You know that feeling when you reach for your favorite pair of sweatpants only to find that they are dirty and laundry day isn’t for another three days? That’s how I feel when my favorite crochet hook is nowhere to be found. Or my favorite knitting needles are already holding a project. Every crafter has their favorite, go-to tools. Here’s my list of favorite beginner basic tools!
Crochet Hooks
Susan Bates – If I’m going for a standard metal hook, Bates hooks are my favorite. They have a little more point to the tip and I feel like they through the yarn better. They also feel nice in my hands and the thumb indention seems to hit just the right spot. Definitely stick with aluminum hooks and not plastic. The plastic ones just feel terrible in my hands. Unless, of course, you are working on something that requires an L hook or larger – those only seem to be available in plastic.
Knit Picks wooden crochet hooks feel fantastic in you hands too, but they can take a little getting used to. The tip is not quite as pointy as the Bates hooks and the distance between the thumb indention and the crook is a little longer. Check out the lovely color options!
For Tunisian Crochet, I always use the Knit Picks interchangeable hook set. It is amazing! You get the great wood feel of their regular crochet hooks and instead of a long needle hanging out the end of your work you can attach whatever length of cable works for your project! They currently only carry the Radiant colorway, but it is stunning!
Knitting Needles
Wooden needles are really the only choice for me. After my mother-in-law introduced me to the joy of knitting with wooden needles, I’ve never looked back!
By far, my favorite are Knit Picks wooden needles. They come in straight needles in 10” or 14” lengths, double pointed needles in 4”, 5”, 6” or 8” lengths and interchangeable sets with a variety of cable lengths to create the perfect set of circular needles for your project! And, they come in a wide variety of gorgeous colors. As if I didn’t need another reason to love knitting!
Clover also makes a wide range of bamboo needles, which are available in most Michael’s and Joann’s stores if you are looking to purchase in person. Compared to the Knit Picks counterparts, the yarn doesn’t slide as well on the Clover needles. But, when you are on the first day of a 10-day tour and your needle broke, these are more than adequate to get the job done!
Cutting Tools
Thread scissors – Knit Picks to the rescue again (I swear, I am not making any money on these recommendations!). I love these foldable scissors so much that I purchased several pairs to keep them in in all of my needle and hook bags! They are just the right size to cut in small areas and they fold up to stow away the tips when not in use.
Thread cutter – Even better for travel or on-the-go projects is this keychain thread cutter. It lives on my keychain and has come in handy for projects and cutting random threads on my clothes!
Other Accessories
Yarn needle – I’ll be honest, I don’t remember where or when I got my large yarn needle. I’ve had it so long that the finish has started wearing off in the middle. It is a metal needle instead of plastic and I find that the metal needles glide through the yarn better than any plastic needle I’ve used in the past. The smaller needle I use for sock yarn is definitely a Dritz needle from a variety needle pack. This is a great starting point as you can find what size and eye shape works best for your needs. Just make sure the set includes tapestry needles so you have a selection with large enough eyes to accommodate thicker yarns.
Measuring tape – I definitely recommend a retractable tape measure. This eliminates the inevitable unraveled tape measure twisted around your project in the bottom of your bag. My little turtle tape measure has been with me so long that he doesn’t always lock into place anymore, and I can’t find a replacement for him online. There are many fun character tape measures out there, though, if you like the idea of a fun little buddy in your tool bag. If more straightforward function is more your style, this one certainly gets the job done!
Stitch markers – there are so many options out there! After trying several, I finally stuck with the metal ones that close like a safety pin. It’s handy to be able to open/close them in case you accidentally mark the wrong spot. Or if you need to go back and add a marker later. I picked up a case of Boye stitch markers at Wal-Mart years ago and they are still going strong. Plus, they come in a really cute little box!
This list is just a few of my favorite, go-to tools. Pick some up today and see if they become your favorites too. Then, check out my post on How to Tie a Slipknot to get started on your first project!
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