Kelbourne Woolens Germantown DK

Is Germantown DK a good yarn for beginners?

Yes! Germantown DK is smooth and easy to handle. The extra grip that comes with a non-superwash yarn like this one will help prevent any dropped stitches from unraveling. Germantown DK’s smooth strand also creates clear stitch definition, so your stitches are easy to see and count when needed for your pattern. DK and worsted weights are very common medium weight choices for projects like sweaters and hats, so it’s a great weight to practice on.

What does non-superwash mean?

Non-superwash wool is wool spun in its original state. Wool fibers are naturally covered in microscopic barbs or scales, texture that gives the fiber its characteristic grip and sometimes rustic feel. This does not necessarily mean itchy! Because non-superwash wool binds well to itself, your stitches will bloom with a gentle wash and wear, growing softer and more beautiful with time. Always hand wash in cool water and lay flat to dry when working with non-superwash wool, because your project can felt in the hot water or excess friction found in the washing machine.

Superwash wool has been treated, either with extra physical or chemical washing, to remove many of the microscopic barbs naturally present in each hair of wool fiber. As a result, superwash wool does not felt or shrink as readily as untreated wool, and often feels smoother.

Where is Germantown made?

Germantown is 100% grown and manufactured in the USA, with wool from western states and the yarn dyed and spun in North Carolina.

Do you carry Germantown in other weights, like bulky?

We currently only carry Germantown in DK weight. If you are looking for more non-superwash wool options from Kelbourne Woolens, we also carry Camper, a fingering weight, and Scout, another DK weight.

In total, we carry nine yarns from Kelbourne Woolens. These include lace weight Harmony, fingering weights Perennial and Camper, sport weights Mojave, Cricket, and Skipper, and DK weights Scout, Cozy, and Germantown DK. See our full Kelbourne Woolens Collection here.

How much yarn do I need?

Referencing your pattern and your desired size & gauge is the best way to ensure you will have enough yarn! As a general example, the Callisto Hat by Tommy Knits is a cabled hat pattern that calls for one skein of Kelbourne Woolens Germantown DK.

We always recommend Ravelry as an all-encompassing pattern database in the shop. Many patterns on Ravelry estimate the yarn amount you will need for the size you are looking to make, but at Apricot Yarn & Supply, we can always offer advice if your pattern is unclear, you are working freehand, or something else!

If you are curious how Apricot Yarn & Supply began, read the full story on Our Story page.