Knitting needle sizes in New Zealand/Australia

[Midge]

Am I right in presuming that a 1940s knitting pattern from New Zealand would use the UK needle gauge (I'm also guessing that New Zealand and Australia would probably use the same...)?

After all that knitting frenzy to get something made for my cousin's baby boy before he grows right out of it (he seems to be doing everything at top speed!), I actually miss knitting in front of the TV , so this is the time to tackle the next project which I've had on my mind for some time. And that involves the said vintage NZ knitting pattern. It also mentions knitting needles no. 10 and 12, and "4-ply fingering wool". If I can figure out what our equivalent to the needle size is, I can look for wool that takes this size and hopefully end up with something that works with this pattern.

Karin

 

[Pinkcoke]

The needle and yarn sizes you've given match the old imperial? UK sizes - for the most part ours are sold in mm now. 10 is 3.25mm and 12 2.75mm, you can see other conversions here. 4ply is is 4ply I don't know why they call it fingering wool. It is half the thickness of double knit, probably your 50's/60s womens jumpers/sweaters would have been knit on 4ply if that helps? It's commonly used for baby clothes and blankets.

 

[Circa Vintage Clothing]

Karin, I'm not a knitter but we were so very close to the Empire ideals back in the '40s, with our shameful White Australia policy and others, that I'm sure we did use the UK system. As for today, I think Melanie is right with the metric sizes.

 

[sewingmachinegirl]

Karin, I don't knit either, but yes down here in the Colonies in Australia :sunshine: we followed everything the way it was done in the UK whether it was good or bad!! I am sure the others are spot on with their replies.

 

[Midge]

Thanks for your comments! Good to know that the UK now also uses metric needle sizes. Makes things a bit easier! The baby wool I just used I knitted with needles no. 2.5, which had been the same in the vintage pattern for that, so I might look for something a tad thicker for the cardigan. At least the tension is mentioned, as well as detailed measurements (more than just the bust measurements), so that I can give it a try with a sample and see if it should work. Some of the baby patterns from the same time have very little clues to find out if it's coming out in the size that it should have!

Karing