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How to choose the right knitting needles for your project

The size needles you use will depend on the type of project you are kitting.
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Choosing the right knitting needles for your project is very important. The wrong size can mean your garment will end up being bigger or smaller than the knitting pattern you are working from. 

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The size needles you use will depend on the type of project you are kitting and the yarn weight: thicker yarn will require thicker needles. 

How to choose knitting needles

The yarn you are using will have a recommended needle size written on the label. Always knit a tension square, but if your measurements don’t match, try again with larger or smaller needles. 

Here’s how to make sure to choose the right knitting needles for your project. 

how to choose knitting needles
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How to choose the right size knitting needles

Generally, these knitting needles sizes are best used with the following yarn weights. 

2.5-3.5mm – 2ply – 4ply yarn

3.5-4.5mm – DK yarn / 8 ply

5-6mm – Aran yarn / worsted yarn

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7mm and bugger – chunky yarn 

Knitting needles
(Credit: Getty) (Credit: Getty)

Best knitting needles: types of knitting needles

Straight

how to choose knitting needles

Straight knitting needles are the best for beginners. These come in pairs and allow you to create large, flat pieces of fabric usually knitting in knit stitch or purl stitch. They can be unwieldy though, and you’re often lifting the entire weight of your knitting as you work, which can be uncomfortable. 

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Circular

how to choose knitting needles

Made with two needle ‘tips’ connected by a cable, circulars can be used to knit in the round or in rows, back and forth between the tips. Used in this way, like ordinary needles, the cable takes the weight of the fabric.

To choose the best circular knitting needle, check the circumference of the project you are knitting and choose a needle length that is shorter than that. 

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Interchangeable

how to choose knitting needles

Circular needles come in various sizes and lengths. Interchangeable needles allow you to mix and match needle tips with cables so you don’t have to buy one of every thickness and length. You can buy sets as well as individual parts. 

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Double-pointed

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Sold in sets of four or five, they enable you to knit in the round. It might seem scary using so many needles, but you only ever ‘knit’ with two – the rest just hold stitches.

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Super-sized

how to choose knittin gneedles
(Credit: CollieCraft1/Etsy) (Credit: CollieCraft1/Etsy)

Use enormous pairs like this to know with big yarns, or even a thinner yarn for a lacy look. Super-sized needles result in super-quick projects! Great fun for young, instant-gratification-loving knitters too. 

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Cable

how to choose knitting needles

Used when knitting cables, these kinked needles are handy for holding a small number of stitches that you don’t want to knit yet (the kink stops the stitches from falling off). You could use a stitch holder or a spare needle instead. 

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Extra long

Useful (as you might expect) for extra large projects, such as big jumpers, cushions and throws, especially if you’re not keen on using circular needles or you like to tuck one needle under your arm. 

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How to cast on knitting

Before you start knitting, you need the right knitting needles, and you must learn how to cast on. Here are the methods for casting on: 

Both have different benefits but are very easy to master. Once you have finished your project, here’s how to cast off your knitting

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