What does DK mean in yarn?

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.

What is equivalent to DK yarn?

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.

What is the difference between worsted and DK?

Worsted is thicker than DK. Worsted is sometimes known as 10 ply yarn, while DK is referred to as 8 ply. These terms aren't totally accurate (the number of plies a yarn contains varies according to the spinner - something that can get quite technical).

Why is it called DK yarn?

In the craft world, DK stands for double knitting. Double knitting can be a lot of things, like an actual knitting technique, or holding two lengths of yarn together while knitting or crocheting. In this case, DK only references the weight of the yarn and has no obvious deeper meaning.

What is DK yarn in American terms?

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.

What Is DK Yarn?

Is DK yarn 8 ply?

DK, also called Double Knit wool, is also commonly referred to as 8 Ply in Australia. In the US is it called worsted yarn.

Is DK yarn 4 ply?

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.

How thick is DK yarn?

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.

What ply wool is DK?

DK Weight Yarn - Rich Texture Yarn 8 Ply for Large or Small Knits.

Can I use DK instead of Aran?

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.

What size needles for DK yarn?

What size needles should I use for DK yarn? DK yarn is one of the most common yarn weights, often seen as the standard weight that sits halfway between fine and bulky. Needles of 3.75 - 4.5 mm will usually give you a good result with DK yarn.

What yarn is best for sweaters?

Acrylic yarn is an excellent choice for sweaters because it holds up well to washing, comes in an amazing array of colors, and is not terribly expensive. A premium acrylic can feel as soft as natural fibers and makes an excellent choice for sweaters.

What is the difference between DK and Aran yarn?

Double knitting (DK) yarn is 22 stitches and 28 rows, to 10 x 10 cm, over stocking stitch, using 4mm needles. Aran yarn is 18 stitches and 24 rows, to 10 x 10 cm, over stocking stitch, using 5mm needles.

Is 2 strands of DK equal to chunky?

2 strands worsted weight = 1 strand chunky. 2 strands chunky = 1 strand super chunky.

What is double knitting yarn mean?

Double knitting yarn is defined as an 8-ply thread that has between 11-14 wraps per inch resulting in around 200-250 meters per 100 grams. The recommended needle size is 3.75 – 4.5 mm to achieve a gauge range in stockinette stitches of between 21-24 stitches per 4 inches. You'll often find it abbreviated to DK.

How do I know if my yarn is DK weight?

Never fear, there is a way to tell! This is when you will use wraps per inch (wpi). You can also get an idea if a yarn is a DK weight by checking how many stitches it gets for gauge. If it says it's between 33 to 40 sts per inch in knitting, it's more than likely worsted.

What size needles for 2 strands of DK?

I often use two strands of yarn together if the yarn is DK (for 4mm / US 6 needles) and I want a chunkier look, I may put two or more together and use bigger knitting needles.

Can I use DK instead of worsted?

If you're using a pattern written for worsted weight but want to use a DK weight yarn, that's okay, but you're going to need to do a little math first (and possibly adjust your needle size) to make sure the gauge works out. Of course there are exceptions to every rule.

What do yarn numbers mean?

The first number is the size of each ply that makes up the yarn. The second number is how many plies the yarn has. So 3/2 is two plies of size three yarn and 5/2 is two plies of size five yarn. The number that describes the size is larger the thinner the yarn. So size 5 yarn is thinner than size 3 yarn.

How can you tell if yarn is 8 ply?

A ply was always a consistent size, so a two-ply yarn was very thin, while an eight-ply yarn was much bigger.

What is the equivalent of 8 ply wool?

The number of wraps will act as a gauge to assess the thickness of unmarked yarn; for example 12 wraps per inch is 12 WPI, and is used to calculate how much yarn is required for various articles, so that 12 is equivalent to 8 ply (worsted weight, medium weight) yarn.

Can I knit with DK instead of Aran?

Aran or DK should be fine for that, just use bigger needles if you are using an aran. It will be thicker and bigger all round, and heavier. You will need more yards I think, too. But - you may well get better stitch definition with most DK weight wools.

Can DK replace sport 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.