Knitting Tools & Notions

Knitting Tools & Notions

If you’ve been knitting for a while, chances are you have a few favorite knitting notions that make the process easier. And if you have a knitting conundrum, chances are there is a knitting tool to solve that problem! Stitches keep slipping off your needles when you stash your project away? You need some knitting needle stoppers! Hate making pom poms to finish your hat? How about trying one of our colorful faux fur poms for the perfect finish to any knitted beanie! Keep losing stitch markers in the couch cushion? Stock up on colorful knitting stitch markers in a variety of shapes and styles!

While not always essential to the knitting process, these knitting tools and gadgets are designed to make things easier and more fun! We’ve rounded up some of our favorite knitting accessories to keep your knitting bag stocked with everything you need to finish your next project with ease:

➤Knitting point protectors (sometimes also called “stitch stoppers”) are small, often rubber or plastic caps that fit onto the ends of knitting needles when they're not in use. Not only do they keep your stitches from sliding off the needles when you’re not working on your project, but knitting needle point protectors can also shield the delicate tips of your knitting needles from damage, especially when you're carrying your project around or storing it. These handy knitting needle accessories can also keep sharp points from poking through your project bag, tote, or purse when taking your project on the go!

➤Knitting stitch markers are small, often ring-shaped, markers that are placed on knitting needles or directly onto the stitches themselves. They serve several purposes in knitting projects, from marking specific points in your knitting pattern to tracking repeats or indicating the right side of your fabric, the edge of a garment, the placement of buttonholes, or the start of a lace or cable motif. Wondering how to use stitch markers in circular knitting? The most common way is to use a decorative stitch marker to indicate the beginning of the round! Many knitters use locking stitch markers to keep track of where they made increases or decreases when shaping their knitting. Clover locking stitch markers (or whatever brand you prefer) can also be used to catch and secure dropped stitches until you can fix them, or you can use them to keep track of your knitting progress.

We have curated some of the best stitch markers from your favorite brands such as CocoKnits, Knitter’s Pride, and Clover stitch markers for knitting! And don’t forget to check out the magnetic knitter’s necklace from Knitter’s Pride, which is a magnetic pendant on which you can stick the included metal stitch markers and cable needles in place as you knit!

➤Knitting stitch holders are tools used to hold stitches temporarily while you're working on a knitting project. They come in various forms, but they typically consist of a long, thin piece of metal, plastic, or flexible cable with a stopper on one end to prevent stitches from sliding off.

When you need to set aside a group of stitches in your knitting project, such as for shaping a neckline or forming a sleeve, you can transfer those stitches onto your knitting stitch holder to keep them secure and prevent them from unraveling while you work on other parts of the project.

Knitting stitch holders also act as a safe storage solution for stitches that need to be worked later, such as for creating pockets or attaching sleeves, and large stitch holders for knitting can be used to free up needles for other parts of your project if needed. You may prefer flexible stitch holders for larger amounts of stitches - for example, if you need to reserve the front or back of a sweater project.

Some knitters use floss or yarn to reserve their stitches, which is totally fine! But keep in mind that knitting stitch holders will keep the tension of your held stitches consistent until you're ready you need to work them again, and that can be very helpful!

➤Tapestry needles are large-eyed blunt needles used primarily to weave in yarn ends or sew seams together in knitting projects. They are typically made of metal, plastic, or bamboo and their large eye allows them to accommodate yarn easily.

➤If you are a fan of hand-dyed yarn in particular, a yarn winder and swift is a huge time-saving tool to add to your craft room!

A yarn winder is a device used to wind yarn from hanks or skeins into a more convenient and manageable form, typically a center-pull ball or cake. Yarn winders come in various styles, from simple handheld winders to more complex tabletop models.

A yarn swift is used to hold skeins or hanks of yarn in place while winding them into balls or cakes with a yarn winder. It typically consists of an adjustable wooden or metal framework with arms that can be expanded or collapsed to accommodate different sizes of skeins, hence they are also sometimes called umbrella swifts since they expand similarly to an umbrella.

Together, a yarn swift and winder form a useful pairing for efficiently preparing yarn for knitting or crocheting projects, making the process smoother and more enjoyable for fiber artists.

➤Yarn bowls are an elegant way to keep your working yarn safe while you work. They’re often made from wood, ceramic, or other sturdy materials and come in various shapes and sizes, with a curved cutout or slit through which the yarn can be threaded, allowing it to be pulled smoothly without tangling or rolling away. Yarn bowls are handy for keeping your yarn in place while you knit or crochet.

➤A knitting pattern holder can be used to keep your patterns organized and easily accessible while you work on a project. It typically consists of a stand or holder designed to hold a printed or digital knitting pattern in place, keeping it visible and secure.

➤A knitting row counter keeps track of the number of rows completed in your knitting projects, helping you avoid losing count, especially in intricate patterns or projects with multiple sections.

There are various types of knitting row counters, such as mechanical row counters that have a dial or buttons that you can turn or press to incrementally increase the count with each row completed, as well as digital row counters that provide a digital display of the row count and often have buttons to increment or reset the count. Some digital row counters may even have additional features like memory functions or multiple counters for different sections of a project.

Some knitters prefer to use manual methods like tally marks on paper or using stitch markers to represent certain counts. While these methods are simple, they may not be as convenient or accurate as dedicated row counters.

➤Yarn snips & scissors are used to cut yarn and other materials during their projects. Yarn snips are small, compact cutting tools designed specifically for cutting yarn, while scissors are larger cutting tools with longer blades, typically used for cutting a variety of materials, including yarn, fabric, and thread. While scissors can be used for cutting yarn, they may not be as precise or convenient as yarn snips for fiber arts projects.

➤Knitting tape measures are used to measure various aspects of your knitting projects. They are typically made of soft, flexible material like fabric or vinyl and feature measurements in inches and/or centimeters. You can use them for measuring gauge, dimensions, and sizing. Knitting tape measures come in various lengths, but they're typically compact and portable, making them easy to carry in a project bag or knitting pouch. Some may also include additional features like retractable mechanisms or locking mechanisms to hold the measurement in place.

➤Cable knitting needles are a specialized tool used in cable knitting, a technique where stitches are crossed over each other to create intricate and textured patterns resembling cables. Knitting cable needles typically have a short length with a slight bend or notch in the middle to hold stitches securely in place.

Cable stitch holders come in various shapes, sizes, and materials to suit different preferences and knitting styles: some are straight with a dip in the middle, while others have a more hook-like shape. Once you find the cable needle for knitting that works best for you, it will be much easier to manipulate stitches and create beautiful cable patterns!

➤Tassel and pom pom makers are used to create decorative elements for finished knit projects. Pom pom makers are plastic or metal devices that simplify the process of creating pom poms; they typically consist of two semi-circular halves that snap together and have notches or grooves around the edges where yarn can be wound. Once the yarn is wound around the device, it's secured in place, allowing you to easily cut through the loops and create a pom pom of uniform size. Pom pom makers come in various sizes to create pom poms of different diameters.

Tassel maker tools are designed to streamline the process of creating these popular fringe-like decorations. They often consist of a central post or rod around which the yarn is wrapped to create the tassel's body. Some tassel makers may also include features to help secure the yarn in place and facilitate cutting. Once the yarn is wrapped and cut, the tassel maker helps ensure uniformity in the length and thickness of the tassels.

Both pom pom and tassel makers are handy tools for crafters looking to add embellishments to their knitting, crochet, or other yarn-based projects. They help ensure consistency and efficiency in the creation of these decorative elements.

➤A knitting needle gauge is another handy item to keep in your project bag. Knitting needle gauges are used to identify the size of your knitting needles, which is helpful if the size isn’t marked on them, or if it has rubbed off. Some also include a small ruler with an opening to help you measure the number of stitches and rows per inch in your knitted fabric, ensuring your gauge matches the pattern.

➤A sock ruler is a tool specifically designed for knitters to measure the length of a knitted sock as it's being made. It's essentially a flexible, often transparent ruler that is shaped and sized to match the typical dimensions of a sock. You can use it to measure length, check fit, and maintain consistency between socks in a pair.

As you progress and explore different types of knitting projects and techniques, you may find that many of these knitting tools and notions are a handy addition to your knitting toolbox!