So happy to hear I’m not the only one who has cut their yarn with nail clippers🫣. I would totally put ball winder and swift in the necessary category!!! I agree with everything else. A sharp darning needle is a MUST! I have a large amount of coloured lightbulb stitch markers- the colours help with marking different things. They are the only ones I use.
I can't live without my double pointed metal needles. It appears that they're more useful than jus for knitting in rounds. I'm into knitting plushies (yes, knitting, not crochetting them) and those are veeeery useful if pattern is asking for, for example, making a tiny sleeve in the sweater for a frog, leaving rest of the needles behind. Plus I have additional set of tiny interchangeable needles, and those are the best for travelling, I'm always bringing whole set with me if I need, because they would fit anywhere. And I have additional needles if I need to work on two projects at the same time, so I'm not buying additional stuff. And all of those notions things, I'm having in old cosmetic bag. It's just perfect to hold everything I own for crochet and knitting 😊
You can get foam anti-fatigue floor mats at harbor freight for about $10, in case anyone needs a cheaper option for blocking mats. I can't live without vinyl cosmetics bags for a small projects bag. I like that they don't cause friction on my yarn so I don't have to worry about pulling. I find cloth lined projects bags can cause some pilling , especially on slower projects with more delicate yarn.
completely agree with all of your fave/not so fave items!! I remember when I was a kid and my mom was knitting they didn't produce all the knitting toys and she used little scrap yarn ties for stitch makers. The only thing I would add to the must have list would be a crochet hook for fixing dropped stitches etc. Happy holidays and I look forward to your 2025 content!!
I use the lightbulb stitch markers in the holes of my Chiaogoo cords to keep the stitches from falling off, when I've removed the needles for another project.
That’s my method too when I decide to tighten the needles. I always have one somewhere nearby but I somehow still forget to use them more often than not 🤦♀️
Great video, thank you😊 I bought a pack of lightbulb stitch markers in the summer and they are now my most necessary tool after needles. I knit a lot of black and dark colours and it can sometimes be a struggle to read my knitting. I use the lightbulbs to mark lace repeats so I spot any mistakes really quickly. I use them to mark the turning stitch on short rows so I don't miss knitting the two legs together as one stitch. I keep finding new used that help me avoid mistakes and make knitting more enjoyable. Such good value for such an inexpensive tool.
I totally agree with an actual ruler for measuring, that is all I will use. And I also love my ChiaoGoo needles. I absolutely can not use a plastic darning needle though, has to be metal! Thanks for a great episode!
Great video! I love my ChiaoGoo needles so much. Another thing I would hate to be without is my Knit Companion App. I bought an Amazon Fire Max tablet and stylus primarily for using with Knit Companion. I do a lot of lace shawl knitting, so blocking mats are a must-have for me and blocking wires are REALLY helpful for shawls. I don't have any yarn bowls, but I am obsessed with my "yarn butler" yarn holders that let me spike a yarn cake on a post and it spins around to unwinde the yarn as I knit. One of the things I love most about them is that if I am knitting holding two yarns together, I can stack them both on the spike and it's super easy to manage both of them. I even travel with mine. Also, hooray for Klutz Press books (now Klutz Crafts at Scholastic). I didn't have the knitting book, but I remember seeing it. I had their books and kits for juggling, face painting, nail art, boondoggle, and probably some others. They were favorite things on my Christmas wish lists.
Wool wash. I use it all the time to soak my project before blocking. Not much is needed so the price per use is more reasonable than you might think. It doesn’t make suds so rinsing projects is done with very little squeezing or agitation. Less squeezing reduces the chance of felting the project. Thanks for sharing your tools!
I quite agree with your necessities and nice to have stuff. I have been knitting for many decades and I wonder how I ever could have lived without a ball winder and swift. I guess when you make time for yarn each day, winding balls is just part of the job. In my necessities now : small containers with scissors, measuring device, and needle in each project bag.
It is fun to see everyone’s gadgets and go to’s! I agree with the stitch markers and progress keepers! And, I am also like you with the needle tightening. I like my Lykke interchangeables and they have a similar set up
My favorite knitting supplies are: Knitpro mindful needles followed by Chiaogoo. I love swivel cords especially the Lantern Moon ones. I get stitch markers free when I purchase needles or yarns, and I dislike the plastic ones because they break easy. I prefer metal. Ball winder and swift is essential for me as I spin my own wool. I always have something hot to drink and a snack while knitting. I like the fold-away scissors because they are easy to travel with. My favorite thing I got this Christmas is my spindle, it unscrews and fits into my knitting case. Those are some of my favorite things.
I enjoyed your video. I completely agree about the heavy stitch markers. I use lightweight wooden ones. One thing I can't live without is a project bag with drawstrings. It is so easy to grab it and go with some sock knitting on the run. The yarn doesn't catch on any zippers. It doubles as a purse for necessities. I can wear the drawstrings on my wrist and knit while walking. I just really love these project bags.
I have the same problem with my Hiya Hiya interchangeable needles unscrewing while I knit. For years I checked mine every few rounds. But I recently I purchased the rubber grippers and when I use those to tighten it, they never come undone. In fact, I have to use the grippers to unscrew the needles because otherwise they won’t budge! It takes only 2 seconds. I will never take the time to use the T-pin, either. Try the gripper! It looks like the Chiaogoo set on Amazon includes one - the red heart.
I have the gripper and it does work super well. I might just need to find a more convenient place to stash all my little tools like that so that I have fewer excuses for not using them 😂
I have the same yarn winder, as well as a wooden swift for hanks, and a smaller plastic yarn winder. There is a reason those yarn bowls are made that way, to keep the yarn from jumping around. Yup, uncaked yard did it so much that I made sure that all of my yarn was caked.
I have to say I really like using barber cords to hold stitches. I also like to use drawstring cloth as knitting bags to keep my kitties from getting to my projects 😊
I love seeing/hearing how we agree on many of those things. For me too the swift/winder are a must, because somewhere in my twenties I acquired carpal tunnel syndrome and winding yarn by hand made that much, much worse - I have to be careful with knitting too obviously, but it's much easier to rest and stretch while knitting than while winding yarn. I prefer wooden needles, but that's probably also because my nicest set of interchangables are wood, so I now am used to those. Which is funny, since ever since I learned to knit I always used metal needles before.
We are definitely on the same page with just about everything you reviewed. I have the same winder, swift and even the blocking mats. Same with the stitch markers and progress keepers. They are all so cute and suck you in to buying but, I never use them. They pretty much weigh my project down. Happy New Year.
I agree with all of your sentiments! I also value items that enhance my knitting experience vs those that are trendy/unnecessary. I found myself shaking my head in agreement with regretting the heavy/ornate/too sharp stitch markers. They draw you in with bling or cuteness. For my larger purchases, I usually do a bit of research and get the nicest one of that item that is affordable. I purposely don't buy tons of sets of needles to help me reduce the number of active WIPs. I adore my ChiaoGoo mini set for small circumference projects. I have a really pretty Lykke driftwood set of DPNs. However, I've been improvising when it comes to blocking. Your review has inspired me to get some blocking mats. Thanks for your ideas and videos :)
I love my chordsmith. Especially for an icord bindoff. I also find a crochet hook is helpful. On the things I don’t use all the time is bags (I have two of my favorites) but the others I have bought are on the top shelf. Thanks for your video it is nice to think of these things.
I’m using the Klutz knitting book now. I’ve made 4 projects so far. Hopefully once done with all projects I’ll feel more comfortable with more complex projects to make some I really want to
I have the knitpicks interchangeables that screw on... and I do the same thing. 🤣 I never bother actually using the tool, I just occasionally have to tighten them again. Nice to know I'm not the only one!
Thanks Bonnie - loved your review podcast. Yep - couldn't do without my winder and also amish swift. So versatile and meditative. Lightbulb stitch markers also my favs - user friendly and just work. Also have the Chiagoo metal set - which cords do you have? a PENCIL - to mark on my printed pattern my rows ha. couldn't do without. Now that 60yo, reader glasses! got to see the stitches esply if mohair or lace held with.... STITCH HOLDER CORDS hahaha to try on the top down garments along the way. 🥰😄❤
I remember when I added a set of DPNs to my only set of cable needles and my husband thought I was being extra extravagant lol. I reminded him he had many tools for his projects and I use both types of needles. Recently purchased a yarn winder, maybe next year I’ll add a swift 😊. Another nice to have is a fancy project bag but really the reusable grocery bags work fine so I’m not sure I will ever splurge on that.
I have the same Stanwood and swift you have. So well made and necessary for me. I had a cheaper winder before and it didn’t work very well. I think the Stanwood is worth every penny it costs. Not sure if you mentioned needle stoppers. Maybe they are in your notions kit. I find them to be essential, too.
i love the chiaogoo needles. my first yarn winder was/is a very basic one i think i paid in the 10 dollar area for it 12 or so years ago and it still works fine but it only winds about 4 oz. so i got the stanwood 10 oz. i also can live with those fancy stitch markers, i've been given some as gifts and i haven't found a use for them because they are too heavy. i was also gifted a yarn bowl that i occasionally use but if i didn't have it i could live without it. i also love my hiya hiya needle gauge, i can't live without that. i love my round silicone markers from clover. i also can't live without my crochet hooks while knitting if i drop a stitch they are a life saver. the blocking mats looks like what i have mine are squared off on one side and have circles on the other for round items. i do want to get another set too. some large shawls don't fit the 9 i have.
Just a friendly fyi, I have one of those crank handle icord makers and it’s super picky about the kind of yarn you give it. Mine doesn’t like fuzzy yarns or any kind of “splittable” much. I basically can only successfully use cotton on the thing, which is nice because if you have enough cotton yarn and arm strength you can make bath mats and things of that nature. I feel you though, knitting icord gets old quick.
For the fun stitch markers that are too heavy, I have considered turning them into a charm necklace lol. But same. I love looking at them but not always functional!
I was surprised how much I use my i-cord maker. It's definitely under the nice to have category. I have a cordsmith and can use it for i-cord bind offs as well as stand alone I cords which made a big difference to me.
Ive been thinking the last couple of days of taking a t-pin and setting into some polymer clay to make it easier to grab out of the case. I have one in one if the slots in my chiaogoo case. I also notice they never come undone when you tighten them 😅
I love hearing about your favorite pics. For me the ball Winder and Swift falls into the must have category, but I agree with most of your other assessments. PS - have you tried Knit Companion? it’s another must have for me.
The twice sheared sheep slap bracelet sock ruler is a must if you make socks. I do a lot of toe up socks and just knit until the bracelet tells me for the size and then start the heel. Otherwise agree with your recommendations 100%!
I’ve done the not properly screwing in the chiaogoos thing once… it didn’t go well 🙈 so I use one of my tapestry/darning needles to tighten them since I have those on hand pretty much always and it’s definitely worth it, no issues since I have made sure to do that 👍🏻
I also love my ChiaoGoo needle set. I buy multiples of many sizes and extra cords…so many projects in progress. I also love their silver swivel cords. So thin and flexible. #2 are lightbulb/gourd shaped openable stitch markers. I hate all the other ones. Have so many round ones I never use, and fun ones with charms…never use. I agree about the charm bracelet or necklace idea! I also have a yarn bowl. I do use mine, but I have a yarn winder and swifter. So most of the time I only use the bowl to help rewind old balls of yarn in my stash, because I’d rather have them in cakes.
Love my chiaogoo set!! I have supplemented with a few sizes of 4” tips, which makes knitting cowls ( moderately small diameter , but not magic-loop small..) much more comfortable.
My ceramic salad bowls and extra tall and extra wide flower vases work great for me in holding yarn while I knit or split yarn into 2 equal balls or cakes for socks or mittens/fingerless mitts. I knit these two at a time.(concurrently) I have horrible second sock/mitt syndrome.
My chiaogoo needles are ok since my #6 does not stay attached to cords,factory defect , that’s why I like my Hiya Hiya. Problem….those sets are very expensive for some knitters . Love my knit picks Radiant woods.
I love my Chiaogoo's as well, tried some others but now won't use anything else. I have a few dressmaking pins inside the case and use them to tighten the needles and don't have an issue. I use to be lazy and not want to fish out the blocking pin, but a normal pin works fine and is easy to locate when pinned in the case.
What a fabulous video! Right there with you on the Chiaogoo’s, I’ve had my set since 2019 and they are all still perfect. Except, my couch eats the needles that I accidentally leave out when I use them as a substitute for my cable needle (also eaten by said couch). And yes, I’m also a lazy needle tightener lol. Definitely going to order those stitch markers- the cheap plastic ones I use are too bulky and impact my knitting. Still not sure I need a ball winder and swift… I use my knees to wind balls and since so many yarns I buy are already center pull, I’m not sure I understand the need vs. the space they take up?
i love the stanwood 10 oz winder because even when i use Caron one pound i like to wind it into cakes. too often i find it is knotted somewhere and it's not fun mid project to have to try to untangle it. i have to split a pound into 2 but i'd rather that than deal with knots. once i also had a pound of love that was a mess part way the yarn was like damaged, i had to cut away quite a bit till it got back to good stuff. so pre caking it up i can sit and just focus on my knitting or crocheting.
I’ve lost quite a few tips to the couch too haha 🤣 I was with you on not seeing the need for the yarn winder/swift until I started my podcast this year. Being on UA-cam unexpectedly changed how much I knit and the types of yarn I use which made the winder way more necessary, but definitely still a luxury.
My lys is soooo nice about turning my 26:23 gains into cakes- even if I bought the Yarn someplace else. They do know me and know that I buy a lot of yarn there so I don't feel too too guilty.
I couldn't live without my yarn plyer. I can use up any weight of yarn and ply it with another weight making a new skein and using up left over skeins. I
Here’s my favorite knitting item for fun but not totally necessary eye candy -various fun rubber needle stoppers! I have sheep, flowers, leaves, frogs etc.
Aww, thank you! It’s a combination of brush stying and strong hold gel. I get a lot of questions about it so I’m thinking of putting together a Google doc with my routine and products for everyone.
Awesome voice my friend. I cd listen to you sing while i knit. Heh take NO NOTICE of those wowsers who give u a hard time down the street of wherever. Thats their stupid issue so please please dont listen to them. C u nxt year❤❤❤😊😊😊😊
Funnily enough I was going through my knitting books today in preparation for a video on this very topic! I haven’t found that I reach for my books a ton, but I love the pattern books I have for general inspiration and I do pull out The Knitter’s Book of Yarn any time I plan to try out a new to me yarn. There are definitely a couple I regret but I’ll go into those in the full video in a few weeks 😊
So happy to hear I’m not the only one who has cut their yarn with nail clippers🫣. I would totally put ball winder and swift in the necessary category!!! I agree with everything else. A sharp darning needle is a MUST! I have a large amount of coloured lightbulb stitch markers- the colours help with marking different things. They are the only ones I use.
YES, YES, for swift and ball winder.
You can repurpose them as zipper pulls so you can still enjoy the fancy stitch markers.
Great idea!
I can't live without my double pointed metal needles. It appears that they're more useful than jus for knitting in rounds.
I'm into knitting plushies (yes, knitting, not crochetting them) and those are veeeery useful if pattern is asking for, for example, making a tiny sleeve in the sweater for a frog, leaving rest of the needles behind. Plus I have additional set of tiny interchangeable needles, and those are the best for travelling, I'm always bringing whole set with me if I need, because they would fit anywhere. And I have additional needles if I need to work on two projects at the same time, so I'm not buying additional stuff.
And all of those notions things, I'm having in old cosmetic bag. It's just perfect to hold everything I own for crochet and knitting 😊
You can get foam anti-fatigue floor mats at harbor freight for about $10, in case anyone needs a cheaper option for blocking mats.
I can't live without vinyl cosmetics bags for a small projects bag. I like that they don't cause friction on my yarn so I don't have to worry about pulling. I find cloth lined projects bags can cause some pilling , especially on slower projects with more delicate yarn.
completely agree with all of your fave/not so fave items!! I remember when I was a kid and my mom was knitting they didn't produce all the knitting toys and she used little scrap yarn ties for stitch makers. The only thing I would add to the must have list would be a crochet hook for fixing dropped stitches etc. Happy holidays and I look forward to your 2025 content!!
I use the lightbulb stitch markers in the holes of my Chiaogoo cords to keep the stitches from falling off, when I've removed the needles for another project.
That’s my method too when I decide to tighten the needles. I always have one somewhere nearby but I somehow still forget to use them more often than not 🤦♀️
I love my Altoids tin for needles and Chiagoo cable tighteners, they are easily found every time.
What a great idea. I have no idea why I didn't think of this!
put a magnet inside your Altoids tin and it will also hold your needles and light bulb markers.
Great video, thank you😊
I bought a pack of lightbulb stitch markers in the summer and they are now my most necessary tool after needles. I knit a lot of black and dark colours and it can sometimes be a struggle to read my knitting. I use the lightbulbs to mark lace repeats so I spot any mistakes really quickly. I use them to mark the turning stitch on short rows so I don't miss knitting the two legs together as one stitch. I keep finding new used that help me avoid mistakes and make knitting more enjoyable. Such good value for such an inexpensive tool.
Ball winder: The thing I lived without longest and now adore. Got the cheapest one from Joanns and it’s totally great.
I totally agree with an actual ruler for measuring, that is all I will use. And I also love my ChiaoGoo needles. I absolutely can not use a plastic darning needle though, has to be metal! Thanks for a great episode!
Great video! I love my ChiaoGoo needles so much. Another thing I would hate to be without is my Knit Companion App. I bought an Amazon Fire Max tablet and stylus primarily for using with Knit Companion. I do a lot of lace shawl knitting, so blocking mats are a must-have for me and blocking wires are REALLY helpful for shawls. I don't have any yarn bowls, but I am obsessed with my "yarn butler" yarn holders that let me spike a yarn cake on a post and it spins around to unwinde the yarn as I knit. One of the things I love most about them is that if I am knitting holding two yarns together, I can stack them both on the spike and it's super easy to manage both of them. I even travel with mine.
Also, hooray for Klutz Press books (now Klutz Crafts at Scholastic). I didn't have the knitting book, but I remember seeing it. I had their books and kits for juggling, face painting, nail art, boondoggle, and probably some others. They were favorite things on my Christmas wish lists.
Wool wash. I use it all the time to soak my project before blocking. Not much is needed so the price per use is more reasonable than you might think. It doesn’t make suds so rinsing projects is done with very little squeezing or agitation. Less squeezing reduces the chance of felting the project. Thanks for sharing your tools!
I quite agree with your necessities and nice to have stuff. I have been knitting for many decades and I wonder how I ever could have lived without a ball winder and swift. I guess when you make time for yarn each day, winding balls is just part of the job.
In my necessities now : small containers with scissors, measuring device, and needle in each project bag.
I got along without a ball winder and swift when I had my mother, the human swift. When I was a kid, I was the swift.
Bonnie, I bought an i-cord knitter from Temu for $4, and it works perfectly.
It is fun to see everyone’s gadgets and go to’s! I agree with the stitch markers and progress keepers! And, I am also like you with the needle tightening. I like my Lykke interchangeables and they have a similar set up
My favorite knitting supplies are: Knitpro mindful needles followed by Chiaogoo. I love swivel cords especially the Lantern Moon ones. I get stitch markers free when I purchase needles or yarns, and I dislike the plastic ones because they break easy. I prefer metal. Ball winder and swift is essential for me as I spin my own wool. I always have something hot to drink and a snack while knitting. I like the fold-away scissors because they are easy to travel with. My favorite thing I got this Christmas is my spindle, it unscrews and fits into my knitting case. Those are some of my favorite things.
I love the newish rubber donuts as they stay on so well even for traveling
I enjoyed your video. I completely agree about the heavy stitch markers. I use lightweight wooden ones. One thing I can't live without is a project bag with drawstrings. It is so easy to grab it and go with some sock knitting on the run. The yarn doesn't catch on any zippers. It doubles as a purse for necessities. I can wear the drawstrings on my wrist and knit while walking. I just really love these project bags.
I also like using a headlamp. Especially when I'm in a knitting circle that has less than stellar lighting
Totally agree with your opinions, except I wouldn’t get one of those ichord tools😊
I have the same problem with my Hiya Hiya interchangeable needles unscrewing while I knit. For years I checked mine every few rounds. But I recently I purchased the rubber grippers and when I use those to tighten it, they never come undone. In fact, I have to use the grippers to unscrew the needles because otherwise they won’t budge! It takes only 2 seconds. I will never take the time to use the T-pin, either. Try the gripper! It looks like the Chiaogoo set on Amazon includes one - the red heart.
I have the gripper and it does work super well. I might just need to find a more convenient place to stash all my little tools like that so that I have fewer excuses for not using them 😂
I have the same yarn winder, as well as a wooden swift for hanks, and a smaller plastic yarn winder. There is a reason those yarn bowls are made that way, to keep the yarn from jumping around. Yup, uncaked yard did it so much that I made sure that all of my yarn was caked.
I have to say I really like using barber cords to hold stitches. I also like to use drawstring cloth as knitting bags to keep my kitties from getting to my projects 😊
I love seeing/hearing how we agree on many of those things. For me too the swift/winder are a must, because somewhere in my twenties I acquired carpal tunnel syndrome and winding yarn by hand made that much, much worse - I have to be careful with knitting too obviously, but it's much easier to rest and stretch while knitting than while winding yarn.
I prefer wooden needles, but that's probably also because my nicest set of interchangables are wood, so I now am used to those. Which is funny, since ever since I learned to knit I always used metal needles before.
We are definitely on the same page with just about everything you reviewed. I have the same winder, swift and even the blocking mats. Same with the stitch markers and progress keepers. They are all so cute and suck you in to buying but, I never use them. They pretty much weigh my project down. Happy New Year.
I agree with all of your sentiments! I also value items that enhance my knitting experience vs those that are trendy/unnecessary. I found myself shaking my head in agreement with regretting the heavy/ornate/too sharp stitch markers. They draw you in with bling or cuteness. For my larger purchases, I usually do a bit of research and get the nicest one of that item that is affordable. I purposely don't buy tons of sets of needles to help me reduce the number of active WIPs. I adore my ChiaoGoo mini set for small circumference projects. I have a really pretty Lykke driftwood set of DPNs. However, I've been improvising when it comes to blocking. Your review has inspired me to get some blocking mats. Thanks for your ideas and videos :)
I love my chordsmith. Especially for an icord bindoff. I also find a crochet hook is helpful. On the things I don’t use all the time is bags (I have two of my favorites) but the others I have bought are on the top shelf. Thanks for your video it is nice to think of these things.
The one tool I can’t live without is the cocoknits stitch fixer
I’m using the Klutz knitting book now. I’ve made 4 projects so far. Hopefully once done with all projects I’ll feel more comfortable with more complex projects to make some I really want to
That’s awesome! Which projects have you made? It’s such a great resource for learning the basics.
OMG, a little stroll down memory lane with the Klutz kits....tried quite a few of them including the juggling kit! 😊
I have the knitpicks interchangeables that screw on... and I do the same thing. 🤣 I never bother actually using the tool, I just occasionally have to tighten them again. Nice to know I'm not the only one!
Thanks Bonnie - loved your review podcast. Yep - couldn't do without my winder and also amish swift. So versatile and meditative. Lightbulb stitch markers also my favs - user friendly and just work. Also have the Chiagoo metal set - which cords do you have? a PENCIL - to mark on my printed pattern my rows ha. couldn't do without. Now that 60yo, reader glasses! got to see the stitches esply if mohair or lace held with.... STITCH HOLDER CORDS hahaha to try on the top down garments along the way. 🥰😄❤
I remember when I added a set of DPNs to my only set of cable needles and my husband thought I was being extra extravagant lol. I reminded him he had many tools for his projects and I use both types of needles. Recently purchased a yarn winder, maybe next year I’ll add a swift 😊. Another nice to have is a fancy project bag but really the reusable grocery bags work fine so I’m not sure I will ever splurge on that.
You deserve a really nice project bag. Putting your beautiful projects in a crumpled plastic bag is unworthy of your craft.
I have the same Stanwood and swift you have. So well made and necessary for me. I had a cheaper winder before and it didn’t work very well. I think the Stanwood is worth every penny it costs. Not sure if you mentioned needle stoppers. Maybe they are in your notions kit. I find them to be essential, too.
i love the chiaogoo needles. my first yarn winder was/is a very basic one i think i paid in the 10 dollar area for it 12 or so years ago and it still works fine but it only winds about 4 oz. so i got the stanwood 10 oz. i also can live with those fancy stitch markers, i've been given some as gifts and i haven't found a use for them because they are too heavy. i was also gifted a yarn bowl that i occasionally use but if i didn't have it i could live without it. i also love my hiya hiya needle gauge, i can't live without that. i love my round silicone markers from clover. i also can't live without my crochet hooks while knitting if i drop a stitch they are a life saver. the blocking mats looks like what i have mine are squared off on one side and have circles on the other for round items. i do want to get another set too. some large shawls don't fit the 9 i have.
Just a friendly fyi, I have one of those crank handle icord makers and it’s super picky about the kind of yarn you give it. Mine doesn’t like fuzzy yarns or any kind of “splittable” much. I basically can only successfully use cotton on the thing, which is nice because if you have enough cotton yarn and arm strength you can make bath mats and things of that nature. I feel you though, knitting icord gets old quick.
I agree with all of your choices. I have the basic tools and a few things I really don’t use.
❤ your videos! Your tank is adorable - think I might need to make one of those … adventurous beginner friendly I hope ?
For the fun stitch markers that are too heavy, I have considered turning them into a charm necklace lol. But same. I love looking at them but not always functional!
I was surprised how much I use my i-cord maker. It's definitely under the nice to have category. I have a cordsmith and can use it for i-cord bind offs as well as stand alone I cords which made a big difference to me.
Ive been thinking the last couple of days of taking a t-pin and setting into some polymer clay to make it easier to grab out of the case. I have one in one if the slots in my chiaogoo case. I also notice they never come undone when you tighten them 😅
I use nostepinne for winding regularly, but I also own a Stanwick. I would do it again. I do think that the swift and winder are almost a need.
I love hearing about your favorite pics. For me the ball Winder and Swift falls into the must have category, but I agree with most of your other assessments. PS - have you tried Knit Companion? it’s another must have for me.
I love my metal stitch markers, or at least most of them, my biggest issue is that some of them have pointy edges which like to snag onto my knitting
The twice sheared sheep slap bracelet sock ruler is a must if you make socks. I do a lot of toe up socks and just knit until the bracelet tells me for the size and then start the heel. Otherwise agree with your recommendations 100%!
I’ve done the not properly screwing in the chiaogoos thing once… it didn’t go well 🙈 so I use one of my tapestry/darning needles to tighten them since I have those on hand pretty much always and it’s definitely worth it, no issues since I have made sure to do that 👍🏻
Sock blockers, sock ruler. I also use blocking wires sometimes for shawls. I love your vlog.
I also love my ChiaoGoo needle set. I buy multiples of many sizes and extra cords…so many projects in progress. I also love their silver swivel cords. So thin and flexible. #2 are lightbulb/gourd shaped openable stitch markers. I hate all the other ones. Have so many round ones I never use, and fun ones with charms…never use. I agree about the charm bracelet or necklace idea! I also have a yarn bowl. I do use mine, but I have a yarn winder and swifter. So most of the time I only use the bowl to help rewind old balls of yarn in my stash, because I’d rather have them in cakes.
I didn’t know they made swivel cords! I am 100% going to have to check those out.
Love my chiaogoo set!! I have supplemented with a few sizes of 4” tips, which makes knitting cowls ( moderately small diameter , but not magic-loop small..) much more comfortable.
My ceramic salad bowls and extra tall and extra wide flower vases work great for me in holding yarn while I knit or split yarn into 2 equal balls or cakes for socks or mittens/fingerless mitts. I knit these two at a time.(concurrently) I have horrible second sock/mitt syndrome.
Hello Bonnie. Your hair is absolutely gorgeous ❤
My chiaogoo needles are ok since my #6 does not stay attached to cords,factory defect , that’s why I like my Hiya Hiya. Problem….those sets are very expensive for some knitters . Love my knit picks Radiant woods.
I love my Chiaogoo's as well, tried some others but now won't use anything else. I have a few dressmaking pins inside the case and use them to tighten the needles and don't have an issue. I use to be lazy and not want to fish out the blocking pin, but a normal pin works fine and is easy to locate when pinned in the case.
Chiaogoo needles are where it's at. You're wild for using them loose tho lol, that would give me a heart attack. I have that same P bass!
I’d repurpose the metal stitch markers as earrings. I also like cheap light stitch markers.
What a fabulous video! Right there with you on the Chiaogoo’s, I’ve had my set since 2019 and they are all still perfect. Except, my couch eats the needles that I accidentally leave out when I use them as a substitute for my cable needle (also eaten by said couch). And yes, I’m also a lazy needle tightener lol. Definitely going to order those stitch markers- the cheap plastic ones I use are too bulky and impact my knitting. Still not sure I need a ball winder and swift… I use my knees to wind balls and since so many yarns I buy are already center pull, I’m not sure I understand the need vs. the space they take up?
i love the stanwood 10 oz winder because even when i use Caron one pound i like to wind it into cakes. too often i find it is knotted somewhere and it's not fun mid project to have to try to untangle it. i have to split a pound into 2 but i'd rather that than deal with knots. once i also had a pound of love that was a mess part way the yarn was like damaged, i had to cut away quite a bit till it got back to good stuff. so pre caking it up i can sit and just focus on my knitting or crocheting.
I’ve lost quite a few tips to the couch too haha 🤣 I was with you on not seeing the need for the yarn winder/swift until I started my podcast this year. Being on UA-cam unexpectedly changed how much I knit and the types of yarn I use which made the winder way more necessary, but definitely still a luxury.
I just bought a knit dolly for the i-cord for $5 not an investment and got the job done fun and quick
My lys is soooo nice about turning my 26:23 gains into cakes- even if I bought the Yarn someplace else. They do know me and know that I buy a lot of yarn there so I don't feel too too guilty.
I love my little prym icord maker!!!
I couldn't live without my yarn plyer. I can use up any weight of yarn and ply it with another weight making a new skein and using up left over skeins. I
A yarn plyer sounds really cool! I’ve never heard of that before but might have to check it out.
I had that same klutz kit!!!
Here’s my favorite knitting item for fun but not totally necessary eye candy -various fun rubber needle stoppers! I have sheep, flowers, leaves, frogs etc.
I use my yarn bowls for progress keepers or for notions storage. I would turn those heavy markers you love into a charm bracelet.
Non-knitting question: how do you do your hair? Your curls are amazing!
Aww, thank you! It’s a combination of brush stying and strong hold gel. I get a lot of questions about it so I’m thinking of putting together a Google doc with my routine and products for everyone.
Awesome voice my friend. I cd listen to you sing while i knit.
Heh take NO NOTICE of those wowsers who give u a hard time down the street of wherever. Thats their stupid issue so please please dont listen to them.
C u nxt year❤❤❤😊😊😊😊
You have the most beautiful hair ever! Thank you for this. As someone who is new to knitting this was so helpful!
Thank you! ❤
I knew the second you set the bag with stitch markers down without closing it , it was going to get dumped. 😊
I also tighten my chiaogoos every couple of rounds instead of using the tighteners b/c I am lazy. Why????? 😅
Are there any knitting books you reference a lot? Kinda the same scale- any you regret buying?
Funnily enough I was going through my knitting books today in preparation for a video on this very topic! I haven’t found that I reach for my books a ton, but I love the pattern books I have for general inspiration and I do pull out The Knitter’s Book of Yarn any time I plan to try out a new to me yarn. There are definitely a couple I regret but I’ll go into those in the full video in a few weeks 😊
@@AKnitterObsessedYay! Can’t wait. I love my yarnie books. Such good inspiration for me and I’m always looking to add.
You use plastic garbage bags??? Love your knitting stuff!
Totally off subject…but your hair is beautiful!
Thank you!
My name is Bonnie too🥹