I am a chiropractor and I’ve been tempted to make a channel for crafters because I hear so much about joint and muscle pain. 😜 These things are helpful! But my advice to use with them is to TAKE BREAKS. I have been crafting for 50 years and all the gadgets are a huge help, but your body needs a break from repetitive movements. Every 30 minutes, just stop and move your neck and shoulders around for a few seconds. Bend and straighten your arms and wrists for a few seconds. Looking away from your project also helps your eyes. Cheap and easy 😄 Thank you for all of your reviews and tutorials! I really enjoy them!
Honestly if you made a channel and had tips or even videos or shorts that crafters could follow I'm sure you'd get a steady stream of followers. We all know we should take breaks but having it visualised might help 😊
I drink A LOT of tea while I knit... in a small cup. This way I have an excuse to get up and move every time I want more tea and need to refill the cup.
In my life, I have never and would never do knitting or crochet (or read) in total darkness ... with only a little light on my hands. Might work for a dorm when lightsout for roommate means stitching under a blanket with a focused light. Love my Ott-light or one with that type of lighting. I found floor lamps wat Big Lots for $30 and the lights are actually OTT bulbs. I also get up and walk around, go to the bathroom, wash my hands, get a drink, focus my eyes to long distances - and then go back to my stitching. The eye focus changes are especially recommended if using a device with magnification! Also, it is VERY important to make sure you are BLNKING if stitching, watching tv, playing on computer, or watching tv. BLINK. Staring is a good way to get 'dry eye.'
When I spent years working in business coaching on the phone we used wireless headsets and walked all around while on calls. Not only better physically but most of us did better thinking and therefore coaching when we were on the move!
@@Lynx_Therian_for_evs Privacy reasons and liability perhaps? Who knows if doggy decides to sue for using his images without prior, written consent? XD
I have my nephew (11 years old) for the summer, and he asked me to teach him how to crochet, but I am an awful teacher. I turned on your how to video and he can now make a lovely chain ❤ on to single crochet!
I have been unsuccessful teaching my SIL. My niece (her daughter) taught herself. Maybe she will have more luck. Trying to teach 5yo granddaughter to knit but failed to factor in she is a lefty🙄.
that’s what I have and I love it! I tend to want to knit and crochet as close to my face as possible and end up with elbow pain, especially after repeated long sessions. I don’t have the problem anymore! still important to take breaks and stretch though.
I asked my husband, who loves woodworking if he could make me a yarn genie. He used a luxury wood and it is gorgeous! Because it is solid wood, it is heavy and I can set it on the floor beside my couch while I knit/crochet. If you don’t have a crafty SO get the yarn genie Toni is demonstrating. Once you get used to it you can’t be without it!
tbh it's kinda crazy that you don't have way more subscribers, I think you have fun, fresh content, and you're one of the best crochet youtubers I watch.
I was just "meh" about everything until we got to the Valari pillow. I have a LOT of neck, back, and shoulder pain. I'm a nurse nearing retirement age. Too many years of pulling on people much larger than myself (back in the day when we did not have the assistive gadgets that are now present in many facilities). Sorry,n I digress...anyway, my ears developed points when you started talking about the pillow. Then I followed the link. OUCH! That price tag!!! It would have to do way more than wrap around my middle to substantiate that price tag. BTW, I have and do use many different things to make "yarn bowls". I've used the large tub that soft peppermints come in; I've repurposed a coffee tin; also repurposed the big cylinder that oatmeal comes in; but my favorite is using the little zipper bags that sheets and things come in. Right now I have one hanging from my cross stitch stand so I am able to cross stitch a while, then switch to crochet and back as I feel so motivated. Loved the video and reviews, but I'll have to pass them all and save my cash for MORE YARN. Love your pup!
Someone in the comments mentioned that they use a nursing pillow! I also just bought one of those memory foam pillows. It doesn't wrap around but much much better than nothing.
Same here! I love it. It is lightweight enough to put it in my wip bag to go. I also have some really nice wooden ones from Amazon. Additional hangy spinny things recommended for making color changes.
Yes! And I know she mentioned yarn bowls but I still constantly have my yarn catching when working in a yarn bowl, the only difference is it’s not going anywhere
this!!! because there’s no way to extend it, the buckle is basically useless for me and just ends up being a bit of hardness at the ends of what otherwise is a super comfy and useful pillow
It’s why I haven’t gotten one. I carry my weight in my belly so there is no way that half moon shape is circling around me at the right points. I just crochet at a desk or table with a long manicure pillow under my forearms.
The one thing, I am not sure you would call it a gadget tho, I don't want to crochet without is my rolling craft cart. Everything in one place from yarn to notions is a must for me. Great Video! Thank you, TLYC.
I love my rolling cart! Everything is there. I have a wonderful gooseneck light with several light intensities in the top portion and a power bar for plugging it into on the bottom. Plenty of space for supplies and gadgets like my yarn Jenny.
As a knitter, I absolutely love my Yarn Genie. My mum bought me one for Christmas so I had no expectations. The best thing about it is it stops yarn tangling if Iike me, you're a person who uses commercial yarn balls. Downside, it has to sit on a flat surface in front of you as you work.
Since I suffer from chronic pain in my stomach and often can't really sit right and have to half-lie in my bed I really love these ergonomic "gadgets"! I'm always on the lookout for new ones, that help me be able to crochet even when I'm in pain. And I feel like the pillow could help me a lot! Gonna have to think about getting one
Same here, the bed is the most comfortable for me as well. At least until my spine and damaged nerves start to bother me. I have been looking at that pillow for several months now. I saw it on another RUclipsr’s channel and went to look into purchasing the pillow. First of all it’s over $50 and always sold out in every color. So I started using a maternity pillow that I have, it’s a full body pillow. It was purchased for me 12 years ago to help protect my head and keep me on my side during seizures. So maybe a nursing pillow may be a good substitute for other crochet/knitters to consider.😊 I love your reviews Toni, please keep it in your content it has helped me as a beginner/intermediate crocheter. I’m able to share what I’ve learned from you with my Mom who has been doing this for almost 50+ years.❤😊
We literally just had a power outage and nobody knew until I reached for my light to do some crochet. Never thought about how useful that could be until now.
fabric products for crochet/knit crafters are always a little funny to me. I like the idea of that valari pillow but my first thought is oh i should make one of those for myself 😅
It always makes my day, Toni, when you upload a new video. I especially love your reviews because you keep everything so real but aren't horribly negative when something you've tried out just isn't a good fit for you. Love your channel, your personality and your gorgeous creations. Thank you for being a ray of light! :)
My husband made me a yarn unwinder from an empty 3d printer filament roll and a stand 😅 i steal all his empty rolls to cake my yarn on and then i can just stick it on the stand and crochet away! I also made a yarn bowl for myself. I got a very large 5litre pickle jar and crocheted it a mesh jumper. Because its glass the balls roll around inside smoothly and the height of the jar is plenty to keep it running smoothly 👍
my neck light was a godsend when my power went out for three days back in January! I have a jump kit for my car which I was able to use to charge devices on periodically, but my neck lamp lasted a fair amount of time and I could use it for things like reading too. I didn't even think about it until like day 2 and then felt like an idiot for not using it sooner instead of trying to position little camp lights where I could see but they weren't blinding me out of the corner of my eye!
Speaking of left-handed tutorials, our web browsers these days have optional add-ons you can search through and click on to install, and some of them let you mirror the page, or even right-click on a particular element in the page, and click on something like "mirror this" in the text options that pop up, to flip it horizontally. This way you can turn any right-handed video into a left-handed video! Also, that Red Bull comment got me good 😆
no i'm crying LOL i clicked to see what in the world one of those fidget poppers could be used for in crochet PLS DON'T TELL ME IT'S A ROW COUNTER HOW IS THAT MORE PRACTICAL THAN THE ONES WE ALREADY HAVE xD XD NOOO that takes up so much space. most the amigurumis shown on the pinterest page were AI generated garbage. also i'm not a fan of safety eyes myself not just for the difficulty putting them on but i like my toys to look more.. idk homemade? so i just make eyes and things with my yarn but that's such a clever tool for those who do use safety eyes a lot. why are the people in the preview for the yarnball winder winding already prepared skeins of yarn? u can center pull the skein girlie pop.. i love that ur giving credit to original creators instead of just plugging any ol' amazon link like most people do or even their affiliated links to gain on the theft of other people's good ideas.
I like the look of safety eyes but I never actually got them because why get two or three extra tools for eyes when I have yarn, felt and embroidery skills? Embroidered eyes look cuter in my opinion
I have that exact winder and I love it! It's cheap and easy to use. I thought it might not last long, but it is still going. I attached it to my desk and it did not leave any marks. I've used it on a bunch of different surfaces, never had a problem. Make sure it's secure, so it doesn't move, and you are good to go!
I LOVE the Yarn Jeanie - it’s something I use especially when I’m using more than one strand of yarn at a time. I can stack two smaller yarn balls and it helps me keep them from getting tangled. I have three of them and use them with colorwork too, they’ve been a game-changer for me.
I love highlighter tape. I use it to highlight which row’s directions I am on. Frequently I split it in half as the tape can be wider than the text. It comes in a variety of colors
Two items I swear by and use daily: the Yarn Jeanie and an app called Row Counter. I find the Yarn Jeanie to be the easiest way to unfurl yarn. I just stick the skein on there (no need to cake) and start crocheting. The Row Counter app does much more than just count rows. I store PDFs of all of my patterns on there, organized in folders. I use the pattern right from the app. You can keep notes on your project. There’s a timer so you can determine how long it takes to make an item. (Great for helping with pricing if you sell finished products.) It syncs my phone with my iPad so I always have up-to-date info on both. And it does much more.
The Wool Jeanies are sooooo useful when you have a project with lots of different colours... no more winding yarn on bobbins and having to guess that you've got enough yarn on those bobbins... I have an entire row of Jeanies with extra spindles+bases and can just click and swap around as needed...
Always enjoy your videos but after crocheting for over forty years, I don't see the need to change anything - the if it aint broke, done fix it attitude.
I was having elbow pain from crocheting, so I bought a V shaped pillow for about £12 from Amazon and that has helped loads! A cheaper solution to the pillow in the video. Loved seeing all these different gadgets, definitely tempted by the wool genie!
My wool genie has been so great! I never have to pull aggressively at my yarn. It's perfect for mindless crocheting while watching my favourite shows 😊
Ok, ok, as the 46% - subscribed. Twist my rubber arm 🤪 in all honesty, I’ve been watching your content for a while and thought I was already subscribed!!!
Your furbaby is so adorable & I can tell that you’re such a good momma. Thank you for checking these gadgets out & sharing your thoughts about them, that’s so helpful.
I am 61 with less than perfect eyesight and the only way I can crochet with really dark yarn is with my trusty neck light. Mine was about $20 on Amazon and it has warm and cool light choices and three brightnesses. Love it. I have a lighted crochet hook that I have never liked using. The light is too bright and seems even brighter somehow because I wear glasses. Hate it.
For the safety eyes, the prym vario works just as good. I always support new brands, but as it's not available at the moment, this would be something for everyone wanting to buy it now. The valario pillows are nice, but I don't like that they aren't size inclusive. The elongating strip you can buy doesn't work for larger people as there is no pillow at the sides anymore. So a larger size, somewhere between the original and a nursing pillow would be perfect 🤗
I love it when you do reviews etc. I love gadgets but have become rather selective after a few things that disappointed. Now I look a lot, think even more and eventually decided yes or no. I love the neck light looks fantastic but I am small and wonder if the arms might to too long on me. In my now style I will look into it and see further about it. I live in Australia so maybe we don't have them here and postage from USA would be too much. Always love your channel.
hello from Germany... my english is realy not so good as I wish, sorry. But I must tell you about my must have crochet tool ... my cats! yes you read right.. I have my yarn in a bowl, and sometimes it will jump out of the bowl.. and both of my cats love to watch over the yarn and take care, that the yarn stays in the bowl and dont run away, Or they sit right behind me on my sofa and purrr the hole time, that ist so relaxing... so kntting och crocheing without my cats ist realy not possible. I hope you understand what I wrote. Your videos help me to learn my english and you talk with so mutch love about crocheing, tha keeps me to create so may thins... thank you
That safety eye gadget seems good but you are putting the eyes on a flat swatch and this is not how eyes are attached when crocheting an amigurimi. That gadget seems to big to put inside the head of most Amigurumi. Also didn't you do a review of 2 different types of lighted crochet hooks about 1 year ago and there was one you didn't like. You didn't say whether this one was different.
My 'necessary' item is a yarn provider (finger rings) I actually use both at the same time - one on the second finger to guide the yarn, and one on the base of the thumb to control the tension (depending how I will tie the yarn around it: that will mostly be the tension) Yes it is a 'pain' to set up, and get off - if you want to be negative like my friend - but the relief for my hand is humongous. The tension is almost always the same, I don't have the problem that I either keep releasing it unconsciously and then have to wind it around my fingers for the 10th time in one knitt sitting, or stiff the hand to hard and I quickly have pain and so have to stop. The rings keep the yarn themselves.
That pillow looks like it would be too heavy on my stomach. I mean, with it you look the size I am without. I much rather add pillows under my arms... Same for lights, I bought one for knitting, found that my body got in the way, switched to good spotlights behind my knitting station and now use it at my vacation site that doesn't have perfect lighting at night (so, you know, when I get up in the middle of the night). The yarn holders I like, I have a wrist one hanging beside me. I found that you need to have your work level with it for it to work properly. I still use pottery bowls but only for colour work. This doesn't gather dust and pet hair like a bowl does... (It's shedding season😢 ). Honestly, looking for knick-knack notions is half the fun, I have the soul of a collector. Dragon. Magpie. I love to organise all my stuff and stash in the most usable way and I redo it often as my usage needs change. Jumpers are a by-product😂
i LOVE!!!!! the lemon wood mini minder!! It works really well and if you have any issues with your order, they send replacements! I had a hang on hook that didn't have/lost the rubberpiece inside of the hook to keep the rod in place, and they sent me a new hook thats a lot better for free!!! i LOVE it so much and it really helps!! Especially with the yarn cake combo, my word
I guess I'm a gadget lover because I own almost all of these! LOL. I especially love my Valari pillow, it's helped a lot in reducing carpal tunnel symptoms and shoulder pain when knitting and crocheting. I bought a Lumos lumos light after being very disappointed in a $20 neck light I had. It may cost over twice as much but it lasts much longer on one charge than the other set lasted with batteries and the light temperature and brightness settings make it worthy of the price to me. I have a yarn to go carousel from Twice Sheared Sheep that is very similar to the mini minder. It includes a magnetic rotating base that makes it handy for knitting/crochet at home and when I leave I pull of the base, attach the handle and I'm good to keep knitting!
Meanwhile, I'm over here using a post it note or a scrap of paper as a stitch counter. My favorite gadget is a printer so I can print off patterns and write on them.
You did hear they postponed manufacturing those safety eye plyers. They decided to change them to cover all the sizes. He said will be over a year before they can get them out.
Also, i know we all hate this advice, but take breaks. Honestly, like every 20 minutes or so just... Stand up, stretch your arms and neck a little. Pet a cat maybe. Change the chair you're sitting in every now and then. If you're one of those who can continue whilst walking or standing, do that for a little while. You will feel better. I promise ❤
You're so right! No one wants to hear it, but this is really one of the best tips for staying healthy as a maker. Taking breaks, stretching, and staying hyrdrated.
100%, my favorite stitch counter is the My Row Counter app. Allows me to switch easily between different projects if I switch up what I'm working on, allows me to import my pattern and set secondary counters linked to the 'global' counter, so that I can track pattern repeats or pieces of a larger project. And its on my phone, so I always have it with me.
Toni, I cannot crochet without my neck light! These old eyes have done a lot of lookin' over the decades and it's taken its toll. Even in what I consider good lighting I can finally see my stitches using a smaller hook and yarn with that gadget :)
I laughed about the left handed, sooo I taught myself via youtube but didnt think to look for left handed tutorials so I crochet right handed even though im left handed in everything else lol
Oh I'd loooove the pillow for the elbow support! I've been using my nan's old teapot as a yarn bowl for a good while now since I need one that's cat proof. I feed the yarn through the nozzle, pop the lid on and bam it's all set. Seems to work just fine as long as the ball of yarn is small and tight enough, some I've had to rewind but I find it therapeutic to do by hand (did it for my nan when I was little and we'd pull apart old knits to make new ones, she was very frugal and didn't hesitate to recycle a child's old sweater into mittens) so it's not a big deal 😊 only annoying thing is that I'm a bit glued to it and have gotten a few funny looks pulling it out in a cafe or bus lmao 😂 But it keeps the yarn clean so well! Much love from Finland, super fun video! Subscribed 🎉
I’m a little bit skeptical about the safety eye pliers, they can easily secure the eyes but what happens if you make a mistake positioning the eyes and have to take them out again? Is it much more difficult to remove the eye backings after they’ve been clicked in? Can the tool help with removing the eyes too? (might be an idea for a new 3d printed modification to the plier design 👀)
I've been seeing those lumos lights all over instragram (Im not a tiktok girl) and I kept putting it off and putting it off. Finally purchased one a couple days ago and you come up with a discount code!! That is just my luck. I mostly crochet amigurumi, but I'm trying to branch out to blankets and stuff. I really need those safety eye things. The struggle is real trying to get some of these eyes secured with just my limited hand strength!
Lovely video as always!!! 9:17 I have that yarn ball winder, and it has been super easy to use, and I use it for EVERYTHING! It is amazing for orgagnizing yarn, I was hesitant to buy it, but it has turned out really nice! So I totally agree on it being Stitch!
I think my favourite crochet gadget of this video is that cute doggy. And I think everyone agrees we want to see more crocheted doggy items. I'm sure the little pooch won't mind being used as a mannequin if you just provide enough doggy snacks. XD
I've got a wool genie (like product... mine is wood) and I won't crochet without it. It makes all the yarn yanking every 10 stitches completely out-dated and unnecessary. The yarn just flows like a river. I love it!
ive heard many many manyyy mixed things on the light up hooks, majority negative over positive. the main consensus was ditch them in place for the neck light. it also leads into the overconsumption of hooks, if you have 17 sets i can promise you dont need this one. i thought this was going to be a lot more deinfluencing like the other ones iv watched, many other items on here were also ditched by other big name creators.
So, brought neck light, wool winder and lighted hooks. Already had the pillow, from a local charity shop, had no clue what is was for but turned it round and will never go back. Thank you from me, Not sure husband will be so grateful immediately. LOL. Thank you.
I love this channel. I've just started my crochet journey and learned two stitches that I'm incredibly proud of. I would eventually love to try Tunisian crochet, but the needles are sadly too long for me.
Another Row Counting Idea: Use the notes app on your phone! Literally just update each row you stitch on the note after you finish it just like any other row counter
I'm new to crochet and just finished my first project: a scarf for a friend who lives in Colorado! When I tried to crochet in the evenings it really hurt my eyes, but my husband suggested I use a head lamp. I got the cheapest one at the store and it works great! Also I use my Barbie movie popcorn bucket as a yarn bowl. I love all your videos and I'm looking forward to making the Molly Waffle Blanket.
I am a chiropractor and I’ve been tempted to make a channel for crafters because I hear so much about joint and muscle pain. 😜 These things are helpful! But my advice to use with them is to TAKE BREAKS. I have been crafting for 50 years and all the gadgets are a huge help, but your body needs a break from repetitive movements. Every 30 minutes, just stop and move your neck and shoulders around for a few seconds. Bend and straighten your arms and wrists for a few seconds. Looking away from your project also helps your eyes. Cheap and easy 😄 Thank you for all of your reviews and tutorials! I really enjoy them!
Thank you Dr. I spent years using a keyboard for work and crafting and my poor finger and wrist joints continue to ache.
Honestly if you made a channel and had tips or even videos or shorts that crafters could follow I'm sure you'd get a steady stream of followers. We all know we should take breaks but having it visualised might help 😊
I drink A LOT of tea while I knit... in a small cup. This way I have an excuse to get up and move every time I want more tea and need to refill the cup.
In my life, I have never and would never do knitting or crochet (or read) in total darkness ... with only a little light on my hands. Might work for a dorm when lightsout for roommate means stitching under a blanket with a focused light.
Love my Ott-light or one with that type of lighting. I found floor lamps wat Big Lots for $30 and the lights are actually OTT bulbs.
I also get up and walk around, go to the bathroom, wash my hands, get a drink, focus my eyes to long distances - and then go back to my stitching.
The eye focus changes are especially recommended if using a device with magnification!
Also, it is VERY important to make sure you are BLNKING if stitching, watching tv, playing on computer, or watching tv. BLINK. Staring is a good way to get 'dry eye.'
When I spent years working in business coaching on the phone we used wireless headsets and walked all around while on calls. Not only better physically but most of us did better thinking and therefore coaching when we were on the move!
Would love to say we’re watching you and the light but we’re all watching your dog
same, love. same 🤣🤣🤣
@@TLYarnCraftswhy did u blur the dog out??😢😢😢
@@Lynx_Therian_for_evsshe isn’t doing it purposely!! The camera is just trying to focus in the dark which causes a blur in the frame !!
@@Lynx_Therian_for_evs Privacy reasons and liability perhaps? Who knows if doggy decides to sue for using his images without prior, written consent? XD
@@TLYarnCrafts please tell me the dog was licking it's butt :D
All this gadgets are fine and all but y'all, the best crochet gadget is a husband that you train to unwind your yarn for you😂
I have one of those!!! 1000000/10 recommend
I used my husband as a winder for 3 skeins of yarn. I am almost done with my crochet shawl. 😉
😂
I was gifted a swift and ball winder a few years ago and my husband thought he was going to be fired! He's still the best swift. 🤣
My grandpa does that for me 🥰
I have my nephew (11 years old) for the summer, and he asked me to teach him how to crochet, but I am an awful teacher. I turned on your how to video and he can now make a lovely chain ❤ on to single crochet!
I have been unsuccessful teaching my SIL. My niece (her daughter) taught herself. Maybe she will have more luck. Trying to teach 5yo granddaughter to knit but failed to factor in she is a lefty🙄.
I was not expecting the Red Bull comment but it’s so true! I literally laughed out loud 😂
Just about to comment this 😭😭
@@Crafty_Black_girl LOL Yeah, She was definitely over the top!
Same! lol
Ugh! Why!? WHY did you feel the need to show us even MORE ways for us to spend money on crochet items!? 😭😭😭😭
LOL! True!
I would personally recommend getting a nursing pillow, I got mine for like 20 bucks on Amazon and it is a huge fraction of the cost
that’s what I have and I love it! I tend to want to knit and crochet as close to my face as possible and end up with elbow pain, especially after repeated long sessions. I don’t have the problem anymore! still important to take breaks and stretch though.
I got one too, and it's one of the best investments ever
Maybe you are smaller than me. I tried a boppy and it didn’t fit around me plus it was too soft. I sit on it more. Lol!😂
@@andrealouis-visser4973 I mean I have a bit of a tummy, but the one I got off Amazon has a clip on it so I can clip it around me
@andrealouis-visser4973 Amazon has My best friend nursing pillow,it's firm and I love it
I asked my husband, who loves woodworking if he could make me a yarn genie. He used a luxury wood and it is gorgeous! Because it is solid wood, it is heavy and I can set it on the floor beside my couch while I knit/crochet. If you don’t have a crafty SO get the yarn genie Toni is demonstrating. Once you get used to it you can’t be without it!
2:45 I got the chuckles cuz u blurred your dog doing whatever he was doing to himself 😂😂😂
tbh it's kinda crazy that you don't have way more subscribers, I think you have fun, fresh content, and you're one of the best crochet youtubers I watch.
I was just "meh" about everything until we got to the Valari pillow. I have a LOT of neck, back, and shoulder pain. I'm a nurse nearing retirement age. Too many years of pulling on people much larger than myself (back in the day when we did not have the assistive gadgets that are now present in many facilities). Sorry,n I digress...anyway, my ears developed points when you started talking about the pillow. Then I followed the link. OUCH! That price tag!!! It would have to do way more than wrap around my middle to substantiate that price tag.
BTW, I have and do use many different things to make "yarn bowls". I've used the large tub that soft peppermints come in; I've repurposed a coffee tin; also repurposed the big cylinder that oatmeal comes in; but my favorite is using the little zipper bags that sheets and things come in. Right now I have one hanging from my cross stitch stand so I am able to cross stitch a while, then switch to crochet and back as I feel so motivated.
Loved the video and reviews, but I'll have to pass them all and save my cash for MORE YARN. Love your pup!
Someone in the comments mentioned that they use a nursing pillow! I also just bought one of those memory foam pillows. It doesn't wrap around but much much better than nothing.
I'm not going to lie, the yarn jeanie is a must have for me! I hate pulling the yarn around and having it just flow so naturally has been a GODSEND
Same here! I love it. It is lightweight enough to put it in my wip bag to go. I also have some really nice wooden ones from Amazon. Additional hangy spinny things recommended for making color changes.
Yes! And I know she mentioned yarn bowls but I still constantly have my yarn catching when working in a yarn bowl, the only difference is it’s not going anywhere
Do you pull from the outside of the cake or the inside?
Just get a paper towel holder and a lazy Susan, works just as well just cheaper
I take mine everywhere!
I love my Valari pillow with the small exception that it doesn't actually close. They need to make the clasp extendable for plus size bodies.
this!!! because there’s no way to extend it, the buckle is basically useless for me and just ends up being a bit of hardness at the ends of what otherwise is a super comfy and useful pillow
They have extension clips that you can purchase on their website ❤
It’s why I haven’t gotten one. I carry my weight in my belly so there is no way that half moon shape is circling around me at the right points.
I just crochet at a desk or table with a long manicure pillow under my forearms.
The one thing, I am not sure you would call it a gadget tho, I don't want to crochet without is my rolling craft cart. Everything in one place from yarn to notions is a must for me. Great Video! Thank you, TLYC.
oh my goodness | have one of those too and I could never go back to not having one!
@@themossynook me either! ☺️
I love my rolling cart! Everything is there. I have a wonderful gooseneck light with several light intensities in the top portion and a power bar for plugging it into on the bottom. Plenty of space for supplies and gadgets like my yarn Jenny.
As a knitter, I absolutely love my Yarn Genie. My mum bought me one for Christmas so I had no expectations. The best thing about it is it stops yarn tangling if Iike me, you're a person who uses commercial yarn balls. Downside, it has to sit on a flat surface in front of you as you work.
Since I suffer from chronic pain in my stomach and often can't really sit right and have to half-lie in my bed I really love these ergonomic "gadgets"! I'm always on the lookout for new ones, that help me be able to crochet even when I'm in pain. And I feel like the pillow could help me a lot! Gonna have to think about getting one
Crocheting in my bed half sitting up is the most comfortable position for me too!
Same here, the bed is the most comfortable for me as well. At least until my spine and damaged nerves start to bother me. I have been looking at that pillow for several months now. I saw it on another RUclipsr’s channel and went to look into purchasing the pillow. First of all it’s over $50 and always sold out in every color. So I started using a maternity pillow that I have, it’s a full body pillow. It was purchased for me 12 years ago to help protect my head and keep me on my side during seizures. So maybe a nursing pillow may be a good substitute for other crochet/knitters to consider.😊 I love your reviews Toni, please keep it in your content it has helped me as a beginner/intermediate crocheter. I’m able to share what I’ve learned from you with my Mom who has been doing this for almost 50+ years.❤😊
I love it when you test gadgets. I’m a gadget tragic and your tests stop me buying duds.
We literally just had a power outage and nobody knew until I reached for my light to do some crochet. Never thought about how useful that could be until now.
fabric products for crochet/knit crafters are always a little funny to me. I like the idea of that valari pillow but my first thought is oh i should make one of those for myself 😅
It always makes my day, Toni, when you upload a new video. I especially love your reviews because you keep everything so real but aren't horribly negative when something you've tried out just isn't a good fit for you. Love your channel, your personality and your gorgeous creations. Thank you for being a ray of light! :)
My husband made me a yarn unwinder from an empty 3d printer filament roll and a stand 😅 i steal all his empty rolls to cake my yarn on and then i can just stick it on the stand and crochet away! I also made a yarn bowl for myself. I got a very large 5litre pickle jar and crocheted it a mesh jumper. Because its glass the balls roll around inside smoothly and the height of the jar is plenty to keep it running smoothly 👍
How wonderful, you can crochet in the dark until your power comes back on, great to have something to do 😂❤🇬🇧 thank you x
my neck light was a godsend when my power went out for three days back in January! I have a jump kit for my car which I was able to use to charge devices on periodically, but my neck lamp lasted a fair amount of time and I could use it for things like reading too. I didn't even think about it until like day 2 and then felt like an idiot for not using it sooner instead of trying to position little camp lights where I could see but they weren't blinding me out of the corner of my eye!
This would help with dark yarns to see the stitches more clearly!
Are there batteries and how easy is it to find the replacements.
Speaking of left-handed tutorials, our web browsers these days have optional add-ons you can search through and click on to install, and some of them let you mirror the page, or even right-click on a particular element in the page, and click on something like "mirror this" in the text options that pop up, to flip it horizontally. This way you can turn any right-handed video into a left-handed video!
Also, that Red Bull comment got me good 😆
That’s cool!
I swear there is nothing you couldn’t sell. Love your delivery & way you review items with all the thoughts
Yes Comrade Crafter! I love you holding corporations accountable while uplifting small businesses and artists!
+
As a new mom, totally going to use my boppy while I crochet!
no i'm crying LOL i clicked to see what in the world one of those fidget poppers could be used for in crochet PLS DON'T TELL ME IT'S A ROW COUNTER HOW IS THAT MORE PRACTICAL THAN THE ONES WE ALREADY HAVE xD
XD NOOO that takes up so much space.
most the amigurumis shown on the pinterest page were AI generated garbage. also i'm not a fan of safety eyes myself not just for the difficulty putting them on but i like my toys to look more.. idk homemade? so i just make eyes and things with my yarn but that's such a clever tool for those who do use safety eyes a lot.
why are the people in the preview for the yarnball winder winding already prepared skeins of yarn? u can center pull the skein girlie pop..
i love that ur giving credit to original creators instead of just plugging any ol' amazon link like most people do or even their affiliated links to gain on the theft of other people's good ideas.
glad to see i'm not the only one who isnt a fan of the look of amigurumi with safety eyes lol they kind of remind me of funko pops...
I like the look of safety eyes but I never actually got them because why get two or three extra tools for eyes when I have yarn, felt and embroidery skills? Embroidered eyes look cuter in my opinion
first! (even though the video hasn't even started yet)
I cannot live without my Wool Jeanie! Best crochet purchase ever!
I have 2 wool jeanies
@@mariarichards8229 same!
I have that exact winder and I love it! It's cheap and easy to use. I thought it might not last long, but it is still going. I attached it to my desk and it did not leave any marks. I've used it on a bunch of different surfaces, never had a problem. Make sure it's secure, so it doesn't move, and you are good to go!
I LOVE the Yarn Jeanie - it’s something I use especially when I’m using more than one strand of yarn at a time. I can stack two smaller yarn balls and it helps me keep them from getting tangled. I have three of them and use them with colorwork too, they’ve been a game-changer for me.
"Dear lord, why does everybody seem like they just drank a redbull on this app?" And that is exactly why I try to find more channels like yours.
I love highlighter tape. I use it to highlight which row’s directions I am on. Frequently I split it in half as the tape can be wider than the text. It comes in a variety of colors
Two items I swear by and use daily: the Yarn Jeanie and an app called Row Counter. I find the Yarn Jeanie to be the easiest way to unfurl yarn. I just stick the skein on there (no need to cake) and start crocheting. The Row Counter app does much more than just count rows. I store PDFs of all of my patterns on there, organized in folders. I use the pattern right from the app. You can keep notes on your project. There’s a timer so you can determine how long it takes to make an item. (Great for helping with pricing if you sell finished products.) It syncs my phone with my iPad so I always have up-to-date info on both. And it does much more.
I LOVE ROW COUNTER!!!
The Wool Jeanies are sooooo useful when you have a project with lots of different colours... no more winding yarn on bobbins and having to guess that you've got enough yarn on those bobbins... I have an entire row of Jeanies with extra spindles+bases and can just click and swap around as needed...
I just downloaded it and am going to try it out today. Thanks for the recommendation 😊
Always enjoy your videos but after crocheting for over forty years, I don't see the need to change anything - the if it aint broke, done fix it attitude.
I was having elbow pain from crocheting, so I bought a V shaped pillow for about £12 from Amazon and that has helped loads! A cheaper solution to the pillow in the video. Loved seeing all these different gadgets, definitely tempted by the wool genie!
My wool genie has been so great! I never have to pull aggressively at my yarn. It's perfect for mindless crocheting while watching my favourite shows 😊
Ok, ok, as the 46% - subscribed. Twist my rubber arm 🤪 in all honesty, I’ve been watching your content for a while and thought I was already subscribed!!!
3:32 “Mom, is it bed time?” Such a cute little pup❤
Your furbaby is so adorable & I can tell that you’re such a good momma. Thank you for checking these gadgets out & sharing your thoughts about them, that’s so helpful.
I am 61 with less than perfect eyesight and the only way I can crochet with really dark yarn is with my trusty neck light. Mine was about $20 on Amazon and it has warm and cool light choices and three brightnesses. Love it. I have a lighted crochet hook that I have never liked using. The light is too bright and seems even brighter somehow because I wear glasses. Hate it.
hahahahah omg the red bull comment had me crying 😂😂😂 loved this video!
I can't live without my Clover stitch markers! They're so easy to use and don't fall out of the stitch.
6:21 - That Red Bull joke got me 😆
I was opening the comments to say the same thing!
For the safety eyes, the prym vario works just as good. I always support new brands, but as it's not available at the moment, this would be something for everyone wanting to buy it now. The valario pillows are nice, but I don't like that they aren't size inclusive. The elongating strip you can buy doesn't work for larger people as there is no pillow at the sides anymore. So a larger size, somewhere between the original and a nursing pillow would be perfect 🤗
I love lemonwood. I have an xl lavander and a mini black cat. They are in my state arizona so buying them is buying american.
“Insert the foot into the bottom of the body…”
Husband walks in,”What in the world are you watching??!!”
I love it when you do reviews etc. I love gadgets but have become rather selective after a few things that disappointed. Now I look a lot, think even more and eventually decided yes or no. I love the neck light looks fantastic but I am small and wonder if the arms might to too long on me. In my now style I will look into it and see further about it. I live in Australia so maybe we don't have them here and postage from USA would be too much. Always love your channel.
hello from Germany... my english is realy not so good as I wish, sorry.
But I must tell you about my must have crochet tool ... my cats! yes you read right.. I have my yarn in a bowl, and sometimes it will jump out of the bowl.. and both of my cats love to watch over the yarn and take care, that the yarn stays in the bowl and dont run away, Or they sit right behind me on my sofa and purrr the hole time, that ist so relaxing... so kntting och crocheing without my cats ist realy not possible.
I hope you understand what I wrote.
Your videos help me to learn my english and you talk with so mutch love about crocheing, tha keeps me to create so may thins... thank you
My cats do the same thing!
That safety eye gadget seems good but you are putting the eyes on a flat swatch and this is not how eyes are attached when crocheting an amigurimi. That gadget seems to big to put inside the head of most Amigurumi. Also didn't you do a review of 2 different types of lighted crochet hooks about 1 year ago and there was one you didn't like. You didn't say whether this one was different.
My 'necessary' item is a yarn provider (finger rings) I actually use both at the same time - one on the second finger to guide the yarn, and one on the base of the thumb to control the tension (depending how I will tie the yarn around it: that will mostly be the tension)
Yes it is a 'pain' to set up, and get off - if you want to be negative like my friend - but the relief for my hand is humongous. The tension is almost always the same, I don't have the problem that I either keep releasing it unconsciously and then have to wind it around my fingers for the 10th time in one knitt sitting, or stiff the hand to hard and I quickly have pain and so have to stop. The rings keep the yarn themselves.
That pillow looks like it would be too heavy on my stomach. I mean, with it you look the size I am without. I much rather add pillows under my arms... Same for lights, I bought one for knitting, found that my body got in the way, switched to good spotlights behind my knitting station and now use it at my vacation site that doesn't have perfect lighting at night (so, you know, when I get up in the middle of the night). The yarn holders I like, I have a wrist one hanging beside me. I found that you need to have your work level with it for it to work properly. I still use pottery bowls but only for colour work. This doesn't gather dust and pet hair like a bowl does... (It's shedding season😢 ). Honestly, looking for knick-knack notions is half the fun, I have the soul of a collector. Dragon. Magpie. I love to organise all my stuff and stash in the most usable way and I redo it often as my usage needs change. Jumpers are a by-product😂
i LOVE!!!!! the lemon wood mini minder!! It works really well and if you have any issues with your order, they send replacements! I had a hang on hook that didn't have/lost the rubberpiece inside of the hook to keep the rod in place, and they sent me a new hook thats a lot better for free!!! i LOVE it so much and it really helps!! Especially with the yarn cake combo, my word
I guess I'm a gadget lover because I own almost all of these! LOL. I especially love my Valari pillow, it's helped a lot in reducing carpal tunnel symptoms and shoulder pain when knitting and crocheting. I bought a Lumos lumos light after being very disappointed in a $20 neck light I had. It may cost over twice as much but it lasts much longer on one charge than the other set lasted with batteries and the light temperature and brightness settings make it worthy of the price to me. I have a yarn to go carousel from Twice Sheared Sheep that is very similar to the mini minder. It includes a magnetic rotating base that makes it handy for knitting/crochet at home and when I leave I pull of the base, attach the handle and I'm good to keep knitting!
omg not you censoring your dog (presumably licking their butt) 😅😅 made me laugh a lot!! Also i love your vids ❤
the tempurature blanket was personal😭
😂 hey I’m currently working on my temp blanket and I literally just bought that travel yarn holder
The clear lucite lighted hooks aren’t very useful but a cloudy one would be useful for using in moderate light with dark yarn.
Even if I had that safety eye clamper, I’d probably still use my teeth to get the job done! 😅
Meanwhile, I'm over here using a post it note or a scrap of paper as a stitch counter. My favorite gadget is a printer so I can print off patterns and write on them.
My husband got me the lighted hook set. He has won 🏆 some severe brownie points. I love it
You did hear they postponed manufacturing those safety eye plyers. They decided to change them to cover all the sizes. He said will be over a year before they can get them out.
I gotta say, I'm one of those people who was watching and not subscribed. Until now obviously!
Also, i know we all hate this advice, but take breaks. Honestly, like every 20 minutes or so just... Stand up, stretch your arms and neck a little. Pet a cat maybe. Change the chair you're sitting in every now and then. If you're one of those who can continue whilst walking or standing, do that for a little while. You will feel better. I promise ❤
You're so right! No one wants to hear it, but this is really one of the best tips for staying healthy as a maker. Taking breaks, stretching, and staying hyrdrated.
I have 3 wool jeanies and they are a MUST for me... mostly for medcal reasons... but omg I love mine.
100%, my favorite stitch counter is the My Row Counter app. Allows me to switch easily between different projects if I switch up what I'm working on, allows me to import my pattern and set secondary counters linked to the 'global' counter, so that I can track pattern repeats or pieces of a larger project. And its on my phone, so I always have it with me.
Toni, I cannot crochet without my neck light! These old eyes have done a lot of lookin' over the decades and it's taken its toll. Even in what I consider good lighting I can finally see my stitches using a smaller hook and yarn with that gadget :)
I laughed about the left handed, sooo I taught myself via youtube but didnt think to look for left handed tutorials so I crochet right handed even though im left handed in everything else lol
Closest thing to a ‘gadget’ that I’ve used is using my music stand to hold patterns so I don’t have to keep looking down
I’m glad I took a photo of my yarn winder in the box. Otherwise, it would never make it back in.
Oh I'd loooove the pillow for the elbow support! I've been using my nan's old teapot as a yarn bowl for a good while now since I need one that's cat proof. I feed the yarn through the nozzle, pop the lid on and bam it's all set. Seems to work just fine as long as the ball of yarn is small and tight enough, some I've had to rewind but I find it therapeutic to do by hand (did it for my nan when I was little and we'd pull apart old knits to make new ones, she was very frugal and didn't hesitate to recycle a child's old sweater into mittens) so it's not a big deal 😊 only annoying thing is that I'm a bit glued to it and have gotten a few funny looks pulling it out in a cafe or bus lmao 😂 But it keeps the yarn clean so well! Much love from Finland, super fun video! Subscribed 🎉
A teapot for a yarn bowl is absolutely genius
I have the wool genie and love it. It is great for the skeins that you cannot find the end piece in the middle of the skein. Very convenient for me.
That wool genie is exactly what I need for crochet thread balls. It might just be the answer to that little issue.
I’m a little bit skeptical about the safety eye pliers, they can easily secure the eyes but what happens if you make a mistake positioning the eyes and have to take them out again? Is it much more difficult to remove the eye backings after they’ve been clicked in? Can the tool help with removing the eyes too? (might be an idea for a new 3d printed modification to the plier design 👀)
7:23 for those who are wondering
Thanks for a great and informative video!
The wool genie is good. Alison Russell recommended it.
I have this. It's good
I got a neck light on Amazon for about $20!
Thank you for doing an honest, detailed review of each gadget. Love your videos ❤🇦🇺
Have you ever heard of or tried Knooking? It’s similar to Tunisian crochet, knitting and regular crochet!
I’m curious about that too. I got a knook and a book years ago but never tried it.
Why did doggo get pixelated?? Random 😂
Doggo had no shame 🤭
My temperature blanket is at the bottom of my closet and I will never finish it! 😂😂😂
i am in LOOOVE with that safety eye tool!! no more wrecking my nails or hurting my fingers trying to pry those bad boys on
The Valari reminds me of nursing pillows
I've been seeing those lumos lights all over instragram (Im not a tiktok girl) and I kept putting it off and putting it off. Finally purchased one a couple days ago and you come up with a discount code!! That is just my luck. I mostly crochet amigurumi, but I'm trying to branch out to blankets and stuff. I really need those safety eye things. The struggle is real trying to get some of these eyes secured with just my limited hand strength!
There are several cheap ones on Etsy not plier type but they do make it easier to put in eyes.
Lovely video as always!!! 9:17 I have that yarn ball winder, and it has been super easy to use, and I use it for EVERYTHING! It is amazing for orgagnizing yarn, I was hesitant to buy it, but it has turned out really nice! So I totally agree on it being Stitch!
I think my favourite crochet gadget of this video is that cute doggy.
And I think everyone agrees we want to see more crocheted doggy items. I'm sure the little pooch won't mind being used as a mannequin if you just provide enough doggy snacks. XD
Can you do this for knitting too? This was great even for someone who doesn't crochet haha
I don't really knit like that - sorry babes
I've got a wool genie (like product... mine is wood) and I won't crochet without it. It makes all the yarn yanking every 10 stitches completely out-dated and unnecessary. The yarn just flows like a river. I love it!
Oh, the red bull comment made me howl!! 🤣
I live in the desert with no a/c so that pillow would be too hot.
ive heard many many manyyy mixed things on the light up hooks, majority negative over positive. the main consensus was ditch them in place for the neck light. it also leads into the overconsumption of hooks, if you have 17 sets i can promise you dont need this one. i thought this was going to be a lot more deinfluencing like the other ones iv watched, many other items on here were also ditched by other big name creators.
I got a set of lighted METAL hooks. I find them useful.
I've NEVER been this early. Been watching you since I started crocheting in late 2019. Keep up the amazing work!!! You're SUCH an inspiration!
So, brought neck light, wool winder and lighted hooks. Already had the pillow, from a local charity shop, had no clue what is was for but turned it round and will never go back. Thank you from me, Not sure husband will be so grateful immediately. LOL. Thank you.
I love this channel. I've just started my crochet journey and learned two stitches that I'm incredibly proud of. I would eventually love to try Tunisian crochet, but the needles are sadly too long for me.
Another Row Counting Idea: Use the notes app on your phone! Literally just update each row you stitch on the note after you finish it just like any other row counter
Thank you for the gadget reviews. They were all very helpful.🥰
ahhh thank you so much for the shout out! this entire roundup is great and such an inspiration 💚
Happy to been here
I'm new to crochet and just finished my first project: a scarf for a friend who lives in Colorado!
When I tried to crochet in the evenings it really hurt my eyes, but my husband suggested I use a head lamp. I got the cheapest one at the store and it works great! Also I use my Barbie movie popcorn bucket as a yarn bowl.
I love all your videos and I'm looking forward to making the Molly Waffle Blanket.
I've had the KnitPicks yarn ball winder for a couple of years now and it works great!