I am trying to use a variable that my content person can change when editing pages to display a different number of blog posts.

Here I have declared the variable:

	<?php
	while( have_rows('social_grid_settings') ): the_row();
		$number_of_blog_posts = get_sub_field('number_of_blog_posts');
	?>

This has been checked and the variable is correct.

However when placed inside the query it doesn't seem to register it and displays all posts:

	<?php
	$args = array(
		'post_type' => 'post',
		'post_status' => 'publish',
		'category_name' => 'social-grid',
		'posts_per_page' => $number_of_blog_posts,
	);
	$arr_posts = new WP_Query( $args );

If I state a static figure '1' instead fo the variable it works.

Am I allowed to use a variable in this way?

Can anyone help me get this variable acting as it should?

Thanks, Jason.