New to knitting w/ needle size question

[chie96]

Good morning! I wonder if someone could tell me the most common size needle for things like making scarves and simple projects. I bought Sz 8 needles a week ago - and have figured out casting on, but can not get my 1st knit row to look good. A friend suggested I start with larger needles but I have no idea how large to go. Thanks for any insight!

[kemp]

For sort of bulky scarves you could use size 13 or 15.

If are pretty sure you like the knitting thing and can afford it, you may just want to buy an interchangeable set...has the needles 2-15 that way you have most any size you need on hand.

[quirky]

When I started knitting all of 4 months ago I found size 10s were easiest. Larger was hard to grip (after all I had the newbie death grip on my needles). I used regular old red heart for practicing.

The red heart isnt as slippery as some yarn. Much easier to control.
I also liked wood or bamboo best at first - also a bit stickier and kinder to the hands.

[chie96]

Thanks! I am headed out in an hour or so and will look for 10s on up. We live in a small town and have only a Wal-Mart. When I was there last week their selection was slim The next time I head into town, however, I'll look for a store that specializes in knitting and such. I think I'd like bamboo needles!

[brendajos]

okay one thing you have to think about though is that your first row when you just start isn't probably going to look all that good...no matter what needle size you use. i would say that it is probably a good idea to just keep knitting with what you have. and do NOT rip out your work and keep starting over trying to make it perfect. the best thing you can do to learn your new craft is to just keep going. you will see yourself improving as you go through the work. if you go out and buy new needles hoping that it is going to make the work look better you are likely going to be disappointed.

When i first started knitting my instructor was watching me and i had stopped and was staring at my work. She asked me what was wrong and i said "it doesn't look right" (i think in my head it was going to look immediately like one of grandma's afghans!) She just rolled her eyes and said "Just keep knitting, you haven't been knitting long enough to know if it looks right or not!"

[chie96]

okay one thing you have to think about though is that your first row when you just start isn't probably going to look all that good...no matter what needle size you use. i would say that it is probably a good idea to just keep knitting with what you have. and do NOT rip out your work and keep starting over trying to make it perfect.

That's exactly what I have been doing! That first row looks awful! I keep starting over - I even bought different yarn, hoping I could make it look better. It's so loose and loopy - I can't tell what I am doing.

Oh well - looks like I need more practice! Not easy for a perfectionist like me. I spent an entire week casting on, and ripping it out - hoping to get the "perfect" look. Come to find out I made it so tight I couldn't get the other needle through to start my knit row, LOL!

[brendajos]

JUST KEEP KNITTING!


lol that being said, if you do decide to go shopping and have a hobby lobby anywhere near you, they do have a 40% coupon of regularly priced stuff right now. you can print that out and go get another set of needles to play with on sale!

[ecb]

whatever yarn you have, look at the label for the crossed Knitting needles, and go with the needle size written under them (if your yarn is from Walmart its either 11 or 7 (I have no idea why)

I used size 11 needles with some Fancy yarn I got there and made the worlds #1 MOST ugly scarf
but I did learn what I needed to know in order to make better looking scarves :XX:
then I found little kits that taught me to do ONE or two new thing each time
then I looked at books till I found one that made sense to me

now I M addicted like the rest of us

ecb