Yes, DK (double knitting) is called 8 ply in Australia and New Zealand, and in the Craft Yarn Council system it is weight 3, light, sometimes labelled light worsted. It knits at 21–24 stitches per 10 cm on 3.75–4.5 mm needles. Most DK yarns at VILRITA sit in that range, for example Alize Superlana Klasik (280 m per 100 g) and DROPS Lima (100 m per 50 g), both on 4 mm needles.

DK is one step thinner than worsted: about 21–24 stitches per 10 cm on 3.75–4.5 mm needles, against 16–20 stitches on 4.5–5.5 mm for worsted. DK gives a lighter fabric with more drape for year-round sweaters, baby clothes and colourwork, while worsted is thicker, warmer and faster. They don't swap one-for-one, so match the pattern's gauge with a swatch. YarnArt Milano (130 m per 50 g, 4 mm) is a typical DK.

An adult sweater in DK usually takes about 1,300–2,000 m, depending on size, length, sleeves and stitch pattern; cables use more. Check the total metres in your pattern and add one spare ball. With YarnArt Merino DeLuxe 50 (280 m per 100 g) that is roughly 5–8 balls; with DROPS Lima (100 m per 50 g), about 13–20. Buy everything from one dye lot.

A soft, washable DK in cotton or anti-pilling acrylic is the usual pick, and roughly 1,000–1,200 m covers a standard baby blanket. Gazzal Organic Baby Cotton (100% organic cotton, 115 m per 50 g) needs about 9–11 balls, and YarnArt Adore (100% anti-pilling acrylic, 280 m per 100 g) about 4–5. Both are OEKO-TEX certified, and cotton gives a cooler blanket for summer.

Cotton blended with viscose or linen is the go-to DK for summer, because it breathes and drapes instead of clinging. DROPS Belle mixes 53% cotton, 33% viscose and 14% linen, and YarnArt Symphony is 80% cotton and 20% viscose; both use 4 mm needles. Plant fibres have little elasticity and can lengthen when worn, so knit ribbing on a smaller needle and wash your swatch before measuring.

Yes, DK cotton gives slightly larger toys and squares than sport weight, with clear stitch definition and little fuzz. YarnArt Creative (100% cotton, 85 m per 50 g) and Gazzal Baby Cotton XL (50% cotton, 50% acrylic, 105 m per 50 g) suit both. For amigurumi, use a hook about 1 mm smaller than the band suggests, around 3 mm, so the fabric is tight enough to hide the stuffing.