A knitter’s toolkit

Knitting is easy to begin, you need yarn and needles, right? The more you knit, you’ll realise there are other tools out there that might be useful. Thought I’d share a few ideas of what notions and tools would be essential for a knitter’s toolkit.

Stitch markers

Stitch markers are probably the handiest tools a knitter can have. You can mark pattern repeats with them, that is probably the obvious use, but they are useful when knitting a simple raglan sweater to mark the decrease/increase places or marking the beginning of the round. 

There are different styles of stitch markers available. There are ones that you can open and lock, kind of like safety pins. Then there are others you can’t open, so remember to slide them on your needles as you get to them (if not, you’ll need to cut them away, heard of that happening!) Then there are open ones. These and the locking ones can be used as row counters, to mark for example, sleeve decrease rows/rounds. Which ones are the best? Really can’t say as it is a matter of preference. I suggest you try different kinds and see which ones suit you the best. 

Tape Measure
The tape measure is the second tool that we think everyone should have. It’s not just for measuring your swatch, it is for measuring yourself! It’s of course easier with a friend. ;) It is essential to know your own measurements, at least the bust size, otherwise how can you know which size to knit from a pattern? 

It is also a good idea to measure your garment while you are knitting it and check if your gauge is still the same. Sometimes swatches lie and the actual garment you are knitting will turn out too big or small, because you either tightened up or loosened when knitting the garment. 

Scissors

This might be self explanatory, but maybe a few words about scissors. Buy a decent pair, the brand or size is a matter of preference here too, but do buy scissors that are designed for crafting and have a sharp tip. In my case I have used large all purpose scissors for years. The irony is my mom worked in a company that made scissors. At some point I bought decent scissors for crafting and it did change my life. Just imagine steeking a cardigan with those all purpose scissors. Yikes! If you are planning on steeking anything in the future, or even if not, get yourself a nice pair of scissors, you will not regret it!

Did you know that scissors were invented 3000-4000 years ago? According to Wikipedia, the Romans invented the direct ancestors of modern scissors around 100 AD.

Row counter
Row counter is another handy tool to consider. It keeps you on track! They make it easier to follow patterns and are useful not just for keeping track of difficult patterns, but in simple stockinette, for example counting rows between sleeve decreases.  

Row counters come in many different shapes and sizes. There are smaller ones, the red and blue. Those are good if you want to place them on your needles, of course you can use them without doing so. The blue is for smaller needles, up to size 4.5 mm and the red can be used on larger needles, up to size 6.5 mm. 

There is this one from Cocoknits where you can lock the row counter, so that it doesn’t accidentally count something when it moves around in your handbag. The ring version from Knit Pro is another option to consider. 

Notebook

Notebooks are another great way to keep track of not just your current knits, but what you've done in the past and for writing up future plans. These come in different sizes and there is plenty to choose from. They are also great for drawing up design ideas, keeping track of yardage or just making notes on certain yarns and designs. Of course you can always have a virtual notebook too!

Knitting chart keepers
These are magnetic chart keepers that hold your paper patterns in place, can stand upright and make following charts easy. With the magnetic tape you can follow where you are on the chart. Especially great for stranded knitting, lace and cables.

I think the best way to create your own toolkit is to try out different things and decide for yourself which are your personal favourites.