Light / DK yarn
DK means double knitting and commonly names category 3, light yarn. It is not an instruction to hold two strands together. The usual stockinette guide is 21–24 stitches per four inches.
Gauge and tools
- Category
- 3
- Common names
- DK, double knitting, light worsted
- Stockinette stitches per 4 inches
- 21–24
- Needles (mm)
- 3.75–4.5
- Hooks (mm)
- 4.5–5.5
These are starting ranges. Follow the gauge in your pattern and measure the washed fabric.
Working with this weight
Everyday garments and medium-light fabric. For a cardigan or sweater, inspect the swatch after its intended wash and compare the neckline, sleeve and body requirements. The category is useful for narrowing a shop shelf; the pattern’s specific gauge decides fit.
Compare a replacement
DK and worsted are not exact synonyms: worsted usually sits in category 4. Light worsted is a name used within category 3, so keep the full label wording when comparing products.
Calculate replacement yarn and compare washed gaugeWorked check
A pattern needs 22 stitches across four inches. If your DK sample has 24, unchanged stitch counts produce about 91.7% of the intended width; re-swatch before choosing a size.
Calculate your gauge difference