Guide to yarn alternatives according to knitting gauge
Table of Metric, US and UK needle sizes
These are suggestions for yarn and needle size. Remember that you need to make a swatch to discover exactly which needle size to use to meet the right knitting tension.
This means single strand in each yarn quality unless otherwise specified.
| Knitting gauge | Yarn suggestions | Needle size |
| 32 sts/10 cm (4") |
Singles Merino/cashmere |
2 – 2.5 mm |
| 4-ply Pure Merino Wool | 2 mm | |
|
Merino Singles |
2 mm | |
|
4-ply Reinforced Merino |
2 mm | |
| 4-ply Luxury Merino | 2 mm | |
| 4-ply Sparkle Merino | 2 mm | |
| 30 sts/10 cm (4") |
Singles Merino/cashmere |
2.5 mm |
|
4-ply Pure Merino Wool |
2.5 mm |
|
|
Merino Singles |
2.5 mm |
|
|
4-ply Reinforced Merino |
2.5 mm |
|
|
4-ply Luxury Merino |
2.5 mm |
|
|
4-ply Sparkle Merino |
2.5 mm |
|
|
|
|
|
| 28 sts/ 10 cm (4") |
4-ply Pure Merino Wool |
3 mm |
| Merino Singles | 3 mm | |
| 4-ply Reinforced Merino | 3 mm | |
| 4-ply Luxury Merino | 3 mm | |
| 4-ply Sparkle Merino | 3 mm | |
| 27 sts/10 cm (4") |
4-ply Pure Merino Wool |
3 – 3.5 mm |
|
4-ply Reinforced Merino |
3 – 3.5 mm |
|
|
Merino Singles |
3 – 3.5 mm |
|
|
Singles Merino Blend |
3 – 3.5 mm |
|
|
4-ply Luxury Merino |
3 – 3.5 mm |
|
|
4-ply Sparkle Merino |
3 – 3.5 mm |
|
|
|
|
|
| 26 sts/10 cm (4") |
4-ply Pure Merino Wool |
3 – 3.5 mm |
| 4-ply Reinforced Merino | 3 – 3.5 mm | |
| Merino Singles | 3 – 3.5 mm | |
| 4-ply Luxury Merino | 3 – 3.5 mm | |
| 4-ply Sparkle Merino | 3 – 3.5 mm | |
| 25 sts/10 cm (4") |
4-ply Pure Merino Wool |
3 – 3.5 mm |
| 4-ply Reinforced Merino | 3 – 3.5 mm | |
| Merino Singles | 3 – 3.5 mm | |
| Singles Merino Blend | 3.5 mm | |
| 4-ply Luxury Merino | 3 – 3.5 mm | |
| 4-ply Sparkle Merino | 3 – 3.5 mm | |
| 24 sts/10 cm (4") |
4-ply Pure Merino wool |
3.5 mm |
| 4-ply Reinforced Merino | 3.5 mm | |
| Merino Singles | 3.5 mm | |
| Singles Merino Blend | 3.5 mm | |
| 4-ply Luxury Merino | 3.5 – 4 mm | |
| 4-ply Sparkle Merino | 3.5 mm | |
| 4-ply Pure Merino Wool + Lace Mohair/silk | 3.5 mm | |
| 4-ply Reinforced Merino + Lace Mohair/silk | 3 – 3.5 mm | |
| Merino Singles + Lace mohair/silk | 3 – 3.5 mm | |
| Singles Merino Blend + Lace Mohair/silk | 3 – 3.5 mm | |
| 4-ply Luxury Merino + Lace Mohair/silk | 3 – 3.5 mm | |
| 4-ply Sparkle Merino + Lace mohair/silk | 3 – 3.5 mm | |
| 23 sts/10 cm (4") |
4-ply Pure Merino Wool + Lace Mohair/silk
|
3 – 3.5 mm |
| 4-ply Reinforced Merino + Lace Mohair/silk | 3 – 3.5 mm | |
| Merino Singles + Lace Mohair/silk | 3 – 3.5 mm | |
| Singles Merino Blend + Lace Mohair/silk | 3 – 3.5 mm | |
| 4-ply Luxury Merino + Lace Mohair/silk | 3 – 3.5 mm | |
| 4-ply Sparkle Merino + Lace Mohair/silk | 3 – 3.5 mm | |
| Pure Merino Wool | 3 – 3.5 mm | |
| Reinforced Merino Wool | 3 – 3.5 mm | |
| Luxury Merino | 3 – 3.5 mm | |
| 22 sts/10 cm (4") |
4-ply Pure Merino Wool + Lace Mohair/silk |
3.5 mm |
| 4-ply Reinforced Merino + Lace Mohair/silk | 3.5 mm | |
| Merino Singles + Lace Mohair/silk | 3.5 mm | |
| Singles Merino Blend + Lace mohair/silk | 3.5 mm | |
|
4-ply Luxury Merino + Lace mohair/silk |
3.5 mm | |
|
4-ply Sparkle Merino + Lace mohair/silk |
3.5 mm | |
|
Pure Merino Wool |
3.5 mm | |
|
Reinforced Merino Wool |
3.5 mm | |
|
Luxury Merino |
3.5 mm | |
|
|
||
| 21 sts/10 cm (4") | 4-ply Pure Merino Wool + Lace Mohair/silk | 4 mm |
| 4-ply Reinforced Merino + Lace Mohair/silk | 4 mm | |
| Merino Singles + Lace mohair/silk | 4 mm | |
| Singles Merino Blend + Lace Mohair/silk | 4 mm | |
| 4-ply Luxury Merino + Lace mohair/silk | 4 mm | |
| 4-ply Sparkle Merino + Lace Mohair/silk | 4 mm | |
| Pure Merino Wool | 3.5 – 4 mm | |
| Reinforced Merino Wool | 3.5 – 4 mm | |
| Luxury Merino | 3.5 – 4 mm | |
| All 4-ply/singles merino yarns, double strand | 3.5 – 4 mm | |
| 20 sts/10 cm (4") | 4-ply Pure Merino Wool + Lace Mohair/silk | 4 – 4.5 mm |
| 4-ply Reinforced Merino + Lace Mohair/silk | 4 – 4.5 mm | |
| Merino Singles + Lace Mohair/silk | 4 – 4.5 mm | |
| Singles Merino Blend + Lace Mohair/silk | 4 – 4.5 mm | |
| 4-ply Luxury Merino + Lace Mohair/silk | 4 – 4.5 mm | |
| 4-ply Sparkle Merino + Lace mohair/silk | 4 – 4.5 mm | |
| Pure Merino Wool | 4 – 4.5 mm | |
| Reinforced Merino Wool | 4 – 4.5 mm | |
| Luxury Merino | 4 – 4.5 mm | |
| All 4-ply/singles merino yarns, double strand | 4 – 4.5 mm | |
| 19 sts/10 cm (4") | 4-ply Pure Merino Wool + Lace Mohair/silk | 4.5 mm |
| 4-ply Reinforced Merino + Lace mohair/silk | 4.5 mm | |
| Merino Singles + Lace Mohair/silk | 4.5 mm | |
| Singles Merino Blend + Lace Mohair/silk | 4.5 mm | |
| 4-ply Luxury Merino + Lace Mohair/silk | 4.5 mm | |
| 4-ply Sparkle Merino + Lace Mohair/silk | 4.5 mm | |
| Pure Merino Wool | 4.5 mm | |
| Reinforced Merino Wool | 4.5 mm | |
| Luxury Merino | 4.5 mm | |
| All 4-ply/singles merino yarns, double strand | 4 – 4.5 mm | |
| Lace Mohair/silk, double strand | 4 – 4.5 mm | |
| 18 sts/10 cm (4") | Pure Merino Wool + Lace Mohair/silk | 4.5 – 5 mm |
| Reinforced Merino Wool + Lace Mohair/silk | 4.5 – 5 mm | |
| Luxury Merino + Lace Mohair/silk | 4.5 – 5 mm | |
| All 4-ply/singles merino yarns + 2 strands Lace Mohair/silk | 4.5 mm | |
| Double strand in all 4-ply/singles merino yarns + Lace Mohair/silk | 4.5 mm | |
| 17 sts/10 cm (4") | Aran Pure/Untreated Merino Wool | 5 – 6 mm |
| Pure Merino Wool + Lace Mohair/silk | 5 – 5.5 mm | |
| Reinforced Merino Wool + Lace Mohair/silk | 5 – 5.5 mm | |
| Luxury Merino + Lace Mohair/silk | 5 – 5.5 mm | |
| All 4-ply/singles merino yarns + 2 strands Lace Mohair/silk | 5 mm | |
| Double strand all 4-ply/singles merino yarns + Lace Mohair/silk | 5 mm | |
| 16 sts/10 cm (4") | Aran Pure/Untreated Merino Wool | 5 – 6 mm |
| Pure Merino Wool + Lace Mohair/silk | 5 – 6 mm | |
| Reinforced Merino Wool + Lace Mohair/silk | 5 – 6 mm | |
| Luxury Merino + Lace Mohair/silk | 5 – 6 mm | |
| All 4-ply/singles merino yarns + 2 strands Lace Mohair/silk | 5 – 6 mm | |
| Double strand all 4-ply/singles merino yarns + Lace Mohair/silk | 5.5 – 6 mm | |
| 15 sts/10 cm (4") | Aran Pure/Untreated Merino Wool | 5.5 – 6 mm |
| Pure Merino Wool + Lace Mohair/silk | 5.5 – 6 mm | |
| Reinforced Merino Wool + Lace Mohair/silk | 5.5 – 6 mm | |
| Luxury Merino + Lace Mohair/silk | 5.5 – 6 mm | |
| All 4-ply/singles merino yarns + 2 strands Lace Mohair/silk | 5.5 – 6 mm | |
| Double strand all 4-ply/singles merino yarns + Lace Mohair/silk | 5.5 – 6 mm | |
| 14 sts/10 cm (4") | Chunky Merino Blend | 6 mm |
| Chunky Mohair/alpaca | 6 mm | |
| Chunky Mohair | 6 mm | |
| Aran Pure/Untreated Merino Wool + Lace Mohair/silk | 6 – 6.5 mm | |
| Pure Merino Wool + double strand Lace Mohair/silk | 6 – 6.5 mm | |
| Reinforced Merino Wool + double strand Lace Mohair/silk | 6 – 6.5 mm | |
| Luxury Merino + double strand Lace Mohair/silk | 6 – 6.5 mm | |
| Double strand in all DK merino yarns | 6 – 6.5 mm | |
| 13 sts/10 cm (4") | Chunky Merino Blend | 6 – 7 mm |
| Chunky Mohair/alpaca | 6 – 7 mm | |
| Chunky Mohair | 6 – 7 mm | |
| Aran Pure/Untreated Merino Wool + Lace Mohair/silk | 6 – 7 mm | |
| 12 sts/10 cm (4") | Chunky Merino Blend + Lace Mohair/silk | 7 – 8 mm |
| Chunky Mohair/alpaca | 7 mm | |
| Chunky Mohair | 7 mm | |
| 11 sts/10 cm (4") | Chunky Merino Blend + Chunky Mohair | 9 – 10 mm |
| Chunky Merino Blend + Chunky Mohair/alpaca | 9 – 10 mm | |
| 10 sts/10 cm (4") | Chunky Merino Blend + Chunky Mohair | 10 mm |
| Chunky Merino Blend + Chunky Mohair/alpaca | 10 mm | |
| Double strand Chunky Mohair | 10 mm | |
| Double strand Chunky Mohair/alpaca | 10 mm | |
| 9 sts/10 cm (4") | Chunky Merino Blend + Chunky Mohair | 10 – 12 mm |
| Chunky Merino Blend + Chunky Mohair/alpaca | 10 – 12 mm | |
| Aran Pure/Untreated Merino Wool + all 4-ply/singles merino yarns + Chunky mohair | 10 – 12 mm | |
|
Aran Pure/Untreated Merino Wool + all 4-ply/singles merino yarns + Chunky mohair/alpaca |
10 – 12 mm | |
| Double strand Chunky Mohair | 10 – 12 mm | |
| Double strand Chunky Mohair/alpaca | 10 – 12 mm | |
| 8 m/10 cm | Chunky Merino Blend + all DK merino yarns + Chunky Mohair | 12 mm |
| Chunky Merino Blend + all DK merino yarns + Chunky Mohair/alpaca | 12 mm |
