Do you have to use the size knitting needles it says?

Question

I've just purchased a big ball wool because I liked the colour to make a scarf with. As I'm an inexperienced knitter I didn't think about the technical side (needle size, etc) so was wondering if someone could give me some guidance.

It's "Jarol New Arrival - Double Knitting Baby Randoms." It says a 10cm x 10cm would be 22sts on 30 rows on 4mm (UK Size 8) Needles.

Answer 1

Not necessarily - it depends how tightly you knit.

Try the size they say and knit a tension square (need not be that big) and check what they say it should be. If it's smaller than they say, you need a size larger and vice versa.

Sometimes people will use 2 different sized needles to get a good tension, because you sometimes see what knitting judges call "2 x 2" knitting on the back of stocking stitch caused by working one row (usually the purl row) more loosely than the other. Using 2different sizes corrects it.
It's worth taking the time to check tension to save the disappointment if a thing doesn't turn out the right size.
I've been knitting since I was 3 or 4, and now 81, so I do know what I'm talking about, and Im also a knitting judge!

Answer 2

You choose the needle according to the size of the yarn. You may sometimes have to adjust a half or a full size up or down, depending on how firm a fabric YOU want and on how tight or loose YOU knit. Because I was always a very tight knitter, I always used a larger size than recommended. I'm better now, and can get the fabric I want by eye-balling the yarn. You will learn eventually that this kind of yarn needs this size needle. Experience is a great thing! I do heartily recommend that you have all the sizes in your kit. You can't be called a real knitter if you don't have all the common sizes (and a few others). Well, that's my opinion1 :-) I have several sets, in metal, bamboo, some plastic. I collect needles! I got a lot of my needles in second-hand shops. Sometimes you just strike at a time when there are a lot. And over time, I added to them and now have several complete sets, in all lengths and in single, double-point, and circular. If size 7 is 4mm (when will the US catch up with the rest of the world?), then you can't really get anything useful using it instead of 9 mm. You might get away with 8 or 10 mm without much noticeable difference. You will find 9mm quite useful if you are going to use this kind of yarn again. You other alternative is to find a finer yarn, one that will work with your 4mm. That would mean you need to make some major adjustments to your pattern... so that may not work. Get another set of needles.

Answer 3

Hi! Well, since you're planning on making a scarf with the yarn, then gauge doesn't really matter, since it doesn't have to end up fitting (like a sweater would for instance). So you can use whatever size needles you'd like. Keep in mind, though, that needles much larger than the size 8 recommended will produce an airy, loose fabric, and needles much smaller than 8 will produce a dense, tight weave fabric. So really it all depends on the kind of look you're going for. Certainly one needle size up or down from 8 wouldn't make too drastic a difference.

Keep in mind (if you ever do go to knit a sweater or other fitted garment) - that gauge (the knitted stitch and row count) is extremely important in those cases and you should use whatever needle size gives you the gauge required in the pattern. (Which is usually the needle size recommended in the pattern.)

Hope that helps!

Answer 4

Yes, the needle size determines the loop and therefore the pattern size.

If you make a pattern using size 6 and it says use size 10 the final item will come out the wrong size.

You should also do a test run to make sure your stiches are the size tension as in the pattern, there are normally a couple of lines about this in the pattern...something about how many stiches per inch etc.

Arh, I've just re-read your question....A scarf, it should not matter.

Good luck

My bit of advice....my wife knits faster when watching a horror film, you might want to arrange that !

Answer 5

With a scarf, a size up or down doesn't really matter. If you are 'precision' knitting (say a jumper) and you want it to actually fit, then you do need to make sure you have the right size needles. Also make sure your tension is correct otherwise the item will be too big or too small!

Answer 6

RP's answer is the best so far. Try a test piece and measure to see if 22 stitches is 10cm wide. If it is wider try a size smaller needle or if it is less than 10cm try a size smaller needle.

I tend to knit a bit too loosely especially with smooth wools. I find using bamboo needles corrects this problem although they are more expensive and break if you are not careful with them.

Answer 7

knitting patterns are sized. Using a different type yarn or needle throws off the entire pattern. However, with something like a scarf, if its one of those long narrow ones, you can use a different size needle knowing that the scarf won't be as wide or as narrow as the pattern says depending upon if your needles are larger or smaller than the pattern calls for.

Answer 8

For a scarf, use any size needle you want. Cast on stitches and knit a 4" square. Then you can count how many stitches are in 4" and figure out how many stiches to cast on to make the width you want

This web site has several scarf patterns. It's a US site, so measurements are in inches instead of metric: www.lionbrand.com

Answer 9

If you use a diferent size needle to that listed in the pattern, you will need more stitches (if they're smaller) or less (if they're bigger) to make the same size of garment as the needle size listed. Eg, if you use 6mm needles you will need less stitches to make the same width scarf than if you used 4mm. Hope you understand what I mean, happy knitting.

Answer 10

Yes, you need to use the needle size they recommend, especially as a new knitter. Once you're more experienced, and learn how to Gage, then you can try other sizes. Good luck!