Every crocheter will agree that the right tools enhance skills and creativity. No matter whether you are a newbie or have the intention to expand your craft by learning new techniques, having good tools at hand is essential and should be chosen wisely.
Before we move on, let’s understand a popular quote. “THE JOY OF CROCHET IS ITS SIMPLICITY: THERE IS ONLY EVER ONE STITCH IN WORK AND JUST A FEW VARIATIONS OF THE BASIC STITCHES TO MASTER, BUT THE POSSIBILITIES OF USING AND COMBINING THOSE STITCHES TOGETHER ARE ENDLESS.” – ERIKA KNIGHT
Crochet and knitting, both yarn crafts are different yet have so much in common. Both these crafts share a few essential accessories. So, if you are already a knitter you might be having the accessories in your stash.
Here are our essential must-have tools for every knitter:
1. Crochet Hook
Crochet requires the basic crochet hook. Like knitting needles, they too come in options of single-ended, double-ended and very unique Tunisian crochet hooks. The shape and material of your hooks do play a huge part in your craft. It shows how even your stitches will turn out and the speed of your knitting.
Our Basix as well as our Bamboo range of crochet hooks are beginner-friendly because the untreated wood and the lightweight bamboo provide a great grip and are pleasant to hold. Our Ginger and Symfonie hooks are beautiful and smooth to work with.
Our steel and aluminum hooks, with their slick surface in return, will speed up your rhythm considerably. Our colorful Zing series is suitable for all kinds of crochet.
The project you have in mind defines the type of crochet hook you are using. The basic stitches can be easily practiced on the single-ended hook as well as Tunisian crochet hook.
If you plan to crochet a large variety of different items, it may be smart to invest in a set with popular sizes, which will give you infinite possibilities.
2. Yarn
The yarn craft of crochet requires a basic understanding of the yarn you will be using. As a rule of thumb, your crochet hook size should match the yarn you are using. The required crochet hook size is indicated on the yarn label. If you are however unsure about which size you should use, a gauge is always a great tool to have at hand. They assist you with the correct size.
3. Stitch markers
These small accessories are effective for both crochet and knitting. Stitch markers are little helpers when it comes to marking stitches in a row, increases or decreases, as well as the first and last stitch in a given pattern. We offer them both in solid and split-ring styles, easy to spot and cute to look at. Always have a pack handy even for the smallest project.
4. Wool or Darning needles
Darning needles are essential tools for a maker. The needles allow stitching the pieces together and weaving in loose ends. While the eye of the needle should be wide enough to effortlessly accommodate the thread, it is important that your wool needle has a rounded tip. When sewing, you actually work between the stitches and will try to avoid splitting the yarn.
5. A measuring tape
The yarn craft of crochet allows designing your own garments to specification. Most patterns usually offer instructions on different sizes it is much more pleasing to actually customize the garment of your choice to fit your body. But, sometimes you need to go with measurements
To assist you with measurements, our retractable measuring tapes show both inch and metric measures. Made of sturdy beechwood and fit comfortably into a project bag.
6. Scissors
A good pair of scissors is a craft essential as it is exclusively used for cutting your yarn. A great tool to have at hand, make sure to invest in good quality to last a long time. Our folding scissors are easy to handle and have been specifically designed to protect from sharp ends.
7. Blocking Tools
Any crochet project will always look nicer after undergoing the blocking process. After wetting and stretching block your work properly, a blocking board and blocking pins are essential tools.
Our blocking tools come in options of blocking mats, pins and even a sock blocker. The blocking mats come in that pieces can be fitted together like a puzzle, and can be shaped according to your item’s outline. The padded surface can be used for pinning your project firmly into place. Our bright knit blockers look like little pin combs and ensure fast and easy blocking of even wide-width pieces, such as shawls, blankets or sweater pieces. They help your stitches to relax and maintain an even tension throughout the entire fabric, whereas single pins often lose their tension after a while.
With these 7 tools in your project bag, you are all set for a pleasant and rewarding crochet experience. Before you get started, take a look at our previous blog on the basic crochet stitches.
