In the land of wool and yarn there are a lot of crochet and knitting terms that sound familiar. Yet there are still some things that generate questions. Some people asked us: what does the indication DK mean and what is Aran yarn? Yarnplaza.com explains it to you!
Ever heard of Style Craft Special DK or Rico Essentials Merino DK? Or what about Cotton Aran and Baby Teddy Aran? 'Aran' and 'DK' are not the only terms used in naming threads, there is also Bulky, Lace, Sport and many more. They do not necessarily relate to the name of the yarn, because you will also find these terms in patterns to describe what yarn is best to use. These standard terms say something about the weight of the yarn and which needle size is recommended when working with a particular thread.
What is DK yarn?
Recommended knitting needle size: 4 - 4.5 mm
Recommended needle size hooks: 4.5 - 5.5 mm
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 Aran yarn?
Recommended knitting needle size: 4.5 - 5.5
Recommended needle size hooks: 5.5 - 6.5 mm
Aran yarns are also called "medium yarns". They are thicker than the DK yarns and are often stronger and more rigid. If you need a heavier yarn that looks kind of delicate, you could use Aran. Sometimes this term gets mixed up with the original Aran sweaters. These so called cable knit sweaters owe their name to the Aran Islands in Ireland and have nothing to do with standard weight of wool. But you can, of course, knit a beautiful cable sweater with Aran yarn! What are you waiting for?
If you like to get updates from Yarnplaza.com with free patterns, facts, tips & tricks, please subscribe to our newsletter!
Do you have a question for our blog? Send an email to [email protected] and who knows, you might see it answered here!
