Basic Knitting Supplies for Beginning Knitters
Knitting Notions and Tools for Basic Knitting Projects
Aug 27, 2009
Knitting is a very simple hobby in that it only really requires two knitting needles and a ball of yarn. But as any knitter knows, there are many other tools and knitting notions that make knitting easier and are sometimes necessary for more complicated knitting projects. Here are some basic knitting supplies that beginning knitters may want to get in order to make their knitting hobby easier.
Needles and Hooks
- Tapestry needle: A thick needle that is needed to weave in the ends of yarn after finishing a project. It is also useful for sewing together different knitted pieces, for example to make a sweater. If the yarn is difficult to thread, the knitter may also want a needle threader.
- Cable needle: These small double-pointed needles are bent in the middle and come in several sizes. They are used for temporarily holding stitches while working cables.
- Crochet hook: These are useful in knitting for picking up dropped stitches. A knitter may want to get a variety of hook sizes, designated by letters, to fit different yarn thicknesses.
Knitting Supplies for Starting and Finishing Projects
- Scissors / thread cutter: While scissors work fine for cutting yarn, a thread cutter is easier to carry in a bag and can be taken on airplanes.
- Gauge measurer: This is a small rectangle with a ruler on two sides that is used for measuring gauge. Many also come with a needle sizer, holes that the knitter can stick unmarked needles through to check size.
- Measuring tape / ruler: These can be used for measuring the length or width of a project, and can also be used for measuring gauge.
Knitting Notions for More Advanced Knitting Projects
- Ring markers / split ring markers: Small rings that are put on the knitting needle to separate parts of the knitting pattern or pattern repeats. Split ring markers have the added benefit that they can be added and removed without moving the stitches, and can also be attached directly to a stitch to mark it or to designate the right or wrong side of the knitting project.
- Row counter: These small gadgets count rows and can keep track of how many rows have been knit or which row the knitter is on in a pattern. Some come attached to a ring marker, making it easy to keep track of rows when knitting in the round.
- Stitch holders: These look like big safety pins and are used to hold stitches that are not being worked, for example stitches that will be used later to knit a sleeve or neckline.
Knitting Needle Cases and Knitting Bags
Knitting is a great hobby because of its portability. A beginning knitter may also want to invest in a nice knitting bag, which should be big enough for most knitting projects and may also have pockets for other knitting supplies. Many knitters also have a needle case for all of their needles, which usually also have pockets for other knitting notions.
Knitting Needles and Yarn Are Basic Knitting Supplies
A beginning knitter may become overwhelmed with all of the different knitting needles, knitting tools, and knitting notions that knitters use to complete knitting projects. Just remember that all a knitter really needs are knitting needles and yarn, and all of the other knitting tools and knitting notions are to help make knitting easier and therefore more fun.
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