KnitFix Emergency Fix Keychain
Stitch savers are a convenient tool for fixing up dropped stitches, but not all are created equal. Now, KnitPicks offers a portable option.
Slap Your Llama Stitch Markers
These are good, general stitch markers for tracking which side of your work you are looking at, available at a highly cost-effective price.
Addi Turbo Circular Needles
While Addi Turbo circular needles are a more expensive needle than what you might find at your local craft store, they give value for the money spent. They are good if you are working with a “stickier” yarn, such as wool, that doesn’t necessarily slide smoothly over your needles. They don’t warp when knitting at a tight tension or doing fancier needlework, and I was really impressed by the join. The blunt tips are perfect for yarns that split easily.
KnittersPride Lace Blocking Mats
I think that these are good blocking mats, and they are definitely step up from blocking on home surfaces. The quality of blocking is significantly improved, and I would invest in blocking mats before I invested in a yarn swift or a ball winder. That being said, if you tend to block multiple projects at once, or block larger projects, I think you are best served by purchasing two of these sets. That’s a heavier investment for some knitters, but I think your satisfaction with your finished objects will be worth the investment.
Stanwood Yarn Ball Winder
If you wind more than 5 skeins/month, I strongly advise you to get a ball winder, and this ball winder is a solid place to start.
Stanwood Umbrella Yarn Swift
If you typically wind more than three hanks per month, you should be strongly considering a swift, and this is great way to enter the market. I would strongly recommend this yarn swift to anyone considering a purchase, especially if you are currently using a manual method (like a chair or your partner) to hold your hanks while you wind.
The Della Que Grand Circular Needle Case Holder
This circular needle case is pricey; $78 is nothing to sneeze at. However, I have regained my ability to effectively organize all my circular needles, which I am grateful for, and I have not accidentally re-purchased a duplicate size since I organized my needles. I consider this case a good value for the dedicated knitter who tends to hoard needles and needs a way to easily and nicely organize them. DellaQ makes this case a delight to use, especially with the usage of fun colors and fabrics.
Boye Row Counter
Boye row counters are a good option for the novice, budget-conscious knitter. They can get a bit heavy on the ends of your needles, and care must be taken to avoid accidentally jogging the counters.
CocoKnits Colored Open Stitch Markers
While I love how light-weight and thin these are, I’ve relegated these stitch markers to the back of my knitting trunk, as I had too many issues with split yarn and paint flaking off the markers.
Coco Knits Concrete Magnetic Tray
While I wish the magnet was a big stronger with a wider field of force, I imagine that the gang at Coco Knits had to balance a lot of design considerations when making the tray. I find it easy to use, and its simple but attractive design does mean that it gets left out. It has not become the end-all-be-all that I hoped for originally, but I’m quite satisfied with it and I do use it to temporarily store other tools I’m working with in the moment.