confused about yarn weight and needle sizes for knitting/crocheting

[craftymomma]

I am a little confused about yarn weight and needle/hook sizes. I found a chart online that shows standards and guidelines for these, but right now I am working on a pattern (for a cupcake) that has me working with dk yarn and size US1 & US2 needles, and according to that chart that would be way off (chart says i should be using fingerling yarns with those size needles). How important is it to follow those standards/guidlines?? Is the chart mainly for finished guage sizes or is there another reason to follow it?? Just wondering because I just bought some dk weight yarn and just realized the pattern I am going to be using for booties called for worsted weight, and according to the chart I shouldnt be using a size E crochet hook with that yarn.... so confused.

[Ingrid]

It mostly depends on the finished fabric you're going for. A cupcake, I imagine, would require a dense fabric to give it shape so you'd use a smaller needle for a tighter stitch.

Lace often uses a very large needle compared to the thickness of the yarn to give a loose, drapey fabric.

The pattern gauge is what you want to aim for in order for the finished product to turn out to be the proper size.

[of troy]

gauge is what matters.

as Ingrid has pointed out, sometimes a much smaller than expected needle size is called for--but what matters is the gauge.

some designers KNIT tightly (and they might use a size 8 (US) needle to get the same gauge i can get on a size 6--

or the opposite.. they might require a size 3 to get the same gauge as i do on a size 6!
(i have friends who use size 0 needles for socks.. but my socks, knit on size 2's have a tighter gauge/fabric!)

Needle size is always just a recommendation/suggestion.

you can use any size needles--so long as you end up with the right gauge (and the right kind of fabric!)

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