DK Crochet Patterns

DK: the weight most crochet baskets are built around

If you own one yarn weight in quantity, it is almost certainly double knit. DK sits in the middle of the range, light enough for summer tops and baby clothes, sturdy enough for blankets, bags and toys, and it is the weight most British designers write for. That means the choice here is enormous, and the odds are good that whatever you already have in the cupboard will work for something in this collection.

What DK does well

• Amigurumi: worked on a 2.5mm to 3mm hook, well below the ball band, for a firm fabric that hides stuffing.
• Blankets and granny squares: enough weight to drape without becoming heavy on the lap.
• Garments: cardigans, tees and baby sets in cotton or superwash wool, with good stitch definition.
• Homeware: cushion covers, coasters, plant hangers and crochet baskets, particularly with two strands held together.
• Accessories: hats, mitts and scarves that are warm but not bulky under a coat.

Hooks, tension and yardage

Most DK crochet patterns specify a 3.5mm to 4.5mm hook, with 4mm the default. Go smaller for toys and anything that needs to hold a shape; go larger for shawls and summer tops where you want the fabric to move. A 100g ball of DK typically gives 250 to 300 metres, which is useful for estimating: a hat is one ball, a child's cardigan two or three, an adult jumper five to eight, and a generous lap blanket eight to twelve. Crochet uses more yarn than knitting for the same area, so if you are converting from a knitting pattern, buy extra.

Tension still matters. Crochet a 15cm square in the pattern's stitch, count stitches and rows over the middle 10cm, and change hook size if you are out. On a blanket nobody will know, but on a cardigan a single stitch out over 10cm will cost you a whole size.

Choosing by skill level

DK is a kind weight to learn on because the stitches are big enough to see and small enough to forgive. Absolute beginners should start flat: a granny square blanket, a striped scarf, a set of coasters. Once chain, double crochet and treble feel automatic, move to working in the round with hats and baskets, then to amigurumi where increases and decreases shape a three-dimensional object. Garments come next, and a boxy DK top made of two rectangles is the gentlest entry point. Anyone still finding their feet should look at beginner crochet patterns first, then come back here for the next project.

Fibre choices

DK cotton is crisp, cool and shows texture beautifully, ideal for summer tops, dishcloths and bags, though it has no stretch and can be hard on the hands over a long project. Superwash merino and wool blends are soft, springy and machine washable, which is why they dominate babywear. Acrylic is durable, cheap enough to experiment with and washes endlessly, making it the sensible choice for children's blankets and toys that will be dragged around. Wool-cotton blends split the difference for garments worn year-round.

Finishing and care

Block garments and blankets: DK fabric relaxes noticeably, squares even up and edges straighten. Wet block wool and cotton; steam or cool block acrylic carefully, since high heat will kill the fibre's bounce permanently. Weave ends in along a row rather than across it, splitting the yarn as you go so nothing works free in the machine. For toys, thread ends back through the stuffing to hide them completely. Match your project with the right yarn from the DK yarn range, and buy a full project's worth in one dye lot.

Questions makers ask

Are there free DK crochet patterns? Yes, plenty. Use the free filter for PDFs you can download, print and keep in your account library.

Is DK the same as double knit? Yes. DK is short for double knit, and American patterns sometimes call it light worsted, which is very slightly heavier.

What can I make with one ball of DK yarn? A hat, a pair of mitts, two or three amigurumi, a set of coasters, or a pair of baby booties with yarn to spare.

Can I substitute aran for DK? Only with a swatch and a size adjustment. Aran is a step heavier, so the same stitch count will come out noticeably bigger. For designs written for that weight, see aran crochet patterns.