Needles & Conversions

Knitting needles can be bought from many places, this obviously means that there are a lot of different variations and measurements for them too. Here is a short explanation to help summarise the different types of needles that are available to you - and some reasons why they may be better or worse for you - along with a chart to help with needle size conversions.

There are many needle types out there to choose from, and which ones you decide to use can be influenced by each needles purpose, what your preferences are, and how much money you are willing to spend. 

These are the needles with one pointed end, where the other end has a small square, usually with the size printed on it. 

These are used in knitting patterns to convey what your rows are made up of without creating long paragraphs of text. Most of the time your pattern will have a table telling you what each abbreviation means. In knitting charts, a similar concept applies, only along with the abbreviations there will be a chart telling you which symbols mean each stitch type. Bear in mind however that the symbol for each stitch can be different in each chart.

These are two different ways to knit, working ‘straight’ (also known as working ‘flat’) which involves knitting over two needles going from left to right. The other way is knitting ‘circularly’ by continuously working the row around in a circle to make items like hats and socks.

These are your instruments for making knitted pieces, you can’t knit without them! Coming in multiple different forms and materials, there is a pair out there for every preference, skill, ability and budget.

This is where the magic happens. When choosing a yarn, it is important to make sure that you choose a weight (thickness), colour and type that match the project you’re creating. Also make sure that your needle size and yarn weight match. For example, chunky yarn and thin needles won’t give you the result you want.

Other useful needle tools:

-        Crochet hook

-        Darning needle

-        Stitch marker

-        Needle size gauge, holes, and ruler

Knitting needles are commonly made from one of the following materials:

-        Metal: The most common material, these are strong and durable.

-        Bamboo: Great for those just learning to knit as stitches are less likely to slip off.

-        Plastic/Acrylic: A very affordable option, they are lightweight making them especially great to use with jumbo yarn.

-        Wooden: Provide a smooth knitting experience but can tire you out easily as they are heavy. They are often more expensive too.

-        Carbon fibre: These needles are a good mid-point between metal and bamboo and are reasonably affordable.

Unfortunately, not every part of the world uses the same scale for their measurements. It can be confusing trying to work out which of your needles from a British company to use for an American pattern or vice versa. It is always best to use a gauge for this to check, but if you cannot get your hands on one, here are some conversions for you.

Note: X means there isn’t a needle to fit that measurement.