I don't think the size of needles is critical as this project does not have a guage. You are basically knitting already established holes. I used size 9 when I made some for Christmas. I made 3 short scarves using 10 stitches instead of 6 for my little grandgirls & I made 3 long scarves using 6 stitches for my older granddaughter & my two daughters. They all loved them ! Each scarf took me about 3 hrs to knit.