Crochet and Knitting Tools

Tips for Beginners

Best Crochet and Knitting Tools

If you are planning to start crocheting or knitting for the first time, or just want to stock up on the tools that help you with your favorite craft, you need to know about the best crochet and knitting tools available. The basic tools that you will need are:

• Yarn
• Hooks
• Patterns

When it comes to yarn, you have many brands,types, colors and styles to choose from.

Yarn is essential to crochet because it is what creates the patterns and is, as well, the basis and structure of the item you are creating.

There are different types and styles of yarn that can be used based on what type of item you are creating with it.

There are also different sizes of yarn that you can use.

Be sure to use the right size indicated in your pattern if you want your item to turn out correctly.

Yarns

There are also different plies - which refers to the thickness and the number of strands that are contained in the yarn. There are also 5 basic sizes of yarn:

• Bulky
• Chunky
• Worsted weight
• Sport
• Baby-fingering

Each of these will also have varying sizes for each type. When you have the right type of yarn, your project will turn out as intended.

Hooks

That brings us to the hook which is the tool that is used to shape the yarn to create the final product.

The hook is very simple in design yet very important to crochet and knitting. Here are the parts of the basic hook along with a description of what that part is for.

• Point - The point is the end of the hook that is designed to help it go into the stitches easier.
• Thumb rest - This is a simple but important part of the hook that makes it more comfortable to work with the hook.
• Throat - The throat is actually the hook itself that you use to catch the yarn and pull it through the stitches.
• Shank - This is the long part or the body of the hook that will hold the loops as you are working with them.

Patterns

This brings us to patterns which are usually needed to crochet or knit unless you are creating your own freestyle design.

There are literally thousands of patterns out there to choose from and each one is unique in its own way. You can find new patterns, antique and old patterns, trade used patterns with friends and much more.

Accessories

There are also different types of optional accessories that can help you with crochet and knitting. These include:

• Tape measure - The tape measure will help you to keep all of your projects the correct size and be sure you are adhering to patterns.
• Stitch markers - A stitch marker will help you mark the spot where you need to either increase or decrease stitches.
• Gauge counter - A gauge counter is a very useful tool that will allow you to check your work as you go to make sure you are keeping everything the recommended size.
• Bobbins - These can help you when working with different colors in the same project. They will help keep the thread from getting all tangled up.
• Pins and needles -The pins are very useful when it comes to holding pieces together while you finish your item with the needles.

The types of accessories you choose will depend on how long you have been doing this craft and what types of accessories you have collected along the way.