommended Knitting Needles | Recommended Crochet Hooks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lace | – | 8 or more | US 000-1 (1.5-2.5 mm) | B or smaller (2.5 mm or smaller) |
| Fingering | Sock | 6.75-8 | US 1-3 (2.5-3.25 mm) | B-E (2.25-3.5 mm) |
| Sport | – | 6-6.5 | US 3-5 (3.25-3.75 mm) | E-G (3.5-4.5 mm) |
| DK | Light Worsted | 5.25-5.75 | US 5-7 (3.75-4.5 mm) | G-I (4.5-5.5 mm) |
| Worsted | Aran | 4-5 | US 7-9 (4.5-5.5 mm) | I-K (5.5-6.5 mm) |
| Bulky | Chunky | 3-3.75 | US 9-11 5.5-8 mm) | K-M (6.5-9 mm) |
| Super Bulky | – | 1.75-2.75 | US 11-17 (8-12 mm) | M-Q (9-15 mm) |
| Jumbo | – | 1.5 or fewer | US 17+ (12 mm+) | Q+ (15 mm+) |
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!
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, and read our Complete Guide To Yarn and Yarn Substitution Made Easy articles for more on choosing yarn for knitting patterns.
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
Pepper
100% Superwash Merino
Cashmere Merino Bloom
Merino Wool + Cashmere
Knitting Yarn DK On A Cone
100% Merino Wool
Nine-Note Bundle
Extra Fine Merino + Baby Alpaca
Note
Extra Fine Merino + Baby Alpaca
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 DK. (Want lots of yardage? You’ll want Knitting Yarn DK On A Cone!)
- On the finer side of DK, Good Wool is our buoyant Andean highland wool in tons of amazing colors, including 5 undyed ones that come directly from the sheep.
- Our exceptionally soft recycled wool yarn, Echo Wool, knits up beautifully at a sport or DK weight, and is flecked with lively, colorful nepps.
- Experience our incredibly special hand-dyed Norwegian wool yarn, Vinter Wool… Made in Norway, this artisanal yarn speaks right to the heart of every knitter passionate about fiber and color!
- 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!
- A dreamy single-ply of pure baby alpaca, hand-dyed Goldenberry Alpaca glows as if lit from within, full of fascinating movement and dimension and haloed in cloud-like softness.
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 DK is 100% Peruvian Pima cotton with plump, round spin and lustrous hand feel. It comes in 25-gram Minis and 100-gram balls!
- Serif is also silky soft 100% Peruvian Pima cotton and is an undulating strand of cotton roving wrapped with thread… A wave of beauty!
- Made with 100% unmercerized cotton from Mexico and the United States, Sketchbook Cotton‘s subtle thick-and-thin texture has an earthy elegance.
Other Plant-Based Yarns
- 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!
- A beautiful plant-based yarn made from half rare Sicilian cotton and half hemp fiber from France, Field Notes has an adventurous spirit and handsome hempen texture, tempered by cotton’s touchable softness.
What To Knit With DK-Weight Yarn
You can knit just about any kind of project with DK-weight yarn—it really is the Goldilocks of yarn weights, not too thick and not too thin. Here are some of our favorite DK yarn projects…
- Year-Round Sweaters: DK yarn’s medium weight makes it ideal for garments you’ll actually wear in every season—substantial enough for warmth but light enough to layer.
- Shawls + Scarves: DK-weight yarn knits up into shawls and scarves that are warmer and cozier than their lighter-weight cousins but aren’t so thick as to feel stifling and bulky… Perfect!
- Hats + Mittens: DK’s gauge is ideal for winter accessories—fine enough for a neat, polished finish and thick enough to keep extremities warm and toasty!
- Blankets: DK is just the right weight for a blanket you’ll actually finish, not so thin as to take forever and not so thick as to feel heavy.
- And so much more… Visit our collection of DK-weight knitting patterns for tons of ideas. Most of them are free, and all of them were designed to bring joy to your knitting!
Whatever you want to make, there’s a good chance DK weight will be just right! With so many beautiful fibers, colors, and spins to choose from in our collection of DK-weight yarns, the hardest part might just be picking one. We hope this guide gives you a new depth of understanding for the Goldilocks of yarn weights, and we can’t wait to see what you make with DK yarns!
Article written by Andrea Lotz for Purl Soho.
Looking for more inspiration? Explore all of our knitting patterns (including tons of 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!
Thank for this information. I feel I never get the right yarn because of the weight of the finished project and how it hangs. Can you expand on this.
This article rather dismisses yardage, but that helps to describe a yarn’s density, and is an important factor in determining the overall weight of an item. It’s definitely something you want to consider when substituing yarns. If a pattern specifies a yarn that has 383 yds per 100 g and you substitute with a yarn that has 164 yds per 100 g, your finished item will weigh more than twice as much as the original design. That weight could pull a sweater down and result in a lot of stretching. Search the term “grist” on the internet, in connection with yarn, and you’ll find all sorts of helpful information.
Good morning!
I just wanted to say thank you for the article on DK weight yarn. It was very informative. I received the Knitting Yarn on a Cone for Christmas in Blue Willow and pattern Porto Blanket! I can’t wait to start. I have 8 rows left to do on the Incredible Blanket (from last Christmas).
Thanks and have a Blessed new year!
Carol
Suppose a knitting pattern is for worsted weight yarn, and you (like me ) would like to make the sweater in “Good Wool” (DK), how does one make the transition?
P.S. I have made three “Andean, triangle” shawls in “GoodWool” and love it! – now would like to make a sweater, but all my patterns call for worsted weight)
Hi Ellie,
That is a great question! Since the yarn cannot be doubled (as it will be too thick) there are a couple ways you can proceed. First, you can choose to move forward with the yarn as is, being sure to match the gauge, and it will just result in a bit of a lighter fabric. This could be a great option if you’d prefer the sweater to be a little more airy. Alternatively, you could double your strands for a more dense fabric, stitch being sure to match the gauge of the pattern! It’s really up to you!
All the best,
Gavriella
I have knitted worsted weight patterns with DK and have made a bigger size to achieve what I want. If you make a sample square you can work out the size you need by working out how many stitches you get to the inch. Multiply it by the size you need and make the nearest size to the number of stitches you calculated. Hope that helps.
Can Good Wool be knitted with Tussock or other silk mohair? Would that make a nice fabric? Would it make a worsted weight?
Hi Natalie,
Since Tussock doesn’t add much weight to your strands, holding it along with Good Wool would result in something closer to DK rather than worsted weight. I hope this helps!
All the best,
Gavriella
This was a great post! Thank you, PurlSoho!
Thank you for this informatve post! It clarified some things for me as well as introducint me to the CYC. I checked out their site and it was very helpful, especially the Standards and Guidlines document. I printed the pages that explained the abbreviations, the yarn weights and needle sizes. They will make my decision makinng easier when I am trying to decide on a yarn that may not be the one featured for the pattern 🙂
You all have been good sports about my questions and I will continue to ask for help when I need it.
Cheers!
Hello,
I really enjoyed your article on DK weight yarn; which category does the Linen Quill fall into?
Also, do you have information on the other weights of yarn and if so, is it in pdf format?
I’ve been knitting just over 2 years and am only starting to grasp the importance of understanding the types of wool and weight as it pertains to the patterns. Ideally, a straight forward book containing all the required information to gain the knowledge needed on my journey would be an asset. Can you suggest one?
Thank you,
Paulette
P.S. Linen Quill is one of my knitting group’s favourite wool blend.
Hi Paulette,
We are thrilled to hear you enjoyed this article! We will have more on other weights of yarn coming soon so definitely keep an eye out! Linen Quill is one of our fingering weight yarns. If you are ever unsure, you will always be able to find this information directly on the product page under Product Details. In the meantime, I’d recommend the Ultimate Knitting Dictionary from Vogue Knitting. It has many great tips and answers to many helpful questions!
All the best,
Gavriella
Hi,
I really like the look of the serif yarn and looked at items that are made from it, but didn’t see any sweaters or garments. Do you think it would make up into a nice summer sweater? Thanks for the article.
Hi Megan,
Serif would make a fantastic summer sweater! The Top-Down Circular Yoke Pullover comes to mind first as a great pattern for Serif. The simple stockinette will show off the lovely texture of this yarn!
All the best,
Lili
Hello, first let me thank you for the wonderful information on DK weight yarn–it is invaluable! I would like to knit the Leonida Sweater, a Fibre Co. pattern which has a gauge of 20 stitches and 28 rounds to 4 inches. I will not be doing any color work, and the sweater will be knitted in just one color. Their pattern calls for Lambswool, and I would like to knit it in a Purl Soho yarn, if possible. Lambswool to me is a little softer than worsted weight yarn, but I may be wrong. I would like your suggestion(s) for a good Purl Soho substitute, if there is one. Thank you!
Hi Carolyn,
Thank you for writing in! According to the gauge provided, I’d recommend Note, Cashmere Merino Bloom or Knitting Yarn but any of our DK weight yarns would work perfectly! I hope this helps and please let us know if you have any questions!
All the best,
Gavriella