What needles to use when knitting a blanket
John Parsons
Updated on April 14, 2026
Circular needles are great for any blanket project. They’re long enough to hold a whole blanket, and the size 8 is perfect for any worsted weight yarn. The best circular needles for a blanket are ChiaoGoo Circular Needles (US8). If you went with the yarn listed above, these will work great.
What size circular knitting needles do I need for a blanket?
A circular needle that is about 32” – 36” long is a great length for many projects. If you plan to knit very large afghans… you might prefer a circular needle that is at least 40” long.
How do I know what size knitting needles to use?
A simple guideline: Add the measurements (in millimeters) of the suggested needle size for each yarn and then use the needle that is closest in size to that number. For example, for a swatch of two strands of Wool-Ease Chunky, we added 6.5 mm plus 6.5 mm to get 13 mm. The closest needle size is 12 mm, which is a US 17.
What needles to use for chunky blanket?
A pattern using chunky wool will generally need large needles. Around 7 – 8 mm is average, while 5.5 – 6 mm will give you a tighter fabric. Super chunky wool, which is ideal for making a very thick blanket, will need even bigger needles.Can I knit a blanket with circular needles?
NEEDLES: I recommend ALWAYS using circular needles when knitting a blanket. You will still knit back-and-forth in rows, but the weight of the numerous stitches and growing fabric will rest on your lap as you work, rather than your wrists having to bear the strain.
What size needles for super chunky wool UK?
USAUKNeedle size (mm)WorstedAran3.75mm-4.5mmChunkyBulky5.5mm-8.0mmBulkyChunky8.0mm and aboveJumboSuper Chunky12.75 mm and above
How many stitches do I cast on for a blanket?
If you want a medium sized blanket, then try casting on 120 stitches. For a large lap blanket, cast on 160 stitches. For an extra-large lap blanket, cast on 200 stitches.
What size needles for a blanket?
The most common lengths used are 16”, 24”, 32”, and 40”. These needles work well for knitting blankets. However, unless you always knit the same blanket with the same yarn, you’ll need to buy a different needle for each blanket you make. This can get expensive and create storage issues for all the needles you buy.What do thick knitting needles do?
6. Bulky/Chunky Weight. The knitting needle sizes are growing larger, and as they do you’ll notice that the knits work up faster and faster. Bulky or chunky weight yarn is famous for being a quick knit.
What problem will occur if you will use a wrong size of needle?Using the wrong needle for your machine, fabric, or thread can result in a substantial amount of damage. Using the wrong needle can damage your machine’s timing, your fabric, shred the thread, and destroy your bobbin hook.
Article first time published onDoes length of circular needle matter?
You may have thought all along that bigger circular needles produce better stitches but you are wrong! Every circular needle size and cord length has its own purpose. Each needle size is numbered and the smaller this number is, the smaller the circular needle will be and you will also have to use a thinner yarn.
How many balls of wool do I need for a blanket?
If you want to knit something with the chunky Peruvian wool “The Wool” in a certain size, we recommend four or five skeins. In our collection we recommend the blanket Udon Blanket with five skeins. If you are looking for something bigger and warmer, check out our Udon XXL, with 9 skeins.
What size needles for bulky yarn?
The knitting needles that are typically used with bulky and chunky yarns are US9 – US11 , while super bulky yarns are commonly paired with US11 – US17 . Extra thick jumbo yarn requires even larger knitting needles, usually between US19 and US50 .
What can I knit with size 15 needles?
- Classic Knit Jacket.
- Simple Seamless Cushion Cover.
- Easy “Blues” Beginner Chunky Knit Hat.
- Foggy Day Seed Stitch Cowl.
- Aspen Mountain Knit Tote.
- Eggnog Knit Scarf Pattern.
What happens if you knit with bigger needles?
So by knitting with bigger needles, you’ll have larger loops on the needles of the finer segments of the yarn as well, which will allow easy passage of the puffy parts. A second advantage to knitting thick and thin yarn with larger needles is the strain on your hands.
What ply wool uses 9mm needles?
Yarn Weight UKYarn Weight USNeedle Size4 plySport3.5 – 4.5mmDKDK4.5 – 5.5mmAranWorsted5.5 – 6.5mmChunkyBulky6.5 – 9mm
What are size 3 knitting needles?
Metric (mm)US SizeUK Size3.0 mm2.5113.25 mm3103.5 mm4–3.75 mm59
What is the most common knitting needle size?
The most common knitting needle size is US size 8, or 5mm. These needles are most common because they match up with worsted-weight yarn, which is the most common type of yarn for most knitting patterns. These needles are generally considered a normal size for beginners to start knitting with, too.
Is it easier to knit with big or small needles?
BENEFITS OF KNITTING WITH LARGER NEEDLES FOR BEGINNING KNITTERS. These larger sized needles are easier to handle. When starting out, many beginning knitters feel more secure with substantially sized needles in their hands.
What happens if you knit with two different size needles?
When knitting with one needle that is bigger than the other, the strands of yarn stay open, creating a “torn stitch” effect that gives a unique touch to your wool or cotton WE ARE KNITTERS garments. …
What yarn should I use for a blanket?
The best yarn for knitted blankets is wool or wool blend yarn. This type of yarn best suits a dense weave pattern and is best suited for people who live in cool or moderate climates. If you don’t want to use wool, a premium acrylic yarn is another great choice.
How many stitches do I need for a queen size blanket?
Using the stitch count table, you pick the queen size blanket column and read down, then read across the row for 16 stitches. So you would need 360 stitches to achieve your blanket width.
How many squares do you need to knit a blanket?
How many squares are there in a blanket? It takes 35 squares to make a blanket. That’s 5 squares wide and 7 squares long, for a blanket that is 1.4 meters by 1.0 meters, large enough to keep a child warm at any age.
What size knitting needle is 5.5 mm?
METRICU.S.U.K.4mm684.5mm775mm865.5mm95
Can I change needle size in knitting pattern?
Changing the size of the needles used in a knitting pattern will change the fit, size and way the knitted piece drapes, but it is another way to personalize your work. Using larger needles and thicker yarn without adjusting the pattern will yield a finished product that is too big.
Do smaller knitting needles make tighter stitches?
Why does this work? Needle size and tension are intimately connected as the loop that creates the new stitch is formed around the needle. When you knit on smaller (thinner) needles the stitches also get smaller, and the tension gets tighter/higher.
How much does it cost to make a chunky knit blanket?
The big chunky blankets are so popular right now, but come with a huge price tag. I know you’ve seen them in stores and online… and can easily cost upward of $150! That is just not in this mommas budget. Today I’m going to show you how you can make one of your own… and all for just $30 in yarn.
Are chunky knit blankets worth it?
Sometimes a really good, chunky knit throw is worth the investment — like this ethereal style from Macy’s. … These stylish and thoughtfully designed and the hand knitting is done with super bulky yarn made from 100% merino wool.
How much yarn do I need for a chunky knit blanket?
For example, they may be able to identify that 4 pounds of wool can yield a 30” x 50” blanket, and the ball contains 28 yards per pound. Crunch those numbers, and know that you’ll have about 340 feet of chunky yarn in a single ball to yield a 30” x 50” blanket.
What is a magic loop in knitting?
The magic loop method is way of creating pieces with small circumferences (think sweater sleeves or socks) by using just one long, circular needle. It can be done on any needle size with a cable length of at least 32″ or more, so try out a few lengths to find the one that works the best for you.
How many stitches do you need for a baby blanket?
A typical stroller blanket is 30″ x 35″ You’ll cast on 120 stitches, knit your edge stitches, plus 14 repeats of the stitch patttern, then knit the edge stitches at the other end.