McIntosh · DK weight · 328 yds per 100 g

Calm DK substitutes

McIntosh Calm DK is a DK-weight 80% extra fine merino wool, 20% pure cashmere yarn with a smooth finish, 164 yds (150 m) per 50 g. These yarns are the closest candidates in the shop, ranked by weight, length per 100 g, fibre, texture and available label tension. These are not swatch-verified replacements.

Side by side

Yarn	Weight	Yds / 100 g	Fiber	Needle	To replace 10 balls	How it compares
McIntosh Calm DK	DK	328	80% Extra Fine Merino Wool, 20% Pure Cashmere	US 6	10 balls	The original
Rowan Pure Cashmere	DK	298	100% Cashmere	US 5	12 balls	Same DK / double knitting / double knit weight · 9% less metres per 100 g · Shared fibres: cashmere · Fibre composition differs; check drape, stretch and care. · Comparable label tension is unavailable.
Symfonie Serra	Sport	328	80% Extrafine Merino, 20% Alpaca	US 2.5-4	5 skeins	0% more metres per 100 g · Shared fibres: merino · Fibre composition differs; check drape, stretch and care. · Comparable label tension is unavailable.
Knit Picks Capra DK	DK	246	85% Fine Merino Wool, 15% Cashmere	US 5 - 7	14 balls	Same DK / double knitting / double knit weight · 25% less metres per 100 g · Shared fibres: fine, merino, wool, cashmere · Fibre composition differs; check drape, stretch and care. · Comparable label tension is unavailable.
Knit Picks Nova	Sport	328	92% Superfine Alpaca, 8% Mulberry Silk	US 4 - 7	10 balls	0% more metres per 100 g · Fibre composition differs; check drape, stretch and care. · Comparable label tension is unavailable.
Schoppel Cashmere Zauber	Sport	306	80% Virgin Wool and 20% Cashmere	US 4-7	11 balls	7% less metres per 100 g · Shared fibres: wool, cashmere · Fibre composition differs; check drape, stretch and care. · Label tension differs by 2 stitches per 10 cm.
Rowan Alpaca Soft DK	DK	272	70% Virgin Wool, 30% Alpaca	US 6	13 balls	Same DK / double knitting / double knit weight · 17% less metres per 100 g · Shared fibres: wool · Fibre composition differs; check drape, stretch and care. · Comparable label tension is unavailable.

Skein counts cover the same total length as 10 balls of Calm DK (1,640 yds). For your own pattern, use the Yarn Estimator Calculator.

Candidates to compare

Yarn substitute finder Back to Calm DK

Rowan

Pure Cashmere

DK · 149 yds / 50 g

$79.80

Same DK / double knitting / double knit weight · 9% less metres per 100 g · Shared fibres: cashmere · Fibre composition differs; check drape, stretch and care. · Comparable label tension is unavailable.

Symfonie

Serra

Sport · 328 yds / 100 g

$27

0% more metres per 100 g · Shared fibres: merino · Fibre composition differs; check drape, stretch and care. · Comparable label tension is unavailable.

Knit Picks

Capra DK

DK · 123 yds / 50 g

$13.99

Same DK / double knitting / double knit weight · 25% less metres per 100 g · Shared fibres: fine, merino, wool, cashmere · Fibre composition differs; check drape, stretch and care. · Comparable label tension is unavailable.

Knit Picks

Nova

Sport · 164 yds / 50 g

$13.99

0% more metres per 100 g · Fibre composition differs; check drape, stretch and care. · Comparable label tension is unavailable.

Schoppel

Cashmere Zauber

Sport · 153 yds / 50 g

$15

7% less metres per 100 g · Shared fibres: wool, cashmere · Fibre composition differs; check drape, stretch and care. · Label tension differs by 2 stitches per 10 cm.

Rowan

Alpaca Soft DK

DK · 136 yds / 50 g

$17.85

Same DK / double knitting / double knit weight · 17% less metres per 100 g · Shared fibres: wool · Fibre composition differs; check drape, stretch and care. · Comparable label tension is unavailable.

Before you swap

Match the length per 100 g, not just the label. Two yarns sold as DK can differ by a fifth in thickness. Compare yards per 100 g, or weigh a length with the yarn weight calculator.
Make a tension square (gauge swatch). A close match on paper still needs to hit your pattern's stitches per 10 cm (or per 4 inches) after washing before you cast on.
Buy by total length. Multiply the balls your pattern asks for by their length, then divide by the new yarn's length per ball.
Mind the fiber. Cotton and linen have no spring, mohair hides stitch detail, and tweeds and woolen-spun yarns bloom after washing. See the yarn guides by weight and fiber.

All DK yarn

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