Choosing wool - help

5mm needles usually equate to aran weight yarn. If you go for pure wool, then you'll probably need the same amount of wool as per the pattern - but note that the skeins are 100gm, whereas most balls of aran wool in the UK are 50gm. If you go for a lighter wool/synthetic mix, then you'll probably need slightly less as the yardage per 100gms will be more than the skeins.

Cheapest would be a 100% acrylic yarn - but that makes my hands sweat. A wool mix is far nicer to work with.

Do a tension square using 5mm needles - the pattern instructions will tell you what size x number of stitches/rows should come out as. If your tension square is too big, then try again with 4.5mm needles.

If it comes out too small, then your tension is too tight - loosen up or you'll end up with cramp!

sammyjammy wrote: »

You are such a star! Thank you so much for your extensive advice, I've noticed that Aldi have Aran wool in from Sunday which is 400g a ball and 25% wool so that might be suitable, love the idea of doing a tension square!

Yes, that'll be fine for a first go at a garment. When you say that you are a beginner, have you knitted anything before? If not, then I'd start with a simple scarf rather than launch straight into a jacket (although the pattern does look nice and easy). Hint: Buy a crochet hook when you buy your knitting needles - much easier to pick up any dropped stitches with a hook !