Knitting needle question - help please

[said]

I have a pattern which says use Size 6 (US) or 4.25 mm needles.

I have needles which say: 6mm, 4 mm and just 4. The just 4 ones are the same as the 6mm. Ignoring the fact I don't have 4.25mm ones, which ones should I use? It's for dk wool

The wool itself says needle size 4mm, US 6mm. How can 6mm = 4mm?

Thanks

ignore needle size and rely on the tension square instead.

i've knitted many things which say use 5mm needles but i knit very tightly and often have to use bigger needles to get the 22sts per 4in, or whatever the tension is.

tension is the essential bit, not needle size

Oh god, hangs head in shame. I've never done a tension square - too impatient You are right though and I shall do this time.

i used to ignore the tension square too as it was too much hassle, then i spent ages knitting ds a jumper that was miles too small[sob] so now i always do one.

God, it's dawning on me why so many mistakes in the past.

But why does 6mm = 4mm?

4mm would be the nearest. 4 on its own refers to the old knitting needle sizing. The US also has its own (different) sizing system so steer clear of using US needles unless you know what size they are in "English". There is a conversion chart online I always use.

See here

Actually, according to that link, a US size 6 needle is a 4mm needle.

But, as you can see, an old English 4 is a completely different size.

Sorry, just read your post again and realised you did not say you had US needles so ignore my warning not to use them as you obviously haven't got any!

Just look at that chart I linked to - it should make everything clear. And yes, if you want to be sure, a tension square is the only way to go (but I never bother either, but then I do have a full set of knitting needles so can always use the size suggested).

oh god, it's so confusing. These are old and new needles but my 4 (no idea if mm of not) is the same as the 6mm. But the 4mm is thinner. And wool says US 6mm = 4mm????

Ah, so I can assume if bought in UK these will only ever be UK sizes? Obvious, now I've typed it. But my 4 (which looks old) is teh same as teh 6mm. So, I should use the 4mm? And do a tension square.

I would use the ones that say 4mm as at least that is unequivocally the size is states (ie 4mm diameter). Yes, do a tension square and see how close that is to the tension mentioned in the pattern.

It can be confusing but an old English size 4 needle is substantially thicker than a modern 4mm needle so if yours all look the same, they are probably all 4mm and all suitable.

Said, your old needle with 4 on it is the same as a 6mm needle. Look at the chart. A 6mm needle is described as a 4 in UK sizes but those UK sizes are an old system for sizing needles and were replaced by the mm system about 20 years ago. Your old looking 4 needles are actually 6 mm.

Is that clear as mud for you now?

Thanks for replies. But my 4 and 6mm are the same so I understadn that bit. But the wool says use 4mm or US 6mm - how can they be teh same? Os it teh label just confused? Anyway - did a tension sq and I knit very tihtly, it seems, so started with what I thought were 5s. But now I think they're 6mms. Oh well.

Are you using the type of wool specified in the pattern? It is not necessary to do this, but it can eliminate some confusion.

As long as your tension square is the same size as that given in the pattern, you should be ok. What is it you are knitting?

I've got a needle guage so that I can check what size needles are - particularly good for double ended needles which of course don't have any size marking.... This has the 'size' on one size and the mm on the other.

If it says US 6 mm it is wrong, it should just say US 6.
If you have some 4mm needles that would be best to use with DK wool, in the 'old' English measurements that would be an 8.
4.25 is just a quarter of a millimeter thicker, so not a lot.

Thank you again. It was only a hat. Finished it and ... it fitted.