Learn How to Select the Right Knitting Needle Size for smooth stitches, perfect tension, and projects that look and feel just right.
Knitting is great because all you really need to start is some yarn and a pair of needles. But with so many kinds of needles out there, it can feel a bit confusing. What size should you pick? Which material or style is best? Here are some simple tips to help beginners choose the right knitting needles.
How to Select the Right Knitting Needle Size
Start with straight needles (also known as single-pointed needles)
Knitting needles come in different types, like straight, double-pointed, and circular. If you want to learn more about all the kinds, check out our guide. But as a beginner, it’s best to start with straight needles (also called knitting pins). These are perfect for making flat pieces like scarves, blankets, squares, or mitts that you can sew together later. They’re cheap, easy to handle, and have a stopper at one end to keep stitches from slipping off. Once you get more confident, you can try knitting in the round, but straight needles are the easiest place to start.
Circular needles
These needles are joined together with a flexible cord, which makes them work like one long needle. You can buy them as fixed circular needles (where the cord and needles are attached) or as interchangeable ones (where you can swap different needle sizes onto the same cord). Circular needles are mainly used for knitting in the round, like when making hats, cowls, or sweaters. But you can also use them like straight needles by knitting back and forth without joining the stitches. This is very handy for bigger projects, since the cord helps hold the weight of the knitting instead of your hands.
Double-pointed needles (also known as DPNs)
These are short, straight needles with points on both ends. They usually come in sets of four to six and are great for knitting small round projects, like socks or the sleeves of sweaters and cardigans.
Go for wood or bamboo
Wooden or bamboo needles are light, warm, and feel comfortable to hold. They also grip the yarn better than metal needles, so stitches are less likely to slip off and the needles won’t slide out of your hands. If you usually knit loosely, these needles can help you knit a bit tighter, making your stitches look neater. The downside is that smaller wooden needles can break more easily or sometimes splinter after lots of use. Luckily, splinters can be smoothed with a nail file or sandpaper. Since wooden and bamboo needles are usually inexpensive, they’re also easy to replace if needed.
Picking a size
Needle size means the thickness of the needle, usually measured in millimetres (sometimes shown as just a number). The size you need depends on the yarn you’re using: thinner yarn works best with smaller needles, while thicker yarn needs larger needles. If you already have yarn, check the ball band or label for the recommended needle size.
Straight needles come in different lengths, too. For beginners, shorter needles are easier to hold and work with since most starter projects aren’t extensive. A length of about 25–30 cm is a great choice when you’re just starting out.
Why does needle size matter?
Yarn labels suggest a needle size, but you don’t always have to follow it exactly. If you use bigger needles, your stitches will be looser and your project will turn out larger. If you use smaller needles, your stitches will be tighter and the finished piece will be smaller.
