SuzyQ

I have #12 perle cotton and want something heavier so do I need something like an #8 or #10 or is that thinner? I can NEVER remember these things and of course if I wrote it down, I'd never remember where I put it.

Thanks, Susan

Holice

I believe in thread - the lower the number the heavier the thread......
same for needles.

Glassquilt

Smaller is heavier

Lacelady

And there isn't a size 10. They go from 12, the finest, then 8 and 5.

To help you remember, perhaps you can visualise spinners in the past. They had a specific length measuring stick (Different for Europe compared to the UK, I believe). If they weighed out a pound of thread and wrapped it around the measuring stick, if it was finer thread, it would go round more times than if it was thicker thread. This is a simplified version.

So size 12 Perle would go round more times for its given weight than size 5. Hope that helps, rather than confusing you.

boohoofish

Perle cotton is like needle size - a 10 needle is larger than an 11 needle.
Perle cotton runs from size 3 (thickest), size 5, size 8 to size 12 (thinnest)
Hope this helps. Carol

SuzyQ

Thanks ... this group is the best!