Importance of needle size (6.5 ->6?)

[Ultraviolet]

Hi everyone,

I have a bit of a newbie question...I have done some knitting before, but nothing super complicated. I'm wanting to try a pattern for a baby blanket, that says that I need 6.5 mm needles...now, I was going through my grandma's needle collection, and she had both 6 and 7 mm needles. Would it be okay for me to use .5 of a size down? Or would that throw off the gauge too much? (this is the pattern I'm looking at, if it matters: http://www.lionbrand.com/patterns/60080A.html?noImages=) The only reason I ask is, I'm just hesitant to spend more money on a new set of needles if I have some that will work.

Thanks a lot for any advice!

[Anarfea]

As a general rule you should actually swatch with the yarn you intend to use for the pattern with different needle sizes until you get the correct gauge, rather than simply buying the needle size recommended by the pattern. If you knit loose, a size 6 needle may very well give you the correct gauge. If you knit tight, you might get it with the 7s.

But, that said, if you have a limited needle collection and you don't want to buy more, you probably don't need to worry if your guague is off by too much for a blanket; since nobody has to wear it, it probably doesn't matter if the finished measuremens are a little off. The only way you might run into a problem is that if you knit significantly looser you might run out of yarn before you finish the project.

If I were you, I would knit a swatch with both of the sets of needles you have, and see which fabric you like better.

[Spokaloo]

If you were working on a sweater or something that has to fit on a body, I would say to do the swatch thing just like Anarfea describes. But being it's a blanket, it really doesn't matter if it comes out a different size than described in the pattern.

[Spokaloo]

If you were working on a sweater or something that has to fit on a body, I would say to do the swatch thing just like Anarfea describes. But being it's a blanket, it really doesn't matter if it comes out a different size than described in the pattern, so pick whiever needle you want to use and go for it!

[suzeeq]

I think the 7mm is probably better than the 6mm. If the yarn you're using is a bit of a thicker worsted, then it would work out better.

[swcheng15]

I made a similar blanket (see here) using size 10.5 needles, which I guess is the same sized needles the pattern asks for. I used that because my 11s were in use. I would have used either, and I think the result would be the same. I did use a worsted weight yarn though. If you're doing a baby blanket and the yarn is DK or sport, then maybe smaller needles would be better.

[knittingymnast]

As a general rule you should actually swatch with the yarn you intend to use for the pattern with different needle sizes until you get the correct gauge, rather than simply buying the needle size recommended by the pattern. If you knit loose, a size 6 needle may very well give you the correct gauge. If you knit tight, you might get it with the 7s.

But, that said, if you have a limited needle collection and you don't want to buy more, you probably don't need to worry if your guague is off by too much for a blanket; since nobody has to wear it, it probably doesn't matter if the finished measuremens are a little off. The only way you might run into a problem is that if you knit significantly looser you might run out of yarn before you finish the project.

If I were you, I would knit a swatch with both of the sets of needles you have, and see which fabric you like better.

This really covers it. I've never heard of size 6.5 before...6.5mm?

[suzeeq]

6.5mm is the same as a US 10½ needle. Look at the packaging, you'll see both sizes.