I have been knitting and crocheting for a combined total of more than 27 years. Some years I worked harder on it than others, but I’ve always made time in life to sit down with a ball of yarn to create.
In that time, I’ve amassed quite a collection of yarn and tools. I have yarn under my bed, in three different storage ottomans, in boxes in the closet, and even hiding in a dresser drawer. Remnants get periodically cleaned out and made into my remnant beanies (post coming soon!) and the rest get neatly stacked and stored in every available container.
However, my tools are a different story. They are all stored in a clear, plastic toiletries case (yes, I said toiletries case) because it is easy to find items in a clear container and it has a nice zipper and handle for travel.
Here are my favorite items from the yarn bag:
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- Project bag Okay, it may seem weird to have a project bag inside a yarn bag, but I like to use project bags that are a light material so that they can be crumpled up an thrown back in the yarn bag in between uses. Here is one of my favorite yarn bags that I found on Etsy:
It is really neat and compact, but still has plenty of room for your project. It also fits over your wrist so that you can knit or crochet on the move!
- Project bag Okay, it may seem weird to have a project bag inside a yarn bag, but I like to use project bags that are a light material so that they can be crumpled up an thrown back in the yarn bag in between uses. Here is one of my favorite yarn bags that I found on Etsy:
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- Clover Counter This counting tool is a life-saver. I used to just mark tallies on the page when I completed a row of the pattern, but would get to my 9th pattern rep, or set down my project for a while, and be completely lost. This counter is very clear and also can be worn like a necklace so that you don’t have to go digging through a pile of yarn to find the slip of paper you’ve been counting with.
- Clover Counter This counting tool is a life-saver. I used to just mark tallies on the page when I completed a row of the pattern, but would get to my 9th pattern rep, or set down my project for a while, and be completely lost. This counter is very clear and also can be worn like a necklace so that you don’t have to go digging through a pile of yarn to find the slip of paper you’ve been counting with.
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- Stitch Markers These are also a huge life-saver when working the more complicated patterns or working in the round. They are also color coded so that you can use different colors to signify different sections of the pattern. They clip on and off which are much better than the rings that can become tangled in the work (I know this from experience).
- Stitch Markers These are also a huge life-saver when working the more complicated patterns or working in the round. They are also color coded so that you can use different colors to signify different sections of the pattern. They clip on and off which are much better than the rings that can become tangled in the work (I know this from experience).
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- Yarn Gauge Tool This comes in handy when I have custom made needles that aren’t marked with their size. It also comes in handy when I switch a pattern from knitting to crochet and want to know what size hook or needle to replace it with for a similar look and weave.
- Yarn Gauge Tool This comes in handy when I have custom made needles that aren’t marked with their size. It also comes in handy when I switch a pattern from knitting to crochet and want to know what size hook or needle to replace it with for a similar look and weave.
Knitting Tools
- Novelty Knitting Needles These adorable cat knitting needles make every project a little more fun and festive, don’t you think?
This Etsy seller also makes matching stitch markers. Aren’t they cute? There are also tons of different designs for knitting needles on Etsy. I even found ones that had knitting penguins on the ends. Adorable!
Crochet Tools
- Ergonomic Crochet Hooks There’s really not a lot of tools to recommend for crochet. If you have a hook and yarn, you’re basically ready to go. However, it’s really important to take care of your hands as you’re crocheting, so an ergonomic handle helps a lot. Especially for those with carpel tunnel syndrome, arthritis, or muscle aches. This is a great tutorial that I’ve used to make an entire set of ergonomic crochet hooks: DIY Polymer Clay Crochet Handles.
- For those of you who would like the ergonomic handle without the DIY, there are also fancy handled crochet hooks like these:
I hope this list gave you some ideas for your next trip to the yarn store! Comment below with your favorite tool.