Genius Tips
Yarn Detective: DK Sock Yarn
I have lots of friends who love knitting socks.
They have overflowing sock drawers; their knitworthy family are set for life; and they always have at least one pair of socks going.
I have a friend that keeps a sock project in her desk drawer at work. Those are her “meeting socks.” She only knits on them during meetings (in person and online) and she gets three or four pairs done each year.
Socks aren’t my ride-or-die project. I might knit a few pair every year or so. It’s not that I don’t like them, it’s just not what I reach for.
I do love the colors and some of the blends of sock yarn—but I’m such a loose knitter that I’m regularly on 00 or 000 needles to knit socks at 8-9 stitches to an inch. Because of that (and some other good reasons I’m about to mention), I like to use DK yarn for socks.
The sock yarns used in Field Guide 27: Sock Odyssey are a great choice. Above (left to right) are Serendipitous Wool Agni Y (60% superwash Merino/20% yak/20% silk), color: Red Earth; LolaBean Yarn Co Pinto Bean (100% superwash Merino), color: La Playa; and Serendipitous Wool Agni T (85% superwash Merino, 15% neps).
What makes a good DK sock yarn?
Yarn milled especially for socks has very particular qualities to give it durability. DK yarns can have most of the same qualities, if you know what to look for.
Here’s a sock yarn (West Yorkshire Spinners Signature 4 Ply Yarn (40% Wool, 35% Bluefaced Leicester, 25% nylon)) side by side with LolaBean Pinto Bean (100% superwash Merino).
Other than size, they look comparable. The fiber is similar, both are wool or mostly wool, though the DK is missing the nylon for extra strength and uses a finer fiber.
Look carefully at the fiber content of a DK yarn. If it is a very soft, fine fiber, or a luxury fiber, with a loose twist, it likely won’t be as durable. Use that yarn for a sweater or socks that won’t leave the house.
Two things, construction-wise, that make a DK yarn good for socks are twist and ply. I like three or more plies, and a good amount of ply twist. Having extra plies and extra twist helps finer fibers like Merino hold up under our feet. All three of these yarns have both extra twist and plies.
Why use a DK yarn for socks? There are so many reasons.
The two most obvious ones are the speed of knitting DK socks and the squishy coziness of the thicker yarn.
Sure, a bigger yarn means a thicker sock—but not every pair of shoes we own are form fitting. DK socks are perfect for clogs, slippers, Birks, boots, or shoes that you had to have but the only pair in stock is half a size bigger than you usually wear…no? just me?
Thicker cozy socks are great gifts if you aren’t quite sure of recipient’s size. They can be socks for slippers or for a cuddle on the couch.
DK yarns let you see the patterning and detail you’ve worked hard to knit. Every stitch is bit more robust and even dramatic. Cables pop. Lace can really peek-a-boo.
Some good things about DK socks aren’t quite so obvious.
If you are new to sock knitting, try a DK pair first. You’ll be able to see what’s going on with patterning, gussets, heels, and toes much better.
Never customized a pair of socks exactly for your feet? Start with a DK pair. It’s easier to evaluate your customizations and not as heart breaking if you have to rip back and reknit sections.
DK socks are perfect for practicing anything sock related, like new stitch patterns, toe up, side to side, lace, colorwork, cables. I always feel more in control with new techniques when using a bigger yarn.
Let’s address the delicate topic of aging (you youngins can keep scrolling):
When I knit DK socks I can see the stitches, even at night when watching TV, without extra light or stronger readers.
Bigger yarn means bigger needles, which feel better on my fingers and hands with their encroaching arthritis.
DK sock yarn is a stash switch hitter. It can be all the things!
I bet in your stash right now you have a huge variety of DK yarns that could become socks—or left over yarn from other DK projects to use to make some odds-and-ends socks. DK yarn gives you stash shopping freedom.
There is never one way to do anything in knitting, including socks. Knit socks out of any weight yarn, if it makes you happy. DK socks give me great knitting pleasure.
The most important thing is that you have fun, learn a little something, and get a fabulous pair of socks in the end.
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These yarns are gorgeous in color, hand, and drape. So grateful that MDK brought them in such an immediate manner as socks. I am enjoying creating both socks and garments. Thank you
Thank you! I have tried and failed to make socks that are not humongous! I just started casting on Serendipitous and yes, I am on size 1 needles again, even though Fatima Hind’s pattern calls for a much larger needle size! I will persevere!
Try felting them for cozy slippers! For next time you might want to do like Jillian and go down to double or triple zeros (eeks).
I also recommend Patty Lyons tips on getting gauge. I suspect you “grab and go.” The articles are right here on MDK.
Felting I believe only works with 100% wool not washable wool or wool blends.
GREAT article! Thanks!
I love knitting but I have to use likearan or,chunky. As I can only use one hand do you do patterns for other things and yarn
Thanks! I just tried knitting my first pair of socks with sock yarn and size 1 needles. I just had no success. I switched to a DK yarn and larger needles and wow! what a difference. This is a great article, and I always look forward to the Yarn Detective articles.
Thanks for the excellent info! I am also a loose knitter, so lean to DK or sport for socks.
Do you have some sock patterns to share that use DK yarn?
Your hobbies soundinteresting
Yes Yes to knitting socks with DK weight yarn. That’s the majority of my gift socks knitting as it’s the most popular for that cozy comfort feeling.
I enjoy a podcast called Very Pink Knits; their sponsor is Turtlepurl Yarns. Turtlepurl is a hand-dyer who dyes yarn for self-striping socks in a variety of beautiful colors AND in DK yarn as well as “sock” yarn. Turtlepurl also has patterns for DK socks. I’ve made a pair and can attest to the high quality of both the pattern and the yarn! Knit those DK socks while many fingering weight UFO socks continue to languish in bags in my yarn room! check out her website: https://turtlepurl.com
I have made several pairs of socks in the past with DK weight yarn, and I invariably got the same result – holes in the heels and bottoms of the socks. Without the nylon content, it was just a big waste of time and effort. If I were to try it again, I’d use some added nylon in the hard wearing spots as an insurance policy.
As a new-ish knitter I was interested in making socks but very intimidated by the fingering weight yarn/tiny needles required. A wise knitter friend recommended that I start with worsted or DK weight yarn and larger needles just to get the feel and rhythm of knitting socks. It was the best advice ever! I only knit one sock—a practice piece—and it was huge, but I could see what I was doing and it all made sense. I’m happy to say that I am now an ardent sock knitter, using both fingering and DK weight yarns.
Every time I see MDK’s pictures of DK socks and read the enthusiastic, dare I say joyful, descriptions of sock knitting, I am almost convinced. I hesitate because I absolutely hate to do things twice. Two sleeves, nope. Two socks, definitely no. I am a vest and scarf person. One advantage of age is that there is nothing to say that I must knit matching socks so if you should ever see someone wearing a vest and mismatched socks, please say hello.
I have recently discovered the real joy of knitting DK socks! I am a convert. Everything you mention, Jillian, is so true. These are the fastest socks to knit ever and they seem to scream “wear me with your Birks!” Fall camping, warmer socks, Birks and s’mores are coming for me very soon.
Knitting a heel flap and turning the heel in DK weight is…Wow!! Zip, zip, zip, you’re done!
What great, detailed information. Jillian is such a wealth of thoughtful knowledge.
I have a pair of booties that I just HAD to have. They’re beauteously sculpted in shades of cream and blue, unfortunately – they ARE exactly one-half size too big. My feet slopped around in them, badly. I couldn’t bear to return them so they’re currently languishing in the back of the closet. A few pair of DK weight socks may just be the solution that will allow me to wear my pretty boots.
Thanks Ms. Jillian for this information!
You can crochet socks with this yarn right?
Thank you
Antonette Jayne
Of course! The yarn is great for socks, no matter how you make them. Enjoy.
I have knit socks using two strands of sock yarn held together, which equals DK weight. I particularly enjoy combining two patterned yarns – the results are always a delightful surprise! I knit the feet and ankles on US#2.5 needles and the legs on US#4s. This all started when I noticed that my feet were always cold in the winter (we live in northern WI). I knit my first pair, then realized I needed bigger shoes to accommodate them. Zappos to the rescue — two pairs of Merrill leather clogss one-size bigger than my usual size. This all started in 2008, and to date I have knit 26 pairs. As God is my witness, my feet shall never be cold again!