Isabella , pretty much suits you. As an 84yr young addicted to yarn, my latest best purchase is a portable neck light charged by a USB. Not only for craft but reading and walking around the house at night to find stuff that disappears. My precious one eye that’s remaining, loves the neck light. Much safer. Greetings from New Zealand it’s where we grow sheep.
Hello! I've been wanting so badly to go to New Zealand. Everybody I know who has seen it has fallen in love. I would love to visit a sheep farm and pick up local yarn! I know I'll be needing a neck light eventually. I ended up installing a new light over my couch so I could see my projects better at night.
82 years old here, and I use a neck light also. You're right about its multiple uses, especially if your electricity goes off! Great for putting extra light on my crochet and needlework projects!
I think this is a really useful purchase! I am in my 30s and use a headlamp for when I work with dark yarn. It makes so much of a difference, especially when crafting at night!
I just bought myself a neck light, too. I do a lot of my knitting/crochet while watching tv with my family. Having the neck light allows us to turn down or off the lights and I can continue to work while enjoying the movie or show.
I work as a knitting teacher and worked for 4 years full time in a yarn store. Here are a few of my recommendations. On your first project a single set of mid range to nice knitting needles, not a whole interchangable set just the pair you need for your project and buy a low cost yarn. I've seen so many beginners give up or get frustrated because they were fighting with the cheapest needles like bamboo or plastic. I do recommend spending some money on a decent interchangable set but don't even think about it until you've done a couple projects on both wood and metal to figure out which one you like most. If you want to use nicer yarn but need to be strategic with costs plan out projects to maximize the use of the fancy yarn. There are so many shawls you can make with a single skein of nice yarn. Use the nice hand dyed just in the yoke or details of a sweater and use cotton for the rest. Etc Let go of fomo and commit to only buying yarn that you are immediately going to use. I used to pick up stuff on sale then would need to buy more to make the thing or not even want that color anymore. I save so much more buying things full priced only when I actually need it. As for limited edition items, there has only been one thing that I legitimately regretted not buying in almost 15 years. One thing people should spend more money on is patterns. Well written and well fitting size inclusive patterns are hard and expensive to produce. Tech Editors and sample knitters and good photos and sometimes even people to grade the pattern for you are expensive. But a well written pattern knit out of low cost yarn will always turn out better than expensive yarn with a cheap pattern. Sweater patterns should easily cost double what they are but the market has kept prices low. Support indie designers when you can.
This was a very good addition to the video. I'd also add that for those first projects you can ask to borrow needles from a friend or family member who also knits. Most knitters have a good number of needles and most are not in use at the same time so this can be a good way to get a feel of what material you prefer in needles.
Yes absolutely, I agree with trying out different tools to see what works for you, and also I think it's worth acknowledging that what's right for you can change - I was advised to start with grippy bamboo needles as I was scared of dropping stitches, and then try slicker needles as I got more comfortable, and that worked out really well for me.
Not a necessity but definitely an enjoyable item is the wool genie. I've seen people make DIY versions but for 25 bucks this was so nice. I love not having to yank my yarn while crocheting. It spins smoothly and I have been enjoying my crocheting so much more.
For folks on a budget, PLEASE check your local library, I get free crochet hooks, knitting needles, yarns, and notions as well as use of additional supplies and advice from my local library’s craft club. It makes fiber art so accessible especially as a newbie! I personally have a winder without a swift. Mostly because I have “inherited” a lot of my yarn for free and it comes in all sorts of unraveled or tangled states. The winder helps turn it into a clean, center-pull ball. I rarely buy in hanks simply bc those yarns tend to be out of my budget lol Also your cat is SO sweet and cuddly!
Local yarn stores sometimes have loaner tools as well, or in some cases donated scrap bins! My LYS has a lively community so we're always enabling new crafters with gifts!
Last summer I was visiting friends in the Pacific Northwest. Their youngest was doing a summer reading project at the library. We stopped into the library so he could submit his achievements. While we were there, there was a community knitting project. I just had to sit down and contribute a few rows. Libraries are great!
I like when people talk about stuff like this, because crafting hobbies can look really expensive, but they don't have to be! There are definitely affordable ways to participate that are just as fun and result in works of art that are just as beautiful and/or useful and just as meaningful.
Yes ! Also if you have a friend or relative doing that hobby already, ask if they have spare tools and materials ! I personally have much more than I need and would gladly gift some of it
@@crepe71 that's so true, my first hook was gifted to me by a friend who crochets and has a LOT of hooks (she owns her crochet and jewllery business so she needs a lot of hooks), and she had a good quality one that she gave me and I use it so much, plus it feels so much more meaningful to have your first supplies handed from someone you know, it's like knowing the products have a history
honestly the yarn winder is an essential for me, being able to wind up partial skeins of yarn leftover from projects keeps my space sooo much cleaner, plus having scrap yarn in cakes makes it so much easier to use & travel with
I went such a long time without one and now I would not be without one. The swift I have is very cheap, so I agree that you should buy a decent one. It’s one of those plastic and metal ones and it’s falling apart. I would love to have one of those (take apart wooden) swifts that sit on a table or the floor but where I live that would be difficult because then I would have to find a place to put the ball winder due to lack of table and counter space.
@artsymom0329 Yes! I too prefer to wind my yarn by hand - it's very meditative. Also, winding hanks into balls allows me to get to know the yarn before I start a project. If there are knots or tangles or breaks, I deal with them up front rather than getting a nasty surprise mid-project.
I ended up opting for a high end winder (local yarn shop) and a cheap umbrella swift (maybe $20 from Amazon) because I don’t think I’ll be regularly buying hanks as much and it’s probably good enough for occasional use. It helped me not tangle a whole Hank of silk embroidery floss too which those projects take years to complete
I think stitch markers are essential for me. I need the safety pin type to let me know which side is the right side, or to keep a row count. I use the circular ones to mark increases, decreases end if row, etc. I tried using a yarn loop, but because it's not a different tactile sensation- I usually just end up knitting it INTO my project.
I've been using hair pins since I've placed my markers somewhere, and I hate it and miss my markers so much. I like the locking ones a lot and find them very useful and they are highly contrasting against dark projects so I won't lose them if I'm using black yarn
My favorite stitch markers are the metal lightbulb-shaped safety pins that usually come off clothes. They stay out of the way while you're working, fit around most needle sizes, and are removable!
As a knitter for over 50 years - yes I'm that old - most of my needles i have had for many years and some were inherited from my husband's grandmother. Circular needles were not marked with sizes originally so a needle guage is SUPER handy. I also don't always use a cable needle, I often use a crochet hook but there are some projects where the u shaped ones are super helpful.
All my double pointed needles are wood or bamboo and if they were labeled it wore off by the end of the first project with them. The only way I can figure out what size is a needle gauge.
Yeah, the sizer is the only thing I consider actually essential that I disagree with. My interchangeable needles aren't marked, and neither are my dpns or any of the fixed circulars I own. So I use my needle sizer all the time and literally wouldn't be able to knit otherwise (without guessing or needing some calipers!)
I also think that needle gauge is essential, at least to me. I have so many inherited double point needles and none of them have the size shown. Same with some of my cable needles and I can't differentiate for example 3,5mm from 4mm by feel or eye.
A lot of my needless are hand-me-downs from my grandma or second hand, none have sizes printed on them. But I was also handed down her needle gauge so I just figure out what's what the same way she did!
Can’t overstate how important a nice set of crochet hooks was for me, even as a beginner! Like a lot of beginners, I started off with excessively tight stitches, and that tension combined with my first set of cheap Amazon hooks straight-up gave me a repetitive use injury inside 6 weeks. I couldn’t believe it! Even more unbelievable, when I got myself a set of Clover Amours, I could suddenly crochet without pain again (the injury is still there, but crochet is painless and I’m taking it easy). You don’t need the $$$$ hooks, but consider the benefits of starting off with medium-nice ones. I wish I had!
Did someone teach you in-person or was this entirely online? The reason I ask is for the same reason I see kids learning the piano online. They have really horrid hand-position, and then wonder how they can practice for an hour, let alone two hours, a day. RSI I learned rather differently, and as a result I can both play piano for two hours non-stop, and type for hours at a typewriter or keyboard without any injury.
As a beginner and for YEARS I used the cheap crochet hooks with the rubber grip. I saw people talking about the clover hooks and didn’t think they’d make a difference. One day I had it in my budget so I purchased an H clover hook. LIFE CHANGING. I was actually shocked the difference it made. I do crochet everyday and have been crocheting everyday for almost 8 years but the clover hooks are worth it. I do lose my hooks a lot and if it’s not in the budget, I will repurchase cheaper hooks. But given the chance, I’m purchasing clover every time I
I'm a crocheter, and I bought a beginner's crochet kit online for like $22. It had 20 hooks, darning needles, stitch markers, scissors, pom pom makers, a fabric tape measure, and lots of other little things I've never even touched lol. I can't imagine how much it would've cost if I bought all those things independently. I do have a yarn winder and it is a GAME CHANGER for me. I don't buy hanks of yarn, mostly skeins & cakes, but due to how I have to store my yarn, it's nice to have them in cakes to stack them. I don't have a swift, but the winder by itself was one of the best craft gifts I've received
When you get older and your eyesight changes, those needle gauges are very helpful. I love my row counter for certain intricate patterns. Kid friendly scissors with the rounded tips. I’ve found several pairs from when my children were younger. Slip these inside my home sewn project bags. 😂😊
I've been knitting for as long as I can remember and have never once used a row counter... in fact I almost never count rows at all. But I use my needle gauge all the time! Most of my needles are from secondhand shops and the markings are long since worn off. Also my needle gauge has a built in 6in ruler and row/stitch gauge square, so it's handy for measuring other things.
For me, a knitting needle gauge is a must have. I’ve been knitting for 50+ years and a lot of my circular needles aren’t marked with the size at all. It’s actually a fairly recent thing. I do a lot of knitting on small needles and there’s no way I can eyeball the difference between a 2mm and a 2.5mm for example.
I'm a very new knitter and none of the needles I bought have markers on them. I also just randomly bought two different sizes when I was starting out and completely forgot what sizes they were, so it was a real relief to know that these things existed. Also they were just around 1 EUR, so no regret there
Essential for me is a good craft light, I can sometimes have difficulty seeing small dark stitches; I also have needles that are darker and ones that are lighter, so I can select the opposite of my yarn color making it easier to see. I do lean to the point of buying tools that make my life easier that aren’t essential, but make the craft more enjoyable for me. I love my Knitpicks shorties for sleeves, I just love having the right tools for the job. It has taken years to assemble my collection of tools, and I too am privileged enough to be able to buy them.
I love you point that tools help make life a little easier. I think that is a beautiful way of putting it. Like, they are required, but they are nice to have and make some things a bit less frustrating or complicated.
So happy the algorithm led me here! I would say blocking mats & pins are an essential for anyone knitting lace! It’s so helpful to pin lace into shape for shawls, scarves, etc.
Yes, thank you this time algorithm! I use toddler foam tiles from when our kid was that age and pins that I tested to make sure they wouldn’t rust. Definitely a need.
I was my best friend's maid of honor and she paid for our hair to get done. I had 93 bobby pins taken out the next day and I still have them. I use them as stitch markers and have a couple that are a different color for milestones like 100sts or "inc here." And with how much hair I have, I have a few extra pins in my hair in case one falls or I need to use it as a marker/secure the loop so I can check out my crochet piece. I totally agree with the pompom makers. I don't like pompoms either but when I did try it for a project once, I had seen how to make one out of two pieces of cardboard/paper board from a magazine and I still have it in my tools (make from a cheerio's box.) I also tried making a knitter out of a thicker toilet paper roll, bobby pins, and 2 hair ties before biting the bullet and getting one. I would rather see what I can do before I get the tool to see if I would use it.
I love your list! Very honest and true!! Something I'd like to add as a yarn artist of 36 years, please watch how much yarn you buy. My stash is out of control and I will never be able to use all of this yarn in my lifetime! Buy wisely and carefully.
Yes! Yes! Yes! My stash has gotten too large for my comfort and it’s wild how I could not buy yarn for a year and still keep making projects. I’m so glad though that I learned from others before mine got too bad. I think that’s such an important tip!!! Thanks for sharing 🥰
Might I make a suggestion? One or two stash buster projects a year to go through that unused yarn, like a granny square blanket, or a patchwork blanket or sweater. Stash buster lap blankets are things that can be donated to hospitals, nursing homes, they never have enough. Or hats and scarves sets for homeless shelters and stuff...
I have this issue too, as someone who has been an avid crocheter since 12. I just recently used a skein of yarn I have had in my stash since high school, though that was more due to the fact I wasn't working with Red Heart anymore. I worked through COVID but I bought yarn because I really wanted to do projects. My queue in Ravelry shows I have at least enough projects for the next five years based on my previous activity. And then, there's scraps, which I end up using when I don't want to work on anything else or I get a huge pile of one specific type. I keep watching other TH-camrs and their stash to scratch that buyer's itch and YarnGeek keeps me humble (She might be able to get through her stash but her mom will not be able to get through hers and I suspect it will be inherited and then, she won't be able to get through it.) I am fortunate to have other fiber enthusiasts I regularly see so when we fall out of love of a yarn, we can offer it up to the others. I do keep a stash of cotton to teach anyone interested but otherwise, the rose-colored glasses come off and it goes into someone else's stash. So that's my suggestion: reach out to your crafty friends to see if they would use it sooner than you would. See if someone wants to learn your craft. And don't feel bad about how much money it cost to purchase; as Marie Kondo would put it, you want to thank it for its purpose in your life and hope the next person gets as much joy or more out of it. If it just sits there and you don't feel like you can work with it, then it has already given you the joy that it can (aka your money's worth.)
Yes! You're taking away the fun of shopping for new pretty yarn from time to time for New projects etc. There will be always pretty yarns, and its fun to go and buy something from time to time, and not use yarn you bought 10 years ago. You're often more exited to Start New things... don't buy to much at once!
Since I don't want to buy wool but I want to work with it, I thrift old sweaters and unravel them. I have to say, the process of unraveling is very satisfying! Sometimes you can get 500 gr of 100% merino for like 10 dollars! I love it
You’re so right! I scored a Yak wool sweater at Goodwill. I need to search a little harder at my local thrift store next time I’m itching for more yarn.
One of the nicest yarns in my stash is a super soft alpaca 2-ply that I got from a Banana Republic sweater. It was $1-2 on the clearance rack at Goodwill because it had a giant hole in the middle.
I do the same! The issue with thrifting blankets and unraveling them is it is so hard to find blankets compared to sweaters. It takes effort to unravel sweaters but it works really well! I’m actually crocheting a sweater right now from a yarn that i unraveled from a thrifted sweater.
Great video for someone just starting to knit or crochet. I do think that beginner crocheters would benefit from getting the best hooks they can afford from the get-go. If you’re just learning, struggling with an inferior hook will be very discouraging. It takes time to learn how you like to hold your hook and control yarn tension, as well as mastering the stitches…and a crummy hook will just make it harder.
Bought a kit for 5 dollars at my local craft store it came with crochet needles, stitch markers, measuring tape, and other small essentials. Best thing I’ve ever bought.
@@christenagervais7303 I would like to hear more on that subject please.... I crafted my own cabled Tunisian hook by McGuyvering a cheap extra Boye hook and heavy duty guage weed whacker line (from a replacement spool), glued together with E6000 glue. The way I dipped and glued the pieces together leaves a lot of glue in between the join, so it's very flexible. I dipped the ends several times so the glue built up in length, not width, and then i glued them together with a blob and then trimmed it down where it got away from me.
@@BreathingYarnI would love your opinion on getting crochet hook grips! When I first got into crochet, it was right around my birthday, and I got gifted by my friend a crochet kit with 10 hooks and all the little things you need. I still use it (it’s been a year and a bit so far) and am now really into crochet, but I notice that my hand starts to ache. I’ve been thinking about just sticking a beauty blender on, but maybe it would be better to get a grip or hooks with grips attached?
Thanks so much for this much needed deinfluencing perspective on crafting! Sometimes it is so weird to me that crafting is supposed to be this anti-captialist, slowing-down and doing-stuff-by-yourself movement but then is turned around by so many trying to get you to buy yet another thing that you don't need! So thanks again for this reminder :)
Blocking is also essential for lace-making, so I'd recommend folks getting into typically large, lacy things (such as shawls) get mats early on. Edit: I should clarify that you don't necessarily need actual blocking mats with a grid unless you're picky about size/shape being exact. I've used kids' interlocking play mats from Aldi for many years.
I pin lace out on my mattress first thing in the morning and point a fan at it. You could also get a gingham or plaid tablecloth and use those squares to measure size.
Not using DPNs is why you don't need a needle sizer. That is literally 100% of what I use mine for, because I knit mostly on wooden DPNs I got unlabeled at thrift shops
I have been crocheting/ knitting for over 30 years. Self taught at 9. I loved your list and agree with everything you said. I didn’t hear any mention of yarn bowls…I find one to be essential but expensive. I often use a mixing bowl from my kitchen. It keeps yarn from rolling away and debris free!
I actually have a two yarn bowls. I use them anytime I'm working with yarn balls, because I got tired of my yarn falling onto the floor and rolling halfway across the room!
I use a heavy soup tureen. My husband was going to give it away, but it's decorative and pretty to look at. It's heavy and the lid with the slot is perfect for the yarn string! Even larger yarn balls and cakes fit in there. I can yank at the yarn and the tureen won't move. I posted about it on social media and the response was overwhelmingly positive.
@beadcomber1 yes! I have a friend who has a chicken soup tureen that she uses for her yarn. It was a thrift find so not only was it inexpensive it is unexpected and she loves it!
it's not a privilege to have a full time job, you're a member of the working class. you could say your job doesn't steal so much of your labour that you have time and funds at the end of the month to pursue your hobbies, but that's no privilege, that's just how work should be. i'm sorry to be pedantic but this is important because the fight for workers rights isn't a fight for privilege, it's a fight for the rights and dignity of the working class.
Not pedantic at all, this is such an important point to bring up. It’s heartbreaking watching friends, family, and (in the past) myself be exploited so egregiously for any scrap of free labor their job could take from them. It’s soul sucking. I agree that language should change and I will work on reframing my language around these topics. It’s a struggle finding the right words but it’s valuable for me to try my best to find them.
@@BreathingYarn you're actually really eloquent and good with your words, the video was easy to follow and understand and you bring up great points, i began crochet last year and this is valuable information. i'm just a member of the working class like you, i brought this up to raise awareness of our situation, no need to police yourself or to chastise yourself for something your said with a good heart. my point wasn't to make you feel like you're walking on eggshells while expressing yourself online, it's to raise our collective consciousness of our situation. that's what the working class throughout the world needs the most right now. keep up with the good work, it's a great video.
I'd say it is a privilege but, it shouldn't be. I worked for years in jobs that exploited my labor and now I don't. Acknowledging the privilege is the first step to fighting for making things better for everybody so that the thing is no longer a privilege.
Also, I could’t knit without some kind of stitch markers. Once I went to visit my parents and forgot my stitch markers. I told my dad and he found me a bunch of rubber o-rings in his shop. They worked great. 😂
The other day I used one of those dental floss thingies with the sharp tooth pick end as my BOR marker. The pattern did say "use a unique stitch marker for BOR" and I think it doesn´t get much more unique than that ;) (I was too lazy to reach a bit further for my actual stitch markers and truly started the project full of feral raccoon energy).
I only buy things when as I need them. It is so easy to get lost in aesthetics of things. I have a number 4 hook and a number 6 hook, and I just bough a 12 for a very chunky project. Granted I'm not an avid crocheter, it's a 'for those times I need my hands busy' kind of thing. So buying slowly at first helps me to determine what I need and also makes me realise what I like to do. There is a little organic story unfolding as items get collected slowly for a new hobby. Also I have those self adhesive bandage tapes to make myself better grips. There are ones with so cute designs and I'm using it on my pens, pencils, hooks, whatever to personalise the grip. You can't buy that comfort. And they don't get sticky and are easily removable.
I agree with most of the items on your list except for the scissors, stitch markers and needle sizers. I would include these in the essentials category. Thanks for a really fun video.
So. The yarn winder: I've had one for a long time for one purpose: Frogging things. Old sweaters (thrifted or handed down to me) are so much easier to work with if you have a yarn winder. And then at some point I got the swift as well so I could retie the yarn from the frogged items into hanks, wet them, let them dry so they loose the curls. Then I would put them back on the swift and rewind them with the yarn winder. TLDR: If you do a lot of frogging for yarn, get a yarn winder and swift and live a happier, easier life :D
@@BreathingYarn My cat is also a COVID cat. She loves to sit on my desk in front of my monitor as I study and do my homework. Sometimes she's even sitting on my crochet/knitting projects.
LOL. Pippin once accidentally emailed my coworker gibberish when I wasnt looking! It's also so cute that your cat likes to sit on your projects. I wonder if it smells like you or they just know you made it.
I love this. When I was 1st starting out crocheting, I had the starter kit. The one that comes with about 6 needles, plastic darning needle, knitting needles, and a "How to" book. I worked with this for YEARs until the arthritis kicked in. Then my brother bought me an ergonomic set of 12 for Christmas and I lived for those for another few years. The last 2 year I had some disposable cash and I dabbled in more expensive crochet items and I got a rosewood yarn winder, and I got resin hooks and more aesthetic notions. I will say none of the stuff I've bought in the last 2 years are absolutely essential but i cant imagine my crochet career without them :)
I agree with everything except the scissors. I think a simple basic pair is an essential. I really like how you presented this. You gave your reasoning without making it sound like you were saying someone was ridiculous for having an item or not.
Haha, that is so fair 😂 I also prefer bigger scissors over the tiny ones. Also, thank you. I really wanted everyone to know that this is my list of essentials and it’s gonna look different for everybody.
This! I have one pair I got for cross stitch, but I'll use it too for knitting. Just one little pair that stays sharp since you're only using it for one thing, and its tiny and and portable. Last I saw on TSA since I recently traveled you can take small scissors up to a certain size on a plane, which those craft scissors do fall under.
I only started using a knit/crochet journal (which is just a normal journal, nothing branded as craft-specific) when I started designing my own patterns. Having a physical journal lets me draw sketches and organize ideas better than just typing up on my phone. Definitely not essential for most people, but so useful for me (especially when people start asking for the pattern lol)
Right on! I have two books: one for scratch work, one for finished projects. Why? I copy the pattern into the scratch book. When I'm done, I copy the essential parts with notes into the finished project book. This is so I reproduce the project in the future, but customized as I desire. When she says she uses only her phone, no. She uses that as her "working" book. She still has two journals, essentially.
I'm all for everyone making with whatever tools they have. When I start a new craft, I'll typically purchase inexpensive tools until I feel I know enough to appreciate the difference. That said, as a crocheter I do think it's worth spending a bit more for better hooks. It makes a difference when you aren't fighting against your hook. Susan Bates or Boyd hooks are awesome, if you can afford it, upgrade to Clover. They really do make a difference. There are lots of great budget yarns, and lots of youtubers who discuss the pros and cons so you can find what you like.
This! Also, start with the base metal hooks NOT the grippy ones. You can always add grips TO metal hooks, but you can't take OFF the grips that are built onto/into the hooks, which means if it doesn't work out for you (I hate the feeling of the grips), then you have a bunch of hooks you don't need.
I wouldn’t dive right into a set. Try one of different brands and different substances. Metal vs wood. Blunt tip vs sharp. Find what you like first before thinking about a set. Then read reviews about them, especially when it comes to the join. Also, when testing the different hooks or needles, get circular. They can be used as straight as well. You can also consider double pointed needles.
Ive already commented, but ive finished the video and have a few more thoughts 😅 1- its really good to have both a ruler and flexible tape measure. To get the best measurements of your body, you want to use a flexible measure, wheras you need a firm measuring tool to best measure your knitting. So having both really helps with getting the correct gauge. If you just want to buy one, go for a firm ruler and then you can measure around your body with some yarn, then measure that yarn with your ruler 2- needle gauges can be very important. The size markings have rubbed off most of my needles, but even when they havent, they can be necessary. My mum is an avid knitter with not great eyesight, who simply cant see the size markings on her needles. Her needle gauge is really important for her knitting, as she wouldnt be able to tell the needle size without it. 3- whether you need a cable needle is super dependent on the cable project you do. Bigger and tighter cables often cant be knit without a cable needle, but there are several all over cable projects that ive done where i either dont use a cable needle at all, or use a locking stitch marker as a cable needle.
Thanks for commenting this. All your points are so important for this discussion and I love the clear thought you put into it! I totally agree with all of your thoughts here. Based on the comments so far, I’m thinking a needle size will become progressively more important as I grow older.
Two comments- needle size is super important to me to know. The OCD in me? Perhaps. Anyway at the start of a project and each time I switch needles (ex. To a different length circular) I always ALWAYS check the gauge. And get a kick outta it too. I keep thee gauge with the needles. I use the measuring strip on it too. Second, Iii do relyy heavily on a collection of coin purse sized Zipp pouches for all kindsof bits and bobs. Fun!!
@@elizabethtrimble6853 it's my favourite knitting hack, because cable needles always get lost, but lockable stitch markers can just be popped onto the project when you're not working the cables!
Not only are the metal stitch markers more sustainable, you also can't break them! I had a horrible habit of breaking my plastic stitch markers frequently until I made the switch. Never looking back!
Great video. Your gray area and non essentials are spot on. I have never bought stitch markers, but use yarn, hair elastics, and even paper clips when I need one. I was gifted some cute ones but they are too heavy and bulky to use. I bought a cheap ($22) winder on Amazon when I was gifted several bags of yarn hanks and scraps of all kinds and sizes from a gentleman whose wife had recently passed but hand wound around a water bottle for decades before that . Instead of needle tip covers I use my hair elastics again. Instead of row counters I use a scrap of paper and the checkmark or tick system. It is so easy to look at all the pretty gadgets and things and blow all of our money on it, but groceries and gas and good yarn are getting more expensive, and there are so many inexpensive alternatives if we engage our creative brains and then we can spend our money on things we really want... like chocolate and ice cream and a movie or something.
I personally find row counters to be essential for my knitting - I have trouble counting my stitches and rows visually and have dyscalculia, so having something I can click and track the number is necessary for me, especially if it’s fiddly. But I do think it’s essential *for me*. My best friend can’t use them because she constantly forgets to click it!
Discalcula here as well and I really need to get one! I'm a proficient crocheter, so I can read my work easily. But I'm still always loosing track of what I've just counted. But I'm a beginner knitter and cant keep track yet. I can't wait until I can read knitting.
I like to use the metal lap counters for sports. Hard to accidentally bump it and with a satisfying click so you remember doing it. I also use counters on my phone but I like using the clicker for when you have multiple pattern repeats happening at the same time.
I crochet bespoke lace sweaters. I absolutely need stitch markers to know where my increase and decrease points are. It’s too easy to get lost in the stitches. I also need my tiny scissors to cut my tiny yarns. I cannot imagine my dread at cutting lace weight yarn with big scissors! I also love my blocking board because it makes the lace pop, though I have been known to use a towel in a pinch. Thank you for your comments about synthetic yarn. I completely agree.
I have really been enjoying hearing people share what is essential to them and it’s wild how different everybody’s lists are. I’m honestly so amazed. Also, BESPOKE LACE!!!! That’s awesome. 👏 I hope to even attempt a bespoke-style lace crochet pattern someday.
I recently bought a needle sizer because I can’t see the tiny sizes etched on the needles🤷🏾♀️ But I’m new to knitting so maybe I’ll learn the sizes without needing the sizer as time goes on. Project bags are absolutely cute but the drawstring pouch bags that other products come in work beautifully for me😊
I’m just here for the kittycat 🐈⬛ ❤. Awesome video! I agree with pretty much everything, except for the crochet hooks. I crocheted for the better part of 25 years with cheap brand hooks and it wasn’t until I tried a Clover Amour hook that I noticed the ginormous difference these hooks make. I was totally blown away. Not only did my hands stop hurting, but the hooks are so much better on the yarn. Much smoother and the crochet experience improved a gazillion fold. So I’d recommend those, maybe not all at once but one or two sizes at a time. Also: I own both a set of dpns and circular knitting needles, but the magic loop is beyond my comprehension level for some reason. So I use dpns instead of the circular ones.
For me needle sizer is essential, i cannot distinguish me 2mm and 2.5 mm needles without it, although they did have markings originally they are long gone (wooden needles in this case). Although i agree that interchangeables are great I would caution against automatically going for a cheap set, much better to buy better quality piece by piece in the sizes you need, in my experience quality does matter for needles. I also use my needle stoppers extensively maybe because i move my knitt8ng around a lot but needn't be expensive pretty things. Agreecompletely about the project bags, my knitting is perfectly happy in my cotton shopping bag ang the cheap beach bag i use for larger projects.
Great: Little rechargable reading light. I have one that I can clip to my headboard and it really helps to prevent eyestrain , especially with dark yarn. Unnecessary unless needed for accessibility: tension ring. Some of them are really cute, but It can be fiddly, and I rarely end up using it.
The blocking board - it’s the same material as floor matting for pre-schoolers that “puzzles together”. Someone in my neighborhood put a whole box out with a free sign! Free blocking mat! I knit intricate lace shawls - those DO need to be blocked under tension otherwise you would never see the lacy-ness. I am ALL ABOUT double-pointed needles. I only use circs for garment-size things (sweaters, blankets/shawls with hundreds of stitches) and even then I wrestle with whether that project requires a circ because I dislike them that much. I prop my right needle at my hip and so with a circ there’s nowhere to “prop.” Consequently, because I love DPs, and I’ve thrifted a lot of them (so they are not marked) a needle gauge sizer is ESSENTIAL for me.
I use cuticle scissors for my crafting since I also do cross stitch and those things are so cheap I don’t feel bad when I lose them. I also use the needle measuring tool because I inherited a bunch of needles that do not have sizes on them so that thing lives with my DPNs. I also use makeup bags and pencil cases for my sock wips. They zip up so when I travel with it, I don’t lose anything.
i do the makeup bags too!! I got some of my friend's ipsy rejects, and they're always the perfect length for my DPN's! Only issue can be with sharper ones, they usually make a cameo thru the sides of the bags lol
I would personally say no on the interchangable set. As someone who is a DPN devotee, don't think I would still be knitting if I started knittingin the round on circulars. They have their use (like, they're good for the body of jumpers, because they can be speedy), but i find DPNs so much easier to handle. I only like circulars for very large projects in the round. DPNs are far more flexible in terms of number of stitches. With knitting needles, buy what you need for the first few projects. Then, if you knit something on circulars and you really love them, invest in the kit. Same with Crochet hooks. You don't need a full set, not really. You need what you need for your project. I have a 2.5mm, 4mm and 5mm for picking up dropped knit stitches. On the brushed metal thing, have you ever tired PONY needles? They're powder coated, so not quite as slippy as polished metals. They're my favourite DPNs. I don't care for their circulars, but they're better than wooden circs.
This is great! I also wanted to add that thrift stores can be a great place to get supplies when you're starting out. I found a whole bag of different sizes of crochet hooks at my goodwill for about 5 dollars. And of course they usually have yarn like you mentioned.
Thanks for all your videos! I've just caught up and wanted to suggest Lena Fedotova patterns as a great place to find new crochet garment designs. I think the Bee Top might be of interest. It is Tunisian crochet with a fun zig zag diagonal.
She also goes by Elena Fedotova. Have you seen the Lowestoft Pullover? The pattern is also explained in her Dotty Cowl. It looks great with a speckled yarn peaking through a solid or gradient yarn.
I’m going to disagree slightly about blocking matts. I find them invaluable for lace knitting and also for shawls. I can’t remember the last time I used one for a sweater but they absolutely transform shawls. And I have knit several lace scarves that I’ve really appreciated being able to block to a specific size rectangle with straight edges and square corners. However, the exercise puzzle piece mats from five below or other discount stores work just as well and are usually larger and cheaper.
I use my needle sizer all the time! My interchangeable tips either don't have the size printed on or the print is so small and light that I can't read it.
I would like to add you don't need loads of yarn, buy yarn for particular projects rather than buying a stash (it builds up gradually anyway, oh my I have a lot of yarn now). Instead of project bags, I use the bags the yarn comes in for each project. I do have interchangeable needles now and they are great but if you are just starting out maybe just buy the size of needles you need for your first project, I started out knitting socks on 2.25mm DPNs. Socks are a great first project, they have some challenges at first but that just hones your skills, and you only need your needles and one ball of sock yarn to get started. I love my ball winder and swift now, but I only bought that when I became fed up of winding by hand, which only started happening when I became a more experienced knitter and was getting through yarn at a faster rate. When I was just starting out hand winding one ball a month wasn't that bad. I never use my needle size gauge but my grandma uses hers every time she knits, I think it depends on the knitter and your own needles.
I just want to mention the needle sizer is something I need not daily but maybe monthly? It depends on how often I start a new project where I need to be sure the exact size needle. A lot of my dpn's do not have the number printed on them (mostly for me the 4, 5 and 6's seem to not have size printed on them) and I have a set of bamboo (a few actually) dpn's where the numbers are so tiny or over time have rubbed off or worn down if it was engraved (on the bamboo/wooden ones) I've had to take a picture with my phone and then pinch and zoom in to read a size (aging is fun!) Again, some of them it has just rubbed right off so that isn't helpful so I just have a needle sizer. So for me, I knit a lot of socks and I mostly use the sizer for dpn's as that is my preferred way to knit socks, though I have used 2 circulars or 1 circular for magic loop but I digress. haha typical
I love your point about not everybody being able to see/read the needles sizes! I am lucky to have pretty solid vision (for now) and didn’t consider that the reality for many is: being able to read the sizes isn’t a guarantee.
@@NinaKeilin Yes like she said, none of this is absolute, it's what works best for her and suggestions for others. It's good to have that information when you are new.
Thank you for leaving this comment. I’m so glad people are filling in the gaps of my knowledge with the comments today!!! I haven’t explored knitting shawls much (yet) and so I wouldn’t know how best to block them. I’m thankful to have these comments for others (and myself) to reference.
The only time I prefer DPNs to magic loop is working on softies. I always rewind my yarn in advance of use so I know about any knots or breaks. I keep my project notes/photos in Ravelry.
You won't know the value of a needle sizer until you get older and your eyesight gets worse.... they're an invaluable tool to quickly size your tips when the teeny etched sizing on your needle is impossible to see.... or, buy a magnifying glass....
It's also very difficult to know what is considered the essential items for an aging knitter/crocheter (perhaps someone learning the craft after retirement) when you're young and your body hasn't begun to break down yet! Lol! Wonderful video btw.... !!
You are so right & thank you! I kind of want to find and interview older women who have been crafting for a while and see what they have to say. There's so much I dont even have to think about that I am sure will one day be a big part of my daily crafting life.
I agree with most of your list, but stitch markers are an essential for me! Knitting has taught me that contrary to what I previously believed, I don’t actually know how to count. Putting a marker every 10-25 stitches helps when casting on an obnoxious number of stitches. One thing I don’t think you mentioned specifically (or maybe you did in the stitch markers section) is progress keepers! These are expensive little extras that I love to splurge on when I have some extra cash and want to support small businesses.
Great question! Progress keepers are like removable stitch markers. You can get really fancy (more decorative) ones and they clip on to your project. The idea is you stick them at the top of your work at the beginning of the day so you can see how much you knit up that day. You can also typically use them like stitch markers. @@KS-bg3sp
@@BreathingYarnI just use stitch markers for that. I love putting one at the beginning of a weekend knitting sesh and seeing my progress on sunday night lol
Honestly? You don't need a swift. If you have a ball winder, and don't mind improv'ing a little or finding another person to spread the hank with their arms, do that. It saves space and money. I do mine alone, which does occasionally come with the con of getting dog hair in polyester, whoops.
Honestly I'm the complete opposite with DPNS--I tend to brace one of the needles on myself while I'm working (I honestly need a knitting belt bc some of my t-shirts have holes in them from it LOL) so I swear by DPNs for smaller stuff and I'm currently looking into getting a whole bunch of much longer DPNs for garments like sweaters.
I’m somewhat new to crocheting, and I’ll say, yes stitch markers are not needed. i personally found that paper clips work really well for me (safety pins should too for better chance of it not falling out, even though ive never had a paper clip fall out on me yet).
Just found your channel with this video! In my 65 years of life I can be fairly thrifty but a couple of things I will definitely politely disagree!! I just have to have a row counter!! And a Pom Pom maker!!😂. And-as a bag maker…….I definitely think the right bag can make your project more fun but, confession, I have used grocery bags myself at times!!! Enjoyed your show!!
I bought the Clover crochet hook set, and Chiao Goo interchangeable needle sets and to be honest I don't feel like I will ever need anything more. I keep trying to find an excuse to buy fancy expensive hooks but I really don't need them. At most, I will get some extra cables. I used to have some of the Amazon crochet hooks but the rubber on some of them broke down and got oily.
My son gifted me a scissor set that came with tiny scissors, big ones, and a matching thimble. I use the tiny scissors all the time simply because they fit in my notions kit so well. They are also beautiful and make me think if my son when I use them.
For weaving: Don't start with pin, inkle, big tapestry, or rigid heddle looms. If you want to make tapestries, use one of those cheap frame looms that is a rectangle with notches cut into the ends. Get the kind that are about 6-8 inches to a side. Do not bother with a heddle bar; a shed stick will be sufficient because having a heddle bar will actually interfere with switching colors so often. Get a metal weaving needle and don't bother with tapestry bobbins. There is a book called _Weaving on a Little Loom_ that has advice for tapestry weaving, if that is the craft you end up wanting to do. If you want to make longer or solid pieces, learn to make and weave on a backstrap loom. Use a string heddle and a piece of cardboard cut into the shape of a shuttle, the simple kind with notches on the ends. Most people will do completely fine with string heddles and a cardboard shuttle. I found myself absolutely hating the feel and unevenness of a string heddle, and after the first project bought a laser-cut rigid heddle and solid wood shuttles. These are not necessary, I just have sensory issues.
As a person who got into crochet in college partially bc of the low material need entry point (less than 10 dollars on a crochet hook and ball of dishie cotton from michaels) and now is watching this while knitting on a pair of addi interchangables (my one big family christmas gift, 160 bucks). Tools and how much one spends on them will always be a personal preference that evolves based on your unique needs, wants, and means. My big stance on garment yarn is buy what you will wear. That may mean saving up and getting nice yarn for one big project rather than making a bunch of projects. But I reach for my cotton and wool goods all the time and almost never wear the first sweater I crochet bc it was red heart and I cant stand wearing that texture. I get my money's worth for the $50+ sweater quantities of cascade wool and dishy cotton compared to the $30 acrylic. In addition to money I do not want to invest hours over months of my life into a garment I wont wear. I use a needle sizer all the time for the bent old dpns I bought at the thrift store. I really appreciated the tone of this video. It was very honestly put. Also Isabella suits you but I also think visually you could be a Megan lol.
I agree with the crochet hook advice! I got a set off of Amazon, used them for like a year, and then as I realised I wasn't going to slow down in my crochet (and I had some irks with the cheap hooks) I bought a set of nice expensive ones. I have a friend I'm starting to teach and so now I can pass on my cheaper hooks to someone else to start the craft 😊
I use the bulb/gourd shaped safety pins as stitch markers. They're just as inexpensive as the plastic, but they have lasted so much longer! In addition to stitch markers, they have also come in handy for wardrobe malfunctions! I have used them a handful of times to hold cardigans or blazers together to hide stains my "blocking boards" are interlocking exercise mats from five below. They don't have the inch grids, but if you have a tape measure that's really not a barrier. I would say it's really worth it to seek out a fabric tape measure since (especially if you're making clothing) what you are measuring is three dimensional. Yes, you could use scrap yarn cut to size and then measure on your hard ruler, but I always over-stretch my yarn when i use this method and end up with wonky sizes. Splurge on a retractable if you wish, but the one i got in a $10 sewing starter kit has served me fantastically. I will not buy a cable needle. Those cheap lil plastic ones are just begging to break, and the wood and metal ones are weirdly expensive IMO. If I have a big cable i need to carry, I use a DPN I already have on hand. So happy to have found your channel! Happily subscribed :)
I do the same thing with cables. Mine came along with my interchangeable set and its nice cuz its metal but its also like 2mm so it's practically useless for my typical 4mm projects.
I love bulb pins as stitch markers. I bought the colorful ones and they function exactly the way those big plastic safety pin style stitch markers do for me, but they’re made of metal so I’ll have them as long as I want to use them. I also use an interlocking children’s play mat to block my projects, though personally, I wish I had purchased a thicker one (or just a craft store blocking board) as the cheap Amazon ones I purchased didn’t save me a huge amount of money over the alternative. Cheers to practical crafting purchases :D
No need to buy a complete set of interchangeable, started with just the sizes of fixed circular needles I needed. However for me, I feel dpns belong in the gray area and with dpns (especially my grandmother's old metallic ones) a needle gauge is necessary.
I really love that people with different crafting preferences are commenting and it’s so interesting to hear from others what is essential to them and what isn’t. I especially love hearing of people that have been handed down knitting needles that definitely need a needle sizer. I never really knew anybody that knit so it was a major blind spot of mine to not know the reasons someone would need a needle sizer. Thanks for commenting!!!
When I started knitting some 30 yrs ago I could only buy fixed circular needles. And I totally agree on the DPNs, it's sometimes hard to figure out which size they are. I have two sets which I only use for knitting socks - learned it old school from grandma. @@BreathingYarn
For knitting needles, if you find certain materials bother you (form me it's a sensory thing), it can be worthwhile to try different kinds. I personally can't bear the feel of bamboo needles and metal is just unpleasant for me
So many good points in this video! I love the idea of using second-hand yarn - I thrifted a sweater recently and got a good amount of cotton-acrylic mix yarn from it, I can’t wait to use it to make my own sweater 🧶 And yes to a digital journal! I find it so much easier to write my project notes/ideas in my phone’s notes app than to write it in a journal (and try to decipher my messy handwriting later lol). The only time I’d use a physical journal would be if I’m sketching out a design, bc my digital artistry skills are ✨awful✨ For scissors I always use the tiny cutical scissors I got from a cheap dollar store nail kit, bc they’re small enough to pass airlines’ carry-on restrictions! Highly recommend if you want to work on projects while flying ✈️ I’d also like to add learning how to mend to the list- it’s not an essential tool, but I like to think it’s an essential skill to have! You can get your favourite clothes and makes to last even longer by learning how to mend them. There’s also a neat visible mending technique where you use a colourful thread to make running stitches over patches, my partner’s been doing this to his old clothes and it looks so cool! 🪡
Yes to everything you just said. I also super agree about learning to mend being an essential skill!! Let bring back patch work and beautiful exposed mending. 🥰
I lucked out at the thrift store when I was very early in my knitting journey. I purchased a bag of vintage items for the crochet hooks and mini measuring tape. I didn’t know what the little rings (stitch markers), big plastic safety pins (cable stitch holders), and huge sewing needles (tapestry needles) were for 😅. I didn’t learn how to use the double pointed needles until a whole year later! Whoever put together this kit previously must have gotten a lot of use out of it, and I feel honored to be using it. I’ve never had to buy any supplies since save for longer needles to hold lots of blanket stitches.
i really agree about the project bag one!! my local yarn store gives out the bags the yarn gets shipped in and ive been using those as project bags for ages, it costs nothing extra, it gives plastic bags a second use and you don't have to purchase an entirely new product you know :) great video i really agree with most of this and i think we should be a lot more mindful of buying stuff bc this one person said you should lol
I totally agree with most of your opinions except with 2: a needle sizer is absolutely essential for me, because i do only have knitting needles where the size rubs off and I own a lot of the same needles just in different sizes. secondly dpns, for the most part you are correct, you can absolutely knit socks with the magic loop method, but i personally think, that for projects with a small diameter (for example gloves with seperate fingers) it is very helpful. I realy enjoy your content, have a nice day!
I do a lot of topdown baby and toddler clothes and I find dpns essential for the sleeves. Also I find a needle gauge is a really useful tool, especially with the inherited metal dpns and also to compare them with the bamboo dpns if I want to switch mid-knit.
Isabella definitely fits! Found your channel a few weeks ago and have been loving your videos. Just watched the leg warmer video where you said you had 40 subscribers. That was two months ago and now you have 1.1k! You’re doing something right 😊 love the music and cozy vibes (and of course the knitting) -another PNW resident
Oh my gosh, you’re so sweet! 🥹 thank you. And so happy to see another PNW resident here. I’m so in love with this corner of the country. Growing up having not seen the ocean or mountains, I embarrassingly tear up sometimes seeing the nature around here.
hi interesting video, i think that scissors are essential, as is a needle guage, my interchangeable needles individually purchased do loose their sizes with wear and as most of my projects are done with 4mm needles or smaller i need to ensure both needles are the same size. i have guages in most of my home made project bags, have never purchased a project bag.
Check your local library or art co-op too! Our library has crochet and knit boxes with all essentials you can check out like a book, you just return the box and hook/needle. To get into crochet, I went to a free workshop at the art collective and they just asked for $3 if you wanted to keep the hook and gave you the skein of yarn!
Okay, that’s amazing! I love this. I live within walking distance of a library and I am so curious now. It would be great to point people in my area in that direction.
i love my interchangeable circulars but i also recommend having a static set of circulars for your favorite yarn size. it helps that i can zip along without having to readjust /screw back on my adjustable bits when using my favorite weight of yarn
I agree. I wish that interchangeables would screw in tighter or have a more secure locking mechanism or something. I hate when they unscrew themselves!
@@BreathingYarn Chiagoo needles are pricey, but the interchangeables are my favorite. The knit picks interchangeables are a second favorite. They don’t require adjustments at all.
Be sure to use the "key" to tighten them up! Without it, any brand will come unscrewed. Once I began using the key, I have never had one come apart on me! It's there for a reason. I know this is true for the ChiaGoo's, as that's all use for 100% of my knitting. @@BreathingYarn
I got a kit on Amazon that had a tape measure, stitch marker, and darning needles. It was a good price and has a box that everything fits in to keep it all together. As for ball winder, don’t buy the smallest cheapest one if you’re buying one. Pay a little more for the winder because it’s worth it.
I agree with you on the blocking mats. They do come in handy when you knit a lot of lace but you might just get by with a big carpet or a double bed. However, T-shaped pins are a life saver. Regular pins, esp. the plain steel ones without a plastic cap, are too short and get lost very easily. And no one wants to walk into sharp pins. The needle sizer is a must if you have older relatives or your elderly neighbour gift you their entire stash and stock of needles. Also, when you use several needle sizes for a project things can get messy and putting needles back into the correct packaging is so much easier when I've identified them with a needle sizer.
KNITTING NEEDLE SIZER TIP! :) ----> ***I never ever ever used my knitting needle sizer UNTIL I inherited a large collection of knitting needles from my grandmother when she passed. Some of her needles are 50-100 years old, and several pairs had faded numbers or the markings were only on the case, but the case had been lost, etc. But honestly, there were pairs that didn't have any sizing at all. Good example: one pair was made out of bone/antler, and I'm PRETTY sure my great-great-grandfather made them himself as a gift for my great-great-grandmother. So, having that needle sizer was great because otherwise I could guess the size but I'd have no idea whether it was a 5mm pair, a 5.5mm pair, etc. (Turns out they were actually 5.25mm which is obviously not a standard size, but I find weird sizes like that VERY helpful when trying to fine tune gauge). So yes - long story short, needle sizers are amazing for inherited (or thrifted) vintage/antique needles :) Thank you for this video! I've been knitting for 20 years, ever since my grandma taught me as a kid, and I found your video very helpful in thinning down my own supplies & helping give advice to people I convert over to yarncrafts
Dear Isabella’s friends, if you get her one of those project bags as a gift, get her the last one she showed. 10/10
That looked super cute and helpful, would love a link :)
@@dingalingdongly "muud Saturn xl" is what it's called and it's EXPENSIVE lol
@@shianngalan @dingalingdongly It is super expensive but worth it in my opinion. it holds a lot and can double as a yarn bowl type situation
@@shianngalan thank you so much! Definitely a splurge or nice gift for someone 😁
@@arodnap760 thanks for letting me know! I'm bookmarking it for a special gift opportunity 😁
Isabella , pretty much suits you. As an 84yr young addicted to yarn, my latest best purchase is a portable neck light charged by a USB. Not only for craft but reading and walking around the house at night to find stuff that disappears. My precious one eye that’s remaining, loves the neck light. Much safer. Greetings from New Zealand it’s where we grow sheep.
Hello! I've been wanting so badly to go to New Zealand. Everybody I know who has seen it has fallen in love. I would love to visit a sheep farm and pick up local yarn!
I know I'll be needing a neck light eventually. I ended up installing a new light over my couch so I could see my projects better at night.
82 years old here, and I use a neck light also. You're right about its multiple uses, especially if your electricity goes off! Great for putting extra light on my crochet and needlework projects!
I think this is a really useful purchase! I am in my 30s and use a headlamp for when I work with dark yarn. It makes so much of a difference, especially when crafting at night!
40 and loving the portable light. A game changer in northern hemisphere
I just bought myself a neck light, too. I do a lot of my knitting/crochet while watching tv with my family. Having the neck light allows us to turn down or off the lights and I can continue to work while enjoying the movie or show.
I work as a knitting teacher and worked for 4 years full time in a yarn store. Here are a few of my recommendations.
On your first project a single set of mid range to nice knitting needles, not a whole interchangable set just the pair you need for your project and buy a low cost yarn. I've seen so many beginners give up or get frustrated because they were fighting with the cheapest needles like bamboo or plastic.
I do recommend spending some money on a decent interchangable set but don't even think about it until you've done a couple projects on both wood and metal to figure out which one you like most.
If you want to use nicer yarn but need to be strategic with costs plan out projects to maximize the use of the fancy yarn. There are so many shawls you can make with a single skein of nice yarn. Use the nice hand dyed just in the yoke or details of a sweater and use cotton for the rest. Etc
Let go of fomo and commit to only buying yarn that you are immediately going to use. I used to pick up stuff on sale then would need to buy more to make the thing or not even want that color anymore. I save so much more buying things full priced only when I actually need it. As for limited edition items, there has only been one thing that I legitimately regretted not buying in almost 15 years.
One thing people should spend more money on is patterns. Well written and well fitting size inclusive patterns are hard and expensive to produce. Tech Editors and sample knitters and good photos and sometimes even people to grade the pattern for you are expensive. But a well written pattern knit out of low cost yarn will always turn out better than expensive yarn with a cheap pattern. Sweater patterns should easily cost double what they are but the market has kept prices low. Support indie designers when you can.
This was a very good addition to the video. I'd also add that for those first projects you can ask to borrow needles from a friend or family member who also knits. Most knitters have a good number of needles and most are not in use at the same time so this can be a good way to get a feel of what material you prefer in needles.
Yes absolutely, I agree with trying out different tools to see what works for you, and also I think it's worth acknowledging that what's right for you can change - I was advised to start with grippy bamboo needles as I was scared of dropping stitches, and then try slicker needles as I got more comfortable, and that worked out really well for me.
Not a necessity but definitely an enjoyable item is the wool genie. I've seen people make DIY versions but for 25 bucks this was so nice. I love not having to yank my yarn while crocheting. It spins smoothly and I have been enjoying my crocheting so much more.
I agree with all of this!
This was helpful thank you.
For folks on a budget, PLEASE check your local library, I get free crochet hooks, knitting needles, yarns, and notions as well as use of additional supplies and advice from my local library’s craft club. It makes fiber art so accessible especially as a newbie!
I personally have a winder without a swift. Mostly because I have “inherited” a lot of my yarn for free and it comes in all sorts of unraveled or tangled states. The winder helps turn it into a clean, center-pull ball. I rarely buy in hanks simply bc those yarns tend to be out of my budget lol
Also your cat is SO sweet and cuddly!
Thank you for the Library tip and I love you saying that fiber art can be accessible. I honestly just feel so inspired by that thought.
Oh my gosh, I know what I'll be doing this weekend @@nony_mation 🤣
Local yarn stores sometimes have loaner tools as well, or in some cases donated scrap bins! My LYS has a lively community so we're always enabling new crafters with gifts!
Last summer I was visiting friends in the Pacific Northwest. Their youngest was doing a summer reading project at the library. We stopped into the library so he could submit his achievements. While we were there, there was a community knitting project. I just had to sit down and contribute a few rows. Libraries are great!
@@knotlady2820 that’s amazing! that’s my dream. Love connecting crafting with a local community.
So the takeaway is: don’t buy solutions to problems that you don’t have.
“You’re buying a solution to a problem you don’t have” I really needed to hear that
Your cat must be an amazing knitter, he listens to everything you say :), so adorable! Great video, thanks for putting it out there!
I like when people talk about stuff like this, because crafting hobbies can look really expensive, but they don't have to be! There are definitely affordable ways to participate that are just as fun and result in works of art that are just as beautiful and/or useful and just as meaningful.
Yes ! Also if you have a friend or relative doing that hobby already, ask if they have spare tools and materials ! I personally have much more than I need and would gladly gift some of it
@@crepe71 that's so true, my first hook was gifted to me by a friend who crochets and has a LOT of hooks (she owns her crochet and jewllery business so she needs a lot of hooks), and she had a good quality one that she gave me and I use it so much, plus it feels so much more meaningful to have your first supplies handed from someone you know, it's like knowing the products have a history
I wrap my crochet hook handles in self adhesive gauze! It lets you make super adjustable, customizable, cheap ergonomic handles on any hook!
That’s a fantastic idea! Just fyi, I’m a veterinarian, and most people don’t know that material was invented by a veterinarian for use on horses :)
Great idea. I have plenty of that tape so I will definitely try it.
honestly the yarn winder is an essential for me, being able to wind up partial skeins of yarn leftover from projects keeps my space sooo much cleaner, plus having scrap yarn in cakes makes it so much easier to use & travel with
Yes! When the yarn you’re pulling from collapses onto a tangled heap, having a way to put it back in usable shape is so helpful
I must be crazy but I so enjoy winding yarn by hand. Its so satisfying having my leftovers in neat little yarn balls. It just relaxes me
I went such a long time without one and now I would not be without one. The swift I have is very cheap, so I agree that you should buy a decent one. It’s one of those plastic and metal ones and it’s falling apart. I would love to have one of those (take apart wooden) swifts that sit on a table or the floor but where I live that would be difficult because then I would have to find a place to put the ball winder due to lack of table and counter space.
@artsymom0329 Yes! I too prefer to wind my yarn by hand - it's very meditative. Also, winding hanks into balls allows me to get to know the yarn before I start a project. If there are knots or tangles or breaks, I deal with them up front rather than getting a nasty surprise mid-project.
I ended up opting for a high end winder (local yarn shop) and a cheap umbrella swift (maybe $20 from Amazon) because I don’t think I’ll be regularly buying hanks as much and it’s probably good enough for occasional use. It helped me not tangle a whole Hank of silk embroidery floss too which those projects take years to complete
I think stitch markers are essential for me. I need the safety pin type to let me know which side is the right side, or to keep a row count. I use the circular ones to mark increases, decreases end if row, etc. I tried using a yarn loop, but because it's not a different tactile sensation- I usually just end up knitting it INTO my project.
I’m glad I’m not the only one who has knit the yarn stitch markers into my project 😂 😂 😂
Agreed they are essential! Especially for amigurami but pretty much all my projects need them even if just to start off.
I just use hair grips.
I've been using hair pins since I've placed my markers somewhere, and I hate it and miss my markers so much. I like the locking ones a lot and find them very useful and they are highly contrasting against dark projects so I won't lose them if I'm using black yarn
I only use the open/close kind. I used to forget to remove them when I needed to!
My favorite stitch markers are the metal lightbulb-shaped safety pins that usually come off clothes. They stay out of the way while you're working, fit around most needle sizes, and are removable!
That type of stitch marker can also be used in a pinch as a needle threader for weaving in ends with a darning needle. Double duty!
I love those and wish I knew what they were called so I can buy those in bulk. Lol
As a knitter for over 50 years - yes I'm that old - most of my needles i have had for many years and some were inherited from my husband's grandmother. Circular needles were not marked with sizes originally so a needle guage is SUPER handy. I also don't always use a cable needle, I often use a crochet hook but there are some projects where the u shaped ones are super helpful.
Just adding that on a lot of circular needles the sizing can rub off so a needle gauge is a super handy then too.
All my double pointed needles are wood or bamboo and if they were labeled it wore off by the end of the first project with them. The only way I can figure out what size is a needle gauge.
Yeah, the sizer is the only thing I consider actually essential that I disagree with.
My interchangeable needles aren't marked, and neither are my dpns or any of the fixed circulars I own. So I use my needle sizer all the time and literally wouldn't be able to knit otherwise (without guessing or needing some calipers!)
I also think that needle gauge is essential, at least to me. I have so many inherited double point needles and none of them have the size shown. Same with some of my cable needles and I can't differentiate for example 3,5mm from 4mm by feel or eye.
A lot of my needless are hand-me-downs from my grandma or second hand, none have sizes printed on them. But I was also handed down her needle gauge so I just figure out what's what the same way she did!
Can’t overstate how important a nice set of crochet hooks was for me, even as a beginner! Like a lot of beginners, I started off with excessively tight stitches, and that tension combined with my first set of cheap Amazon hooks straight-up gave me a repetitive use injury inside 6 weeks. I couldn’t believe it! Even more unbelievable, when I got myself a set of Clover Amours, I could suddenly crochet without pain again (the injury is still there, but crochet is painless and I’m taking it easy). You don’t need the $$$$ hooks, but consider the benefits of starting off with medium-nice ones. I wish I had!
Did someone teach you in-person or was this entirely online? The reason I ask is for the same reason I see kids learning the piano online. They have really horrid hand-position, and then wonder how they can practice for an hour, let alone two hours, a day. RSI I learned rather differently, and as a result I can both play piano for two hours non-stop, and type for hours at a typewriter or keyboard without any injury.
As a beginner and for YEARS I used the cheap crochet hooks with the rubber grip. I saw people talking about the clover hooks and didn’t think they’d make a difference. One day I had it in my budget so I purchased an H clover hook. LIFE CHANGING. I was actually shocked the difference it made. I do crochet everyday and have been crocheting everyday for almost 8 years but the clover hooks are worth it. I do lose my hooks a lot and if it’s not in the budget, I will repurchase cheaper hooks. But given the chance, I’m purchasing clover every time I
@SuperSHORTY247 do you crochet with a pencil or knife grip with the clover hooks?
I'm a crocheter, and I bought a beginner's crochet kit online for like $22. It had 20 hooks, darning needles, stitch markers, scissors, pom pom makers, a fabric tape measure, and lots of other little things I've never even touched lol. I can't imagine how much it would've cost if I bought all those things independently. I do have a yarn winder and it is a GAME CHANGER for me. I don't buy hanks of yarn, mostly skeins & cakes, but due to how I have to store my yarn, it's nice to have them in cakes to stack them. I don't have a swift, but the winder by itself was one of the best craft gifts I've received
Agreed. I find that winding a cake makes a 'ball' that pulls nicely from the centre and doesn't jump around the floor.
When you get older and your eyesight changes, those needle gauges are very helpful. I love my row counter for certain intricate patterns. Kid friendly scissors with the rounded tips. I’ve found several pairs from when my children were younger. Slip these inside my home sewn project bags. 😂😊
I've been knitting for as long as I can remember and have never once used a row counter... in fact I almost never count rows at all. But I use my needle gauge all the time! Most of my needles are from secondhand shops and the markings are long since worn off. Also my needle gauge has a built in 6in ruler and row/stitch gauge square, so it's handy for measuring other things.
For me, a knitting needle gauge is a must have. I’ve been knitting for 50+ years and a lot of my circular needles aren’t marked with the size at all. It’s actually a fairly recent thing. I do a lot of knitting on small needles and there’s no way I can eyeball the difference between a 2mm and a 2.5mm for example.
And obviously a kitty is a must have. I also have a black cat. Her name is Isabella. 😊
Marked sizes are recent enough the my 10 ish year old set isn't marked but my 5 year old shorty tips are.
I'm a very new knitter and none of the needles I bought have markers on them. I also just randomly bought two different sizes when I was starting out and completely forgot what sizes they were, so it was a real relief to know that these things existed. Also they were just around 1 EUR, so no regret there
Also a gauge could be useful for people buying secondhand supplies. To keep crafting budget friendly.
Essential for me is a good craft light, I can sometimes have difficulty seeing small dark stitches; I also have needles that are darker and ones that are lighter, so I can select the opposite of my yarn color making it easier to see.
I do lean to the point of buying tools that make my life easier that aren’t essential, but make the craft more enjoyable for me. I love my Knitpicks shorties for sleeves, I just love having the right tools for the job. It has taken years to assemble my collection of tools, and I too am privileged enough to be able to buy them.
I love you point that tools help make life a little easier. I think that is a beautiful way of putting it. Like, they are required, but they are nice to have and make some things a bit less frustrating or complicated.
My FAVORITE crochet hooks are the interchange able ones. It takes up less space too I have 4 def over did it but I LOVE them
So happy the algorithm led me here! I would say blocking mats & pins are an essential for anyone knitting lace! It’s so helpful to pin lace into shape for shawls, scarves, etc.
Yes, thank you this time algorithm! I use toddler foam tiles from when our kid was that age and pins that I tested to make sure they wouldn’t rust. Definitely a need.
I always just pin them straight into the carpet or a couch or a guest bed or something! Never had a problem.
I was my best friend's maid of honor and she paid for our hair to get done. I had 93 bobby pins taken out the next day and I still have them. I use them as stitch markers and have a couple that are a different color for milestones like 100sts or "inc here." And with how much hair I have, I have a few extra pins in my hair in case one falls or I need to use it as a marker/secure the loop so I can check out my crochet piece.
I totally agree with the pompom makers. I don't like pompoms either but when I did try it for a project once, I had seen how to make one out of two pieces of cardboard/paper board from a magazine and I still have it in my tools (make from a cheerio's box.) I also tried making a knitter out of a thicker toilet paper roll, bobby pins, and 2 hair ties before biting the bullet and getting one. I would rather see what I can do before I get the tool to see if I would use it.
I love your list! Very honest and true!! Something I'd like to add as a yarn artist of 36 years, please watch how much yarn you buy. My stash is out of control and I will never be able to use all of this yarn in my lifetime! Buy wisely and carefully.
Yes! Yes! Yes! My stash has gotten too large for my comfort and it’s wild how I could not buy yarn for a year and still keep making projects. I’m so glad though that I learned from others before mine got too bad. I think that’s such an important tip!!! Thanks for sharing 🥰
Might I make a suggestion? One or two stash buster projects a year to go through that unused yarn, like a granny square blanket, or a patchwork blanket or sweater. Stash buster lap blankets are things that can be donated to hospitals, nursing homes, they never have enough. Or hats and scarves sets for homeless shelters and stuff...
I think you can give away your yarn at some thrift stores or girl scout places. (If you want to that is)
I have this issue too, as someone who has been an avid crocheter since 12. I just recently used a skein of yarn I have had in my stash since high school, though that was more due to the fact I wasn't working with Red Heart anymore. I worked through COVID but I bought yarn because I really wanted to do projects. My queue in Ravelry shows I have at least enough projects for the next five years based on my previous activity. And then, there's scraps, which I end up using when I don't want to work on anything else or I get a huge pile of one specific type.
I keep watching other TH-camrs and their stash to scratch that buyer's itch and YarnGeek keeps me humble (She might be able to get through her stash but her mom will not be able to get through hers and I suspect it will be inherited and then, she won't be able to get through it.) I am fortunate to have other fiber enthusiasts I regularly see so when we fall out of love of a yarn, we can offer it up to the others. I do keep a stash of cotton to teach anyone interested but otherwise, the rose-colored glasses come off and it goes into someone else's stash.
So that's my suggestion: reach out to your crafty friends to see if they would use it sooner than you would. See if someone wants to learn your craft. And don't feel bad about how much money it cost to purchase; as Marie Kondo would put it, you want to thank it for its purpose in your life and hope the next person gets as much joy or more out of it. If it just sits there and you don't feel like you can work with it, then it has already given you the joy that it can (aka your money's worth.)
Yes! You're taking away the fun of shopping for new pretty yarn from time to time for New projects etc. There will be always pretty yarns, and its fun to go and buy something from time to time, and not use yarn you bought 10 years ago. You're often more exited to Start New things... don't buy to much at once!
I will say going from a basic ergonomic hook to a clover ergonomic hook was amazing and I will never go back
Since I don't want to buy wool but I want to work with it, I thrift old sweaters and unravel them. I have to say, the process of unraveling is very satisfying! Sometimes you can get 500 gr of 100% merino for like 10 dollars! I love it
You’re so right! I scored a Yak wool sweater at Goodwill. I need to search a little harder at my local thrift store next time I’m itching for more yarn.
One of the nicest yarns in my stash is a super soft alpaca 2-ply that I got from a Banana Republic sweater. It was $1-2 on the clearance rack at Goodwill because it had a giant hole in the middle.
I do the same! The issue with thrifting blankets and unraveling them is it is so hard to find blankets compared to sweaters. It takes effort to unravel sweaters but it works really well! I’m actually crocheting a sweater right now from a yarn that i unraveled from a thrifted sweater.
Wow what an amazing idea!
Great video for someone just starting to knit or crochet. I do think that beginner crocheters would benefit from getting the best hooks they can afford from the get-go. If you’re just learning, struggling with an inferior hook will be very discouraging. It takes time to learn how you like to hold your hook and control yarn tension, as well as mastering the stitches…and a crummy hook will just make it harder.
Bought a kit for 5 dollars at my local craft store it came with crochet needles, stitch markers, measuring tape, and other small essentials. Best thing I’ve ever bought.
Love to hear that!! I feel like too many people get intimidated by the perceived cost to start crocheting when it really doesn’t have to be expensive.
@@BreathingYarn I make my own. I have specific ones for cables, and pattern repeats.
@@christenagervais7303 I would like to hear more on that subject please.... I crafted my own cabled Tunisian hook by McGuyvering a cheap extra Boye hook and heavy duty guage weed whacker line (from a replacement spool), glued together with E6000 glue. The way I dipped and glued the pieces together leaves a lot of glue in between the join, so it's very flexible. I dipped the ends several times so the glue built up in length, not width, and then i glued them together with a blob and then trimmed it down where it got away from me.
@@BreathingYarnI would love your opinion on getting crochet hook grips! When I first got into crochet, it was right around my birthday, and I got gifted by my friend a crochet kit with 10 hooks and all the little things you need. I still use it (it’s been a year and a bit so far) and am now really into crochet, but I notice that my hand starts to ache. I’ve been thinking about just sticking a beauty blender on, but maybe it would be better to get a grip or hooks with grips attached?
@@sunnydays07 depending on the hook size you can get pencil grip things. They are basically the same but cheaper
Thanks so much for this much needed deinfluencing perspective on crafting! Sometimes it is so weird to me that crafting is supposed to be this anti-captialist, slowing-down and doing-stuff-by-yourself movement but then is turned around by so many trying to get you to buy yet another thing that you don't need! So thanks again for this reminder :)
Blocking is also essential for lace-making, so I'd recommend folks getting into typically large, lacy things (such as shawls) get mats early on.
Edit: I should clarify that you don't necessarily need actual blocking mats with a grid unless you're picky about size/shape being exact. I've used kids' interlocking play mats from Aldi for many years.
I pin lace out on my mattress first thing in the morning and point a fan at it.
You could also get a gingham or plaid tablecloth and use those squares to measure size.
I used those cheap folding cardboard “cutting” like mats. I can use straight pins vertically and go right through the cardboard
Not using DPNs is why you don't need a needle sizer. That is literally 100% of what I use mine for, because I knit mostly on wooden DPNs I got unlabeled at thrift shops
I have been crocheting/ knitting for over 30 years. Self taught at 9. I loved your list and agree with everything you said. I didn’t hear any mention of yarn bowls…I find one to be essential but expensive. I often use a mixing bowl from my kitchen. It keeps yarn from rolling away and debris free!
I like that you mentioned yarn bowls. I feel like metal mixing bowls (or any) would be perfect!
I actually have a two yarn bowls. I use them anytime I'm working with yarn balls, because I got tired of my yarn falling onto the floor and rolling halfway across the room!
I use a ziplock bag! Far handier than a bowl, since I can just pop it into my project tote bag.
I use a heavy soup tureen. My husband was going to give it away, but it's decorative and pretty to look at. It's heavy and the lid with the slot is perfect for the yarn string! Even larger yarn balls and cakes fit in there. I can yank at the yarn and the tureen won't move. I posted about it on social media and the response was overwhelmingly positive.
@beadcomber1 yes! I have a friend who has a chicken soup tureen that she uses for her yarn. It was a thrift find so not only was it inexpensive it is unexpected and she loves it!
it's not a privilege to have a full time job, you're a member of the working class. you could say your job doesn't steal so much of your labour that you have time and funds at the end of the month to pursue your hobbies, but that's no privilege, that's just how work should be. i'm sorry to be pedantic but this is important because the fight for workers rights isn't a fight for privilege, it's a fight for the rights and dignity of the working class.
Not pedantic at all, this is such an important point to bring up. It’s heartbreaking watching friends, family, and (in the past) myself be exploited so egregiously for any scrap of free labor their job could take from them. It’s soul sucking. I agree that language should change and I will work on reframing my language around these topics. It’s a struggle finding the right words but it’s valuable for me to try my best to find them.
@@BreathingYarn you're actually really eloquent and good with your words, the video was easy to follow and understand and you bring up great points, i began crochet last year and this is valuable information. i'm just a member of the working class like you, i brought this up to raise awareness of our situation, no need to police yourself or to chastise yourself for something your said with a good heart. my point wasn't to make you feel like you're walking on eggshells while expressing yourself online, it's to raise our collective consciousness of our situation. that's what the working class throughout the world needs the most right now. keep up with the good work, it's a great video.
I'd say it is a privilege but, it shouldn't be. I worked for years in jobs that exploited my labor and now I don't. Acknowledging the privilege is the first step to fighting for making things better for everybody so that the thing is no longer a privilege.
Also, I could’t knit without some kind of stitch markers. Once I went to visit my parents and forgot my stitch markers. I told my dad and he found me a bunch of rubber o-rings in his shop. They worked great. 😂
Dad for the win! I love that story
The other day I used one of those dental floss thingies with the sharp tooth pick end as my BOR marker.
The pattern did say "use a unique stitch marker for BOR" and I think it doesn´t get much more unique than that ;) (I was too lazy to reach a bit further for my actual stitch markers and truly started the project full of feral raccoon energy).
Yes! I had to buy a set of assorted sizes of o-rings in order to get the size I wanted, and was left with a bag of assorted sized stitch markers!
I only buy things when as I need them. It is so easy to get lost in aesthetics of things. I have a number 4 hook and a number 6 hook, and I just bough a 12 for a very chunky project. Granted I'm not an avid crocheter, it's a 'for those times I need my hands busy' kind of thing. So buying slowly at first helps me to determine what I need and also makes me realise what I like to do. There is a little organic story unfolding as items get collected slowly for a new hobby.
Also I have those self adhesive bandage tapes to make myself better grips. There are ones with so cute designs and I'm using it on my pens, pencils, hooks, whatever to personalise the grip. You can't buy that comfort. And they don't get sticky and are easily removable.
I agree with most of the items on your list except for the scissors, stitch markers and needle sizers. I would include these in the essentials category. Thanks for a really fun video.
Thanks and thanks for sharing your essentials! It’s awesome how different everybody’s list is, I love it!
So. The yarn winder: I've had one for a long time for one purpose: Frogging things. Old sweaters (thrifted or handed down to me) are so much easier to work with if you have a yarn winder. And then at some point I got the swift as well so I could retie the yarn from the frogged items into hanks, wet them, let them dry so they loose the curls. Then I would put them back on the swift and rewind them with the yarn winder.
TLDR: If you do a lot of frogging for yarn, get a yarn winder and swift and live a happier, easier life :D
I loved the kitty sitting patiently in the video. 🥺
She’s definitely a COVID cat. Not a moment alone with her around 😂 I love it though, wouldn’t have it any other way.
@@BreathingYarn My cat is also a COVID cat. She loves to sit on my desk in front of my monitor as I study and do my homework. Sometimes she's even sitting on my crochet/knitting projects.
LOL. Pippin once accidentally emailed my coworker gibberish when I wasnt looking! It's also so cute that your cat likes to sit on your projects. I wonder if it smells like you or they just know you made it.
@@BreathingYarn I think its both! I recently made her her own blanket and she absolutely adores it. Whenever she sees it she's goes to lay on it.
I love this. When I was 1st starting out crocheting, I had the starter kit. The one that comes with about 6 needles, plastic darning needle, knitting needles, and a "How to" book. I worked with this for YEARs until the arthritis kicked in. Then my brother bought me an ergonomic set of 12 for Christmas and I lived for those for another few years. The last 2 year I had some disposable cash and I dabbled in more expensive crochet items and I got a rosewood yarn winder, and I got resin hooks and more aesthetic notions. I will say none of the stuff I've bought in the last 2 years are absolutely essential but i cant imagine my crochet career without them :)
I agree with everything except the scissors. I think a simple basic pair is an essential. I really like how you presented this. You gave your reasoning without making it sound like you were saying someone was ridiculous for having an item or not.
Haha, that is so fair 😂 I also prefer bigger scissors over the tiny ones.
Also, thank you. I really wanted everyone to know that this is my list of essentials and it’s gonna look different for everybody.
This! I have one pair I got for cross stitch, but I'll use it too for knitting. Just one little pair that stays sharp since you're only using it for one thing, and its tiny and and portable. Last I saw on TSA since I recently traveled you can take small scissors up to a certain size on a plane, which those craft scissors do fall under.
I only started using a knit/crochet journal (which is just a normal journal, nothing branded as craft-specific) when I started designing my own patterns. Having a physical journal lets me draw sketches and organize ideas better than just typing up on my phone. Definitely not essential for most people, but so useful for me (especially when people start asking for the pattern lol)
Right on! I have two books: one for scratch work, one for finished projects. Why? I copy the pattern into the scratch book. When I'm done, I copy the essential parts with notes into the finished project book. This is so I reproduce the project in the future, but customized as I desire. When she says she uses only her phone, no. She uses that as her "working" book. She still has two journals, essentially.
I'm all for everyone making with whatever tools they have. When I start a new craft, I'll typically purchase inexpensive tools until I feel I know enough to appreciate the difference. That said, as a crocheter I do think it's worth spending a bit more for better hooks. It makes a difference when you aren't fighting against your hook. Susan Bates or Boyd hooks are awesome, if you can afford it, upgrade to Clover. They really do make a difference. There are lots of great budget yarns, and lots of youtubers who discuss the pros and cons so you can find what you like.
Your mind set is awesome! I personally also love Toni Lipsey of TL Yarncrafts for her yarnsnob reviews.
This! Also, start with the base metal hooks NOT the grippy ones. You can always add grips TO metal hooks, but you can't take OFF the grips that are built onto/into the hooks, which means if it doesn't work out for you (I hate the feeling of the grips), then you have a bunch of hooks you don't need.
I wouldn’t dive right into a set. Try one of different brands and different substances. Metal vs wood. Blunt tip vs sharp. Find what you like first before thinking about a set. Then read reviews about them, especially when it comes to the join. Also, when testing the different hooks or needles, get circular. They can be used as straight as well. You can also consider double pointed needles.
Ive already commented, but ive finished the video and have a few more thoughts 😅
1- its really good to have both a ruler and flexible tape measure. To get the best measurements of your body, you want to use a flexible measure, wheras you need a firm measuring tool to best measure your knitting. So having both really helps with getting the correct gauge. If you just want to buy one, go for a firm ruler and then you can measure around your body with some yarn, then measure that yarn with your ruler
2- needle gauges can be very important. The size markings have rubbed off most of my needles, but even when they havent, they can be necessary. My mum is an avid knitter with not great eyesight, who simply cant see the size markings on her needles. Her needle gauge is really important for her knitting, as she wouldnt be able to tell the needle size without it.
3- whether you need a cable needle is super dependent on the cable project you do. Bigger and tighter cables often cant be knit without a cable needle, but there are several all over cable projects that ive done where i either dont use a cable needle at all, or use a locking stitch marker as a cable needle.
Thanks for commenting this. All your points are so important for this discussion and I love the clear thought you put into it! I totally agree with all of your thoughts here. Based on the comments so far, I’m thinking a needle size will become progressively more important as I grow older.
Two comments- needle size is super important to me to know. The OCD in me? Perhaps. Anyway at the start of a project and each time I switch needles (ex. To a different length circular) I always ALWAYS check the gauge. And get a kick outta it too. I keep thee gauge with the needles. I use the measuring strip on it too. Second, Iii do relyy heavily on a collection of coin purse sized Zipp pouches for all kindsof bits and bobs. Fun!!
Ooh - locking stitch marker as a cable needle - great idea!
@@elizabethtrimble6853 it's my favourite knitting hack, because cable needles always get lost, but lockable stitch markers can just be popped onto the project when you're not working the cables!
Not only are the metal stitch markers more sustainable, you also can't break them! I had a horrible habit of breaking my plastic stitch markers frequently until I made the switch. Never looking back!
Great video. Your gray area and non essentials are spot on. I have never bought stitch markers, but use yarn, hair elastics, and even paper clips when I need one. I was gifted some cute ones but they are too heavy and bulky to use. I bought a cheap ($22) winder on Amazon when I was gifted several bags of yarn hanks and scraps of all kinds and sizes from a gentleman whose wife had recently passed but hand wound around a water bottle for decades before that . Instead of needle tip covers I use my hair elastics again. Instead of row counters I use a scrap of paper and the checkmark or tick system. It is so easy to look at all the pretty gadgets and things and blow all of our money on it, but groceries and gas and good yarn are getting more expensive, and there are so many inexpensive alternatives if we engage our creative brains and then we can spend our money on things we really want... like chocolate and ice cream and a movie or something.
I personally find row counters to be essential for my knitting - I have trouble counting my stitches and rows visually and have dyscalculia, so having something I can click and track the number is necessary for me, especially if it’s fiddly. But I do think it’s essential *for me*. My best friend can’t use them because she constantly forgets to click it!
Discalcula here as well and I really need to get one! I'm a proficient crocheter, so I can read my work easily. But I'm still always loosing track of what I've just counted. But I'm a beginner knitter and cant keep track yet. I can't wait until I can read knitting.
There are also apps for this I believe
I like to use the metal lap counters for sports. Hard to accidentally bump it and with a satisfying click so you remember doing it. I also use counters on my phone but I like using the clicker for when you have multiple pattern repeats happening at the same time.
I crochet bespoke lace sweaters. I absolutely need stitch markers to know where my increase and decrease points are. It’s too easy to get lost in the stitches. I also need my tiny scissors to cut my tiny yarns. I cannot imagine my dread at cutting lace weight yarn with big scissors! I also love my blocking board because it makes the lace pop, though I have been known to use a towel in a pinch.
Thank you for your comments about synthetic yarn. I completely agree.
I have really been enjoying hearing people share what is essential to them and it’s wild how different everybody’s lists are. I’m honestly so amazed. Also, BESPOKE LACE!!!! That’s awesome. 👏 I hope to even attempt a bespoke-style lace crochet pattern someday.
oh man, the way my stomach dropped visualizing delicate lace so close to giant fabric shears lol i, too, am ever grateful to the tiny scissors
I recently bought a needle sizer because I can’t see the tiny sizes etched on the needles🤷🏾♀️ But I’m new to knitting so maybe I’ll learn the sizes without needing the sizer as time goes on. Project bags are absolutely cute but the drawstring pouch bags that other products come in work beautifully for me😊
I’m just here for the kittycat 🐈⬛ ❤.
Awesome video! I agree with pretty much everything, except for the crochet hooks. I crocheted for the better part of 25 years with cheap brand hooks and it wasn’t until I tried a Clover Amour hook that I noticed the ginormous difference these hooks make. I was totally blown away. Not only did my hands stop hurting, but the hooks are so much better on the yarn. Much smoother and the crochet experience improved a gazillion fold. So I’d recommend those, maybe not all at once but one or two sizes at a time.
Also: I own both a set of dpns and circular knitting needles, but the magic loop is beyond my comprehension level for some reason. So I use dpns instead of the circular ones.
It took me a long time to get used to magic loop, but once I did I love it for socks
What yarn is that gorgeous couch blanket???? Sorry if this already got answered somewhere else. I scanned the comments a bit before i asked, i swear 🙈
lol, it was a thrift store find! 😂 A lucky one at that. I think it’s actually originally from Target.
@@BreathingYarn dagnabbit 😜
For me needle sizer is essential, i cannot distinguish me 2mm and 2.5 mm needles without it, although they did have markings originally they are long gone (wooden needles in this case). Although i agree that interchangeables are great I would caution against automatically going for a cheap set, much better to buy better quality piece by piece in the sizes you need, in my experience quality does matter for needles. I also use my needle stoppers extensively maybe because i move my knitt8ng around a lot but needn't be expensive pretty things. Agreecompletely about the project bags, my knitting is perfectly happy in my cotton shopping bag ang the cheap beach bag i use for larger projects.
I think that’s all great advice! I totally agree.
Great: Little rechargable reading light. I have one that I can clip to my headboard and it really helps to prevent eyestrain , especially with dark yarn.
Unnecessary unless needed for accessibility: tension ring. Some of them are really cute, but It can be fiddly, and I rarely end up using it.
I love this. I need more deinfluincing in my life!
The blocking board - it’s the same material as floor matting for pre-schoolers that “puzzles together”. Someone in my neighborhood put a whole box out with a free sign! Free blocking mat! I knit intricate lace shawls - those DO need to be blocked under tension otherwise you would never see the lacy-ness.
I am ALL ABOUT double-pointed needles. I only use circs for garment-size things (sweaters, blankets/shawls with hundreds of stitches) and even then I wrestle with whether that project requires a circ because I dislike them that much. I prop my right needle at my hip and so with a circ there’s nowhere to “prop.” Consequently, because I love DPs, and I’ve thrifted a lot of them (so they are not marked) a needle gauge sizer is ESSENTIAL for me.
I use cuticle scissors for my crafting since I also do cross stitch and those things are so cheap I don’t feel bad when I lose them. I also use the needle measuring tool because I inherited a bunch of needles that do not have sizes on them so that thing lives with my DPNs. I also use makeup bags and pencil cases for my sock wips. They zip up so when I travel with it, I don’t lose anything.
I love my makeup bag for sock projects! The shape of makeup bags just always fits yarn balls so well.
i do the makeup bags too!! I got some of my friend's ipsy rejects, and they're always the perfect length for my DPN's! Only issue can be with sharper ones, they usually make a cameo thru the sides of the bags lol
On the sizer, I found a set of interchangeable circular needles for next to nothing with their own size gauge on top. It's also great for my DPNs
I would personally say no on the interchangable set. As someone who is a DPN devotee, don't think I would still be knitting if I started knittingin the round on circulars. They have their use (like, they're good for the body of jumpers, because they can be speedy), but i find DPNs so much easier to handle. I only like circulars for very large projects in the round. DPNs are far more flexible in terms of number of stitches.
With knitting needles, buy what you need for the first few projects. Then, if you knit something on circulars and you really love them, invest in the kit.
Same with Crochet hooks. You don't need a full set, not really. You need what you need for your project. I have a 2.5mm, 4mm and 5mm for picking up dropped knit stitches.
On the brushed metal thing, have you ever tired PONY needles? They're powder coated, so not quite as slippy as polished metals. They're my favourite DPNs. I don't care for their circulars, but they're better than wooden circs.
✂️ scissors are essential
I forgot my scissors once and ended up using my nail clippers! I'd say a "cutting tool" is essential... 😊
You CAN take scissors on a plane. Length of blade is what matters. I buy fiskar school scissors at back to school time
This is great! I also wanted to add that thrift stores can be a great place to get supplies when you're starting out. I found a whole bag of different sizes of crochet hooks at my goodwill for about 5 dollars. And of course they usually have yarn like you mentioned.
Thanks for all your videos! I've just caught up and wanted to suggest Lena Fedotova patterns as a great place to find new crochet garment designs. I think the Bee Top might be of interest. It is Tunisian crochet with a fun zig zag diagonal.
I’m definitely checking that out!!
Update: I just scrolled through some of her patterns on ravelry and I love them!! So many beautiful patterns I’ve got to add to my favorites
She also goes by Elena Fedotova. Have you seen the Lowestoft Pullover? The pattern is also explained in her Dotty Cowl. It looks great with a speckled yarn peaking through a solid or gradient yarn.
Omg we have the same profile picture
I’m going to disagree slightly about blocking matts. I find them invaluable for lace knitting and also for shawls. I can’t remember the last time I used one for a sweater but they absolutely transform shawls. And I have knit several lace scarves that I’ve really appreciated being able to block to a specific size rectangle with straight edges and square corners.
However, the exercise puzzle piece mats from five below or other discount stores work just as well and are usually larger and cheaper.
I use my needle sizer all the time! My interchangeable tips either don't have the size printed on or the print is so small and light that I can't read it.
I would like to add you don't need loads of yarn, buy yarn for particular projects rather than buying a stash (it builds up gradually anyway, oh my I have a lot of yarn now). Instead of project bags, I use the bags the yarn comes in for each project. I do have interchangeable needles now and they are great but if you are just starting out maybe just buy the size of needles you need for your first project, I started out knitting socks on 2.25mm DPNs. Socks are a great first project, they have some challenges at first but that just hones your skills, and you only need your needles and one ball of sock yarn to get started. I love my ball winder and swift now, but I only bought that when I became fed up of winding by hand, which only started happening when I became a more experienced knitter and was getting through yarn at a faster rate. When I was just starting out hand winding one ball a month wasn't that bad. I never use my needle size gauge but my grandma uses hers every time she knits, I think it depends on the knitter and your own needles.
I just want to mention the needle sizer is something I need not daily but maybe monthly? It depends on how often I start a new project where I need to be sure the exact size needle. A lot of my dpn's do not have the number printed on them (mostly for me the 4, 5 and 6's seem to not have size printed on them) and I have a set of bamboo (a few actually) dpn's where the numbers are so tiny or over time have rubbed off or worn down if it was engraved (on the bamboo/wooden ones) I've had to take a picture with my phone and then pinch and zoom in to read a size (aging is fun!) Again, some of them it has just rubbed right off so that isn't helpful so I just have a needle sizer. So for me, I knit a lot of socks and I mostly use the sizer for dpn's as that is my preferred way to knit socks, though I have used 2 circulars or 1 circular for magic loop but I digress. haha typical
I love your point about not everybody being able to see/read the needles sizes! I am lucky to have pretty solid vision (for now) and didn’t consider that the reality for many is: being able to read the sizes isn’t a guarantee.
I really need that needle sizer. Much easier than trying to read the engravings. Besides they only cost about $2
@@NinaKeilin Yes like she said, none of this is absolute, it's what works best for her and suggestions for others. It's good to have that information when you are new.
Things not-to-buy: Sockblockers!! Its a big thing among danish knitters, and I havent understand why.
for shawls and stuff blocking boards can be pretty helpful, but I've managed with yoga mats in the past
Thank you for leaving this comment. I’m so glad people are filling in the gaps of my knowledge with the comments today!!! I haven’t explored knitting shawls much (yet) and so I wouldn’t know how best to block them. I’m thankful to have these comments for others (and myself) to reference.
The only time I prefer DPNs to magic loop is working on softies. I always rewind my yarn in advance of use so I know about any knots or breaks. I keep my project notes/photos in Ravelry.
You won't know the value of a needle sizer until you get older and your eyesight gets worse.... they're an invaluable tool to quickly size your tips when the teeny etched sizing on your needle is impossible to see.... or, buy a magnifying glass....
I’m glad people are showing up in the comments to say that! 💜 I really had to check my eyesight privilege on this.
It's also very difficult to know what is considered the essential items for an aging knitter/crocheter (perhaps someone learning the craft after retirement) when you're young and your body hasn't begun to break down yet! Lol! Wonderful video btw.... !!
So agree with this comment. 😊
You are so right & thank you! I kind of want to find and interview older women who have been crafting for a while and see what they have to say. There's so much I dont even have to think about that I am sure will one day be a big part of my daily crafting life.
@@BreathingYarn - I have someone in mind who'd be a valuable resource for the essentials items for the older crowd...
You can make a Pompom just with cardboard. You need scissors though for the shape... That's essential
I agree with most of your list, but stitch markers are an essential for me! Knitting has taught me that contrary to what I previously believed, I don’t actually know how to count. Putting a marker every 10-25 stitches helps when casting on an obnoxious number of stitches.
One thing I don’t think you mentioned specifically (or maybe you did in the stitch markers section) is progress keepers! These are expensive little extras that I love to splurge on when I have some extra cash and want to support small businesses.
Yessss. I need to start using my stitch markers for casting on. I have zero counting ability 😆 also, I totally agree about progress keepers
I discovered that I, too, can't count. 😂 my short-term memory is garbage and stitch counters are a must
What are progress keepers?
Great question! Progress keepers are like removable stitch markers. You can get really fancy (more decorative) ones and they clip on to your project. The idea is you stick them at the top of your work at the beginning of the day so you can see how much you knit up that day. You can also typically use them like stitch markers. @@KS-bg3sp
@@BreathingYarnI just use stitch markers for that. I love putting one at the beginning of a weekend knitting sesh and seeing my progress on sunday night lol
Honestly? You don't need a swift. If you have a ball winder, and don't mind improv'ing a little or finding another person to spread the hank with their arms, do that. It saves space and money. I do mine alone, which does occasionally come with the con of getting dog hair in polyester, whoops.
Honestly I'm the complete opposite with DPNS--I tend to brace one of the needles on myself while I'm working (I honestly need a knitting belt bc some of my t-shirts have holes in them from it LOL) so I swear by DPNs for smaller stuff and I'm currently looking into getting a whole bunch of much longer DPNs for garments like sweaters.
I’m somewhat new to crocheting, and I’ll say, yes stitch markers are not needed. i personally found that paper clips work really well for me (safety pins should too for better chance of it not falling out, even though ive never had a paper clip fall out on me yet).
Just found your channel with this video! In my 65 years of life I can be fairly thrifty but a couple of things I will definitely politely disagree!! I just have to have a row counter!! And a Pom Pom maker!!😂. And-as a bag maker…….I definitely think the right bag can make your project more fun but, confession, I have used grocery bags myself at times!!! Enjoyed your show!!
I bought the Clover crochet hook set, and Chiao Goo interchangeable needle sets and to be honest I don't feel like I will ever need anything more. I keep trying to find an excuse to buy fancy expensive hooks but I really don't need them. At most, I will get some extra cables. I used to have some of the Amazon crochet hooks but the rubber on some of them broke down and got oily.
The only reason those cute little scissors are nice is if you do any kind of precision cutting in a project like for steaking or afterthought heels
My son gifted me a scissor set that came with tiny scissors, big ones, and a matching thimble. I use the tiny scissors all the time simply because they fit in my notions kit so well. They are also beautiful and make me think if my son when I use them.
For weaving: Don't start with pin, inkle, big tapestry, or rigid heddle looms.
If you want to make tapestries, use one of those cheap frame looms that is a rectangle with notches cut into the ends. Get the kind that are about 6-8 inches to a side. Do not bother with a heddle bar; a shed stick will be sufficient because having a heddle bar will actually interfere with switching colors so often. Get a metal weaving needle and don't bother with tapestry bobbins. There is a book called _Weaving on a Little Loom_ that has advice for tapestry weaving, if that is the craft you end up wanting to do.
If you want to make longer or solid pieces, learn to make and weave on a backstrap loom. Use a string heddle and a piece of cardboard cut into the shape of a shuttle, the simple kind with notches on the ends. Most people will do completely fine with string heddles and a cardboard shuttle.
I found myself absolutely hating the feel and unevenness of a string heddle, and after the first project bought a laser-cut rigid heddle and solid wood shuttles. These are not necessary, I just have sensory issues.
As a person who got into crochet in college partially bc of the low material need entry point (less than 10 dollars on a crochet hook and ball of dishie cotton from michaels) and now is watching this while knitting on a pair of addi interchangables (my one big family christmas gift, 160 bucks). Tools and how much one spends on them will always be a personal preference that evolves based on your unique needs, wants, and means.
My big stance on garment yarn is buy what you will wear. That may mean saving up and getting nice yarn for one big project rather than making a bunch of projects. But I reach for my cotton and wool goods all the time and almost never wear the first sweater I crochet bc it was red heart and I cant stand wearing that texture. I get my money's worth for the $50+ sweater quantities of cascade wool and dishy cotton compared to the $30 acrylic. In addition to money I do not want to invest hours over months of my life into a garment I wont wear.
I use a needle sizer all the time for the bent old dpns I bought at the thrift store.
I really appreciated the tone of this video. It was very honestly put. Also Isabella suits you but I also think visually you could be a Megan lol.
This comment is so great! I really love the simple and very profound “buy what you’ll wear” it’s shocking how easily that can be forgotten/ignored
I agree with the crochet hook advice! I got a set off of Amazon, used them for like a year, and then as I realised I wasn't going to slow down in my crochet (and I had some irks with the cheap hooks) I bought a set of nice expensive ones. I have a friend I'm starting to teach and so now I can pass on my cheaper hooks to someone else to start the craft 😊
I use the bulb/gourd shaped safety pins as stitch markers. They're just as inexpensive as the plastic, but they have lasted so much longer! In addition to stitch markers, they have also come in handy for wardrobe malfunctions! I have used them a handful of times to hold cardigans or blazers together to hide stains
my "blocking boards" are interlocking exercise mats from five below. They don't have the inch grids, but if you have a tape measure that's really not a barrier.
I would say it's really worth it to seek out a fabric tape measure since (especially if you're making clothing) what you are measuring is three dimensional. Yes, you could use scrap yarn cut to size and then measure on your hard ruler, but I always over-stretch my yarn when i use this method and end up with wonky sizes. Splurge on a retractable if you wish, but the one i got in a $10 sewing starter kit has served me fantastically.
I will not buy a cable needle. Those cheap lil plastic ones are just begging to break, and the wood and metal ones are weirdly expensive IMO. If I have a big cable i need to carry, I use a DPN I already have on hand.
So happy to have found your channel! Happily subscribed :)
I do the same thing with cables. Mine came along with my interchangeable set and its nice cuz its metal but its also like 2mm so it's practically useless for my typical 4mm projects.
I love bulb pins as stitch markers. I bought the colorful ones and they function exactly the way those big plastic safety pin style stitch markers do for me, but they’re made of metal so I’ll have them as long as I want to use them. I also use an interlocking children’s play mat to block my projects, though personally, I wish I had purchased a thicker one (or just a craft store blocking board) as the cheap Amazon ones I purchased didn’t save me a huge amount of money over the alternative. Cheers to practical crafting purchases :D
i got a set of 18 pairs of circular needles for 7.62usd[not interchangeable]
No need to buy a complete set of interchangeable, started with just the sizes of fixed circular needles I needed. However for me, I feel dpns belong in the gray area and with dpns (especially my grandmother's old metallic ones) a needle gauge is necessary.
I really love that people with different crafting preferences are commenting and it’s so interesting to hear from others what is essential to them and what isn’t. I especially love hearing of people that have been handed down knitting needles that definitely need a needle sizer. I never really knew anybody that knit so it was a major blind spot of mine to not know the reasons someone would need a needle sizer. Thanks for commenting!!!
When I started knitting some 30 yrs ago I could only buy fixed circular needles. And I totally agree on the DPNs, it's sometimes hard to figure out which size they are. I have two sets which I only use for knitting socks - learned it old school from grandma. @@BreathingYarn
That is such a special memory! Thank you for sharing that :)
For knitting needles, if you find certain materials bother you (form me it's a sensory thing), it can be worthwhile to try different kinds. I personally can't bear the feel of bamboo needles and metal is just unpleasant for me
So many good points in this video!
I love the idea of using second-hand yarn - I thrifted a sweater recently and got a good amount of cotton-acrylic mix yarn from it, I can’t wait to use it to make my own sweater 🧶
And yes to a digital journal! I find it so much easier to write my project notes/ideas in my phone’s notes app than to write it in a journal (and try to decipher my messy handwriting later lol). The only time I’d use a physical journal would be if I’m sketching out a design, bc my digital artistry skills are ✨awful✨
For scissors I always use the tiny cutical scissors I got from a cheap dollar store nail kit, bc they’re small enough to pass airlines’ carry-on restrictions! Highly recommend if you want to work on projects while flying ✈️
I’d also like to add learning how to mend to the list- it’s not an essential tool, but I like to think it’s an essential skill to have! You can get your favourite clothes and makes to last even longer by learning how to mend them.
There’s also a neat visible mending technique where you use a colourful thread to make running stitches over patches, my partner’s been doing this to his old clothes and it looks so cool! 🪡
Yes to everything you just said. I also super agree about learning to mend being an essential skill!! Let bring back patch work and beautiful exposed mending. 🥰
I lucked out at the thrift store when I was very early in my knitting journey. I purchased a bag of vintage items for the crochet hooks and mini measuring tape. I didn’t know what the little rings (stitch markers), big plastic safety pins (cable stitch holders), and huge sewing needles (tapestry needles) were for 😅. I didn’t learn how to use the double pointed needles until a whole year later! Whoever put together this kit previously must have gotten a lot of use out of it, and I feel honored to be using it. I’ve never had to buy any supplies since save for longer needles to hold lots of blanket stitches.
That is such a great find!
Seconding this! At least half (if not more) of my yarn craft tools are from thrift stores or garage sales! 😂
LOL See my post above. I donated several bags like that to charity shops.
theres a bit of irony in buying a bag for materials you could make a bag with.
you can knit/crochet! you can make your own project bags!
i really agree about the project bag one!! my local yarn store gives out the bags the yarn gets shipped in and ive been using those as project bags for ages, it costs nothing extra, it gives plastic bags a second use and you don't have to purchase an entirely new product you know :) great video i really agree with most of this and i think we should be a lot more mindful of buying stuff bc this one person said you should lol
I totally agree with most of your opinions except with 2: a needle sizer is absolutely essential for me, because i do only have knitting needles where the size rubs off and I own a lot of the same needles just in different sizes. secondly dpns, for the most part you are correct, you can absolutely knit socks with the magic loop method, but i personally think, that for projects with a small diameter (for example gloves with seperate fingers) it is very helpful. I realy enjoy your content, have a nice day!
I do a lot of topdown baby and toddler clothes and I find dpns essential for the sleeves. Also I find a needle gauge is a really useful tool, especially with the inherited metal dpns and also to compare them with the bamboo dpns if I want to switch mid-knit.
Needle stoppers ... i used wine corks XD it already had a hole from the bottle opener
I'm so addicted to my cable holders that I'm not sure I even WANT to try an alternative. 😂 But who knows? Maybe one day...😊
I will say I don’t like interchangeable needles at all. So I keep circs of a variety of sizes and have an organizer for them. I also love dpns.
Isabella definitely fits! Found your channel a few weeks ago and have been loving your videos. Just watched the leg warmer video where you said you had 40 subscribers. That was two months ago and now you have 1.1k! You’re doing something right 😊 love the music and cozy vibes (and of course the knitting)
-another PNW resident
Oh my gosh, you’re so sweet! 🥹 thank you. And so happy to see another PNW resident here. I’m so in love with this corner of the country. Growing up having not seen the ocean or mountains, I embarrassingly tear up sometimes seeing the nature around here.
hi interesting video, i think that scissors are essential, as is a needle guage, my interchangeable needles individually purchased do loose their sizes with wear and as most of my projects are done with 4mm needles or smaller i need to ensure both needles are the same size. i have guages in most of my home made project bags, have never purchased a project bag.
Check your local library or art co-op too! Our library has crochet and knit boxes with all essentials you can check out like a book, you just return the box and hook/needle. To get into crochet, I went to a free workshop at the art collective and they just asked for $3 if you wanted to keep the hook and gave you the skein of yarn!
Okay, that’s amazing! I love this. I live within walking distance of a library and I am so curious now. It would be great to point people in my area in that direction.
My knit picks swift broke after 1 year of occasional use, and they express shipped me a replacement for free, no questions asked. Love knit picks.
i love my interchangeable circulars but i also recommend having a static set of circulars for your favorite yarn size. it helps that i can zip along without having to readjust /screw back on my adjustable bits when using my favorite weight of yarn
I agree. I wish that interchangeables would screw in tighter or have a more secure locking mechanism or something. I hate when they unscrew themselves!
@@BreathingYarn Chiagoo needles are pricey, but the interchangeables are my favorite. The knit picks interchangeables are a second favorite. They don’t require adjustments at all.
Be sure to use the "key" to tighten them up! Without it, any brand will come unscrewed. Once I began using the key, I have never had one come apart on me! It's there for a reason. I know this is true for the ChiaGoo's, as that's all use for 100% of my knitting. @@BreathingYarn
I got a kit on Amazon that had a tape measure, stitch marker, and darning needles. It was a good price and has a box that everything fits in to keep it all together.
As for ball winder, don’t buy the smallest cheapest one if you’re buying one. Pay a little more for the winder because it’s worth it.
I agree with you on the blocking mats. They do come in handy when you knit a lot of lace but you might just get by with a big carpet or a double bed. However, T-shaped pins are a life saver. Regular pins, esp. the plain steel ones without a plastic cap, are too short and get lost very easily. And no one wants to walk into sharp pins.
The needle sizer is a must if you have older relatives or your elderly neighbour gift you their entire stash and stock of needles. Also, when you use several needle sizes for a project things can get messy and putting needles back into the correct packaging is so much easier when I've identified them with a needle sizer.
Ergonomics are defo essential for me my wrist are fucked up
I *love* that you made a project bag so you could know while you're on a walk. My kind of girl!! I think I'll copy that idea!
KNITTING NEEDLE SIZER TIP! :) ----> ***I never ever ever used my knitting needle sizer UNTIL I inherited a large collection of knitting needles from my grandmother when she passed.
Some of her needles are 50-100 years old, and several pairs had faded numbers or the markings were only on the case, but the case had been lost, etc. But honestly, there were pairs that didn't have any sizing at all. Good example: one pair was made out of bone/antler, and I'm PRETTY sure my great-great-grandfather made them himself as a gift for my great-great-grandmother.
So, having that needle sizer was great because otherwise I could guess the size but I'd have no idea whether it was a 5mm pair, a 5.5mm pair, etc. (Turns out they were actually 5.25mm which is obviously not a standard size, but I find weird sizes like that VERY helpful when trying to fine tune gauge).
So yes - long story short, needle sizers are amazing for inherited (or thrifted) vintage/antique needles :)
Thank you for this video! I've been knitting for 20 years, ever since my grandma taught me as a kid, and I found your video very helpful in thinning down my own supplies & helping give advice to people I convert over to yarncrafts
That's where I use my needle gauge as well : ) Also none of my dpns have the size on them, at all.