• 0 items$0.00
  • Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Hands Occupied

Colorful knitting, crochet, latch hook and macrame from craft book author & designer Heidi Gustad.

  • BLOG
    • Knitting
    • Crochet
    • Latch Hook
    • Macramé
    • Punch Needle
  • ABOUT
  • Shop
  • Nav Social Menu

    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • RSS
    • TikTok
    • YouTube

Knitting Needle Sizes & A Handy Conversion Chart

June 21, 2017 6 Comments

Eliminate needle size confusion with this handy conversion chart, showing you what US/UK/mm knitting needle sizes are equal to each other!
If you’ve been knitting for a minute or two, you’ll have noticed that needle sizes can be confusing. The United States has one system of indicating needle sizes, England & Canada have another, and then there’s plain old mm sizing. Heck, knitting needle sizes can even vary brand to brand! (Something designers like yours truly have to be super careful of!) To make all of our lives a little easier, I’ve put together this handy reference guide to help convert needle sizes and confirm that you’re using the right one for your project.  Because, heaven forbid, you guess wrong and your project’s gauge is completely screwed up. That’s a recipe for a tear-stained, wrong-sized sweater right there!

Eliminate needle size confusion with this handy conversion chart, showing you what US/UK/mm knitting needle sizes are equal to each other!

Knitting Needle Conversion Chart

a.k.a. What size is my knitting needle? 

Eliminate needle size confusion with this handy conversion chart, showing you what US/UK/mm knitting needle sizes are equal to each other!
Important notes

  • Hyphens (-) indicate there is not an equivalent size for the system of measurement listed in that column.
  • All listed US & mm needle sizes are based on the Craft Yarn Council’s standards, an organization worth bookmarking for all needlearts lovers! UK & Canada equivalents and cross referencing was done using the following sites: Laughing Hens, Best Yarns, p2tog, & Deramores. There is some inconsistency among these sources regarding UK equivalents. Because of issues like this, I recommend always designing with mm sizing in mind. Millimeters are an objective standard of measurement, and you can never be too careful with gauge! :)

Eliminate needle size confusion with this handy conversion chart, showing you what US/UK/mm knitting needle sizes are equal to each other!
Eliminate needle size confusion with this handy conversion chart, showing you what US/UK/mm knitting needle sizes are equal to each other!

Filed Under: Knitting Tagged With: knitting needle conversion chart, knitting needle sizes, knitting needles, needle sizes, uk to mm, us to mm

About Heidi

Heidi Gustad (she/her) is a craft book author & designer specializing in yarn crafts. Her work combines vintage and modern design elements, prioritizing color and graphic motifs. Her first book, Latch Hook: 12 Projects for the Modern Maker, is out now.

Previous Post: « Picks of the Week
Next Post: Picks of the Week »

Reader Interactions

DID YOU LIKE THIS POST?
Visit similar articles...

  • Eliminate hook size confusion with this handy conversion chart, showing you what US & mm crochet hook sizes are equal to each other!Crochet Hook Sizes & A Handy Conversion Chart
  • knit affair Knitting Needles Review & Giveaway!knit affair Knitting Needles Review & Giveaway!
  • Feel Good Yarn Co. Review & GiveawayFeel Good Yarn Co. Review & Giveaway
  • Picks of the WeekPicks of the Week

Comments

  1. DebbieW

    June 21, 2017 at 1:07 pm

    What a great resource to have handy! Thanks for this!

    Reply
    • Heidi

      June 22, 2017 at 1:55 pm

      You’re welcome!

      Reply
  2. LK

    June 22, 2017 at 4:52 pm

    Fair to note that this style of UK numbering is a vintage system. Not really used for 30+ years. Still useful for old patterns, though.

    Reply
    • Heidi

      June 26, 2017 at 9:21 am

      Absolutely! It’s also a useful reference if you inherit needles from someone. Thanks for the tip! :)

      Reply
  3. Susan5794

    June 26, 2017 at 9:42 am

    I’ve had problems with US 1. Some brands are 2.25mm, and some (Addi) are 2.5mm. Some manufacturers list the 2.5mm as size 1-1/2. Since I knit socks on 2.25mm, I have to be careful when choosing new needles!

    Reply
    • Heidi

      June 28, 2017 at 12:43 pm

      Yep! Addi size 1s have screwed me up in the past! That’s why, no matter what the needle says, I always measure the size using at least 2 needle gauges when designing. It may be a little paranoid, but it matters!

      Reply

Leave a Reply to Susan5794 Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Primary Sidebar

Heidi Gustad from Hands Occupied / Craft Book Author and Knitting, Crochet, Latch Hook and Macrame Designer

Hi! I’m Heidi (she/her/hers), and I’ve been helping yarn crafters untangle various techniques on the internet since 2010. I got my start here, as a blogger, and since then I’ve shared more than a few tutorials here and on YouTube as I’ve grown as a pattern designer. 🧶 

learn more / work with me

Find Me on Social Media

  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • TikTok
  • YouTube
Latch Hook by Heidi Gustad

Footer

INSTAGRAM

handsoccupied

Knitting & yarn crafts designer helping makers untangle various techniques with a blog & YouTube channel
.
Stay up-to-date 💌 & shop new patterns ⤵️

Heidi Gustad 🧶 knitting & yarn crafts
Stitching around the Christmas tree 🧶 . Working Stitching around the Christmas tree 🧶
.
Working on a new sample of an old sweater today, and I can confirm: a tree makes a pretty decent yarn holder. 
.
Yarn: @eweeweyarns Ewe So Sporty in Orange Peel
.
#handsoccupied #eweeweyarns #orangeyarn #knitting #wip #knitters #knittersofinstagram
Meet Yarn Citizen, a new line of sustainably sourc Meet Yarn Citizen, a new line of sustainably sourced and affordably priced yarn from Jimmy Beans Wool. Enter to win a kit featuring this yarn in the November yarn review & giveaway on the bl0g!
.
Yarn: @jimmybeanswool Yarn Citizen Harmony Worsted
.
Review & entry form 🔗 are where you’d think. 😉 
.
#handsoccupied #yarncitizen #yarncitizenharmonyworsted #yarnreview #knitting #knitter #knitinspiration
Happy with how the mini Nightmare Before Christmas Happy with how the mini Nightmare Before Christmas sweater vest turned out! Now my dog and I can go on walks in matching seasonal fits 😂
.
1. I knit this bottom up with scraps and ran out of black yarn. If the vest consistently drifts down her chest upon wear, I might extend the collar or redo the chest panel at a smaller size. If you’ve read this far, what do you think? As a designer, I so rarely get to improvise a knitting project, and I’m having fun working with fewer rules than usual. 🧶
.
2. June has a grooming appointment this weekend. She’s currently the mayor of scruff town, I know. 🫡
.
Pattern: Chart is from the Spiral Hill Sweater Vest pattern by yours truly in the official Nightmare Before Christmas knitting book 
Yarn: @brooklyntweed Imbue Worsted
.
#spiralhillsweatervest #spiralhillsweatervestkal #handsoccupied #intarsia #intarsiaknitting #nightmarebeforechristmasknittingbook #dogknit #knitsfordogs #handmade #brooklyntweed
I finished June’s doggie version of the Spiral H I finished June’s doggie version of the Spiral Hill Sweater Vest & it’s so cute! 🥰
.
Do you think June appreciates the fact that she now has a sweater made with @brooklyntweed yarn? 😂 
.
#handsoccupied #dogsweater #dogjumper #intarsia #intarsiaknitting #spiralhillsweatervest #spiralhillsweatervestkal #handmade #brooklyntweedimbue #brooklyntweed
Squeezing in some stitching on a selfish sweater t Squeezing in some stitching on a selfish sweater this Saturday morning 😋
.
Pattern: Fruit Stripe Pullover with some intarsia mods on the front panel 
Designed by Rachel Brockman for @universal_yarn 
Yarn: Fibra Natura Cobblestone in Dragon’s Breath & Antarctica 🧶
.
#handsoccupied #knitting #weekendknitting #sweaterknitting #universalyarn #fibranaturacobblestone
Load More... Follow on Instagram

Copyright © 2023 / Foodie Pro Theme On Genesis Framework / Branding by Ink + Mortar
All Site & Shop Policies / Privacy Policy / Cookie Policy