Saturday, February 26, 2011

UK9 or US9? Which needle size is it?

I have not been able to meet the gauge with a size 9 needle when using the Berrocco yarn (I’ve not used this yarn before to make this pattern. I’m wondering if the needle size suggested in the pattern is a UK needle size and not a US needle size.

In the comparison chart (previous post), notice the gauge for each yarn. There is no way you can achieve a gauge of 22sts = 4” on a size 9 US needle – BUT it can be achieved on a US 5 needle which is a UK 9 needle. The PT2 yarn’s gauge IS 22sts=4” on size 3mm or 4mm – how then can this same gauge with a similar yarn (for instance the Berrocco Ultra Light Alpaca is closest to PT2’s gauge) be achieved on a size US 9? Not! But it is on a US 5. (Please note: I also corrected the weight for the Cascade 220-Heather – that is an Aran Weight and not a Worsted Weight.)

The weave of the pics on the pattern site is not loose, as it would be if done with DK yarn on a size US9 needle. I cannot post those pics because of copyright protection, so you'll have to go to the Easy House Slipper pattern website to view the pics within the pattern.

If you will check out this needle gauge size comparison chart with the sizes in question, you'll see what I mean. The section of the needle gauge size comparison chart would resemble something like this:

Contemporary     Contemporary                      European Metric Range           
U.S. Size            U.K./U.S. Metric Range         Metric Range                           U.K
        5                         3.75 mm                                  3.75 mm                       9
        9                         5.5 mm                                    5.5 mm                        5

Would love your feedback!