If you ever wonder what size knitting needles do I need for a blanket, your options range from US 0 to 17+. The reason why it’s impossible to mention a specific knitting needle size is you have to consider the blanket size, pattern, and yarn for the project. Please do not feel overwhelmed with these considerations because we will discuss how you can use them to land the best-sized needles.
It’s also worth noting that some blankets are easier knitted with circular needles. If the pattern calls for these needles, it’s more common to see them at size 8. And finally, remember to pull out a conversion chart for US and UK needles to avoid confusion when knitting blankets.
What Size Knitting Needles For A Blanket
The different sizes of knitting needles can be overwhelming, especially for a beginner. Therefore, the best size you can use for a blanket would be between sizes 6 and 8. This range is ideal for beginners because you can make different types of blankets using these sizes.
Furthermore, size 6 to size 8 of knitting needles work well with worsted yarn, another beginner-friendly yarn weight. From there, find a blanket size and pattern that you’re comfortable with, so you can efficiently finish the blanket. Once you get comfortable with these knitting needle sizes, you can go up or down, depending on the size of your stitches.
Knitting needle sizes for different blanket types
It’s not enough to know the blanket type because your yarn will also affect the ideal knitting needle for the project. But to give you a quick estimate, baby blankets can use sizes 0 to 4 if you use fingering yarn, while a blanket that uses chunky yarn can use sizes 9 to 11. Knitting needle sizes from 4 to 8 are pretty versatile because you can use them on medium blankets knitted with light worsted to worsted yarn.
Adjustments are necessary to avoid issues with your blanket. You can also follow the maker’s recommended needle and yarn. But if you want to understand what factors affect the knitting needle size you must use, you only need to remember the blanket size and pattern, and yarn.
How Do You Know What Size Knitting Needles To Use?
Understanding what size knitting needle you’ll use means checking the blanket size and pattern and identifying the yarn for the project.
Blanket size and pattern
If you knit a reasonably large blanket, you must use larger needles, typically circular and wood, for your comfort. On the contrary, straight and smaller needles made of metal are more ideal for smaller blankets. But this tip isn’t the only thing you must remember.
The stitch size required by the pattern or the tension of the person knitting is influential in getting the best size of knitting needles. For example, if the stitches end up being too loose, you need to size down while you need to size up if the stitches are too tight. Be careful in changing the needle size from the pattern to ensure that your blanket won’t end up being uneven.
Yarn type
The second factor to consider when selecting a knitting needle size is the yarn you’ll use for the blanket. Some patterns may require a specific yarn size, so the needles and yarn should complement each other. For example, fine yarn is best for needles with a small diameter, while chunky and thick yarns would only be feasible with thick needles or those with large diameters.
What Size Needles For A Chunky Blanket?
When you think of a chunky blanket, arm knitting comes to mind because of the yarn types ideal for this method. But if you want to use knitting needles, you can expect to use needles from size 9 to 17+. Blankets that use chunky yarn typically use sizes 9 to 11, while blankets with bulky yarn will increase the needle size at 11+.
There are also jumbo yarns thicker than super bulky yarns that are popular for making chunky and thick blankets. For this project, expect to use needles size 17+. Overall, be very mindful of the pattern as you might also need to convert from the US to the UK or vice versa.
What Size Knitting Needles For Blanket Squares?
If you’re interested in knitting blanket squares or patchwork blankets, you can use size 19 US for the needles. This is because most patterns use super chunky yarn to make it easier to construct a large blanket. Some squares also use US size 9 knitting needles paired with 8-ply wool yarn.
How Long Do Knitting Needles Need To Be For A Blanket?
The length of the knitting needles for making a blanket range from 16 to 40 inches. However, you will need to consider the yarn and blanket type, much like when selecting a size. Keep a conversion chart ready, so you can check the sizes for the blanket pattern you’ll do.
Conclusion
Are you only starting in knitting blankets? Then you must be wondering what size knitting needles do I need for a blanket! A quick recap of this guide is beginners can use US sizes 6 to 8. From there, you can go up or down depending on the blanket type, pattern, yarn, stitch sizes, and personal gauge.