Needle Conversion Chart

Knitting needles and crochet hooks come in a wide range of sizes. Since the sizing of needles and hooks is not the same in England and Canada as in the United States, a listing of comparative sizes is given in the conversions chart below.

Needles: U.S. to English or Canadian: 0=13; 1=12; 2=11; 3=10; 4=9; 5=8; 6=7; 7=6; 8=5; 9=4; 10=3; 11=2; 13=0; 15=000.

Hooks: U.S. to English or Canadian: 1=0; 2=1; 3=1 1/2; 4=2; 5=2 1/2; 6=3; 7=3 1/2; 8=4; 9=4 1/2; 10=5; 11=5 1/2; 12=6; 13=6 1/2; 14=7.

More on needles, hooks, yarns and threads:

Knitting needles come in a variety of styles, each designed for a specific use. Straight needles are for knitting back and forth. Double pointed (dp) needles have points at both ends, are sold in sets of four, and are for knitting rounds; one alone may be used in making cables. A circular needle, pointed at both ends and flexible in center, is for knitting in rounds or back and forth on more stitches than could be conveniently worked on dp or straight needles.

Although we tend to associate wool yarns with knitting and cotton threads with crocheting, the yarn or thread used can, of course, be made of any fiber, natural or synthetic. The synthetics are often machine washable - a quality especially desirable in items that will need frequent washing, such as baby clothes. Today we have a great variety of textures from which to choose, form fluffy angoras and mohair's to smooth finishes and on to sparkling metallic-look threads and ribbons.

The weight to be used will be determined by the style of the garment you are making. Lighter-weight yarns or threads are usually called for then the finer needles or hooks are used for a delicate, soft effect, while heavier ones will be used with larger needles and hooks for a bulkier look. If at all possible, do not substitute other yarns for those called for in the directions, because those directions have been written specifically for the yarn named.

Be sure to buy enough to make the entire garment, and check that the dye lots are all numbered the same.

General Abbreviations and Terms: beg = begin or beginning; ch = chain; dc = double crochet; dec = decrease; dp = double pointed; hdc = half double crochet; inc = increase; k = knit; lp = loop; p = purl; pat = pattern; psso = pass slipped stitch over; rnd = round; sc = single crochet; sk = skip; sl = slip; sp = space; st = stitch; tog = together; tr = treble; yo = yarn over.

Asterisks: (*) are used to indicate that a group of stitches or steps are to be repeated the specified number of times. * k 2, p 1, repeat from * twice means you should knit 2, purl 1, knit 2, purl 1, knit 2, purl 1.

Double Pointed: (dp) needles have points at both ends. They are sold in sets of four and are sued for knitting in rounds and for working cables.

Place Marker on Needle: means to put a marker or paper clip on needle; slip it from left-to-right-hand needle as you work each row.

Gauge: Refers to the number of stitches (and sometimes rows) which make up 1" of the knitted or crocheted fabric. Each set of directions lists the gauge obtained by the designer when she worked the pattern with the yarn and needles specified, and is the gauge upon which the directions are based.

Work Even: Means to continue same stitch, without increasing of decreasing.

[Aharon]

This should be a sticky!

[Guado]

Originally posted by Aharon
This should be a sticky!

+1 VERY good info

Done

[spoonfed]

thanks for the info!!