A Guide to Knitting Needle Sizes and Lengths
Knittingneedlesarediverselikeknittersthemselves.Beginnersareoftenoverwhelmedwith thevarietyoftypes,materials,sizes,lengthsandwhenandwheretousethem.Withapairof straightsinthecaseofcircularknittingneedlesandasetoffiveinthecaseofdouble-pointed needles,youcantransformyarnintoaknittedfabricforfashion,garments,accessoriesand almostanyproject.
Knittingneedlesareavailableinoptionsofsingle-pointed,double-pointed,fixedcircularsas well as interchangeablecirculars. Double-pointed needles are designed for the purpose of knitting in the round, especially projects of small circumferences such as baby hats, baby socks,etc.Circularsareversatileneedlesthatareidealforknittingbackandforthaswellas intheround.Therearedifferentfactorswhenitcomestotheirsizesandlengths.Tohelpyou understand,keepreading.
Knitting Needle Sizes
Allknittingneedlesizesarecalculatedbytheirdiameter.Sayforexamplea2mmneedleis known as US 0. There is a standard size for all needles. The knitting needle size is very importantforthesuccessfulcompletionofaproject.Everyyarnlabelmentionsthesuitable needle size that matches the yarn weight. All patterns where the designer mentions the needlesizeusedforcompletingtheproject.Evenifyouworkwiththesamesizesandstilldo notgetsimilarresultsinknitting,youneedtogoaneedlesizeupordowntogetagauge.The generalruleofthumbforknittingneedles,isbiggersizeequalsbiggerstitchesandsmaller size equals smaller stitches. It is important to go through instructions carefully as a 5mm needleisverydifferentfromaUS5needlesize.
Here’saquickguideforUSsizes.
Sizes 0 -1 - Usedforfineyarnweightsforprojectssuchaslaceanddelicatebabysocks.New knittersaregenerallynotsuggestedtoworkwiththesesizes.
Sizes 1 to 3 – Usedforknittingsocksaswellaslacepatterns,theneedlesizesgowellwith lightweightyarns.
Sizes 3 to 5 – Thesesizesareidealforawiderangeofprojectssuchassocks,sweaters,baby blankets,etc.Theyworkbestwithsport-weightandotherlightyarnsbutcanalsoworkfor 4-plyyarns.
Sizes 5 to 7 – Perfectly matchingDKandmid-weightyarns, these needlesarecommonin knittinganythingfromglovestoscarvestosweaters.
Sizes 7 to 9 - Possiblythemostpopularsizesfornewknitters,theyareusuallyusedtoknit worsted-weightyarns.Thesesizesworkforalmosteveryprojectsuchasbeginnersweaters, blankets,homedécorandmore.
Sizes 9 to 11 – Theidealsizesforchunky-weightorbulkyyarns,theneedlesareusedfor quick-knitprojectssuchasascarf,blanket,etc.withfabricthatworksforwarmprojects.Any typeofknittingneedleworksforbulkyyarnsbutcircularknittingneedlesarethebestones asthecordlengthoftenbalancestheweightoftheproject.
Sizes 11 to 17 - Availableonlyinoddsizes(11,13,15and17),theseareperfectforworking withbulkyyarns.
The needle sizes above 17 are also available and they are specially used for the bulkiest yarns.
Knitting Needle lengths
Allknittingneedleshaveanotherfactor,theirlengths.Straightneedlessuchassinglepoints comein10to14-inchlengths.Double-pointedneedlesaregenerallyavailablein4,6and8inchlengths.4-inchlengthsworkbestforbabysocksandotherfine projects.6-inchDPNs canbeusedforsocksofalllengthsandsizes,hatsandsleeves.8-inchdoublepointsareideal fornecklines,biggersleeves,hatsandmore.Thedefinitionofneedlelengthsisverydifferent forcircularneedles,thereforeneedsafewmoredetails.
Circular Knitting Needle Lengths
Circularknittingneedlesareactuallythehandiestofknittingneedlesservingawiderange ofprojects.Thesearebasicallytwostraightknittingneedletipsjoinedtogetherbyaflexible cord with different lengths. Their needle length is measured from one tip to the other includingthecord.Theneedletipsaregenerally4or5incheswhilethecordrangefrom9to almost 47 inches. The fixed circulars have a fixed length while interchangeable circular needlesopenupaworldofoptionswiththechoiceofchangingneedletipsaswellascord lengths.Say,youcancreateaneedlethatworksforknittingsockstothewidestblanketsand anythinginbetween.Aninterchangeablecircularneedlesetismuchmoreconvenientwith thechoiceofmultiplecombinationsthatworksforallkindsofprojects.
Inchoosingaknittingneedlesizeandcordlength,theapplicationisnotonlytheinfluencing factorbutalsoyourpersonalpreferences.
Happyknitting!
Source:https://fistpal.com/blogs/45352/A-Guide-to-Knitting-Needle-Sizes-and-Lengths