And if you do:
What do you use them for?
What sort of needle to you use (straight, dpns, circulars fixed or interchangeable, do interchangeable even come this small?)
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I have. The smallest Iāve used are 2mm. Long circular zings, I use circulars for everything. Knitting lace. Or Addi Lace needles with extra sharp tips.
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I have two at a time tabi socks on a long US0/2.0m needle right now. Iād not used this size for a while and it took a bit to get used to them again.
ETA for the brands I use only fixed circs are available in these small sizes. I have carbonized dpn for fixing mistakes, and a steel crochet hook.
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Smallest Iāve used are 1.25mm - have tried 1mm and smaller but my hands cramped up. I was making 12th scale animals (I never finished any, unfortunately, but thatās more to do with my attention span than the needles).
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I use 2mm DPNs for socks. I like a dense fabric for socks, so this is my go-to size. Iāve used bamboo (my first choice), Karbonz from Knitterās Pride, Knit Picks wooden needles (I really like these), and HiyaHiya Flyers. The HiyaHiyas are a kind of straight/circ hybrid. I used to use a circular needle for the toes, because I usually knit toe up. It just saves a little time, not having to Kitchener the toes ā thatās my only reason. But I only use the HiyaHiyas for toes, because I find the needles too short, and my hands cramp if I use them for more than a few rows. So Iāll do the first few rows of the toe, then switch to my recently acquired ChiaGoo DPNs. Iāll do just about anything, go through just about any contortions, to avoid having to use magic loop on circs. I know some folks swear by this method, but it drives me bonkers!
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Itās interesting to find someone who has used needles this small. I saw them for sale at this size and wondered what kind of pattern they would be used for.
I have had no luck searching for patterns in this size, I am perhaps looking in the wrong places.
Magic loop drives me mad too. I have used it but would rather avoid it.
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Thank you for the info everyone.
I think my next sweater will be on 2mm and although I gave one itmis a budget brand and I was looking to buy a few small sized, 2mm, 2.25, 2.5 mm they are all fixed that Iāve seen. Then I saw the 1mm, 1.25, 1.5, 1.75 and wondered what they are used for. Iād love to find a pattern for needles so small and makes vest, tank or sweater.
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Sure I use 2mm. I have smaller DPNs but havenāt used those for a project. The 2mm I use frequently for socks especially. I have fixed and DPNs yeah
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I make my socks with fine yarn and 2mm magic loop. I switched to two 16ā circs for awhile but when I wanted to buy Chiaogoo needles, I didnāt want to buy two of each! So, I switched back to ML. I used to hate it but I donāt mind now, especially since the Chiaogoo lace cables are amazing. The cable for 2mm is thinner (mini) and very nice to work with. I do have a problem with breaking the tips off my Chiaogoo mini cables. Chiaogoo rep says I bend them when I use them. Iām not sure if Iāll replace them yearly, continue sending them for warranty, or switch methods. The cable is only $10 at Amazon.
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I was writing my own patterns for the animals, but there are some patterns for 12th scale doll clothes and accessories on Etsy, and sometimes on eBay. Doing a general Google search will show you even more amazing stuff others have done, including tiny intarsia hats, gloves and scarves!
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Iāve seen knit amigurumi patterns. Those usually use really fine needles too. Vests, tank tops and sweaters can certainly be knit on smaller gauge needles. Youāll want to swatch very carefully, but itās certainly possible.
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All this info is great.
What yarn do you all use? Is it yarn that recommends a bigger needle but works well in a small needle, or a certain type?
I seem to find what I think is a fine yarn but it is marked maybe 3mm needle.
I have a yarn I bought which is for 3mm needle but itās a loose holey kind of fabric at that gauge. I though I might use 2mm and see if I like a swatch with it.
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Most of my knitting with thin yarn is for socks. I use the size needle that gives me the desired fabric at a tight gauge. I couldnāt say what is suggested on the label, I just donāt think about it. If Iām using the yarn for other than socks I just try different needle sizes until I like the results.
Since I donāt follow patterns religiously and āmake it up as I goā my actual gauge isnāt that important. Thatās why I do toe-up, knit to fit socks. I use the number of stitches that works with the yarn and needles I want and donāt have to do math to figure it out. I just increase until the size is right for the intended foot.
The socks I mentioned above got frogged. I donāt have the right needles to make working with the yarn easy enough for what I was doing so I started over with different yarn from a frogged project. I think itās sport weight and Iām using a US1/2.25mm circ. I made wrist warmers from the same yarn and think I used US3/3.25mm needles. If I knew what the yarn is I could look it up. Maybe itās dk weight.
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I bought some DPNs under 2mm size with the aim of using them for mending commercial knitwear. As Iāve been unwell, that hasnāt happened yet!
Otherwise I use 2mm DPNs or a 2mm long circular for sock cuffs.
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The yarns I use for socks are usually marked from 2.25mm - 3mm. I use 2mm for the same reason you state ā āā¦ itās too loose and holey at that gaugeā. I like a dense fabric for my socks. Your key here is swatching. Once you have a swatch youāre happy with, on whatever size needles, then you can knit to fit. Youāll just have to be careful about your pattern, so you donāt end up with too many or too few stitches. But itās always possible to tweak your pattern or use a different one that fits your number of stitches.
For socks, I use any of a multiplicity of sock yarns, but thereās also fingering yarn that can work as well. It depends on the fiber content on fingering yarn, however. You want something that will stand up to being constantly walked on and rubbed at the heel and sometimes toe. (I prefer wool.) Thatās why all sock yarn is reinforced with some kind of nylon. It is possible to use some fingering yarns if you also use a nylon reinforcing thread with it. This is a very fine thread. It comes in colours, but also clear, so you can match it or just use the clear. I would avoid using any kind of fingering yarn that is marked ābaby yarnā. Itās just too soft and wears out way too quickly for socks. The only exception is if youāre making something for a baby.
Just play with the needle sizes you want to use and the yarns you like. When I started knitting socks in earnest, I spent a few months reading everything I could find about sock construction and preferred yarns. Then I spent a few more months knitting all kinds of ā erm, questionable ā objects, until I understood exactly what I was doing. Since then, I havenāt really followed any kind of pattern. Iāve knit hundreds of socks based solely on the foot I want to fit and what I like. And Iāve knit all of them on size 2mm.
Oh, I now also knit toe up. While itās possible to try on socks as you knit, if knitting cuff down, it is definitely easier to do it toe up. Knit a couple of socks this way, take notes, and youāll have all the information you need to knit socks for that size foot again. In the notes app on my phone, I have notes for several different sizes, so I never have to remeasure or reswatch.
Have fun, and be sure to let us know how you get on.
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