One thing you didn't mention but I think every knitter really needs, is a tape measure!! Most every knitting pattern will require you to measure somewhere and you'll want to measure your gauge for garments especially, it's really indispensable
Take yarn in a color that you don't like. Mark in 2 inch increments with a permanent marker, and keep in the bottom of your project bag (or in your notions pouch). Make a few, and you'll never need to carry a tape measure.
Yes. I have 2. One that you get from a hardware store and one for body measurements that you see in lots of sewing kits. The sewing one is to get an accurant measurement if i am doing something for wearing and then the fabric measured with the hardware tape measure to measure the laid out knit work. I find the sewing tape measure can be semi innacurate as it is so flexible and twistable when you are measuring a flat length
as someone who accidentally drops a lot of stitches, I would also add a crochet hook as a vital piece of kit. it makes picking up the dropped stitch and laddering it back up much easier
Also when you made a mistake in a knit/purl pattern 20 rows down, and even if no-one else would notice YOU WOULD. So now you've gotta ladder aaaaallllll the way down and then knit that back up. Use a crochet hook for that.
I absolutely agree that you don't need to own a lot of these things, but sharing one between a couple of people can be great. My best friend owns a ball winder that I pop round and use sometimes, I've got another friend who owns a blocking mat that I can borrow, and I lend them my collection of double pointed needles as they need them. The sharing economy works great for slightly specialist tools you only need now and then!
I typically work with finer yarn and a yarn winder is an absolute must. To ball a hank of DK or fingering by hand literally takes over an hour. My recommendation for eco-concious beginners is to: a) have the place where you bought your yarn from wind it for you (they can usually do that) b) post on your local zero waste/buy nothing/ eco group page and ask if you can borrow someone's ball winder c) if you have friends or family who knit, buy one to share. Since you only use it once in a while, there's no sense in everyone needing their own.
If winding yarn by hand isn't your thing, some yarn shops will wind it for you! I had a grand time watching the automatic winder the last time I bought a big bunch of yarn. Plus, it gives you more time to chat with the yarn shop employees 😊
super agree, if i hadn't had my yarn caked up by the employees at the store i went to on a whim one day 2 years ago, i wouldn't have found out about their knit nights! i would be sorely lacking in friends now!
Honestly a ball winder to me is essential. My local library allows you to check them out so I did that for the first year before I got one for my birthday. I think hand winding one skein is fine but when it’s an entire sweater of fingering weight yarn then it’s needed.
I love that your library has one! I should suggest that for my library's library of things. I got a swift and winder for Christmas last year after 20 years of knitting and wow it's changed my life!
I dropped a stitch once while knitting looking after my triplet grandsons. When I sighed they asked what's up nan, told them I had dropped a stitch, they were on the floor quick as a flash, at my feet looking for it. They were about 3 at the time.
It is so interesting to me what different things we consider essentials. Been knitting for years without a row counter, I can just count the rows I've knitted, even in lace or cable patterns. Stitch markers to me are an essential, since I lose thread markers and safety pins get tangled more easily. And, I love my swift and ball winder. I resisted for a couple of years but got RSI symptoms with the fine yarns I'm using, and got them both secondhand :D I look forward to seeing more of your knitting and sewing journey!
For stitch markers, I use some very specific safety pins that come when buying men's shirts. They have a very round shape and I thread some wooden beads onto them to make them behave less annoying during knitting. I love it, they are free! I also used to use soda tabs, but with my wooden needles I find the soda tabs to be too rough & scratch on the wood...
I lose row counters, but will quickly lose track just counting in my head, so I use pen & paper. I put a sticky note on my pattern sheet and make tally marks to count rows.
@@MissNoechen I was going to say the bulb safety pins make great stitch markers too. I like the idea of adding a bead. I'd probably be less likely to lose them that way too.
I recently learned that (at least some) different brands of interchangeable needles use the same connectors, so for example I can screw my Lykke needles onto my KnitPro cables and vice versa. Meaning you're not even locked into a single brand when you start a collection of interchangeable needles 😊
Nice job as always, Leena! A few things that occurred to me as I was watching (I have been knitting and crocheting badly for many years but have started to actually get good at it in the last couple): 1. I use a row counter app on my phone! I don't need my knitting time to be screen-free, so this works for me personally. 2. I would also recommend a measuring tape or ruler! My tool that I use to figure out what size of needles I have is also a ruler, so it's like two tools in one. 3. If it's at all affordable for someone, I would recommend that they buy a full set of interchangeable needles when they're ready to move to that stage of their knitting. If they are at a point when they are started to pay attention to their gauge (like while knitting a sweater, for example), it can be really handy to have needles that are a size up or down from what's written in the pattern. That way, if they aren't knitting at the right gauge, they can just change their needle size instead of trying to knit differently. I hope that's helpful for folks!
Something to bear in mind is also the lifespan of these items in regard to you as a knitter. When I was in my first 2 years ish of knitting I loved my row counter, but as I got quicker the time it took to put down my my knitting, click the button and pick it back up again became more irritating. So now I just read my knitting and count rows or pattern repeats, which is an important aspect of knitting in itself. If I could go back I would probably tell younger knitter me to forgo the row counter and just use a pen and notepad or just look back over the work and count!
I just keep track by making check marks and notes right on my patterns. I have friends who swear by their row counters but I can't stand having one more thing dangling from my knitting
I use a counting thread in a contrasting colour instead of a row counter. Cheap, easy to get more when I lose it, and doesn't come out once it's through a few rows.
yes i bought a row counter early on and with my adhd it just didn't work out. i would forget to click it, or forget if the number meant i had just started that row or if i'd just finished it. now i just use lots of lightbulb safety pin stitch markers. you can get a bunch of them very inexpensively and they come in so handy for so many things other than knitting.
One thing about buying yarn in secondhand places: try to find them with their labels if you're a beginner can be really helpful since they usually write what size of needles to use. You don't necessarily need to match needle and yarn sizes, but that should help when you're starting out.
Okay so winding yarn takes 15 minutes by hand… if you’re using beginner friendly bulky yarn. Get into 400m skeins of fingering weight and you’ll reassess your current stance on winders 😂😂😂
Yeah, I agree! I've never used Bulky - just Fingering, etc. I'd have had to wind 10 different colors, 2 balls each, so 20 balls for the sweater I'm on now.. Well, NO THANKS - I'd rather be knitting! So, I DO have a ball winder - but I didn't buy one for quite some time, until I really saw the need and my knitting picked up a lot of speed. Then I moved up - gifted the original to my daughter and bought an Electric One as the manual made my back hurt. Plus, I earned my money, so...I deserve an occasional gift! :)
For a blocking mat, an old yoga mat (or a current one that you can pull out of use if you can tolerate some pin-holes!) works perfectly. I’m sure family/friends/a buy nothing group has one that’s damaged and unused - if this is the case you can cut it into squares and rearrange the tiles as your garments require. Very handy to have once you move to knitting lace or brioche (though I agree that towels work great for basic designs)!
This. I didn’t buy one until I made a shawl with a little bit of lace and 💯 cannot express the amount of appreciation I have. I bought a set of floor mats for children lol
@@comeseeaboutmeI have a blocking board set that's just like those! I can make whatever shape I need, then break it down and store it in its zip-up case. I wonder if the kid's mats cost less, though? It would be a good thing to compare prices on if you're considering it.
Beginner knitter here! Yarn softness: I hold it onto my face or wrists to see if i find it itchy, as sometimes the yarn is okay on my hands but not on more sensitive skin. Stitch markers: if you need it to go over the needle, you can use the round end of a large safety pin
Excellent video!!!! I can't resist sharing a few more tips. I am a long time knitter and knitting teacher: If you decide to knit one of those blanket with your hands with the giant unspun roving shown in the clip- be aware that the blanket is not washable and can be torn apart. If you have little kids or a pet like likes to chew on things, it will be destroyed, and it will get grubby no matter what. A few more observations: Cotton, linen and other plant fiber based yarn don't spring back like wool, so you are more likely to hurt your hands as you knit, especially if you are a new knitter with an iron grip. Choose a standard looking yarn, especially when you first get started. There are some wacky novelty yarns which look fun and pretty, but aren't much fun to knit with. Don't confuse fun to look at with fun to knit. Blocking mats are for knitted lace, which needs to be pulled open as it dries to show off the pattern. Row counters are a personal choice. I've never used a row counter. I use a tape measure to check my progress. If you buy a skein of yarn in a shop, and you don't own a ball winder and a swift, always ask them to wind it into a ball for you! They can wind a ball in less than five minutes, and beginners often end up with massive tangled skeins and tears when they attempt to do it by hand.
Leena, there is another use for the little needle gauges (at least those that have full holes)! I use mine to estimate which needle size is appropriate for a yarn that did not have a lable anymore, because it's secondhand, or if I hold two strands together. I put a little loop of the yarn through the hole, so it's doubled, and just have a look if the yarn has too much space around it, then the needle size would be too big, or if the yarn is really squished, then the needle would be too small. You usually get around 3 sizes that are a happy medium and you can choose out of these what kind of fabric you want. The tighter one for socks and mittens and looser for sweaters, etc. Give it a try, it works very well for me. 😊❤️
I’ve been knitting for many many years now, and can agree you don’t need to get all the things to start off knitting. My general rule is to try to find tools that have multiple purposed. You don’t need fancy scissors for knitting, but using kitchen shears is a bit extra to carry about, a good pair of thread scissors works for knitting and sewing. I never knit on double points, but they make great cable needles. You can get a needle gauge ruler as a single notion. I would not use normal safety pins for stitch markers, unless they were coiled pins. The coils tend to rub and wear on some yarns, a good set of locking stitch markers are maybe $3, you can use them to mark stitch and row count.. Large ziploc bags are great project bags. 😂
I love how personal of a hobby all fiber arts are! I adore my blocking mats (which are actually kids foam mats because they're cheaper & exactly the same thing). But have never once used any of the many MANY row counters I've had passed down to me from various knitting family members
A tip learnt from my mother (1914 to 1999). She used to put the skein of wool over her knees when winding it. No need for chairs or kind friends! Also, when holding the half wound ball she wound the wool around her fingers too. That way, you can't stretch the wool and so it doesn't lose its natural elasticity.
Add to the unhaul list: those yarn bowls with the little curly groove to feed the yarn through. Especially the wooden ones that are never as smooth as they need to be and snag yarn like crazy!
I use an IKEA metal baking bowl with a silicone bottom. I bought it at a thrift store for like 50cents and it works perfectly as a yarn bowl.. those wooden ones look like they might make it harder to control tension.. just like how I feel about tension rings !
My boyfriend got me one for Christmas this past year. It’s been my first time experiencing feeling obligated to use something I hate because it came from a loved one lol
I am a very experienced knitter and I don't watch the majority of knitting content out there, but I enjoy coming along on your knitting journey and watching you progress and figure things out. Maybe it's because you're not a Knitting Channel™, maybe it's because there's not usually anything new the other channels can tell me. Whatever. I enjoy your updates and insights, even if I just 👏 in agreement. I think your recommendations are really solid and spot on. I have a lot of the knitting gear you said you'd unhaul and it's true: i just don't reach for those things. My mainstay tools are my interchangeable needles and the tightening pin, a little crochet hook and tapestry needle, a needle gauge, and yarn. If I need markers, i use bits of yarn or hair ties; i hand wind my balls on my thumb, with the skein around my neck (this means you can do it on the train, or anywhere); I count rows manually or use a length of yarn passed over every 5 rows... I do have a blocking board and pins, but I used to just put a towel on the carpet and pin to that (i have wood and concrete floors now, so...). Knitting really is very accessible, and I appreciate you reminding folks they don't need all the gadgets or need to spend what I may-or-may-not 🫣 on yarn. That, and reiterating you do get better at it with practice and experience. The first stuff you make might be weird, but that's just part of the process. And you can always frog it and start over! ❤ 🧶
If you have trouble counting you should get stitchmarkers. The lightbulb shaped safety-pin types that sometimes comes on clothing. I have a hard time keeping numbers straight so when I've cast on a lot of stitches I put a marker every 20 stitch and then I just have to count the stitches. When counting rows I like to use a long piece of yarn and fold in between stitches every 10 row or so. So when I count rows on a sleeve for example there will be a string running on the outside for 10 rows, then on the inside for 10 rows and so on.
I was about to make this same suggestion lol. Amazon has a box of 1500 for about $6. They are fabulous. And when she does move on to the smaller yarns she will want a thinner marker to prevent spaces or ladders from a super thick and bulky safety pin. The other thing I was going to mention, how fabulous it can be to purchase a little stitch marker that is from a favorite shop or souvenir marker. The ones designed specifically for the shop has become my favorite. I try to attach to the hank of yarn I purchase then use them together when I knit the yarn. Always brings joy back to the experience of the shop and the day out.
Absolutely agree with everything, especially as a beginner you don't need much. Personally I absolutely need my ball winder and especially the other thingie that holds the yarn while it's being wound. Too many fingering and lace weight skeins I had to untangle after trying to wind them from my lap 🥲
I recommend the lightbulb stitch markers, they come in packs of 50-100, are dirt cheap so losing them isn't an issue. You can either put them on the needle, or attach them to the yarn to count the rows (adding one every 5-10 rows for instance) which also takes out the need for a row counter. I use knit companion on my ipad for my patterns and that has row counters built in, or for smaller patterns I just use a pencil and tally lines. I 100% agree with interchangeables, it was so frustrating at the start having to buy different needles and cables so I didninvest in a full set, but I have still had to buy extra cables to go along with it. And I did get a yarn swift and winder but asked for them as gifts for birthday/ christmas. I would also add a crochet hook to the essential kit, it makes picking up dropped stitches much easier. And a tape measure.
Great video! One thing I will say about tiny scissors is that they do fit into my little tool pouch much easier than the big kitchen scissors (and some have a safety cap so you don't stab yourself on the pointy end), so while they may not be essential for knitting at home I would say they're important for a travel kit. There's no reason to spend a ton of money on them though, unless you like the pretties. I've actually found a few of the tiny 'embroidery scissors' I've had happen to look suspiciously similar to a pair of nail scissors.
I buy children's scissors at back to school time. AND because I have a kid, sometimes the only thing that I can find to cut my yarn is nail clippers. I will say, she has not touched my fabric scissors. My sister told her that "Unless you want to die a slow death, NEVER touch your mom's fabric scissors!" (I swear I am not that bad!) And yes, I will only use fabric scissors on fabric, not yarn. Yes, I know that is weird, I cannot help it.
That's why I got my cheap pair of tiny scissors too at first but tbh I think it's just handy in general that they are in reach whenever I need them. Especially since I attached them to a lanyard and keep them around my neck while working. xD
@@juulian1306 I only paid $1 for my beautiful little golden "Duck" scissors, and they're really sharp! Don't have to spend alot, but I do believe they are necessary.
Jumping in here in defence of blocking mats: if you have any desire to do lace knitting, blocking mats and pins are so helpful. You can block without them but it makes SUCH a difference to have the proper equipment for the more delicate pieces like this!
Loved the video! I recently found out that you can use a spare strand of yarn as a row counter. You place it in between two stitches somewhere and flip it to the other side of the project every five rows. It looks like a vertical running stitch on your project (sounds more confusing than it is). I prefer this method because you can count rows super fast, and it doesn't matter if you forget to count a row once in a while. The downside is that it's way less satisfying (:
I never got the hang of knitting, but I used to LOVE using the yarn winder as a kid. It's one of those oddly satisfying things. 😅 I can appreciate that it's not necessary, but it is fun. If you have little people in your life who want to help while you knit, it's something easy and fun for them to do.
THANK YOU for deinfluencing (lol) blocking mats! I've just got into crochet and they are everywhere as a "necessity" but I love the idea of just pinning to a tea towel or something, that's so much easier to store (and clean, if need be!), so thank you for this video!!!
I agree with your list especially for beginners. I want to share my experience a bit though. I was using the very basics when I started. As well as basic yarn. I did ok and liked knitting. But as soon as I found luxury fibers and hand dyed/indie dyed yarns my knitting world exploded! I just found it so much more enjoyable to handle those yarns. The little gadgets, while not necessary, made my life so much easier when I would put something down then have to come back to it much later than expected. If you enjoy it, why not use it. Don’t be afraid to grow into your hobby. You are a fabulous knitter. Enjoy it !
As a crocheter, I don't really use stitch markers for blankets, granny squares, flat items. However, I just started making amigurumi, and they are essential for that. You can buy the plastic ones very cheaply. I did get myself a cute project bag from Etsy. It wasn't very expensive and I loved that they were all handmade by someone. I also use tote bags that I already had as well. If you really want pretty stitch markers, all they consist of is a charm (Not too heavy) and a lobster claw, or a hinged clasp. All of which you can find very inexpensively at a craft store. They make wonderful gifts and can double as a jewelry charm so you have it on hand.
100% agree with everything here, before I caved and got stitch markers for my amigurumi I used some bobby pins for a while! Stitch markers are definitely better but it was great for me as a beginner afraid to spend too much money
@@taylorsinicropi5786 Exactly! I tried every free and cheap option out there - and finally bought a small pack. NEVER going back! I'll keep and use my stitch markers, and when I've lost them all - I'll buy more! LOL. They're critical for me.
One thing I did without for years was needle stoppers, but once I tried them I cannot go back to knitting without them. My favorite needle gauge is a ruler with holes, it has 3 purposes, its a needle gauge, I can measure swatches, and I can check yarn weight.
As a lifelong knitter, I agree with all of your advice! And I can add a little advice too, which is that cutting up straws of various circumferences (from your "typical" one to the boba/bubble tea ones for wider needles) makes for very inexpensive and useful DIY stitch markers :) I also second the advice to have a soft tape measure, that is really vital as well. Oh, and also if you love knitting cables as much as I do, you can get yourself a cable needle or substitute with a toothpick/paper clip/tapestry needle, but runaway stitches do become riskier with the latter tools, especially if the yarn is a bit slippery!
I love this video ! A lot of people are trying to sell you stuff you don't need and it's unnerving but when you are a beginner you don't know. For the project bags, I had a funny moment of "Buutttt they are preeettttyyy XD". I don't have project bags, I resisted. If I begin to buy project bags it's over. I would have project bags everywhere. So I'm like : "I have to sew one, with every storage space I need." I didn't make one yet but it's helping me to rationnalise XD For the thing that help get the gauge of the needle : there is rulers that have holes inside to do that so you have one tool you can use for two things. It is handy. Everyone need rulers. (That is why I have several rulers. Do I need all these rulers ? Absolutely not. But I'll be ready. To what ? Dunno. But I have rulers XD)
Love this! As a long time knitter, I love lowering the barrier to entry to knitting, and not buying what you don't need really helps! My two cents: I do personally feel that fixed circular needles are slightly better because I've found that my yarn (especially the finer stuff) gets caught on the little connection points. These needles eventually unscrew no matter how tightly I screw them and creates a little gap for the yarn to get stuck on. Maybe this isn't a problem for thicker yarn and better made brands of needles. I love my ball winder and you can pry it from my cold dead hands, but it is absolutely not necessary. Most yarn stores will wind for a small fee, or borrow from a friend. You can also get a similar center pull style by winding into a carboard tube. Happy knitting!
Do you know what your knitting style is (English, continental, combined, etc)? I've been curious for a while if people's odds of the needle tips getting loose is influenced by that factor.
Funny, I've never had that problem! But I do know if the yarn gets stuck - your needles are becoming unscrewed (maybe you forgot/didn't tighten them enough or use a lower-end type?). I discovered this hint. So now it's a warning to retighten them.
Also, Tonya from Nerdy Knitting here on RUclips has tons of educational videos on knitting and multiple videos on things you may or may not need with your knitting practice. She is a certified master hand knitter, so she's got additional perspective in addition to yours, Leena, which thanks for sharing. I love how much you love knitting.
I agree with most of these - for a beginner/someone who just knits a bit as a hobby here and there. I think this is really awesome advice for anyone new to knitting, there's an overwhelming amount of stuff out there that makes it super confusing to get into and I've definitely bought things I did not need when I was starting out. I think some items should be up for consideration if/when one gets more into knitting though, for example I never used to use stitch markers or see the point but once I started getting into more complex garment construction, I found them absolutely essential to keep my place in pattern repeats/keep track of increases etc and they've really improved my knitting quality of life! I also use stitch markers to count my rows from a certain place, so to me a row counter is completely pointless.. but before I knew how to read my stitches so easily I think it would have been really helpful. Same for the ball winder/swift, I used to wind by hand but once I started getting more into finer yarns and larger projects, I decided it would actually be worth getting a winder and I have zero regrets :D
Exactly what happened to me! I knit whatever I decide at that moment, and it wasn't until i knit a lace shawl that I realized the tool box was going to grow! My 2nd lacey item was then so much easier!
For those who often lose things, there are even row counters that go on your needles! I use mine like an extra stitch marker and it is a life-saver. And many yarn shops will wind your yarn for you if you ask
100% agree with the row counter! pressing that after a finished row and getting that clicking sound - so satisfying! as stitch markers I use those safety pins that are bigger on one end (shaped like a pear), they are literally the ones you can buy as stitch markers. But I get them from clothes tags. Lot's of sustainable brands use exactly those pins and I just keep collecting them for knitting I can also recommend having at least one crochet hook as a knitter, makes catching dropped stitches so much easier :)
Yess!! I bought an interchangeable knitting needle set as my third "pair" of needles when I realised you need a BILLION needle sizes and cable sizes. And my grandma and mum have a mountain of needles for a life time of collecting, soooo many in the same size. Do it immediately!
The ball winder was helpful when my husband was unraveling a few second hand sweaters that had yarn he wanted for other projects. As he was unwinding the sweaters he was having to tie small knots to hook up the yarn and keep tension while untying knots. They're a handy tool if you're recycling a fast fashion knit piece that has yarn you like.
My knitting essentials: my Chiagoo interchangeable needle set, a tape measure, and my tiny tool bag which holds all my small essentials (little scissors, tapestry needles, row counter, little crochet hook to pick up stitches, and stitch markers). It's funny how personal the concept of an essential really is!
Yes! I knit a lot and this is a 1000% spot on list of what you dont need. Interchangeables though, worth it. And row counters are gold, but if you lose yours under the couch for a month, tally marks on a notebook work too!
I use sticky notes for my tally marks, that way I can stick it to the pattern sheet or book and I have everything together. I will lose row counters while out and about, so I don't bother buying them.
Knitting is so varied that our tool boxes are too. 😊 And, sometimes, you’ve got to create your own. For instance, not everybody’s technique or project works well with circular needles. (There’s a rabbit hole you might one day fall into: the million different ways of holding needles and putting in stitches around the world.) I was round your age when I decided to knit a queen size Aran blanket (about 380 stitches!) Circular needles wouldn’t work and neither would piecing the blanket (it had a particular cabled design) I doctored some long metal needles with some plastic and plugs at the end. (Such “extended needles” do exist but I had no access to them). Somehow it worked and, after months of knitting, it came out awesome. Two more thoughts: I use loops of coloured thread as markers too (being soft they are less annoying) And, I only seem to need a row counter when I’ve tried lace knitting. (Most stressful thing ever. Did 3 times. Never again!)
With my adhd I seriously would not remember to use that counting thing every single time, and so it would be pretty useless. I know from the few times that I really DID have to keep count, that I would be stressing about it so much to not just keep going without writing it down. If it worked without me having to do anything, like a step counter, now THAT I could get behind! 😁
Me too! I've tried row counters but my mind wanders off. Something I do to save time is to pick an increment, like 5 rows, and just place a hand-length of yarn or string between the last stitch in the row and the first one, then knit across it for 5 more rows and do it again, and the little yarn tails help me quickly count rows later. They pull right out when I'm done counting.
i wrote about this below! I have a bunch of cheap plastic stitch markers in rainbow colors, and I put a marker in every row. I keep em in an Altoids box for traveling. This way I can count my rows fairly easily, and color code when i start a pattern, or when a sleeve starts, etc. I love my abundance of stitch markers!!! I've gone from only making simple, plain stitched projects (eg a garter square) to color work, garments, etc. I made my first piece of lace this month on tiny size 0 needles! My brain is so much more interested in the complex patterns.
what works for my audhd is to have the round counter on a stitch holder/a BIG safety pin and use it to mark the end of the round like a traditional stitch marker. this way I don't forget to use it because I have to move it from one needle to the next every time I start a round (this works best on in the round projects)
Maybe you would like a chain row counter! They make some that are numbered 1-10 and have a little attachment so you can count over 10. (Might need a visual to understand) but it’s always attached to the end of your knitting so you don’t have to remember to grab one from somewhere else
I just lose the counters, so it's the old pen & paper method for me. I put a sticky note on my pattern sheet/book so they're together and I can't lose them.
Swear by interchangeable needles! I definitely appreciate that I don't need to collect dozens of separate needles. Yarn feel is definitely something not enough people discuss
Great video as always! As someone who has been knitting for the better part of 20 years at this point, I whole-heartedly agree with your list! I don't use a row counter myself (mostly because I forget where I put mine...) but I just use the bits left from old notebooks to keep a tally of what I'm doing, because counting my knitted rows gets incredibly tedious lol. The one thing I will say regarding the needle gauge -- that tool can be really valuable if you knit a lot or buy second hand needles, as nearly every needle I have ever used has had the size information wear off with use, and also many of the ones I've seen will do double-duty to help you figure out your knitting gauge, as well! I have found that those are easier to wrangle than those flexible tape measures for checking your gauge, and I love a tool that has multiple uses.
Longtime knitter here: I love that lavender yarn against your crocus-colored sweater! I have never used a row counter: I find that making hash marks on a nearby piece of scrap paper works just fine (and in any case I only keep track of rows if I'm doing something tricky: generally I just figure out my row gauge and then measure to see if something's long enough). I do like having a needle gauge, because I've had some of my needles for over thirty years and the marks do indeed wear off! And needles in general last a lifetime and so are quite sustainable no matter what, so I don't mind having several circular ones and have never bought the interchangeable kind.
I'm a somewhat more experience knitter than you (I learned how to knit in something like 1971) and fully agree with your advice here! My daughter did make me some stitch markers and they're lovely and make me sentimental, but when I can't find them I still use safety pins. I've never had a row counter, though. I just figured out how to count rows and just count when I need to, or make hash marks on a piece of paper. I always thought ball winders were just for yarn shops, and they wind the balls for me if I ask.
Not everyone has knitting shops close by, is my only thought. And young people with children who also work may find that 20 minutes is pretty precious time! I sure did, as a young mother! Is it required? No. But it sure is nice to have!
I was crocheting a baby blanket while watching that. I totally agree on the ball winder. I discover that if I sit with my knees up and my feet flat I can hook that yarn around my knees and ball the yarn. I find I get few tangles than if I lay it in on the floor.
I completely agree about the ball winder! I also have no problem spending 20ish minutes winding by hand-it adds to the tactile experience, and I get to spend more time on my favorite hobby 😊🧶
As someone who has been knitting for 66 years I totally agree with you. Now I love my gadgets and have plenty of them, but when you’re starting out you don’t need them. I love circular needles because you can knit anything on them. I have 3 interchangeable sets and many plain ones. I have multiple needles in the same size because why have just one project going? LOL But when you’re beginning you’re probably going to have one project on the needles at a time. I would also add a tape measure.
Crochet person (knitting dropout) chiming in: paperclips, hair ties, bobby pins, fresh leaf petioles, stray ribbon from gifts, so many things can be stitch markers! It’s like bookmarks! I also like a little notebook to keep with the project to make note of pattern changes, yarn notes, or just project tracking. Notes have been useful for referencing gifts given when the recipient needs a mend or replacement.
I started knitting this year off the back of your learn to knit in 24 hours vid, I am loving every minute of it. Interchangeable needles is my next purchase so will probably do what you have done and get them as I need them. Love your knitting updates keep us all posted on your projects. thanks 🐑
I have been knitting for almost 20 years now (crazy to say that!) I have LOTS of needles and I'm fussy about my yarn. I do have some project bags, solely for my own organization and would never tell someone they needed that to get going. I knit pretty complicated cabled pieces and I still just use old beach towels instead of blocking mats! I do have a row counter and some simple stitch markers (really helps with those complicated cable pieces - I've not been able to make alternatives work well for stitch markers on those - or keep count by myself!) but no needle gauge or really much of anything else in terms of "gadgets." I wind all my yarn by hand! No ball winder! I do - however - try to get my yarn pre wound at a local yarn shop though.
Also the hack if you don’t want to buy/use a tape measure is to measure some yarn the length you need to knit to (on a ruler), then knot it to where you start your measurement. Knit until the yarn equals your knitted length.
I personally do need the plastic or metal stitch markers! I fear i will miss the marker if it isn't a tactile & clearly visible thing to catch my attention :D I'll just end up knitting the marker into my work lol!
Was I knitting while watching this? Why yes, yes I was! On the stitch markers - my current project (only a scarf but to a pattern and patterns are hard and confusing for me!) I ended up using hair bobbles because that was what I had to hand as stitch markers and, while they worked, they were annoying, so I am considering investing in some cute stitch markers to help my confused pattern brain! Also I recently treated myself to interchangeable needles and they have changed my knitting life!
Right! Those light bulb stitch markers are like 3.00 for 500 or some insane number! At the rate I lose them, I bought a big pkg! I swear they fly off my knitting!
Honestly I would love for you to do a follow-up in a year or two. Because by then maybe you can read your knitting or you moved on to a new favourite weight of yarn and your essentials might be totally different! What you need all depends on what type of projects you knit and that might change as well. For that reason, I would totally go for an interchangeable set. It was actually my first “big” knitting-related purchase and I didn’t regret it.
absolutely agree with all your opinions! it's so tempting to get loads of stuff, but truly, anything for trying to knit can be found at a thrift store and shouldn't be expensive.
I've had the luxury of a mother who's knitted since she was a teenager so she already had a bunch of the stuff, so I've been borrowing so much from her (including an old ball winder that used to belong to my grandmother 🥹), and then gradually figured out what stuff I actually need to own for myself. Of course you need the yarn and needles (circular needles! I also use the wooden symphonie ones that you seem to have, they're my favorites!). I definitely couldn't live without my stitch markers, but I also really like knitting cabled sweaters and stuff, I think they come in handy when you have some kind of pattern going on, or when you're doing increases. I definitely also think you need a tape measure. And I've been doing my blocking on a yoga mat lately, and that works just fine!
Love this, as someone who tried knitting and found it incredibly frustrating and dropped it because of it I think they type of needles can make a difference. I HATE plastic needles but once i picked up some wooden ones i fell in love with it, the glide makes it so much less frustrating!
I've never once used a row counter, but I love the little cheap-as-chips plastic round stitch markers and the metal lightbulb ones - so much nicer than the scrap yarn ones that I regularly knitted in. There are fantastic little kits for well under GBP10 that have a whole bunch of items: different types of stitch markers, tapestry needles, cable needles, measuring tape, crochet hook etc. That's a useful investment to have the basics covered. It's affordable and doesn't take up space.
The bird scissors brought me so much joy that they were a must-buy for me 🤣 but not straight away of course! Something so beautiful about the traditional design.
I think I must own close to a dozen pair of really nice embroidery scissors, other fiber art scissors, and yarn snips now. It is absolutely just that I love their little differences and designs but ALSO one time I didn’t put my folding embroidery scissors back in my travel tool kit and had to rip my yarn by hand for an intarsia project and it made me feel like my soul was leaving my body. I felt like a beast. A beast robbed of the simple and immense joy that comes from cleanly slicing yarn with very sharp and tiny scissors.
My favorite pair that I use all the time are the Bohin Mini Embroidery Scissors and my favorite pair that I rarely use but look at a lot are the LDH Imperial Scissors.
I've been knitting for 20+ years and agree with so much of this! I think good quality yarn and (interchangeable!) needles make the experience so much better, but beyond that almost every notion or accessory you need is easy to get second hand. As soon as you start knitting people will literally throw knitting stuff at you 😅
Thank you for this! Completely agree with everything and would absolutely agree with the tape measure comments as well. The other thing I love and is in the “not absolutely necessary but so very helpful” space is a pair of needle stoppers for the ends of my interchangeables. I love them for when I’m on the go, especially with smaller projects, and I have my project in s bag so I know that I don’t have any stitches slipping off the ends of my needles!
As someone who's been casually knitting for about 5 years I personally feel like these recommendations are pretty accurate! The only thing I would add is if you don't want to buy a row counter there are free apps that you can use! They're not quite as satisfying though 😊
I use stitch markers as also row counter for some cases - like do a thing every X rows. If X is under about 8, I use stitch markers instead of a row counter. I have the light bulb/coil-less safety pin type ones, so I'll have one "main" marker that goes on my needle and then a few more that hang off that marker. For example, if I have to decrease on row 1 and then knit 4 rows plain, I'll put 4 extra markers on my main marker. For every plain row I start, I swing the dangly marker onto my needle also (but still attached to the main marker). Once all the markers are on the needle, then it's time to do my decrease. At the start of that round, I'll go back to having just the main marker on the needle. If it's something more than 8ish rows, I'll just count in groups of ten and throw a pin into the work every 10 rounds/rows. Oh, and for scissors, I just use a nail clipper. They fit nicely into a little pouch I have for notion without poking anything (or me). Blocking mats - if you have any friends with small kids, they might have floor padding mats that are essentially blocking mats. When my friend's kids got big enough they didn't need them, they gave me 4 mats. They live beside my washing machine with my drying rack and are super handy. Even if I don't pin my sweater etc out on them, I like having knits dry on a flat surface rather than a rack because it keeps things flatter and less drooping parts etc.
one thing i'd add about buying yarn - see if the shop has little knit up samples you can touch of the yarn you want to buy. I bought a lot of yarn early on that was so cute on the skein but I didn't love as much when it was knit up.
I was working on my current project while listening to this video! For folks buying from specialty yarn/fabric stores, a lot of them will either have a ball winder available for you to use (and will teach you how to use it!) or might offer to wind it for you without any extra cost. I've gotten my own because I hate winding a ball the old fashioned way, get nervous at the yarn store, and find it fun to crank my skeins into cakes.
I have been knitting for years with just needles and yarn (and a tape measure). For absolute beginners, especially if you use a bit more chunky yarn, you don‘t need anything else. I used to weave in my ends with a Bobby-pin or just my fingers. Worked perfectly well. But I also mainly knitted hats and scarfs. One of my first additions was a cable-needle where you can store your stitches if you knit a cable design, but if you are just starting out, you can use a big safety pin or a spare knitting needle for that as well.
about the row counter, if i take up knitting i will 100% need something like that! my adhd-brain cannot retain numbers to the point that i forget how many flights of stairs i have walked up every time i come home to my apartment. i have to check the name on the doors to know i've reached the right floor. 😂
Project bags: I have them but still default to the plastic food zip ones. I can see what's in the bag and keeps the project clean of spills. Stitch markers: also have them but I've used the bulb safety pins more often. I use them to mark rows at intervals, hence dispensing with the row counters. I have also small lengths of previously used yarn. I knot the ends to form a loop. Ball winder and swift: I'd say get them. They don't have to be big. I have a winder that attaches to the table so it can be put away. I have 2 swifts: umbrella and a tabletop. Both can close or be taken apart to store. These items beat the frustration of tangles and holding a ball that slips out of my hand picking up animal hair and dirt.
Totally agree with your list here Leena!! I would say that a tape measure is clutch. You can get them super cheap and it's essential when knitting garments, since most patterns say to knit for X inches / cm :)
I actually prefer metal needles over wooden ones. The stitches slide much easier and more importantly, they bend when I inevitability accidentally sit on them or throw them in a bag with other stuff instead of breaking in two (which has happened to any wooden needle I use for more than one project😑)
Project bags so agree pretty and lovely as they my current bags are : a bag that came with bathroom things at Christmas, a bag that was to do with something at work and a fibre bag from a cake shop. No money spent.
finally someone who mentions the thing about stitch markers! When I got into crochet I was kind of confused about them, and have used safety pins ever since. Good to know I'm not the only one lol
I have found using a backpack as a project bag makes carrying it around much easier. You can buy them fairly cheap and then you have the perfect vehicle to carry projects around easily.
If you want to make a nice bag for your needles I recommend cool stitches patten for a knitting wrap. It’s scratched my itch for a nice set and I used scrap fabrics from previous projects. My other must have is boobie lights. They go round your neck so you can see better in low light situations. Ball winders are great for finer yarns and making sure that yarn is tensioned correctly, if it’s wound too tight it can stretch it out and mess with the gauge.
I'm a long time (but very basic) knitter and agree with everything you said. Especially the ball winder. Never owned one. I prefer doing it by hand. I do have a nostepinne, which takes up far less space than a winder, and it produces beautiful centre-pulled balls. But winding by hand is much faster. There's a knack to winding with a nostepinne and I have to be in the mood to use it. I save it for the best yarn in small amounts.
I have made do without stitch markers in a pinch many times, but they have become a luxury I can’t give up! They are just easier to move between needles than diy options I find. I mostly use the stitch markers that look like a little lightbulb shaped safety pin, and they are often used to secure price tags to clothing. So you may be able to get a few as a free bonus to a purchase!
I love the light bulb stitch markers. I got a set of 300 for really cheap. I can place them every 20 stitches to count when casting on, leave them on and if I make a mistake I can just check each section. Use them to mark beginning of round or raglan stitches. Put them in each increase/decrease in a sleeve to help keep track. On swifts and yarn winders, optional but so helpful for me. I buy fingering plant bases yarn (very slippery) which I would manage to tangle and then spend hours untangling or cut the yarn. The swift made me stop tangling. Yes there are thritier alternatives like the back of a chair or someone else's arms. The winder let me make cakes of yarn with a center pull.
for anybody interested in a row/stitch counter but not wanting to buy a whole new item for your knitting collection: there are tons of great counter apps you can download for free! i have counter widget as a widget on my phone's home screen that i use to count my rows. even better, you can set a target number so that you'll know when you've hit the number in your pattern (so you don't have to keep going back to check if you've knitted enough rows 😅) this has become one of my most used knitting tools. i may not always remember to bring a physical stitch counter with me when i'm knitting, but chances are i always have my phone
I've always been relatively immune to influencers, but your big knitting video where you showed off your hundred hats got me and I also got the Lauren Aston kit! Now I am 4 hats in (7 if you count the frogs and reknits of the same hat!), making my own gloves pattern and dreaming of knitting the edwardian cycling jumper I've lusted over for years! Knitting was one of the few textile crafts I don't dabble in after trying it years ago and not liking it much, but you've converted me!
A tip on blocking mats! The material is (largely) the same as most yoga/Pilates mat. So if you have one of those and aren't precious about a few little pokes in the back of your mat its a great way to use something that already exists
I use a crochet hook instead of a needle to weave in the ends of yarn (but I actually enjoy weaving in the ends and find it satisfying to spend more time with the hook). I also use paperclips for stitch markers. Just bought a tub of colourful paperclips, and slide the one end of the paperclip through a stich, twisting it once or twice until the stich is in the middle of the paperclip.
This is probably the first "supplies you don't need" video geared towards beginner knitters that I wholeheartedly agree with. A ball winder and swift can also be improvised (I cobbled one together using a rotating cheese platter board thingy, two cutting boards tied to the top of it and 4 bottles standing on each of the cutting board "arms", then placed the yarn around the bottlenecks and pushed the cheese platter with my foot to make it spin), and I also have wound yarn just sitting on the sofa with my knees raised and putting the yarn over them, tensioning it with my legs - you won't even need to do planks or work your abs after winding a skein like this! I personally did buy a winder and swift at some point, though. Wouldn't want to miss them now, but then again I'm an advanced/experienced knitter. Not professional, but definitely prolific ;) Personally, I'd be lost without a needle gauge because I inherited quite a few knitting needles with no markings. My favourite needle gauge is an "international" one - it has the metric sizes, US sizes, Australian sizes, and even the old UK sizes (very handy for vintage patterns...) on the same gauge! Additional thoughts about needles: 1) Needle material is down to personal preference and fibre type. Many continental style knitters prefer metal needles, and I personally only use wooden ones for slippery stuff like alpaca or when I need super large needle sizes. 2) Interchangeable circular knitting needles have a bit of a weak spot at the screws AND the joins, at least if you tend to work them hard. If you're a fast and tight knitter, or someone who knits stith patterns and techniques that require some weird movements, they might either become unscrewed or even break the cable entirely. The former is of course not irreversible, but you might still lose a lot of stitches, maybe even a whole project if you're unable to fix the damage, so you might get frustrated. If the cable breaks entirely, however, it quickly annihilates the sustainability bonus of interchangeables. As someone who knits a LOT, and FAST, and...adventurously, I've had cables break under my hands more than once, even high quality ones. I now tend to buy fixed circular needles; a few of each of my most frequently used sizes, and I keep a pair of interchangeable tips for everything above and below that range. I've been doing the whole "If I want it, I have to make it" thing since 2019 and 2024 is actually the first year I've allowed myself to shop for clothes again because my needs have changed. I'm 35 now, a lot of my stuff is over 10 years old, and while I have always had a style that didn't necessarily follow the trends (almost nothing screams 2010s too obviously), many items still give off "girl in her 20s", and that's just not me anymore, and not how I'd like to be perceived. There's no way I can handle a full-time occupation AND making a whole new wardrobe on the side, so the occasional purchase is okay again for a bit. Feels weird after 5 years, I'll say that much! Excited to see you grow on your knitting and making journey! You certainly helped me along on my vegetarian/plant-based food one :) Thanks and enjoy your crafting!
When I started knitting about ten years ago, I got some free yarn and some cheap bamboo needles! Over time, I bought some needle stoppers (after losing a sweater when it unraveled) and some markers. That was it. The absolute bare minimum. Later on, as I got more dedicated ,and gained more skills, I bought more expensive yarn and interchangeable needles.
I have the same row counter, and I have a specific stitch counter that is like a ring on my finger. Those are ideal when starting a project with many stitches to start with, or when you're using multiple colours per row! I like it because you don't need to put your needles down when "clicking" your counter :D
I like that everyone seems to agree that to knit, you need needles + yarn + one other thing specific to how their mind works
I love this comment :)
Absolutely, my brain doesn’t work with row counters, but loves stitch markers
Yarn needle to weave in the ends/seam/double as a cable needle if necessary.
Hahah this has to be the exact, correct, scientific formula for how it works.
Anything can double as a cable needle lol, they’re really not necessary.
One thing you didn't mention but I think every knitter really needs, is a tape measure!! Most every knitting pattern will require you to measure somewhere and you'll want to measure your gauge for garments especially, it's really indispensable
This! It makes your life so much easier if you have one
I agree, if you're knitting for someone else. But to knit foe yourself, I believe you're able to try it on as you go.
Take yarn in a color that you don't like. Mark in 2 inch increments with a permanent marker, and keep in the bottom of your project bag (or in your notions pouch). Make a few, and you'll never need to carry a tape measure.
Yes. I have 2. One that you get from a hardware store and one for body measurements that you see in lots of sewing kits. The sewing one is to get an accurant measurement if i am doing something for wearing and then the fabric measured with the hardware tape measure to measure the laid out knit work.
I find the sewing tape measure can be semi innacurate as it is so flexible and twistable when you are measuring a flat length
as someone who accidentally drops a lot of stitches, I would also add a crochet hook as a vital piece of kit. it makes picking up the dropped stitch and laddering it back up much easier
And then you don't really need the tapestry need. You can just weave the end in with the hook.
I always misplace mine! But the darn needle has helped when I couldn't find. I do admit to having to silly things with it to make my knitting better
You should try a latched needle then. Gamechanger
@@RoseFire6lmao good luck with that. Pain in the arse. Tapestry needles are like £2 for 20.
Also when you made a mistake in a knit/purl pattern 20 rows down, and even if no-one else would notice YOU WOULD. So now you've gotta ladder aaaaallllll the way down and then knit that back up. Use a crochet hook for that.
I absolutely agree that you don't need to own a lot of these things, but sharing one between a couple of people can be great. My best friend owns a ball winder that I pop round and use sometimes, I've got another friend who owns a blocking mat that I can borrow, and I lend them my collection of double pointed needles as they need them.
The sharing economy works great for slightly specialist tools you only need now and then!
I wish i had yarn friends around that I could exchange things like that with! unfortunately, I am the only one :(
I typically work with finer yarn and a yarn winder is an absolute must. To ball a hank of DK or fingering by hand literally takes over an hour. My recommendation for eco-concious beginners is to:
a) have the place where you bought your yarn from wind it for you (they can usually do that)
b) post on your local zero waste/buy nothing/ eco group page and ask if you can borrow someone's ball winder
c) if you have friends or family who knit, buy one to share. Since you only use it once in a while, there's no sense in everyone needing their own.
If winding yarn by hand isn't your thing, some yarn shops will wind it for you! I had a grand time watching the automatic winder the last time I bought a big bunch of yarn. Plus, it gives you more time to chat with the yarn shop employees 😊
Cool, I am going to ask my boutique next time.
Oh, yeah! My local yarn shop has a ball winder anyone can use for any yarn (even yarn not purchased there). It's great!
super agree, if i hadn't had my yarn caked up by the employees at the store i went to on a whim one day 2 years ago, i wouldn't have found out about their knit nights! i would be sorely lacking in friends now!
Honestly a ball winder to me is essential. My local library allows you to check them out so I did that for the first year before I got one for my birthday. I think hand winding one skein is fine but when it’s an entire sweater of fingering weight yarn then it’s needed.
I love that your library has one! I should suggest that for my library's library of things. I got a swift and winder for Christmas last year after 20 years of knitting and wow it's changed my life!
I dropped a stitch once while knitting looking after my triplet grandsons. When I sighed they asked what's up nan, told them I had dropped a stitch, they were on the floor quick as a flash, at my feet looking for it. They were about 3 at the time.
It is so interesting to me what different things we consider essentials. Been knitting for years without a row counter, I can just count the rows I've knitted, even in lace or cable patterns. Stitch markers to me are an essential, since I lose thread markers and safety pins get tangled more easily. And, I love my swift and ball winder. I resisted for a couple of years but got RSI symptoms with the fine yarns I'm using, and got them both secondhand :D I look forward to seeing more of your knitting and sewing journey!
For stitch markers, I use some very specific safety pins that come when buying men's shirts. They have a very round shape and I thread some wooden beads onto them to make them behave less annoying during knitting. I love it, they are free!
I also used to use soda tabs, but with my wooden needles I find the soda tabs to be too rough & scratch on the wood...
I lose row counters, but will quickly lose track just counting in my head, so I use pen & paper. I put a sticky note on my pattern sheet and make tally marks to count rows.
@@MissNoechen I was going to say the bulb safety pins make great stitch markers too. I like the idea of adding a bead. I'd probably be less likely to lose them that way too.
@@bridgetthewench Ditto! Because I can never remember IF I clicked the counter or not! LOL! Getting old sucks...
I recently learned that (at least some) different brands of interchangeable needles use the same connectors, so for example I can screw my Lykke needles onto my KnitPro cables and vice versa. Meaning you're not even locked into a single brand when you start a collection of interchangeable needles 😊
Just make sure there aren't complaints of join failing or needles breaking. One of these brands has a frequent issue, we're told on various forums!
Nice job as always, Leena! A few things that occurred to me as I was watching (I have been knitting and crocheting badly for many years but have started to actually get good at it in the last couple):
1. I use a row counter app on my phone! I don't need my knitting time to be screen-free, so this works for me personally.
2. I would also recommend a measuring tape or ruler! My tool that I use to figure out what size of needles I have is also a ruler, so it's like two tools in one.
3. If it's at all affordable for someone, I would recommend that they buy a full set of interchangeable needles when they're ready to move to that stage of their knitting. If they are at a point when they are started to pay attention to their gauge (like while knitting a sweater, for example), it can be really handy to have needles that are a size up or down from what's written in the pattern. That way, if they aren't knitting at the right gauge, they can just change their needle size instead of trying to knit differently.
I hope that's helpful for folks!
I agree with this! Investing in an interchangeable set changed the game for me.
These tips are really great!! Thanks!
Definitely a tape measure. I have a full tape measure and a short little stumpy school ruler for swatches.
I can't believe it never occured to me to use an app for counting rows 🤦♀️🤦♀️ thanks for this suggestion!!
@@dropsomania8 I do it old school and do tally marks on a sticky note that I stick on my pattern sheet 🤣
Something to bear in mind is also the lifespan of these items in regard to you as a knitter. When I was in my first 2 years ish of knitting I loved my row counter, but as I got quicker the time it took to put down my my knitting, click the button and pick it back up again became more irritating. So now I just read my knitting and count rows or pattern repeats, which is an important aspect of knitting in itself.
If I could go back I would probably tell younger knitter me to forgo the row counter and just use a pen and notepad or just look back over the work and count!
I just keep track by making check marks and notes right on my patterns. I have friends who swear by their row counters but I can't stand having one more thing dangling from my knitting
I use a counting thread in a contrasting colour instead of a row counter. Cheap, easy to get more when I lose it, and doesn't come out once it's through a few rows.
yes i bought a row counter early on and with my adhd it just didn't work out. i would forget to click it, or forget if the number meant i had just started that row or if i'd just finished it. now i just use lots of lightbulb safety pin stitch markers. you can get a bunch of them very inexpensively and they come in so handy for so many things other than knitting.
The best row counters imho are the ones that slide onto your needles and are easy to turn. 10/10
I find being able to read your knitting vital. I have never owned or needed a row counter in 40 yrs of active knitting…!
One thing about buying yarn in secondhand places: try to find them with their labels if you're a beginner can be really helpful since they usually write what size of needles to use. You don't necessarily need to match needle and yarn sizes, but that should help when you're starting out.
Okay so winding yarn takes 15 minutes by hand… if you’re using beginner friendly bulky yarn. Get into 400m skeins of fingering weight and you’ll reassess your current stance on winders 😂😂😂
I've bought a swift to at least take the tangling pain out of 4 ply skein winding
Yeah, also, if you start getting into multiple hanks per year, it's probably worth getting a swift and winder. I keep putting it off 😂
Yeah, I agree! I've never used Bulky - just Fingering, etc. I'd have had to wind 10 different colors, 2 balls each, so 20 balls for the sweater I'm on now.. Well, NO THANKS - I'd rather be knitting! So, I DO have a ball winder - but I didn't buy one for quite some time, until I really saw the need and my knitting picked up a lot of speed. Then I moved up - gifted the original to my daughter and bought an Electric One as the manual made my back hurt. Plus, I earned my money, so...I deserve an occasional gift! :)
For a blocking mat, an old yoga mat (or a current one that you can pull out of use if you can tolerate some pin-holes!) works perfectly. I’m sure family/friends/a buy nothing group has one that’s damaged and unused - if this is the case you can cut it into squares and rearrange the tiles as your garments require. Very handy to have once you move to knitting lace or brioche (though I agree that towels work great for basic designs)!
This. I didn’t buy one until I made a shawl with a little bit of lace and 💯 cannot express the amount of appreciation I have. I bought a set of floor mats for children lol
I got those kids playing mat puzzle piece thingies from friends whose kids grew out of them. They work excellently too
@@comeseeaboutme yes, that's what I was going to say as well! They work fine, and the smell is so nostalgic 😂
I use a yoga mat as well! I just block on the 'wrong' side and live with pin holes 🤣
@@comeseeaboutmeI have a blocking board set that's just like those! I can make whatever shape I need, then break it down and store it in its zip-up case. I wonder if the kid's mats cost less, though? It would be a good thing to compare prices on if you're considering it.
Beginner knitter here! Yarn softness: I hold it onto my face or wrists to see if i find it itchy, as sometimes the yarn is okay on my hands but not on more sensitive skin.
Stitch markers: if you need it to go over the needle, you can use the round end of a large safety pin
It's also helpful to hold the yarn to the inside of your elbow, which I find can identify itch a bit better than by holding it to the face
Ooh this is a great yarn texture tip! Thank you!
I use paper clips as stitch markers lol, will be switching to safety pins after this video
@@mac8697I also use paper clips!
Excellent video!!!!
I can't resist sharing a few more tips. I am a long time knitter and knitting teacher:
If you decide to knit one of those blanket with your hands with the giant unspun roving shown in the clip- be aware that the blanket is not washable and can be torn apart. If you have little kids or a pet like likes to chew on things, it will be destroyed, and it will get grubby no matter what.
A few more observations:
Cotton, linen and other plant fiber based yarn don't spring back like wool, so you are more likely to hurt your hands as you knit, especially if you are a new knitter with an iron grip.
Choose a standard looking yarn, especially when you first get started. There are some wacky novelty yarns which look fun and pretty, but aren't much fun to knit with. Don't confuse fun to look at with fun to knit.
Blocking mats are for knitted lace, which needs to be pulled open as it dries to show off the pattern.
Row counters are a personal choice. I've never used a row counter. I use a tape measure to check my progress.
If you buy a skein of yarn in a shop, and you don't own a ball winder and a swift, always ask them to wind it into a ball for you! They can wind a ball in less than five minutes, and beginners often end up with massive tangled skeins and tears when they attempt to do it by hand.
Leena, there is another use for the little needle gauges (at least those that have full holes)! I use mine to estimate which needle size is appropriate for a yarn that did not have a lable anymore, because it's secondhand, or if I hold two strands together. I put a little loop of the yarn through the hole, so it's doubled, and just have a look if the yarn has too much space around it, then the needle size would be too big, or if the yarn is really squished, then the needle would be too small. You usually get around 3 sizes that are a happy medium and you can choose out of these what kind of fabric you want. The tighter one for socks and mittens and looser for sweaters, etc. Give it a try, it works very well for me. 😊❤️
That's a neat tip!
I’ve been knitting for many many years now, and can agree you don’t need to get all the things to start off knitting. My general rule is to try to find tools that have multiple purposed. You don’t need fancy scissors for knitting, but using kitchen shears is a bit extra to carry about, a good pair of thread scissors works for knitting and sewing. I never knit on double points, but they make great cable needles. You can get a needle gauge ruler as a single notion.
I would not use normal safety pins for stitch markers, unless they were coiled pins. The coils tend to rub and wear on some yarns, a good set of locking stitch markers are maybe $3, you can use them to mark stitch and row count..
Large ziploc bags are great project bags. 😂
I love how personal of a hobby all fiber arts are! I adore my blocking mats (which are actually kids foam mats because they're cheaper & exactly the same thing). But have never once used any of the many MANY row counters I've had passed down to me from various knitting family members
A tip learnt from my mother (1914 to 1999). She used to put the skein of wool over her knees when winding it. No need for chairs or kind friends! Also, when holding the half wound ball she wound the wool around her fingers too. That way, you can't stretch the wool and so it doesn't lose its natural elasticity.
Add to the unhaul list: those yarn bowls with the little curly groove to feed the yarn through. Especially the wooden ones that are never as smooth as they need to be and snag yarn like crazy!
My MIL gifted me this. I hated that thing
I have a ceramic one that’s painted like a cow! She’s my little fiber buddy 😭
I use an IKEA metal baking bowl with a silicone bottom. I bought it at a thrift store for like 50cents and it works perfectly as a yarn bowl.. those wooden ones look like they might make it harder to control tension.. just like how I feel about tension rings !
Agreed! I was gifted a ceramic one and it's beautiful but it sits on the coffee table and I think I've used it while knitting once!
My boyfriend got me one for Christmas this past year. It’s been my first time experiencing feeling obligated to use something I hate because it came from a loved one lol
I am a very experienced knitter and I don't watch the majority of knitting content out there, but I enjoy coming along on your knitting journey and watching you progress and figure things out. Maybe it's because you're not a Knitting Channel™, maybe it's because there's not usually anything new the other channels can tell me. Whatever. I enjoy your updates and insights, even if I just 👏 in agreement.
I think your recommendations are really solid and spot on. I have a lot of the knitting gear you said you'd unhaul and it's true: i just don't reach for those things. My mainstay tools are my interchangeable needles and the tightening pin, a little crochet hook and tapestry needle, a needle gauge, and yarn. If I need markers, i use bits of yarn or hair ties; i hand wind my balls on my thumb, with the skein around my neck (this means you can do it on the train, or anywhere); I count rows manually or use a length of yarn passed over every 5 rows... I do have a blocking board and pins, but I used to just put a towel on the carpet and pin to that (i have wood and concrete floors now, so...).
Knitting really is very accessible, and I appreciate you reminding folks they don't need all the gadgets or need to spend what I may-or-may-not 🫣 on yarn. That, and reiterating you do get better at it with practice and experience. The first stuff you make might be weird, but that's just part of the process. And you can always frog it and start over! ❤ 🧶
If you have trouble counting you should get stitchmarkers. The lightbulb shaped safety-pin types that sometimes comes on clothing. I have a hard time keeping numbers straight so when I've cast on a lot of stitches I put a marker every 20 stitch and then I just have to count the stitches.
When counting rows I like to use a long piece of yarn and fold in between stitches every 10 row or so. So when I count rows on a sleeve for example there will be a string running on the outside for 10 rows, then on the inside for 10 rows and so on.
I was about to make this same suggestion lol. Amazon has a box of 1500 for about $6. They are fabulous. And when she does move on to the smaller yarns she will want a thinner marker to prevent spaces or ladders from a super thick and bulky safety pin.
The other thing I was going to mention, how fabulous it can be to purchase a little stitch marker that is from a favorite shop or souvenir marker. The ones designed specifically for the shop has become my favorite. I try to attach to the hank of yarn I purchase then use them together when I knit the yarn. Always brings joy back to the experience of the shop and the day out.
Absolutely agree with everything, especially as a beginner you don't need much. Personally I absolutely need my ball winder and especially the other thingie that holds the yarn while it's being wound. Too many fingering and lace weight skeins I had to untangle after trying to wind them from my lap 🥲
The thingy is called a swift! I am a swift evangelist. Swifts are life.
I recommend the lightbulb stitch markers, they come in packs of 50-100, are dirt cheap so losing them isn't an issue. You can either put them on the needle, or attach them to the yarn to count the rows (adding one every 5-10 rows for instance) which also takes out the need for a row counter. I use knit companion on my ipad for my patterns and that has row counters built in, or for smaller patterns I just use a pencil and tally lines.
I 100% agree with interchangeables, it was so frustrating at the start having to buy different needles and cables so I didninvest in a full set, but I have still had to buy extra cables to go along with it.
And I did get a yarn swift and winder but asked for them as gifts for birthday/ christmas.
I would also add a crochet hook to the essential kit, it makes picking up dropped stitches much easier. And a tape measure.
Great video! One thing I will say about tiny scissors is that they do fit into my little tool pouch much easier than the big kitchen scissors (and some have a safety cap so you don't stab yourself on the pointy end), so while they may not be essential for knitting at home I would say they're important for a travel kit. There's no reason to spend a ton of money on them though, unless you like the pretties. I've actually found a few of the tiny 'embroidery scissors' I've had happen to look suspiciously similar to a pair of nail scissors.
I buy children's scissors at back to school time. AND because I have a kid, sometimes the only thing that I can find to cut my yarn is nail clippers. I will say, she has not touched my fabric scissors. My sister told her that "Unless you want to die a slow death, NEVER touch your mom's fabric scissors!" (I swear I am not that bad!) And yes, I will only use fabric scissors on fabric, not yarn. Yes, I know that is weird, I cannot help it.
That's why I got my cheap pair of tiny scissors too at first but tbh I think it's just handy in general that they are in reach whenever I need them. Especially since I attached them to a lanyard and keep them around my neck while working. xD
@@juulian1306 I only paid $1 for my beautiful little golden "Duck" scissors, and they're really sharp! Don't have to spend alot, but I do believe they are necessary.
Jumping in here in defence of blocking mats: if you have any desire to do lace knitting, blocking mats and pins are so helpful. You can block without them but it makes SUCH a difference to have the proper equipment for the more delicate pieces like this!
Agreeing with this. Blocking a lace shawl with blocking mats and wire make a big difference in your finishing. Absolutely essential in my toolkit
And that's when I got mine! For my first shawl. Again, like with these types of recommendations, what you knit determines the tools you need!
Loved the video! I recently found out that you can use a spare strand of yarn as a row counter. You place it in between two stitches somewhere and flip it to the other side of the project every five rows. It looks like a vertical running stitch on your project (sounds more confusing than it is). I prefer this method because you can count rows super fast, and it doesn't matter if you forget to count a row once in a while. The downside is that it's way less satisfying (:
I never got the hang of knitting, but I used to LOVE using the yarn winder as a kid. It's one of those oddly satisfying things. 😅 I can appreciate that it's not necessary, but it is fun.
If you have little people in your life who want to help while you knit, it's something easy and fun for them to do.
THANK YOU for deinfluencing (lol) blocking mats! I've just got into crochet and they are everywhere as a "necessity" but I love the idea of just pinning to a tea towel or something, that's so much easier to store (and clean, if need be!), so thank you for this video!!!
My Grandma knitted every day for 70 years and her kit was exactly what you listed. I reckon you got it exactly right!❤
I agree with your list especially for beginners.
I want to share my experience a bit though. I was using the very basics when I started. As well as basic yarn. I did ok and liked knitting. But as soon as I found luxury fibers and hand dyed/indie dyed yarns my knitting world exploded! I just found it so much more enjoyable to handle those yarns. The little gadgets, while not necessary, made my life so much easier when I would put something down then have to come back to it much later than expected. If you enjoy it, why not use it. Don’t be afraid to grow into your hobby. You are a fabulous knitter. Enjoy it !
As a crocheter, I don't really use stitch markers for blankets, granny squares, flat items. However, I just started making amigurumi, and they are essential for that. You can buy the plastic ones very cheaply. I did get myself a cute project bag from Etsy. It wasn't very expensive and I loved that they were all handmade by someone. I also use tote bags that I already had as well. If you really want pretty stitch markers, all they consist of is a charm (Not too heavy) and a lobster claw, or a hinged clasp. All of which you can find very inexpensively at a craft store. They make wonderful gifts and can double as a jewelry charm so you have it on hand.
100% agree with everything here, before I caved and got stitch markers for my amigurumi I used some bobby pins for a while! Stitch markers are definitely better but it was great for me as a beginner afraid to spend too much money
@@taylorsinicropi5786 Exactly! I tried every free and cheap option out there - and finally bought a small pack. NEVER going back! I'll keep and use my stitch markers, and when I've lost them all - I'll buy more! LOL. They're critical for me.
One thing I did without for years was needle stoppers, but once I tried them I cannot go back to knitting without them. My favorite needle gauge is a ruler with holes, it has 3 purposes, its a needle gauge, I can measure swatches, and I can check yarn weight.
This is the kind of needle gauge I have and it is SO useful. Also because I have a bunch of second hand needles without any size markings at all!
how do you check yarn weight with the ruler needle gauge thing?
As a lifelong knitter, I agree with all of your advice! And I can add a little advice too, which is that cutting up straws of various circumferences (from your "typical" one to the boba/bubble tea ones for wider needles) makes for very inexpensive and useful DIY stitch markers :) I also second the advice to have a soft tape measure, that is really vital as well. Oh, and also if you love knitting cables as much as I do, you can get yourself a cable needle or substitute with a toothpick/paper clip/tapestry needle, but runaway stitches do become riskier with the latter tools, especially if the yarn is a bit slippery!
Row counter app for the win! Free! Not another plastic thing to lose! And you can be counting multiple projects at once. Brilliant.
TBH I prefer a notebook. Most row counter apps are just dreadful
I love this video ! A lot of people are trying to sell you stuff you don't need and it's unnerving but when you are a beginner you don't know. For the project bags, I had a funny moment of "Buutttt they are preeettttyyy XD". I don't have project bags, I resisted. If I begin to buy project bags it's over. I would have project bags everywhere. So I'm like : "I have to sew one, with every storage space I need." I didn't make one yet but it's helping me to rationnalise XD For the thing that help get the gauge of the needle : there is rulers that have holes inside to do that so you have one tool you can use for two things. It is handy. Everyone need rulers. (That is why I have several rulers. Do I need all these rulers ? Absolutely not. But I'll be ready. To what ? Dunno. But I have rulers XD)
Love this! As a long time knitter, I love lowering the barrier to entry to knitting, and not buying what you don't need really helps! My two cents: I do personally feel that fixed circular needles are slightly better because I've found that my yarn (especially the finer stuff) gets caught on the little connection points. These needles eventually unscrew no matter how tightly I screw them and creates a little gap for the yarn to get stuck on. Maybe this isn't a problem for thicker yarn and better made brands of needles.
I love my ball winder and you can pry it from my cold dead hands, but it is absolutely not necessary. Most yarn stores will wind for a small fee, or borrow from a friend. You can also get a similar center pull style by winding into a carboard tube.
Happy knitting!
Do you know what your knitting style is (English, continental, combined, etc)? I've been curious for a while if people's odds of the needle tips getting loose is influenced by that factor.
@@Elorauroraooooh interesting theory! I'm a continental knitter, with the Norwegian purl.
What brand of interchangeables do you use? I use Chiaogoos and KnitPro (zings) and I've not had any problems.
Chiaogoos are the GOAT.
Funny, I've never had that problem! But I do know if the yarn gets stuck - your needles are becoming unscrewed (maybe you forgot/didn't tighten them enough or use a lower-end type?). I discovered this hint. So now it's a warning to retighten them.
@@VicvicW I agree! And that' what I have also! Never have any issue with coming unscrewed.
Also, Tonya from Nerdy Knitting here on RUclips has tons of educational videos on knitting and multiple videos on things you may or may not need with your knitting practice. She is a certified master hand knitter, so she's got additional perspective in addition to yours, Leena, which thanks for sharing. I love how much you love knitting.
I love her!
The way I yelled 'YAS' when you mentioned interchangeable circular needles! Wasted so much money getting different sets before realising this
Oh, I'm so sorry you had that experience! I love mine, and even have 2 sets that are always in use!
I agree with most of these - for a beginner/someone who just knits a bit as a hobby here and there. I think this is really awesome advice for anyone new to knitting, there's an overwhelming amount of stuff out there that makes it super confusing to get into and I've definitely bought things I did not need when I was starting out.
I think some items should be up for consideration if/when one gets more into knitting though, for example I never used to use stitch markers or see the point but once I started getting into more complex garment construction, I found them absolutely essential to keep my place in pattern repeats/keep track of increases etc and they've really improved my knitting quality of life! I also use stitch markers to count my rows from a certain place, so to me a row counter is completely pointless.. but before I knew how to read my stitches so easily I think it would have been really helpful.
Same for the ball winder/swift, I used to wind by hand but once I started getting more into finer yarns and larger projects, I decided it would actually be worth getting a winder and I have zero regrets :D
Exactly what happened to me! I knit whatever I decide at that moment, and it wasn't until i knit a lace shawl that I realized the tool box was going to grow! My 2nd lacey item was then so much easier!
Great video! Loved the pop-up glamorous assistant surprise🥸
For those who often lose things, there are even row counters that go on your needles! I use mine like an extra stitch marker and it is a life-saver. And many yarn shops will wind your yarn for you if you ask
I have knitted on embroidery threads 😊. I had made Barbie hats, chokers and bracelets for myself, or lace trims for my self designer jacket 😊.
100% agree with the row counter! pressing that after a finished row and getting that clicking sound - so satisfying! as stitch markers I use those safety pins that are bigger on one end (shaped like a pear), they are literally the ones you can buy as stitch markers. But I get them from clothes tags. Lot's of sustainable brands use exactly those pins and I just keep collecting them for knitting
I can also recommend having at least one crochet hook as a knitter, makes catching dropped stitches so much easier :)
I too, keep all of them - and put them in my Stich Marker container! I can't collect them as fast as I lose them! LOL!
Yess!! I bought an interchangeable knitting needle set as my third "pair" of needles when I realised you need a BILLION needle sizes and cable sizes. And my grandma and mum have a mountain of needles for a life time of collecting, soooo many in the same size. Do it immediately!
The ball winder was helpful when my husband was unraveling a few second hand sweaters that had yarn he wanted for other projects. As he was unwinding the sweaters he was having to tie small knots to hook up the yarn and keep tension while untying knots. They're a handy tool if you're recycling a fast fashion knit piece that has yarn you like.
My knitting essentials: my Chiagoo interchangeable needle set, a tape measure, and my tiny tool bag which holds all my small essentials (little scissors, tapestry needles, row counter, little crochet hook to pick up stitches, and stitch markers). It's funny how personal the concept of an essential really is!
Yes on the crochet hook. Very very useful! Pick one up at the charity shop. They have lots of them.
Same things I use! Esp the ChiaGoo's!
Yes! I knit a lot and this is a 1000% spot on list of what you dont need. Interchangeables though, worth it.
And row counters are gold, but if you lose yours under the couch for a month, tally marks on a notebook work too!
I use sticky notes for my tally marks, that way I can stick it to the pattern sheet or book and I have everything together. I will lose row counters while out and about, so I don't bother buying them.
Knitting is so varied that our tool boxes are too. 😊 And, sometimes, you’ve got to create your own.
For instance, not everybody’s technique or project works well with circular needles. (There’s a rabbit hole you might one day fall into: the million different ways of holding needles and putting in stitches around the world.)
I was round your age when I decided to knit a queen size Aran blanket (about 380 stitches!) Circular needles wouldn’t work and neither would piecing the blanket (it had a particular cabled design) I doctored some long metal needles with some plastic and plugs at the end. (Such “extended needles” do exist but I had no access to them). Somehow it worked and, after months of knitting, it came out awesome.
Two more thoughts:
I use loops of coloured thread as markers too (being soft they are less annoying)
And, I only seem to need a row counter when I’ve tried lace knitting. (Most stressful thing ever. Did 3 times. Never again!)
With my adhd I seriously would not remember to use that counting thing every single time, and so it would be pretty useless. I know from the few times that I really DID have to keep count, that I would be stressing about it so much to not just keep going without writing it down.
If it worked without me having to do anything, like a step counter, now THAT I could get behind! 😁
Me too! I've tried row counters but my mind wanders off. Something I do to save time is to pick an increment, like 5 rows, and just place a hand-length of yarn or string between the last stitch in the row and the first one, then knit across it for 5 more rows and do it again, and the little yarn tails help me quickly count rows later. They pull right out when I'm done counting.
i wrote about this below! I have a bunch of cheap plastic stitch markers in rainbow colors, and I put a marker in every row. I keep em in an Altoids box for traveling. This way I can count my rows fairly easily, and color code when i start a pattern, or when a sleeve starts, etc.
I love my abundance of stitch markers!!! I've gone from only making simple, plain stitched projects (eg a garter square) to color work, garments, etc. I made my first piece of lace this month on tiny size 0 needles! My brain is so much more interested in the complex patterns.
what works for my audhd is to have the round counter on a stitch holder/a BIG safety pin and use it to mark the end of the round like a traditional stitch marker. this way I don't forget to use it because I have to move it from one needle to the next every time I start a round (this works best on in the round projects)
Maybe you would like a chain row counter! They make some that are numbered 1-10 and have a little attachment so you can count over 10. (Might need a visual to understand) but it’s always attached to the end of your knitting so you don’t have to remember to grab one from somewhere else
I just lose the counters, so it's the old pen & paper method for me. I put a sticky note on my pattern sheet/book so they're together and I can't lose them.
Swear by interchangeable needles! I definitely appreciate that I don't need to collect dozens of separate needles.
Yarn feel is definitely something not enough people discuss
Great video as always! As someone who has been knitting for the better part of 20 years at this point, I whole-heartedly agree with your list! I don't use a row counter myself (mostly because I forget where I put mine...) but I just use the bits left from old notebooks to keep a tally of what I'm doing, because counting my knitted rows gets incredibly tedious lol. The one thing I will say regarding the needle gauge -- that tool can be really valuable if you knit a lot or buy second hand needles, as nearly every needle I have ever used has had the size information wear off with use, and also many of the ones I've seen will do double-duty to help you figure out your knitting gauge, as well! I have found that those are easier to wrangle than those flexible tape measures for checking your gauge, and I love a tool that has multiple uses.
Longtime knitter here: I love that lavender yarn against your crocus-colored sweater! I have never used a row counter: I find that making hash marks on a nearby piece of scrap paper works just fine (and in any case I only keep track of rows if I'm doing something tricky: generally I just figure out my row gauge and then measure to see if something's long enough). I do like having a needle gauge, because I've had some of my needles for over thirty years and the marks do indeed wear off! And needles in general last a lifetime and so are quite sustainable no matter what, so I don't mind having several circular ones and have never bought the interchangeable kind.
I'm a somewhat more experience knitter than you (I learned how to knit in something like 1971) and fully agree with your advice here! My daughter did make me some stitch markers and they're lovely and make me sentimental, but when I can't find them I still use safety pins. I've never had a row counter, though. I just figured out how to count rows and just count when I need to, or make hash marks on a piece of paper. I always thought ball winders were just for yarn shops, and they wind the balls for me if I ask.
Not everyone has knitting shops close by, is my only thought.
And young people with children who also work may find that 20 minutes is pretty precious time! I sure did, as a young mother! Is it required? No. But it sure is nice to have!
I was crocheting a baby blanket while watching that. I totally agree on the ball winder. I discover that if I sit with my knees up and my feet flat I can hook that yarn around my knees and ball the yarn. I find I get few tangles than if I lay it in on the floor.
I completely agree about the ball winder! I also have no problem spending 20ish minutes winding by hand-it adds to the tactile experience, and I get to spend more time on my favorite hobby 😊🧶
I love my ball winder!
As someone who has been knitting for 66 years I totally agree with you. Now I love my gadgets and have plenty of them, but when you’re starting out you don’t need them. I love circular needles because you can knit anything on them. I have 3 interchangeable sets and many plain ones. I have multiple needles in the same size because why have just one project going? LOL But when you’re beginning you’re probably going to have one project on the needles at a time. I would also add a tape measure.
Fully agree! I think your needs change as you knit a larger variety of projects...as with all hobby's!
Crochet person (knitting dropout) chiming in: paperclips, hair ties, bobby pins, fresh leaf petioles, stray ribbon from gifts, so many things can be stitch markers! It’s like bookmarks! I also like a little notebook to keep with the project to make note of pattern changes, yarn notes, or just project tracking. Notes have been useful for referencing gifts given when the recipient needs a mend or replacement.
I started knitting this year off the back of your learn to knit in 24 hours vid, I am loving every minute of it. Interchangeable needles is my next purchase so will probably do what you have done and get them as I need them. Love your knitting updates keep us all posted on your projects. thanks 🐑
I have been knitting for almost 20 years now (crazy to say that!) I have LOTS of needles and I'm fussy about my yarn. I do have some project bags, solely for my own organization and would never tell someone they needed that to get going. I knit pretty complicated cabled pieces and I still just use old beach towels instead of blocking mats! I do have a row counter and some simple stitch markers (really helps with those complicated cable pieces - I've not been able to make alternatives work well for stitch markers on those - or keep count by myself!) but no needle gauge or really much of anything else in terms of "gadgets." I wind all my yarn by hand! No ball winder! I do - however - try to get my yarn pre wound at a local yarn shop though.
Also the hack if you don’t want to buy/use a tape measure is to measure some yarn the length you need to knit to (on a ruler), then knot it to where you start your measurement. Knit until the yarn equals your knitted length.
I personally do need the plastic or metal stitch markers! I fear i will miss the marker if it isn't a tactile & clearly visible thing to catch my attention :D I'll just end up knitting the marker into my work lol!
Was I knitting while watching this? Why yes, yes I was! On the stitch markers - my current project (only a scarf but to a pattern and patterns are hard and confusing for me!) I ended up using hair bobbles because that was what I had to hand as stitch markers and, while they worked, they were annoying, so I am considering investing in some cute stitch markers to help my confused pattern brain!
Also I recently treated myself to interchangeable needles and they have changed my knitting life!
Right! Those light bulb stitch markers are like 3.00 for 500 or some insane number! At the rate I lose them, I bought a big pkg! I swear they fly off my knitting!
Honestly I would love for you to do a follow-up in a year or two. Because by then maybe you can read your knitting or you moved on to a new favourite weight of yarn and your essentials might be totally different!
What you need all depends on what type of projects you knit and that might change as well. For that reason, I would totally go for an interchangeable set. It was actually my first “big” knitting-related purchase and I didn’t regret it.
Yes, my thoughts sure changed after about the first 1 1/2 yrs! But maybe that's just me...cuz I love "hobby" stuff!
As a prolific (and reasonably experienced) knitter, I approve this message.
absolutely agree with all your opinions! it's so tempting to get loads of stuff, but truly, anything for trying to knit can be found at a thrift store and shouldn't be expensive.
I feel the same way about plastic yarn as you but exactly the opposite on wool vs cotton yarn 😅
I've had the luxury of a mother who's knitted since she was a teenager so she already had a bunch of the stuff, so I've been borrowing so much from her (including an old ball winder that used to belong to my grandmother 🥹), and then gradually figured out what stuff I actually need to own for myself. Of course you need the yarn and needles (circular needles! I also use the wooden symphonie ones that you seem to have, they're my favorites!). I definitely couldn't live without my stitch markers, but I also really like knitting cabled sweaters and stuff, I think they come in handy when you have some kind of pattern going on, or when you're doing increases. I definitely also think you need a tape measure. And I've been doing my blocking on a yoga mat lately, and that works just fine!
GIRL!!
You are so much fun to watch!
I love when you smack those needles together for emphasis!!
Love this, as someone who tried knitting and found it incredibly frustrating and dropped it because of it I think they type of needles can make a difference. I HATE plastic needles but once i picked up some wooden ones i fell in love with it, the glide makes it so much less frustrating!
I've never once used a row counter, but I love the little cheap-as-chips plastic round stitch markers and the metal lightbulb ones - so much nicer than the scrap yarn ones that I regularly knitted in.
There are fantastic little kits for well under GBP10 that have a whole bunch of items: different types of stitch markers, tapestry needles, cable needles, measuring tape, crochet hook etc. That's a useful investment to have the basics covered. It's affordable and doesn't take up space.
The bird scissors brought me so much joy that they were a must-buy for me 🤣 but not straight away of course! Something so beautiful about the traditional design.
I have one that was gifted to me when I started embroidering and it is very hand in crochet as well. I love them so much.
I have a pair that at first glance looks like the classic stork but are actually a cat! I use them for all my sewing and embroidery etc :)
@@mouseluva Oh so cool. :D
I think I must own close to a dozen pair of really nice embroidery scissors, other fiber art scissors, and yarn snips now. It is absolutely just that I love their little differences and designs but ALSO one time I didn’t put my folding embroidery scissors back in my travel tool kit and had to rip my yarn by hand for an intarsia project and it made me feel like my soul was leaving my body. I felt like a beast. A beast robbed of the simple and immense joy that comes from cleanly slicing yarn with very sharp and tiny scissors.
My favorite pair that I use all the time are the Bohin Mini Embroidery Scissors and my favorite pair that I rarely use but look at a lot are the LDH Imperial Scissors.
I've been knitting for 20+ years and agree with so much of this! I think good quality yarn and (interchangeable!) needles make the experience so much better, but beyond that almost every notion or accessory you need is easy to get second hand. As soon as you start knitting people will literally throw knitting stuff at you 😅
Thank you for this! Completely agree with everything and would absolutely agree with the tape measure comments as well. The other thing I love and is in the “not absolutely necessary but so very helpful” space is a pair of needle stoppers for the ends of my interchangeables. I love them for when I’m on the go, especially with smaller projects, and I have my project in s bag so I know that I don’t have any stitches slipping off the ends of my needles!
As someone who's been casually knitting for about 5 years I personally feel like these recommendations are pretty accurate! The only thing I would add is if you don't want to buy a row counter there are free apps that you can use! They're not quite as satisfying though 😊
I use stitch markers as also row counter for some cases - like do a thing every X rows. If X is under about 8, I use stitch markers instead of a row counter. I have the light bulb/coil-less safety pin type ones, so I'll have one "main" marker that goes on my needle and then a few more that hang off that marker. For example, if I have to decrease on row 1 and then knit 4 rows plain, I'll put 4 extra markers on my main marker. For every plain row I start, I swing the dangly marker onto my needle also (but still attached to the main marker). Once all the markers are on the needle, then it's time to do my decrease. At the start of that round, I'll go back to having just the main marker on the needle. If it's something more than 8ish rows, I'll just count in groups of ten and throw a pin into the work every 10 rounds/rows.
Oh, and for scissors, I just use a nail clipper. They fit nicely into a little pouch I have for notion without poking anything (or me).
Blocking mats - if you have any friends with small kids, they might have floor padding mats that are essentially blocking mats. When my friend's kids got big enough they didn't need them, they gave me 4 mats. They live beside my washing machine with my drying rack and are super handy. Even if I don't pin my sweater etc out on them, I like having knits dry on a flat surface rather than a rack because it keeps things flatter and less drooping parts etc.
one thing i'd add about buying yarn - see if the shop has little knit up samples you can touch of the yarn you want to buy. I bought a lot of yarn early on that was so cute on the skein but I didn't love as much when it was knit up.
I was working on my current project while listening to this video! For folks buying from specialty yarn/fabric stores, a lot of them will either have a ball winder available for you to use (and will teach you how to use it!) or might offer to wind it for you without any extra cost. I've gotten my own because I hate winding a ball the old fashioned way, get nervous at the yarn store, and find it fun to crank my skeins into cakes.
I have been knitting for years with just needles and yarn (and a tape measure). For absolute beginners, especially if you use a bit more chunky yarn, you don‘t need anything else. I used to weave in my ends with a Bobby-pin or just my fingers. Worked perfectly well. But I also mainly knitted hats and scarfs. One of my first additions was a cable-needle where you can store your stitches if you knit a cable design, but if you are just starting out, you can use a big safety pin or a spare knitting needle for that as well.
about the row counter, if i take up knitting i will 100% need something like that! my adhd-brain cannot retain numbers to the point that i forget how many flights of stairs i have walked up every time i come home to my apartment. i have to check the name on the doors to know i've reached the right floor. 😂
Project bags: I have them but still default to the plastic food zip ones. I can see what's in the bag and keeps the project clean of spills.
Stitch markers: also have them but I've used the bulb safety pins more often. I use them to mark rows at intervals, hence dispensing with the row counters. I have also small lengths of previously used yarn. I knot the ends to form a loop.
Ball winder and swift: I'd say get them. They don't have to be big. I have a winder that attaches to the table so it can be put away. I have 2 swifts: umbrella and a tabletop. Both can close or be taken apart to store. These items beat the frustration of tangles and holding a ball that slips out of my hand picking up animal hair and dirt.
Totally agree with your list here Leena!! I would say that a tape measure is clutch. You can get them super cheap and it's essential when knitting garments, since most patterns say to knit for X inches / cm :)
I actually prefer metal needles over wooden ones. The stitches slide much easier and more importantly, they bend when I inevitability accidentally sit on them or throw them in a bag with other stuff instead of breaking in two (which has happened to any wooden needle I use for more than one project😑)
Project bags so agree pretty and lovely as they my current bags are : a bag that came with bathroom things at Christmas, a bag that was to do with something at work and a fibre bag from a cake shop. No money spent.
finally someone who mentions the thing about stitch markers! When I got into crochet I was kind of confused about them, and have used safety pins ever since. Good to know I'm not the only one lol
I have found using a backpack as a project bag makes carrying it around much easier. You can buy them fairly cheap and then you have the perfect vehicle to carry projects around easily.
If you want to make a nice bag for your needles I recommend cool stitches patten for a knitting wrap. It’s scratched my itch for a nice set and I used scrap fabrics from previous projects. My other must have is boobie lights. They go round your neck so you can see better in low light situations.
Ball winders are great for finer yarns and making sure that yarn is tensioned correctly, if it’s wound too tight it can stretch it out and mess with the gauge.
A tip for winding a ball, put the skein on the bqkc of a chair!
I'm a long time (but very basic) knitter and agree with everything you said. Especially the ball winder. Never owned one. I prefer doing it by hand. I do have a nostepinne, which takes up far less space than a winder, and it produces beautiful centre-pulled balls. But winding by hand is much faster. There's a knack to winding with a nostepinne and I have to be in the mood to use it. I save it for the best yarn in small amounts.
I have made do without stitch markers in a pinch many times, but they have become a luxury I can’t give up! They are just easier to move between needles than diy options I find. I mostly use the stitch markers that look like a little lightbulb shaped safety pin, and they are often used to secure price tags to clothing. So you may be able to get a few as a free bonus to a purchase!
I love the light bulb stitch markers. I got a set of 300 for really cheap. I can place them every 20 stitches to count when casting on, leave them on and if I make a mistake I can just check each section. Use them to mark beginning of round or raglan stitches. Put them in each increase/decrease in a sleeve to help keep track.
On swifts and yarn winders, optional but so helpful for me. I buy fingering plant bases yarn (very slippery) which I would manage to tangle and then spend hours untangling or cut the yarn. The swift made me stop tangling. Yes there are thritier alternatives like the back of a chair or someone else's arms. The winder let me make cakes of yarn with a center pull.
for anybody interested in a row/stitch counter but not wanting to buy a whole new item for your knitting collection: there are tons of great counter apps you can download for free! i have counter widget as a widget on my phone's home screen that i use to count my rows. even better, you can set a target number so that you'll know when you've hit the number in your pattern (so you don't have to keep going back to check if you've knitted enough rows 😅)
this has become one of my most used knitting tools. i may not always remember to bring a physical stitch counter with me when i'm knitting, but chances are i always have my phone
I've always been relatively immune to influencers, but your big knitting video where you showed off your hundred hats got me and I also got the Lauren Aston kit! Now I am 4 hats in (7 if you count the frogs and reknits of the same hat!), making my own gloves pattern and dreaming of knitting the edwardian cycling jumper I've lusted over for years! Knitting was one of the few textile crafts I don't dabble in after trying it years ago and not liking it much, but you've converted me!
A tip on blocking mats! The material is (largely) the same as most yoga/Pilates mat. So if you have one of those and aren't precious about a few little pokes in the back of your mat its a great way to use something that already exists
I use a crochet hook instead of a needle to weave in the ends of yarn (but I actually enjoy weaving in the ends and find it satisfying to spend more time with the hook).
I also use paperclips for stitch markers. Just bought a tub of colourful paperclips, and slide the one end of the paperclip through a stich, twisting it once or twice until the stich is in the middle of the paperclip.
This is probably the first "supplies you don't need" video geared towards beginner knitters that I wholeheartedly agree with.
A ball winder and swift can also be improvised (I cobbled one together using a rotating cheese platter board thingy, two cutting boards tied to the top of it and 4 bottles standing on each of the cutting board "arms", then placed the yarn around the bottlenecks and pushed the cheese platter with my foot to make it spin), and I also have wound yarn just sitting on the sofa with my knees raised and putting the yarn over them, tensioning it with my legs - you won't even need to do planks or work your abs after winding a skein like this! I personally did buy a winder and swift at some point, though. Wouldn't want to miss them now, but then again I'm an advanced/experienced knitter. Not professional, but definitely prolific ;)
Personally, I'd be lost without a needle gauge because I inherited quite a few knitting needles with no markings. My favourite needle gauge is an "international" one - it has the metric sizes, US sizes, Australian sizes, and even the old UK sizes (very handy for vintage patterns...) on the same gauge!
Additional thoughts about needles:
1) Needle material is down to personal preference and fibre type. Many continental style knitters prefer metal needles, and I personally only use wooden ones for slippery stuff like alpaca or when I need super large needle sizes.
2) Interchangeable circular knitting needles have a bit of a weak spot at the screws AND the joins, at least if you tend to work them hard. If you're a fast and tight knitter, or someone who knits stith patterns and techniques that require some weird movements, they might either become unscrewed or even break the cable entirely. The former is of course not irreversible, but you might still lose a lot of stitches, maybe even a whole project if you're unable to fix the damage, so you might get frustrated. If the cable breaks entirely, however, it quickly annihilates the sustainability bonus of interchangeables.
As someone who knits a LOT, and FAST, and...adventurously, I've had cables break under my hands more than once, even high quality ones. I now tend to buy fixed circular needles; a few of each of my most frequently used sizes, and I keep a pair of interchangeable tips for everything above and below that range.
I've been doing the whole "If I want it, I have to make it" thing since 2019 and 2024 is actually the first year I've allowed myself to shop for clothes again because my needs have changed. I'm 35 now, a lot of my stuff is over 10 years old, and while I have always had a style that didn't necessarily follow the trends (almost nothing screams 2010s too obviously), many items still give off "girl in her 20s", and that's just not me anymore, and not how I'd like to be perceived. There's no way I can handle a full-time occupation AND making a whole new wardrobe on the side, so the occasional purchase is okay again for a bit. Feels weird after 5 years, I'll say that much!
Excited to see you grow on your knitting and making journey! You certainly helped me along on my vegetarian/plant-based food one :) Thanks and enjoy your crafting!
When I started knitting about ten years ago, I got some free yarn and some cheap bamboo needles! Over time, I bought some needle stoppers (after losing a sweater when it unraveled) and some markers. That was it. The absolute bare minimum.
Later on, as I got more dedicated ,and gained more skills, I bought more expensive yarn and interchangeable needles.
I have the same row counter, and I have a specific stitch counter that is like a ring on my finger. Those are ideal when starting a project with many stitches to start with, or when you're using multiple colours per row! I like it because you don't need to put your needles down when "clicking" your counter :D