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In my introduction to this series, I said I would break down the yarns into categories by materials so I didn’t make you all read a novel-length post. To kick off the reviews, here are the eight natural DK yarns I tried out!
The Natural DK Yarns
Premier Bamboo Fair
- Cost: $6.00
- Materials: bamboo and cotton
- Shape: skein
- Length: 273 yards (250 meters)
- Cost per yard: ¢2.194
- Machine washable? Yes
- Machine dryable? No
This yarn has a lovely sheen and absolutely gorgeous colorways. The color I got is light enough that it almost seems to glow in the sunshine. It is on the thinner side, as is the other bamboo blend I picked up, so keep that in mind if you plan to use it!
Will I buy again? Yes!
Stylecraft Naturals Organic Cotton
- Cost: $3.25
- Materials: cotton
- Shape: skein
- Length: 115 yards (105 meters)
- Cost per yard: ¢2.826
- Machine washable? Yes
- Machine dryable? Yes
This is pretty much what I’d hope for in a basic cotton yarn. Not too terribly hard to work up (though it is cotton so it splits a bit — I haven’t found a 100% cotton yarn that doesn’t!), decent range of colors, and it’s organic too if that’s something important to you. Cotton is great for anything that needs to be sturdy, like things you’ll use in the kitchen, since it tends to wash up well even after multiple runs through the washer.
Will I buy again? Maybe!
Rico Essentials Cotton DK
- Cost: $4.50
- Materials: cotton
- Shape: ball
- Length: 131 yards (120 meters)
- Cost per yard: ¢3.435
- Machine washable? Yes
- Machine dryable? Yes
This one’s nicely stiff but still quite soft and has a lovely sheen. I often find that cotton yarn works up a bit roughly, but this one’s very smooth. While it’s more expensive than the Stylecraft cotton, I’d rather use it than the Stylecraft for something fancier or for a baby gift in a natural fiber.
Will I buy again? Yes!
Stylecraft Naturals Bamboo and Cotton
- Cost: $5.50
- Materials: bamboo and cotton
- Shape: ball
- Length: 273 yards (250 meters)
- Cost per yard: ¢2.015
- Machine washable? Yes
- Machine dryable? Yes
This one’s more like a fingering weight than a DK yarn. That said, it’s got a fantastic sheen and drape to it even just in single crochet (which is not known for good drape). This would be perfect for shawls or wraps, or anything else you’d like to drape well. And if that wasn’t enough, it’s wonderfully soft!
Will I buy again? Yes!
Rico Creative Ricorumi DK
- Cost: $4.00
- Materials: cotton
- Shape: skein
- Length: 62 yards (57 meters)
- Cost per yard: ¢6.435
- Machine washable? Yes
- Machine dryable? No
This one’s tinier than I expected! I didn’t realize just how small 0.9oz of yarn was. It’d be a good option if you wanted to do a blanket with a million colors and not have any leftover. However, it’s a bit expensive for what you get — you can buy twice as much Stylecraft cotton for less than half the price, or four times as much acrylic for the same.
Will I buy again? Probably not.
Tahki Yarns Cotton Classic
- Cost: $6.50
- Materials: cotton
- Shape: hank (unwound)
- Length: 107 yards (98 meters)
- Cost per yard: ¢6.065
- Machine washable? No
- Machine dryable? No
Ah, the only hank in the batch! When I bought this one I didn’t pay enough attention, so I was surprised when it arrived in a hank. Honestly, I’m kind of lazy, so I probably won’t re-buy just because I don’t want to bother with busting out my yarn swift when there are lots of cottons available that I don’t have to wind. It’s VERY stiff so would be good for projects requiring a strong body.
Will I buy again? Probably not.
Valley Yarns Superwash DK
- Cost: $7.00
- Materials: merino wool
- Shape: ball
- Length: 137 yards (125 meters)
- Cost per yard: ¢5.102
- Machine washable? Yes
- Machine dryable? No
This one’s super soft and plush! It washed up nicely and has a wonderful feel. It’d be great for sweaters and in my opinion would hold its own against more expensive fibers like alpaca in terms of softness and ease of use.
Will I buy again? Yes!
Rico Essentials Merino DK
- Cost: $7.00
- Materials: merino wool
- Shape: ball
- Length: 131 yards (120 meters)
- Cost per yard: ¢5.336
- Machine washable? Yes
- Machine dryable? No
Interestingly, the edges on this block didn’t curl hardly at all, unlike most of the rest of my swatches. However, it’s not nearly as soft as the other merino wool I tried, Valley Yarns Superwash DK.
Will I buy again? Probably not.
My Favorite Natural DK Yarn
Obviously different yarns are good for different things, and I’ll go over my thoughts in depth in the last post in this series. But in the meantime? My favorite of the eight natural DK yarns I tried was Stylecraft Naturals Bamboo and Cotton. Gorgeous colors, lovely texture, and great drape and sheen put this one at the top of my natural-fiber list.
Next up: synthetic fibers!
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