ok folks,
I had to write a short article for our local yarn store's next newsletter.
I did and since some of you won't get it......
I figured I would post it here for you all to read.
now on arabella.
I saw her thursday night.......she is double the size
and frisky, and curious, and adventureous
in short........she is everything a healthy lamb should be
I have tried to get more pictures but I am not sure how they turned out yet as the batteries are dead in my camera
I got to remember to do that later today or tomorrow
meanwhile
we are expecting a storm
so without too much further ado........
here is my short article
and my question to you all.....
WHAT IS IN YOUR toolkit????
What’s in YOUR tool kit
A tool kit in your knitting bag is compulsory. Believe me it will make your knitting life a whole lot simpler. A good basic kit doesn’t have to be huge, it can fit in about the length of a business sized envelope or a pencil case. Here is my list of indispensable tools that I just can’t leave home without:
1) Crochet hook or two, (or a double ended one) I have smaller one for sock weight or fingering yarns, and one larger for worsted. They are wonderful for dropped stitches or mistake stitches; you can ladder it up with this. Or do the chain for a temporary cast on.
2) Chibi, or blunt tapestry needle: I LOVE my chibi, as it allows me to run a lifeline, sew a bind off, mattress seams, weave in ends. And it comes in a cute little case.
3) Waste yarn, just a couple yards of a smooth dark solid color and a smooth light solid color, make this maybe a cotton or something that can slide easily. Some folks use dental floss, in the nice tiny little plastic boxes. Unless you are doing large blankets or afghans, about 2.5 yards of each is enough. I make tiny balls or sometimes wind it on a piece of rigid plastic or cardboard. Waste yarn holds stitches on an instep or where ever else you need it. Waste yarn allows you to knit in a tube and hold the place for a heel or a thumb.
You can use it with a crochet hook for a temporary cast on. See what I mean? You need this stuff.
4) Cutter of some sort for yarn, clover makes one, Clover thread cutter pendant, or you can get a nice pair of tiny folding scissors, I have even been known to carry a coupon slicer.
5) Needle sizer/gauge: you really do need some sort of measure with you, if not this….then a small retractable tape measure. ( my favorite is a sheepie)
6) Stitch markers: various kinds. These make life a LOT easier, get a special one to mark start of round. I like to use beaded ones when I can, lightweight ones for socks, heavier for worsted projects. Lace knitters, this is mandatory for you, one marker per each motif.
7) Postit notes: I like the super sticky for chart marking, also for making notes on your pattern without harming the original.
8) Pencil with a good eraser: well we all need to make notes right?
I make notes of where I left off, or if I altered stuff.
9) Emery board: get one that has a fine and extra fine side. This will smooth needles that are rough, and human nails that are rough. If you like to work with bamboo or wood needles like I do, you will occasionally get a rough tip. I couldn’t imagine having to either put down my knitting because the tip of my needle was snagging, or damage a really fine yarn.
Not necessary but kind of nice:
zip lock bag to hold your project
non-greasy hand balm or lotion
caps for your double point needles ( point protectors)
row counter
thermal gloves ( I really do like these occasionally)
a note pad
Yarn Yardage Guide ( you don’t need this, you CAN make notes to carry with you in your note pad)
Back up Xerox of your pattern
Shopping and putting together your knitting tool kit is a lot of fun. It doesn’t have to be very expensive, and as you can see, does not take up a lot of space.
I use small hard plastic pencil cases, small zippered tool bags, and an occasional drawstring muslin sack.
I hope you will enjoy this and have a wonderful time picking out a case that will make your knitting life easier.
ps for you chart knitters....... various colored highlighters are nice as well
I had to write a short article for our local yarn store's next newsletter.
I did and since some of you won't get it......
I figured I would post it here for you all to read.
now on arabella.
I saw her thursday night.......she is double the size
and frisky, and curious, and adventureous
in short........she is everything a healthy lamb should be
I have tried to get more pictures but I am not sure how they turned out yet as the batteries are dead in my camera
I got to remember to do that later today or tomorrow
meanwhile
we are expecting a storm
so without too much further ado........
here is my short article
and my question to you all.....
WHAT IS IN YOUR toolkit????
What’s in YOUR tool kit
A tool kit in your knitting bag is compulsory. Believe me it will make your knitting life a whole lot simpler. A good basic kit doesn’t have to be huge, it can fit in about the length of a business sized envelope or a pencil case. Here is my list of indispensable tools that I just can’t leave home without:
1) Crochet hook or two, (or a double ended one) I have smaller one for sock weight or fingering yarns, and one larger for worsted. They are wonderful for dropped stitches or mistake stitches; you can ladder it up with this. Or do the chain for a temporary cast on.
2) Chibi, or blunt tapestry needle: I LOVE my chibi, as it allows me to run a lifeline, sew a bind off, mattress seams, weave in ends. And it comes in a cute little case.
3) Waste yarn, just a couple yards of a smooth dark solid color and a smooth light solid color, make this maybe a cotton or something that can slide easily. Some folks use dental floss, in the nice tiny little plastic boxes. Unless you are doing large blankets or afghans, about 2.5 yards of each is enough. I make tiny balls or sometimes wind it on a piece of rigid plastic or cardboard. Waste yarn holds stitches on an instep or where ever else you need it. Waste yarn allows you to knit in a tube and hold the place for a heel or a thumb.
You can use it with a crochet hook for a temporary cast on. See what I mean? You need this stuff.
4) Cutter of some sort for yarn, clover makes one, Clover thread cutter pendant, or you can get a nice pair of tiny folding scissors, I have even been known to carry a coupon slicer.
5) Needle sizer/gauge: you really do need some sort of measure with you, if not this….then a small retractable tape measure. ( my favorite is a sheepie)
6) Stitch markers: various kinds. These make life a LOT easier, get a special one to mark start of round. I like to use beaded ones when I can, lightweight ones for socks, heavier for worsted projects. Lace knitters, this is mandatory for you, one marker per each motif.
7) Postit notes: I like the super sticky for chart marking, also for making notes on your pattern without harming the original.
8) Pencil with a good eraser: well we all need to make notes right?
I make notes of where I left off, or if I altered stuff.
9) Emery board: get one that has a fine and extra fine side. This will smooth needles that are rough, and human nails that are rough. If you like to work with bamboo or wood needles like I do, you will occasionally get a rough tip. I couldn’t imagine having to either put down my knitting because the tip of my needle was snagging, or damage a really fine yarn.
Not necessary but kind of nice:
zip lock bag to hold your project
non-greasy hand balm or lotion
caps for your double point needles ( point protectors)
row counter
thermal gloves ( I really do like these occasionally)
a note pad
Yarn Yardage Guide ( you don’t need this, you CAN make notes to carry with you in your note pad)
Back up Xerox of your pattern
Shopping and putting together your knitting tool kit is a lot of fun. It doesn’t have to be very expensive, and as you can see, does not take up a lot of space.
I use small hard plastic pencil cases, small zippered tool bags, and an occasional drawstring muslin sack.
I hope you will enjoy this and have a wonderful time picking out a case that will make your knitting life easier.
ps for you chart knitters....... various colored highlighters are nice as well
til next time
vi here again
I been thinking
part of the fun of doing a tool kit is the containers....
so I ask you all...............
how low can you go?
how small can you go and get a full kit?
how tiny a cutter, how compact a case?
how INTERESTING a case?
I been thinking of some of the cases i have used in the past...............
i used clear plastic tubes with screw on metal tops
pill bottles
pretty and tiny decorative tins
( think sucrets or altod tins only pretty)
I dare you all..........
show me YOUR tool kits
the tool kit challenge is on..............................
( no prize or anything but it sure is fun)
and maybe if you can...........
a rough estimate of costs
so the newbie knitters amongst us have an idea
vi
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