It’s the small things in life that make a difference. For knitters, we usually have a handful of small “must-have” tools we can’t knit without. Some of these are inexpensive, some a bit pricier, some may be items we’ve re-purposed.
Here’s my list of small but essential tools I use just about every day:
- A small pair of really sharp scissors. I’m making a temperature blanket this year, and I’m changing colors (and cutting off loose ends) frequently. In tying up any loose ends, I’ve found a really sharp pair of scissors makes a difference. My go-to is a small pair of Fiskars.
- A crochet needle. My pretty Birch-wood crochet needleis always within reach when I’m knitting. In addition to weaving in loose ends when a project’s complete, it’s handy for picking up dropped stitches as well. I recently found an inexpensive pack of crochet needles in every size imaginable, and I’m using the tiny ones for socks and lace weight projects.
- A pattern page marker. I’m nearsighted, and I wear “progressive” glasses. I don’t need to ruin what vision I still have trying to decipher knitting patterns. This is a fairly new product I found recently, by Clover. It has magnets to mark exactly where you are on the pattern page.
- Tapestry needles. Necessary for sewing up seams and useful for loose ends. I keep mine in a cork from a wine bottle so I won’t lose them.
- Row counter. I’ve got one with sparkles on it, along with a claspthat I use to clip it to my project or knitting basket (‘cause they’re really easy to lose).
- Stitch gauge and ruler. These have been around since God was young, and they still get the job done. Measure your gauge, measure your work-in-progress, and figure out what size needles you’ve got – all in the same tool.
What are your essentials? Feel free to comment to share ideas and tips with other readers!
Peace, Love, and Knitting,
Cindy
Cynthia Coe is the author of The Prayer Shawl Chronicles, a collection of interrelated short stories about knitters and those they meet through knitting and sharing prayer shawls.
Copyright 2022 Cynthia Coe
Sycamore Cove Knitting 