Got Needles? Check. Got Yarn? Double Check.

Now that you’ve got your yarn and needles covered, what next?  Below are the top ten tools that every knitter should own. While there are many more tools out, these are the essentials for really helping your knitting to flourish.

#1:  Needle Sizer With Ruler

First up we have this guy.  A true jack of all trades, this tool helps with a variety of essentials for knitters.  As the name implies, it sizes your needles. Since not all needles are marked (or their markings wear off), this tool makes sure that you don’t accidentally cast on a project with the wrong needles.

If you are going to be swatching (and you should be!), the magnifying glass on this ruler makes it really easy to count your stitches.  Anything that makes finding gauge easier is automatically going to appeal to me!

#2:  Stitch Markers

These little beauties are used as a visual reminder to do something, like add a lace repeat or change colors.  They’re also crazy helpful when casting on a lot of stitches. (I’m looking at you, lace weight shawls!). They come in all kinds of designs so you can rock your individuality while keeping track of pattern repeats.  When buying stitch markers, make sure to check that there are no sharp or jagged edges that could snag your knitting. Also check that they’re the right size for your project and that they glide easily with your work.

#3:  Crochet Hook

Whether or not you ever want to cast on a crochet project, these are super handy to have around.  For one thing, they make picking up dropped stitches infinitely easier. There are also several cast on and cast off methods that are a breeze with a crochet hook.  And, let’s all admit it, there are some pretty gorgeous things you can do with a crochet hook that just aren’t possible with knitting needles. Hooray for options!

#4:  Darning Needles

For all knitters, the one thing that is very certain is that there will always be two or more ends to weave in with any given project.  Fact of life, kids. But here’s the good news! Darning needles are here to help! In a pinch, you can use a small crochet hook to pull in your ends but ain’t nobody got time for that.  That’s where darning needles step in to dry your tears and make those ends disappear.

I prefer metal “tapestry needles” because of the bent tip but different manufacturers seem to use the terms “tapestry” and “daraning” interchangeably.  Regardless, the slick metal and the bent tip makes things so much easier. These are also needed for things like duplicate stitch, kitchener stitch, stitching toys together, and just all around stitching stuff.

#5:  Needle Point Protectors

These little rubbery dohickeys protect you, the knitter, from getting stabbed by your own needles.  Yes, this has happened to me, and yes, it did hurt. A lot. They also protect the tips of your needles from being chipped off or damage in any way.  Needle point protectors have the added bonus of keeping your work from falling off the needle. If your needles are metal (aka slippery!) or if you’ll be traveling with your project, the needle point protectors are pretty much an insurance policy that is well worth the upfront cost.

#6:  Needle Holders

When the needle holders aren’t holding a project, you can twist the tube closed to hold onto spare needles.

Similar to needle point protectors, this tool is designed to largely protect you from hurting yourself while transporting your goods.  Needle holders are meant to be used specifically with double pointed needles. Keep in mind that since DPNs have two points, that means that they have twice the “ouch” factor!  

If you have better awareness that I do and you’re not constantly in danger of poking yourself, needle holders should still be in your knitting tool kit. Like needle point protectors, this tool also keeps your yarn from falling off of the needles. And if you do any knitting with small wooden DPNs, it’s especially important to protect the needles from any weight since they can snap so easily.  Trust me when I say that you do not want to find yourself with a snapped DPN in the middle of a project. Splinters and tiny dropped stitches do not make a fun combo!

#7:  Project Bag

Regardless of whether or not you plan to travel with your yarn, a project bag is pretty darn important.  It keeps your gear all in one place and makes crafting super convenient.

Convenient = More Likely To Do

Make things convenient for yourself!

It’s a pretty simple numbers game, really.  The easier you make it for yourself to sneak in a few stitches, the more knitting time that you’ll have overall.  A project bag makes it way more likely that you’ll be able to get to knitting. If you don’t plan to travel, a bin or even a drawer can accomplish the same concept.

#8:  Blocking Mat (And Pins)

In knitting, all roads lead to blocking.  Blocking is hands down the best way to take your knitting from “meh” to “WOW!” so, obviously, you’re going to want to figure that one out asap.

Personally, I prefer these puzzle like blocking mats.  I like that I can make them as big or as small as I need and that I can make funky shapes out of them if I have an unusually shaped project to block.  Look for something with dense foam so that you can push your pins in deeply in order to block aggressively.

While I haven’t had a chance to try them yet, I’ve been hearing great things about Knit Blockers.  It looks like they radically cut down on the effort and time needed to pin your knitting into shape.  If you want to go the traditional route, T pins still do a lovely job. Make sure whatever you’re using is rust proof and that you collect every single pin when you’re done blocking.  These puppies are SHARP!

#9:  Yarn Swift

If you’re going to buy any twisted hanks (and let’s all be honest, you totally will at some point!), then a yarn swift will quickly become your BFF.  A yarn swift is meant to hold your loop of yarn and gently rotate while you roll it up into a ball or cake. In a pinch, you can use the back of a chair or a friend to hold your yarn for you.  But the swift allows you to take breaks, is far less likely to get knotted, and will never ask “are you almost done?”

(Once you get a yarn swift, check out ball winders if you haven’t already.  They’re a fun tool to use that helps you to quickly create yarn cakes. Straight up magic.)

#10:  Niddy Noddy

Aw, the niddy noddy: an often underappreciated but fantastic tool for all knitters to have.  The niddy noddy lets you convert your yarn ball/cake/skein/mess back into a neat and tidy hank.  From there, you can store it, tangle and stress free, like your own personal yarn shop! You can also wash it or, if you’re adventurous, dye it!  Hanks really are the way to go when it comes to storing yarn so if you plan on doing that, a niddy noddy is an easy way to make sure your yarn is able to breathe and relax in storage.

What About You?

What is a “must have” tool in your knitting arsenal?  Let us know in the comment section down below!