The best Knitting & Crochet Notions: Reddit reviews

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It’s called a knitting thimble! It keeps your strands straight and makes it easier to pick up each color. I got mine “free” (plus shipping) on Wish, looks like Amazon has them, too

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00114OO10/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_tai_1tQxDbJW68T1H

If you knit or crochet, they're also used for blocking things after they're washed so that they will become and remain the right shape. These pins are much stronger than straight pins and they're pushed into blocking boards that are much like cushy play carpet squares for children.

I stretched a friend's wool sweater that she'd accidentally thrown in the dryer and shrunk into a size small back into a large by letting it soak in Eucalan and cool water overnight and then rolling it into a fresh towel to get the excess water out, and then stretching the hell out of with the help of T-pins and welding TIG-rods that I sanded the points off (way cheaper than blocking wires.)

These are the blocks I like best Once it dried, it was wearable once again.

I've used this one in the past.

I bought a really cheap set on Amazon. The brand is be craftee. It comes in a zip case with tape measure, scissors, tapestry needles and stitch markers.

This is the set... https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00Y7QWHUO/ref=cm_sw_r_wa_apa_i_sHDkFb7RXR446

However I reaaaaaalllllyyy want clover amour, so I'll be replacing my set slowly.

I only started during the pandemic so I am only new and don't really have much to compare against.

Ok so I hear you on this. Technically Google could answer, but when I decided to start blocking some of my work, I wanted to know what actual people were using. So I completely get it. 🙂 Here’s what I use to pin my work down- you do this to kind of ~encourage~ some of your work into the final shape that you want it to be:

Blocking Kit

And to wet my work once it’s been pinned down, I use one of these little spray bottles (I use warm water because I find it tightens fibers up a bit more, but that’s just my personal opinion):

Misting Bottle

You don’t need to block all of your work- I tend to only block my work if I’ve used higher end yarn (such as Sheepjes) or natural fibers, like cotton, which do respond really well to blocking. Blocking will help straighten out wonky edges in pieces like shawls or cardigans, where you do tend to want to have nice crisp edges. For things like hats and amigurumi, I don’t block.

I’m so excited for you!! You’re going to have so much fun, and you’re going to be absolutely shocked how far along you’ll be in just a month! 🙂

I bought this set

https://www.amazon.com/ERGONOMIC-COMFORT-Arthritic-Superior-Accessories/dp/B00Y7QWHUO

based on recommendations from this sub and I love them. My hand/ wrist pain has dropped dramatically. The same amazon store sells just the hooks if you don't want/need the case.

Amazon! KnitIQ Blocking Mats for Knitting https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01FVI1IGK/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_TgxlBbA0QT6C8 are a a square foot each. I actually need to buy another set or two for bigger projects .

I’m so excited and happy for you! There is nothing like being able to do something you love.

Also I couldn’t help but notice your working very hard to keep tension as I can’t even imagine how hard it is to do with a tremor. I was thinking maybe a ring would make things a bit easier. I haven’t personally used them but I know there are rings that you can put the yarn through to help keep tension. It also might relieve your thumb a bit from the tight yarn being wrapped around it. These rings are what I was thinking of, but again I’ve never personally used anything like this so most likely there are better ones out there. I just looked up “ring for yarn tension.” I hope this is of some help.

Keep going, you have more patience than I ever will, and I can’t wait to see that penguin one day :)

Typically all the notions I buy come with little cases or pouches and I keep them in those same little storage cases they came in. For instance, my tapestry needles came in a little plastic "vial" and my ring markers usually come in a little vinyl pouch. As for clippie markers, I actually bought a ton of em on Amazon and they came in these really great plastic divider bins and sorted by color!

They’re locking stitch markers and they are the absolute tits!

I’m a big fan of the Clover brand ones just because their stuff has always been super reliable for me (95% of my kit is from Clover) and I have never had a marker break, even after years of constant use. The downside is that Clover stuff is expensive.

If you want a cheaper option to give them a spin and have more colors (nice for designating places for special stitches, etc. and the Clovers only have orange/green in that size, which makes that kind of coding harder), you can try something like these.

Tons of options for quantity and color on Amazon. My sewing clips are all knockoffs I got from Amazon and they’ve held up fine! I suspect the stitch markers will be likewise.

I ordered these from Amazon: KnitIQ Blocking Mats for Knitting - Extra Thick Blocking Boards with Grids with 100 T-pins and Storage Bag for Needlework or Crochet - Pack of 9 https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01FVI1IGK/ref=cm_sw_r_sms_apa_i_tvpeEbTAVH7YF

They come in a nice storage bag with pins, too!

I use the method u/ApsisTJ mentioned of copying and taping together - and also a magnet board like this one. I have a plastic one that was much cheaper but does the job. The magnets serve as movable guides so my eyes don’t skip ahead to the next line. Downside is it’s a little unwieldy and you have to reset it if you take your project on the go. If you mark off completed stitches though it’s not too hard to pick up where you left off.

These are the ones I have. I like foam because it's easy to stick pins in it. Pinholes do remain though, it's not self-healing like cutting mats. The surface on mine also doesn't mind pieces that are saturated in fabric starch (I make 3d flowers, jewelry and appliques for towel toppers that need to be able to stay vertical and not flop over).

If you need more than 9 another set is definitely compatible. Also it has grid lines in case you need to pin things along a straight line (e.g. granny square, etc.) Blocking mats are a great investment.

A counter. I have multiples of this, and I use two for each project. The one on my left is for what row I'm on; the one on my right is for what stitch I just finished in the row. Also, when you do that first stitch (whether it's part of the turning chain or it's on its own), put a stitch marker in there. That means that's the LAST stitch you go into at the end of the next row.

https://www.amazon.com/Clover-336-Knitting-Counter-Kacha-Kacha/dp/B001HZOY5O

basically, you soak your garment in water for ~15 min, gently squeeze out the water, and lay it flat to dry. the stitches relax as it dries and this often makes the finished piece a little bigger. i haven't invested in blocking mats yet, so i just lay my project out on some towels, sometimes i pin it in place. it makes a much bigger difference for some fibers than others. blocking wool and cotton in my experience makes a huge difference, but blocking acrylic, not so much.

this video is fantastic as an intro to knitting gauge and blocking swatches to help you get a good fit for your finished project. happy knitting 😁

These are the hooks that I got when I first started learning and they were really good: https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00Y7QWHUO/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Also, if the yarn is too slippery or snagging against the hook it can be difficult to have consistent tension, so that could also be an issue.

That's really interesting, I wonder if it's that people who prefer deep pressure when touched are more likely to use a lot of force when doing things..? I'm usually extremely gentle because I'm aware that when massaging my arms and stuff I use a lot of pressure so when I hug people, etc. I'm usually too gentle because I don't want to risk hurting them. So I wonder if that could carry over to other things as well?

Chart holders, like this one: https://www.amazon.com/Knit-Picks-Knitting-Chart-Keeper/dp/B00I4D81TC

Super easy to diy and you can even get one that actually fits a whole A4 paper! It costs over 20€ here, the one I made cost me about 7€

In the future, grab some of the puzzle piece blocking mats like these. The beauty of them is that you can pin an FO to them then stand the mats up and lean them against a wall to avoid cats laying on them. It works with all but really heavy objects like blankets.

oh okay I understand now. Fwiw, I also haven't been able to manage holding yarn in my right hand at all. That yarn stranding guide and/or this particular Norwegian thimble have made stranded knitting possible for me

The short answer is: stitch markers.

The longer answer is all about how to use stitch markers. If you can accurately count your stitches, you can crochet rows that are all the same width.

Let's say your blanket is 160 stitches wide -- you attach a stitch marker to the first stitch and every 10 or 20 stitches, and the last stitch.

If your blanket gets wider, you have more than 160 stitches. If it gets more narrow, you have less than 160 stitches. Stitch markers can be helpful if you can count your stitches.

This is the set I got. I love it. It has everything you need to start. BeCraftee Crochet Hooks Kit

In the US, on Amazon, I fund and bought these. Nine squares plus pins for $40. Worked great for steam blocking a large blanket.

The right answer: put a stitch marker in the stitch. I have trouble with those common "safety pin" looking stitch markers coming undone sometimes. So I use stitch holders instead. They seem to stay closed better and they're also so big there's no chance it'll get pulled through a stitch.

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The honest answer: I fall asleep crocheting in bed and my fiancé puts it on the shelf next to me as best as he can. And in the morning I wake up to him saying "Hey! Hey! You up? I moved this because you fell asleep. Are all your single crochets and double crochets where they're supposed to be? Check it in case I messed up." Haha

I live by these stitch markers. You can put one into the loop on your hook so your work doesn't come undone while you're not working on it.

So many different ways to keep track of your work with these.

Stitch Markers Ortarco 120 PCS Crochet Stitch Markers with 4 PCS Large Eye Sewing Blunt Needles 3 Sizes for Knitting Sewing Stitching Weaving 10 Colors with Storage Case https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08PKBH11M/ref=cm_sw_r_apan_glt_fabc_9AV1QPGRZKKQAXA8HMKN

Practice helps your tension improve over time. There are tension rings you can get that helps with it.

Something that helped me is be confident in however you hold your hook and work. Seeing others crochet can make us think we have to hold it a certain way. Just work however is comfortable to you.

Tl yarn crafts has a lot of good content.

https://youtube.com/c/TLYarnCrafts

not OP but I do a lot of color work, and I knit primarily continental:

Initially I started with a Norwegian Knitting Thimble, but those can get annoying if you aren't using the two colors equally, so I've just recently learned to hold one color in each hand (I will still keep the dominant color in my left hand, and the secondary color in my right) - it only took me 2-3 rounds on a hat to get truly comfortable with holding the second color in my right hand, since it was only knit, no purling.

I've noticed that I tend to tension the yarn around my hand differently for each hand.

I always use a row counter because I'm not experienced enough to be able to count my rows manually accurately. So far I've been using the one that came with my beginner kit, it looks like the one u/MuffytheBananaSlayer posted. Unfortunately my kids love to come over while I'm crocheting and play with it - yikes!

However, i just got this one and I'm very excited to start using it! https://smile.amazon.com/dp/B07FMF262R

I don't think stitch counters are necessary - those are pretty easy to count manually when needed, and if it's a long chain, i put stitch markers every 10 or so to keep track.

I'll admit to being a stranded knitting noob (only done one hat using the technique) but I was able to comfortably doing it using this specific Norwegian thimble. I had initially bought and tried Norwegian thimbles that came in a multipack, but they didn't have the taper and the hook bits were rather pointy/would snag yarn. I thought Norwegian thimbles just weren't it for me until I got that one by dritz

It doesn’t matter what size hook anyone else uses because gauge varies person to person. Your yarn might also be thicker than that used in the video you watched. You need to get the same number of stitches per inch called for in the pattern to successfully make the hat, and you use the size hook that gets you gauge. It really looks like you’re increasing too rapidly as well because your hat looks like a flower. Get some opening stitch markers in a variety of colors to help you keep track of where you are. I like these safety pin style ones.

I got these and love them. I had other brands that ended up snapping after a few uses. I got these almost a year ago, and no issues yet.

You can use a lot of household items as stitch markers as well. Like u/alwayskit said, bobby pins, safety pins, paper clips. I've also used the little plastic piece that holds shank buttons onto the cards (look like mini bobby pins), and spare yarn. Anything you can place through the stitch and remove later will work.

Tips on use: when you make your first stitch, immediately put a stitch marker under the top V. Then when you make your last stitch, do the same. When you turn your row to start the next, your first stitch will go in the last marked stitch, and your last stitch in the first marked stitch. If you have a lot of stitch markers, you can leave them in for a bit, just so you can use them to read your crochet. If you only have a few, you can move the marker up from the one you worked into, and place it in the new stitch made.

Bobby pins, safety pins, paper clips

https://www.amazon.ca/Colorful-Knitting-Markers-Crochet-Locking/dp/B07VL4SNLJ/ref=mp_s_a_1_3?adgrpid=62788908884&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI5oXWr-699AIV0WxvBB2Ysg1AEAAYASAAEgKvu_D_BwE&hvadid=310058775509&hvdev=m&hvlocphy=9001241&hvnetw=...