It’s time for another video! I’m getting better at taking the time to make these and you all keep giving me good suggestions on what to cover. Today I’m sharing a work in progress and my favorite tools in my project bag. Also, I didn’t know until after I recorded my last two videos that Joji Locatelli’s name is pronounced with a soft j like Ho-he! I already apologized to her via Instagram.
In this episode we talk about:
- Togue Pond Tank
- My Super Simple Summer Sweater using Berroco Pima 100 & Birdies Knits yarn
- JKnit HD app
- Noteshelf app
- Kipling Pencil Case
- Lykke Driftwood Needles
- KnitPicks Square Needles – currently on sale
- Addi Pro Needles – currently on sale
- Addi FlexiFlips – currently on sale
- Gauge Finder
- Curved Tapestry Needle
- Mini Tape Measures
- Yarn Soxx – couldn’t find it because I was missing an X!
- Felt Pouch
- Stitch Markers from Nerd Bird Makery, Locking and Colorful
- Repair Tool
- Decorative Scissors
Let me know what tools you love to have in your bag!
Yards of Happiness 
Thanks for sharing. My very most indispensable tools are the Knitters Pride Wool Needles. I use them Instead of tapestry needles. They have loops instead of eyes and can be used for all weights of yarn. ($2.95 for a set of 3) 😊
What a great list, but I LOVE the little balls of scrap yarn and also the stitch holders that I have in my ‘knitting pouch’! They have saved my knitting soooo many times! Being able to thread those little scraps of yarn into places as a “lifeline” has become a project must.
Thanks for sharing your tools!! My absolute necessities are the Akerworks stitch gauge, it is awesome; I use a set of Susan Bates (ummm?) tapestry needles to weave in ends. They’re not like normal tapestry needles, they’re plastic with a slit down the center to thread the needle; they come in different thickness for different weight yarns! They are the BEST! And I recently bought a small project bag/yarn holder called Yarn Owl. It’s found on Etsy. I love how the yarn feeds thru the top but you can remove that project to work on a different one;)
Another great video! Thank you for sharing your list. I like to use lifelines, and my favorite lifeline material is unwaxed dental floss. I buy the cheap store brand. A BONUS is that I can drop a tapestry needle into the floss container, and then either shake it out or disassemble the container to get the needle when it’s lifeline time. There’s already a built-in cutter, so everything I need for the lifeline is right there in one little package.
I recently got that same gauge finder and it is the best at keeping me honest. I also really like the Tulip cable needle set with very smooth wooden tips. I comes in a tiny zipper case that you cannot believe holds everything but it does-and it comes with a darning needle and a tool that has a yarn cutter in it – great for travel.
I loved seeing all your tools 🙂 I keep a needle gauge on my desk because I can’t see the needle sizes either. I have some tiny Chiaogoo mini interchangeables that I use for socks, but can never see whether I’ve picked up the 2.25 mm or the 2.5 mm!! Actually, those needles are probably my favourite tools; the cables are amazing. Other things I use a lot are tally counters instead of row counters (like these https://www.tallycountershop.co.uk/mtc001.html ). I like them because they’re very robust, knitting more than 99 rows doesn’t mean going back to 0, and as I often have several projects on the go at once, I twist some of the project yarn through the loop so I always know which counter goes with which project. Another favourite tool is a u-shaped cable needle ( https://www.woolwarehouse.co.uk/accessories/pony-cable-stitch-needles-u-shaped ). I adore knitting cables and never have to worry that these are going to fall out of my stitches.
I gotta have some of those Yarn Sox!!
I have a set of repair crochet hooks on a key ring, 4 sizes; SO handy! https://www.etsy.com/listing/547964587/knitfix-emergency-mini-crochet-hook
I went shopping at Akerworks after watching your video, and bought the combination gauge finder and tape/scissors/storage kit, as well as a SimpleKate yarn spindle set. I’ve been looking for an easy-to-use spindle for ages.
My bad, the repair crochet hooks only have 3 sizes… ;-D
A-ha! I found Yarn Soxx! https://www.woolandcompany.com/brands/yarn-soxx/
Such a great idea! Just bought the nice orange ones!
Once again, greatly enjoyed your video talk. I have and use many of the same tools you have, but I DO NOT have that wonderful gauge reader! Which I will remedy instantly, as I desperately need something that is easier to use than the traditional ways of measuring gauge. I use children’s scissors in my tool pouches, a habit I got into when the airlines were being exceptionally difficult about stuff on planes. And I NEVER fly with my good needles. I’ve heard too many horror stories about people having their Addis tossed.
I always carry an emery board. I use them for sharpening the tips of bamboo needles, which have put a new lease on life for many a pair of Takumis. I’ve also used them to repair wood needles that have splintered. For pouches, I try to buy transparent makeup bags. They’re inexpensive and easy for both me and the TSA to see everything.
I found another type of yarn sock called a Yarn Cozy. Looks the same as yours. https://www.simplysockyarn.com/yarn-cozy/
Another great video! I’m in for the stitch gauge tool, like a lot of other people. The one on my needle gauge has led me astray too many times. The only tool I don’t see in your collection that I would recommend is rubber needle tips to keep large projects on the needles between knitting sessions. I got my first set just a year ago and am really pleased with how easy they are to use. Especially good for yokes and big shawls, where the stitches get crowded even when you’re using the longest cable.
That gauge reader looks amazing, I will have to source one. My tools are mostly kept currently in a nice little bag that my friend brought me back from Japan since the old pouch got too holey. I have cabling needles, a cute sheep point protector, stitch markers, scissors, wool needles, and a full set of crochet hooks. I crocheted heavily for nearly 15 years before I picked up knitting again in graduate school and crocheting took a bit of a back burner, but I still crochet from time to time. 🙂 The crochet hooks are so useful when I either drop a stitch or have to do something like a picot edge.
I just started using locking stitch markers to mark things in my knitting. Before that I used a small safety pin. The stitch marker is less pokey and sticks on the knitting a bit better than the safety pin.
I was hesitant to invest in the interchangeable knitting needle sets a few years ago because the review talked about issues with the needles coming loose or awkward joins. Instead I’ve been slowly replacing my cheaper Boye/Susan Bates circular needles with nicer Chaio Goo, Hiya Hiya, or Addi circulars as I either come across a need for a new size/length (9″ circulars are awesome) or one of my old circulars breaks. It’s been a while since I ran into a situation where I needed needles for multiple projects. I remember solving the problem with waste yarn and stitch holders in grad school.
Do you have a particular brand of point protectors that you like? I need to buy some more.
Thanks for sharing your tools! I love seeing what other knitters are using. My chiao goo red lace circulars are my favourite needles. I have a gauge ruler that has holes to measure needle sizes and I make a lot of use of it. I’d also have to include my large Howling Hill Studio project bag – it holds so much and I like how sturdy it is. I have to say that I wish I had bought an interchangeable set of needles by now. It would probably be worth it in the long run. They’re so expensive, but buying needles one at a time adds up too!
Hi Dana,
Thanks for the video! I love my iPad too, though the app I use is Goodreader. It was recommended on Ravelry years ago and it’s been great for me. I can download the pdf, open it up, mark it up, keep my place with a line, put notes right on the pdf—I agree, a lifesaver. I’ve become a big fan of the colored wire locking stitch markers from Cocoknits lately since I’ve been working on a big lace project where having a few sititch markers makes a big difference. They are fine enough that they don’t get in my way when I’m working in finer yarn—I like the plastic ones too for bigger gauge projects.
Recently was shopping for a replacement for my aging Mac Air and was seriously considering switching things up and getting an iPad instead of a laptop. When I was discussing the pros and cons with my 20-something daughter I mentioned the wealth of apps available for knitters if I chose an iPad she said “So, you’re going to spend thousands of dollars on a new device so you can KNIT MORE!?!?!!
I eventually decided to stay with a laptop, but your video reminds me that I REALLY REALLY REALLY wish there was an app that wasn’t ios dependent.
I love this post! Great ideas from everyone!
I swear by the knitCompanion app (which is available for both iOS and Android). It lets me highlight sizes and directions, make notes, add counters (including ones for “Every X rows/repeats, do Y; repeat Z times”), display the key, and highlight where I am in the pattern or chart. It’s a subscription-based app, around $10/year (you can do a free trial), and TOTALLY worth it for me.
Loved the video (again). I think you’re one of those people who could talk about anything and make it interesting. I’ll bet you’re great in the classroom. And another Jellybean appearance! In an adorable rainbow shirt! I add my vote for Addi Flexi Flips for sleeves. I haven’t done a lot of sweater knitting, and on my current project I was having trouble getting comfortable with either DPNs or 2 circs, so I tried the Flexi Flips, after reading a discussion on Mason-Dixon Knitting, and I like them, at least for sleeves. Thanks for the sale links!
An idea for a future video: brioche knitting. I’ve done brioche, but I tend to shy away from it because I find it really hard to correct errors, and the last time I looked the internet was not much help.
I know I’m late to this discussion but a new tool that I have found is called Try It On Tubing. It’s a round tube that you push the ends of your needle into & slide your stitches onto & try on WIPs!! I just think it’s so clever!! Then you stick the needle back into the tube & keep working on your project. I also use it to hold a lot of stitches when necessary.
This is brilliant! I’m going to have to get it.
Good Morning
My name is Denise, I am the owner of YarnSoxx. A customer told me that you spoke about YarnSoxx on your YouTube channel. Thank you so so much!!! You can find me, and more info about my product at http://www.yarnsoxx.com.
Hi Denise! Yes, but I was missing the x on the name so I couldn’t find it! I just linked to it in this post. I love my Yarn Soxx 🙂
Thanks so much for the video…just ordered the soxx! Downloaded the jknit app…any thoughts on doing a video tutorial on how to download patterns to note shelf and then import to jknit…. a little of your process….having a hard time finding tutorials on ‘how’ to do it, and I ‘think’ I’m pretty tech savvy…..;]
Wherever you store the pattern you should be able to export it to JKnit. I organize my patterns in Dropbox and then move them into the app.
Thanks! I’ll try it out.