NEWSLETTER: Tools for Your Knitting Bag


Your knitting bag should contain more than just your work-in-progress. Here are my "must have" tools for your kit.
Yarn/Tapestry Needles
  
I love bent-tip needles by Chibi. They let you neatly and securely weave in the ends of your finished project. And the accompanying carrying case is great to hold blocking pins and interchangeable needle tighteners.


Stitch markers: closed and locking/split rings
 
Locking and split markers "open" up so you can hang them off specific rows of your knitting, or put on needles between stitches you've already knit. Closed ones stay on the needles between stitches, and can mark the beginning of your rounds, or pattern repeats. Closed stitch markers can also be beaded and decorative. They're jewelry for your knitting!
 
  
  
  


There are so many beautiful and cute handmade beaded stitch markers on Etsy.
A needle gauge and retractable tape measure
  
Before you begin a project, you'll need to make and measure a gauge swatch. Figure out what size your needles are with a basic needle gauge or a beautiful pendant by Debra's Garden (I have two!).
  
And Lantern Moon makes cut measuring tapes (Bob,
the Ravelry pup, lady bug, sheep or even a stuffed cocktail olive!)
  
Scissors or yarn cutter

You should carry around something to cut your yarn. A yarn cutter is a round razor blade covered by a decorative shield and can be worn as a pendant. Folding scissors are handy to have, and believe it or not, can be taken on an airplane. In a pinch, nail clippers work too! 
A bag to hold everything 

Lastly, you'll need something to hold everything. A simple makeup bag or a pencil case works well.
  
  
All-in-one Knitting Toolkit
  
You could also just get the jackknife of knitting tools: The Knit Kit



One Knit Kit comes with everything I mentioned above. It also has a crochet hook (for picking up dropped stitches), row counter, needle point protectors, and comes in a bunch of fun colors, too!
Reply to this email and tell me what else you keep in your knitting tool box!
  
Lisa M. Barnes
LMB Designs (and "LMBDesigns" on Ravelry!) 
    
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Upcoming Events
 
Finishing for Knitters Class
Finishing techniques help you take your pieces from homemade-looking to professionally polished. In this workshop you will learn all the basic finishing techniques, working on your swatches. We will go through mattress stitch on garter stitch, stockinette side-to-side and end-to-end, three needle bind-off, kitchener stitch, picking up stitches and the art of weaving in ends. A must for every knitter. 
Sunday April 12, 1:30 - 4:00 pm,
Lion Brand Outlet 
Featured Project

Debbie made this cute bunny blanket for her coworker's daughter (can you see the bunnies past that

beaming smile?)

 

Get your project featured here!  Email me your photo with link to pattern at Lisa@LMBDesigns.com.

 

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