Rowan · DK weight · 272 yds per 100 g

Alpaca Soft DK substitutes

Rowan Alpaca Soft DK is a DK-weight 70% virgin wool, 30% alpaca yarn with a smooth finish, 136 yds (124 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
Rowan Alpaca Soft DK	DK	272	70% Virgin Wool, 30% Alpaca	US 6	10 balls	The original
Knit Picks Gloss DK	DK	246	70% Merino Wool, 30% Silk	US 5 - 6	12 balls	Same DK / double knitting / double knit weight · 10% less metres per 100 g · Shared fibres: wool · 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	12 balls	Same DK / double knitting / double knit weight · 10% less metres per 100 g · Shared fibres: wool · Fibre composition differs; check drape, stretch and care. · Comparable label tension is unavailable.
McIntosh Bluefaced Leicester DK	DK	246	100% British Bluefaced Leicester Wool	US 6	6 skeins	Same DK / double knitting / double knit weight · 10% less metres per 100 g · Shared fibres: wool · Fibre composition differs; check drape, stretch and care. · Comparable label tension is unavailable.
Sandnes Garn Double Sunday	DK	236	100% Merino Wool	–	12 balls	Same DK / double knitting / double knit weight · 13% less metres per 100 g · Shared fibres: wool · Fibre composition differs; check drape, stretch and care. · Comparable label tension is unavailable.
Lang Yarns Yak	Worsted	262	70% Virgin Extrafine Merino Wool and 30% Yak	US 7-8	11 balls	4% less metres per 100 g · Shared fibres: virgin, wool · Fibre composition differs; check drape, stretch and care. · Comparable label tension is unavailable.
McIntosh Fabulous DK	DK	246	55% British Bluefaced Leicester Wool, 45% Grade A Mulberry Silk	US 6	6 skeins	Same DK / double knitting / double knit weight · 10% 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 Alpaca Soft DK (1,360 yds). For your own pattern, use the Yarn Estimator Calculator.

Candidates to compare

Yarn substitute finder Back to Alpaca Soft DK

Knit Picks

Gloss DK

DK · 123 yds / 50 g

$10.99

Same DK / double knitting / double knit weight · 10% less metres per 100 g · Shared fibres: wool · Fibre composition differs; check drape, stretch and care. · Comparable label tension is unavailable.

Knit Picks

Capra DK

DK · 123 yds / 50 g

$13.99

McIntosh

Bluefaced Leicester DK

DK · 246 yds / 100 g

$29

Sandnes Garn

Double Sunday

DK · 118 yds / 50 g

$13.50

Same DK / double knitting / double knit weight · 13% less metres per 100 g · Shared fibres: wool · Fibre composition differs; check drape, stretch and care. · Comparable label tension is unavailable.

Lang Yarns

Yak

Worsted · 131 yds / 50 g

$20

4% less metres per 100 g · Shared fibres: virgin, wool · Fibre composition differs; check drape, stretch and care. · Comparable label tension is unavailable.

McIntosh

Fabulous DK

DK · 246 yds / 100 g

$32

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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