a knitting needle in imperial is size 21 what size would it be now in metric?

Answer 1

The highest size I can find in Imperial seem to be 14! But here are some size converter links for you anyway, maybe you could mail some of them see if they know what a size 21 would be -

http://www.classic-yarns.co.uk/needleconversion.asp

http://www.vintagepurls.net.nz/tools.html

http://yarnforward.com/circularconv.html

http://www.aragonyarns.co.uk/needle-size-chart.php


Good luck :)

Answer 2

British Imperial sizes used to go from 14 (the smallest at 2mm) to 000 (the largest at 10mm)

American sizes work the other way around going from 0 (the smallest at 2mm) to 15 (the largest at 10mm)

If you have the actual needle you can work out the metric size by placing it on a ruler and reading the width of the needle.

Answer 3

A needle that size is probably what the US would term a 6 aught (000000) or 8 aught (00000000) needle, generally used for fine lace work. It isn't likely, unless you can find an antique bell gauge in the UK that you will find a modern needle gauge with that size available.

These needles are, indeed, generally referred to in the UK as wires.

Answer 4

Well, using the second link from the above user, I figured out that imperial 19 is 1.0 mm... so extrapolating that would make 21 around 0.5 mm. That is EXTREMELY small though and I don't think they make needles that size (I think if you knit at that size you use wire or something).

Answer 5

There are some very tiny knitting needles available for making clothes for dolls house scale people. I've no idea what the size is try searching dolls house furniture suppliers

Answer 6

You can buy a needle gauge for less than $2 at any crafts store (JoAnn, Michael's, AC Moore, etc.) or in the crafting section at Wal-Mart:
http://www.joann.com/catalog.jhtml?CATID=82328&PRODID=97299
http://www.yarnsupply.com/7525.html

Poke a needle through the various holes -- the largest hole through which the needle fits is the correct size: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Knitting_needle#Needle_Gauge
http://knitting.about.com/od/toolsandsupplies/qt/needlegauge.htm

(Gauge rulers are marked with both metric & US sizes.)

Answer 7

This site deals with miniature knitting:

http://www.helena-petitefashions.co.uk/miniature.knitting.needles.html

Size 21 = 0.8mm in metric

and there is even a size 22 (0.7mm)!