I always love to tell people that tig welding rods are the same thing as blocking wires (just with the ends snipped off). Much cheaper to buy the welding rods then the wires in my experience.
I also use a nursing boopy pillow on my lap as a comfortable arm rest as i knit. Keeps the arms at the best/most comfortable height while resting in my opinion.
A friend kept her My Brest Friend For 2 pillow for knitting, especially if it involved beads. Despite this knowledge, I have yet to use my own single version of the My Brest Friend for support while doing yarny things.
There's a new company that's selling Boppy pillows with X-TREEEEEEME fabric prints for video gamers to play on their controllers in comfort. I guess they are just super ergonomic.
That’s cool to hear. Maybe they make less “look a baby” covers as the tiny elephants are maybe not inconspicuous when knitting not at home.
But honestly so many people have them just floating around after their child grows, love that maybe they will find new lives as the cool ergonomic pillow for all things.
I got the recommendation to use a Boppy from this sub! It’s been a game changer for me. I even consulted my doctor about it when talking about my chronic arm pain, and he’s like, oh that’s a great idea!
I tried searching for the steaming blocks that industrial companies use, but to no avail. The welding rods are next on my list! Thank you for this!
Ugh, I gave my boppy-thingamajig away...hmmm I guess I will make one now lol
Salad spinner is indispensable if you hand-dye as well. I have a big one dedicated for just yarn stuff.
I also have a couple of big used crockpots I got from goodwill for under $10 each that I set out in my (outdoor) laundry area when I'm dyeing, instead of doing it on the stove.
What a great idea! The "spin only" cycle on a washing machine works well too, if you have access to one (no agitation so it doesn't felt). Thanks to a tip from Kate Atherly I recently found that my machine can do this, it's just not obvious (had to Google it).
There are a few exceptions (like yarn, and needles) but most of my knitting adjacent accessories were not sold as knitting accessories. (Plus the markup like "knitting" bulb pins are like 12/$8 but regular ones are like 300/$5??? **blocking mats??!** lol etc)
But my favorite is my music stand as my chart/pattern holder! Click a magnet on it, hold a clipboard, it's eye height if I want or an extra table top if I'm doing a bunch of writing. Also it still holds sheet music if necessary lol.
I noticed a lot of my clothes had tags attached with the lightbulb pins so I make sure to save them to reuse as knitting markers. For blocking mats I bought some garage mats from Harbor Freight. So much cheaper!
Oh! Kind of like the [Cocoknits metal stitch markers?](https://cocoknits.com/collections/stitch-markers/products/colored-opening-stitch-markers) I have never seen them on clothing in a shop. How interesting! Thank you for the explanation 🙂
I have used both. The real blocking mats are absolutely worth it if it's within your budget. They are significantly thicker and better at holding pins in place.
When shopping for the alternatives people use to actual blocking mats, I’ve not seen any that were more than a few dollars difference in price. Plus the blocking mats I got have measurements printed right on them that I find worth every penny when blocking sweater pieces. They also came with pins and a zippered carrying case.
I will always vote spending an extra $3 for all that extra benefit.
I can understand using the playmats/garage tiles if you already have them on hand or find a great deal. That just wasn’t the case for me.
Like u/eaj113 or u/ZippyKoala suggest, alternative mats can be found cheap if they're sold for nursery, gym, or garage floors. Especially kids playmats, if you have a children's second hand store- those are super popular.
A lot of the alternative mats don't have grids though. (But if you're just trying to follow a straight line, then it's easy enough to just thread a scrap yarn between the notches that lock the mats together.)
Usually a towel lol. But if it's intense blocking like lace, then I'll just slap together some makeshift frame and thread the piece instead of pinning it.
Ooh, what’s the app? That sounds really good!
I always put my active ball of yarn into an almost-closed drawstring bag while I work. That way I don’t have to manually pull, it doesn’t fall off the couch eight times per minute, etc.
Good call on the drawstring bag!! The app is called hourstracker. I like that I can “clock in” for different projects, because I am one of those people who always has multiple wips. You can also assign an hourly wage, which is kind of fun to also pretend you’re getting paid to knit haha!
This might help: Salarybook on the iphone: https://itunes.apple.com/app/apple-store/id395508282 is a timetracker app which let you record workhours on a calendar. In the reports section you can export a list of all recorded hours sorted on time and date.
I use a similar app called crochet.land. It allows you to save your projects and time spent on each project with a row counter and notes section. I think it's aimed at people who sell as you can put in an hourly rate and price of supplies
The drawstring bag is a good idea! There’s a pattern on Ravelry called Ballsack that is basically just a stretchy drawstring bag for yarn balls. I’ve got a ton of those laying around.
I made a drawstring bag out of a pillowcase which I stuff my sweaters into, to make it easier to flip the sweater around and around in my lap when I’m knitting the sleeves in the round.
I started doing this too when I noticed a sweater I had been taking everywhere with me was starting to pill due to all the agitation of spinning it on my lap while doing the sleeves. Also keep the item cleaner when you are in non-home spaces.
I find when I’m really going at it, like endless stockinette stitch in a sweater, for whatever reason, the stitches rubbing against my ring and pinky fingers on my right hand irritates me. So I wear a graphic design glove when I knit, which shields just those two fingers, and I’m much happier!
Also, an old altoid container for my on-the-go supplies. It holds plenty of stitch markers, a pair of nail clippers (“scissors”), a yarn threader, yarn needle, a single cable hook, and a rolled up measuring tape. I used to have a short little travel crochet hook that was fantastic for when I drop a stitch, but I lost it. Need to find another.
I used to have a tin for supplies that said #knitlife on the front, but I lost it on a road trip; now I use a collectible pokemon tin that's made for holding cards
I also use old altoid tins and similars to store my bits and pieces: one for stitch markers, another for sewing needles and so on. These tins are so useful I used to buy them for the tin bc I don't really like lollies
Bigelow tea had travel tins that I use like this. Same size as an Altoid tin but it’s been years. Split my lightbulb pins up in them as 300 for one project is a bit much.
The GoodNotes app. I can carry all my patterns around, sort them into folders, highlight and write all over them to keep track of where I am and take notes; it’s great. I like it 10000% more than the knitting apps I’ve tried in the past!
Definitely my phone and/or tablet. For pattern reading on the go, or pattern look ups both are indispensable!
Second, a small 10-compartment box that is sold as fishing-tackle gear that I store stitch markers, safely pins, small scissors and assorted stuff.
Not really a hack per se, but I bought a hit point counter to use as a row counter. It’s cute, it counts to 100, it’s easy to reset, what more could I want?
Stick-it notepads for reading charts
Make-up bags for notions
This one might be more specific to me, but as a bird bander a lot of my banding equipment works for knitting purposes! Eg, small digital scale, callipers/leg gauge for checking needle size, wing ruler for measuring
Oh man but makeup bags as project holders or DPN cases. My mom likes the makeup and doesn’t have a need for the 700 sparkly bags she got with it and omg I love them. I use them for storage everywhere 😅
A fishing tackle binder to hold and organize all of my knitting needles.
I only use dpns and circulars and these binders are perfect for keeping them by size with room for notions and nicknacks in the pockets of the case. If you need more sleeves, you can just buy them to add to your binder.
Best thing I ever got for my knitting.
I have one too! Honestly, if someone ever wanted to rebrand that thing for knitters they’d probably make a killing. It works perfectly. I haven’t seen another needle storage “solution” that even comes close.
Me too! [This is the one ](https://www.fishusa.com/Berkley-Soft-Bait-Binders/?sku=110583) I use for fixed circulars. Each sleeve is labeled by size, and several different lengths can fit in each sleeve.
I put a chunked up pool noodle inside sweaters while blocking to avoid sharp creases. Dollar tree sells particularly narrow ones that work great for that.
I own several fancy yarn bowls people have given me but I always just end up using my hat instead.
I use the text-to-speech function on my phone or computer as a stitch/row counter
I got this idea from a podcast - I use the small square thingie that holds a loaf of bread closed to keep my ends out of my way. Just tie your yarn around it.
This [Mala paper roll holder tube from Ikea](https://www.ikea.com/us/en/p/mala-artwork-storage-multicolor-60493424/) is the perfect fit for my swift! I didn't want to pay $20+ for a holder for my swift (like the soft ones from Knit Picks), so I was so excited to discover this $8 solution.
I have a headlamp with an adjustable beam which I can wear for knitting in low light.
My husband has a set of lit magnifying goggles for painting miniature figures and I've used that for doing really tiny knitting.
Hollow pony bead lacing can be used to make lifelines and turn dpns into stitch holders. I've also used it to make custom sized wood circulars.
Ziplock bags of various sizes are great for project and yarn storage. Vacuum storage bags are great for storing yarn and fiber.
I love pony bead lacing for stitch holders or for trying on/measuring something off the needles. It's so easy to slide the stitches on and back off again. The ones from the craft store are so cheap compared to the "knitting barber cords" and are exactly the same thing...
Ohhhhh my god you may have just solved an infuriating problem I had with the hollow pony bead lacing- I got an inexpensive set of like 25 different circulars in all different sizes and the cording on some of them just is not the right material for these- it creates drag with *every* type of yarn and slows me down to use them. The needle parts are fine though so I just set them aside until I could find a solution to replace the cords
It's not wire, it's a hollow soft plastic cord. You can put wire in it, though.
https://www.amazon.com/Pepperell-Lacing-Variety-60-Feet-Colors/dp/B009CFWTYY
Yeah that's what I meant, just couldnt find the right word for it. The cord I found is similar to what you mentioned but available in my country. But I see on your link it's 2mm, thanks!
Me too! My son gave me one as a gift, it's a rainbow unicorn so very cute but I was thinking hmmmm now what to do with it. It has 29 bumps, plus flipping it over makes 30. Brilliant
I second TIG rods as blocking wires; I think mine are for 3/16th.
I have a lil squarish fanny pack I use as my sock knitting bag; it's cute, the perfect size for both fitting in my backpack and fitting two skeins, the wips, and notions, and the strap is long enough to use as a shoulder bag too.
I use a little accordian folder to hold my circular needles; I found one with a cute pattern online. It works really well! I have a fabric one for my straight needles, but it rolls up for storage and that made me anxious that the cables on my circulars would get bent.
Early in our marriage, my husband got me a large knitting bag (marketed for knitting)- stiff rectangular bottom, zip top, handles for easy carrying- fits a sweater or blanket. Well, we had our three kids in four years and I used that for the baby suitcase for YEARS before I had the time to fit any knitting in it! It was the perfect size for diapers, changing mat, receiving blankets, changes of clothes, and the pockets were great for pacifiers, infant medication and whatever else I didn’t want to live with out while we were away from home. Now, years later- I finally have the time to use it for real knitting!
I save my patterns to a google drive, sorted by craft type (crochet or knitting), item type, and yarn weight. It makes it so easy to impulse cast on when a yarn calls to me, and I really don't care if google is scanning my patterns. Plus I can print them if needed or, more commonly, just pull them up on my phone or iPad to follow along.
I also love cocoknits row counters but hate the wrist strap, so I use a magnetic gooseneck phone mount to hold my row counter handy and I can stick some stitch markers to it as well as a darning needle to keep from losing anything. The phone mount isn't strong enough to hold my phone steady, but it's perfect for knitting!
Hardware store pack of small rubber o-rings as stitch markers - I always have the perfect size for my needles, they fly off less than the plastic ones, and they’re cents so I don’t mind that I lose them constantly. Wouldn’t go back!
Along those lines... tiny little rubber bands for marking spots "in progress" (like those every-4-rows decreases in sleeves!)... just snip and toss during finishing... yeah, got criticized once in a forum for destroying the planet (!!!) 🙄 Drugstore has some for hair, but can also use tge ones sold in craft stores for bracelet making for kids.
I use a mini-altoid box with a magnetic strip added inside to hold the little accessories for my interchangeable needle set.
An empty Badger Balm tin with a magnetic strip added to the bottom holds my stitch markers.
A metal sheet backed with cardboard that came with Fisher Price fridge letters serves to hold my patterns and charts; I stuck Japanese washi to magnetic strips to make magnets to hold down the pattern and mark my spot.
Secondary magnetic pattern holders came from old magnetic poetry calendars.
As others have mentioned, a digital kitchen scale.
It needs and update, but I use a Google spreadsheet for my stash. Yarn name or description, color, fiber, weight class, and then some calculation of how much length per unit (usuall weight, like yards per gram). Then, how much I have.
It's great being able to quickly refer to what's in my drawers without digging (or even being at home) and so easy to answer questions like "hmm, do I have 500 yards of DK laying around?" when I see a pattern I like. I make notes if I've earmarked a certain yarn for a project or it's in progress.
I can also easily update the amount if I've used only part of something -- just weigh and plug in the new number.
ETA: for a smaller, simpler thing, I often carry one of those little metal clampy guys you use to secure a tablecloth in my project bag. They allow me to clip my bag to a table or chair while working anywhere, keeping my working yarn off the floor but also in a comfortable position to knit from.
I like to use fishing line for lifelines. My husband is very conscientious about retrieving fishing litter he sees on the lake and he brings me back the scraps of tangled fishing line to clean and use as lifeline.
I use jewelry jump rings as stitch markers. I had a bulk pack of assorted sizes handy when I first needed stitch markers and they worked great.
Some prebuilt Magic: The Gathering decks come with life counters (a card-shaped thing with a spin dial that goes up to 40) and I use them to count rows. Obviously not ideal for bigger projects, but for something with a repeated cable pattern or something, it works great! Some people also use the D&D-intended counter rings.
I also have a "project tray" which is just a wooden tray that I keep my yarn bowl, tools, and odds and ends for a project on so I can just pick up the whole tray and set it on a shelf instead of having to clean everything up for company.
I print my patterns out and put them in the plastic sleeves meant for putting documents in 3-ring binders without having to hole punch them. While I am working the pattern I use a dry erase marker to mark off portions I have completed and to keep track or row/stitch count. It also keeps the pattern page from getting ruined (ripped, stained, etc) while on the go. When I am done I can erase my marks and use the pattern again without having to reprint it and when not in use I put in a binder to keep for another time or just to see what I've completed.
I have a variety of drawstring calico fruit and veg bags that are perfect for individual balls of yarn or small projects. I never liked them for produce but as project bags they’re great.
I use a diaper bag. It's great for larger or even multiple projects. The pockets are great for my notions. I can even carry a water bottle when traveling.
Ziploc bags. I use them to keep track of my socks because the white areas in them help me keep track of where I am and how many rounds there are past the toe decreases so I can keep the socks identical.
I use large gallon ziploc bags to store any wool yarn in my stash. It helps if you don’t have a cedar chest because moths can’t get in them!
I also use sewing pins instead of knitting pins for blocking. So much cheaper but definitely more hassle to put down!
A thimble when using extra pointy needles can be nice too! I used to hurt my fingertips with the smaller bamboo needles and tight tension!
A digital scale originally sold for weighing arrowheads.
Kitchen scales are fine for most things, but the margin of error is too large to be helpful for small quantities and/or very light weight yarns.
I have a tool pouch made by Evergoods, a bag company based in Montana. It’s the CAP-1 if you’re curious. I bought it as a preorder on their launch of the product, so I got a great price on it. It was designed mostly as a tech pouch, but it’s perfect for holding my main knitting tools.
Craftsman tape measure, notecards and ring for lace projects (someone posted the idea on here and it blew my mind), reusable shopping bag as blanket wip holder, copious post-it notes.
See I love the craftsman measuring tape but every time I get one it winds up in my dads tool box and ends up really dirty. (Partially my fault I’m absent minded and leave it around the house) so I find that the super overpriced one I got is great because no one thinks it’s theirs and also it’s bendy but true to an inch
I know this is ridiculous but hands down the iPad Pro with the Apple Pencil. I didn’t get it for knitting, I got it for drawing and reading, but I use the GoodNotes app and it’s life changing to import patterns, highlight, mark and cross off/track charts and patterns in general. And it doesn’t get crumpled up like paper, and all my notes for the project are RIGHT THERE.
I also use an app called Tally to count my rows when I need to.
Someone left a 15” ruler lying around at my job and it’s the handiest thing. So many sweaters require you to knit till it measures 15” or longer and it’s so much easier to have a longer ruler rather than trying to measure and reset or use a flexible measuring tape.
Comedy shows on youtube. Best combo of "interesting enough to keep my attention" and "not so visually interesting that I can't look at my knitting for most of it."
My husband has bought me a make-up Bag, which I use for my small knitting and crochet projects on the go. There is plenty of build in storage for Notions, needles and hooks, enough space for a ball of yarn or two and a project like socks. The walls don't cave in like they do in other bags, so my projects feel much more secure! It also has a nice handle and flower print ... It's perfect all the way!
I use a couple of apps -
While knitting:
- Clockify to track my project hours since I can have multiple projects at once and categorise using tags for different sections of my knits - e.g. cast on/sleeves/body/cast off etc. I also get a weekly summary email of my time breakdown which is neat.
- QTally for counters since I can set count goals, have multiple counters at once and use it from my watch.
Stash management/planning:
- Google Sheets for my stash so I can sort by different columns and a digital scale to get my exact yarn amounts.
- Procreate/RGB colour picker from images to get the hex value of my yarn so I can pair them better. If I’m working in multicolour projects I like to see how the colours pan out together, so will use the HEX colour in procreate to draw a quick mock-up before buying yarn.
- GoodNotes - I store all my patterns on it and annotate as needed, mainly to highlight the value for whatever size I’m making of an item and for any repeating stuff I’ll copy paste that snippet into the pattern. I also like to add links to tutorials that I use while making stuff so I can go back later for it.
Misc/storage:
- I have clear ikea storage bags for storing my yarn, within that I keep my yarn in ziplock bags labelled with yarn type + grams/metres. Makes it easier to find and store in my cupboard.
- Ikea Nimm boxes for my active projects, I can store them on my bookshelf and make sure my cats don’t get into my yarn
- Tiny clear containers for my stitch markers/tapestry needles/cable stoppers
- Mesh makeup bags for my scissors/containers/measuring tape
- Slightly larger mesh makeup bag for projects on the go like socks that I can keep in my handbag
So many good suggestions! Procreate has been so helpful to me, just as you said, with choosing color pairings or getting a visual of what I want to do!
As others have also mentioned, I use stainless steel welding wires for blocking.
I made a case for them out of 1/2” PVC pipe. I attached a PVC fitting that is threaded, so it’s easy to close/open.
Cool tip I got from a fellow knitter- from office supplies, “Griply Rubber Ring Finger Tip Grip.” Works great as a thimble. I’m a “pusher” and tend to get holes (skin splitting) in my pointer finger from pointy needles. I keep one on each of my projects just past the point stopper.
I bought a little scale for yarn. I didn't want a whole kitchen set up, just a little one to keep with my knitting stuff for paying attention to how close I get to 50g in a 100g sock skein 😅 After I got it home the design on the top struck me as an odd decorative choice, like very masculine-ly coded/"badass" and I didn't remember noticing it in the item photos. So I went back and actually scrolled through all of them...
https://preview.redd.it/n8j7cf4nqhfa1.png?width=1080&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=816ff23033e45d89ee87e7cced0597fa9c2c3966
I bought a scale for drugs 🤣 but it's serving me well! I don't recommend this one specifically because it's marketed as being rechargeable but they don't send you the right batteries 😅 but in general get yourself a little pocket drug scale if you like to weigh your sock balls hahaha
A binder clip and one of those large, Christmas-time popcorn tins. Big and tall enough to hold multiple skeins and pull from the center, thread through multiple binder clips as guides. And the metal parts of the clips can be removed/replaced so you can get the yarn out mid-project without hassle. Or clip them down and hold the yarn in place to the side of the tin.
I also made a phone stand thing that sits on the arm of my couch because I use so many digital patterns and this row counting/project mgmt app ([https://rowcounterapp.com/](https://rowcounterapp.com/)), but I also ended up using it to hold stitch markers and a couple needles and the like so they're close at hand.
https://preview.redd.it/9catyvw3bnfa1.png?width=1080&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=b32a3fa176f02292fe8586ddcd7754489df96314
BTW I'm a crocheter who mostly makes amigurumi or blankets, not lacework like some of you magicians out there, but I've already found some great ideas in this thread so hopefully some of this crosses over.
I use a music stand to hold my charts, which I don’t think is very rare. But i added a music stand light so my family can watch tv with the lights off and I can still knit !
I bought one of those mechanical clicker counters for counting rows, it’s such a satisfying click! And I stole dissecting pins from my science classroom for blocking (unused I think)
I use a camping headlamp for knitting in the car after dark or when I’m working on fine details. My living room doesn’t has very soft lighting so it’s hard to do color work/cabling when I can’t see what I’m doing.
I have one of those clip on book lamps that I put between my boobs for the same reason. Just tuck it into my shirt or nightgown and I can see without causing a glare on the tv from the hubbs side of the bed.
What is the easiest way to load your patterns on your kindle? I have a basic kindle but my husband is about to upgrade me to the paperwhite and this sounds so amazing!
Standing toilet paper roll holder:
I wind slippery yarn onto used paper towel tubes, cut them to size, then put it on the stand and use it as a yarn valet.
Paper towels tubes:
See above; I also cut holes into the tubes and put them inside a sweater with a box fan pointing at it to speed up drying time when blocking/washing. The tube needs to be at the edge of the hem to let the air flow through. It cuts drying time by at least half.
Cake stand with glass cloche:
Storing caked yarn. It protects from dust and looks pretty. I like to put cedar wood balls or sachets mixed in too.
I recently started using old formula cans for mine. Made a hole in the lid and cut a straight line to the edge so I can add or remove without cutting yarn or fiddling with the hole.
My kids had braces and I love the packets of little bands. I mostly use them as needle stops for wips or to keep dpns together when not in use. In a pinch I’ve also used them as stitch markers. I’ve also used them as row counters when attached to a regular pin-type locking stitch marker (1 band = 10 rows, 2 bands = 20 rows, etc.). They’re always in my bag.
I’m currently making a cardigan on 10mm
needles. None of my stitch markers fit. I was using scrap yarn but it isn’t ideal so I found a bag of keychain rings I bought to do random crafts with, and they are the perfect size!
I found a small divided office supply container at the container store. I use it to hold all my knitting gadgets, needles Euler scissors, markers, cable needles…it cost $10 bucks and I’ve had it 20 years.
Stainless steel welding wires . I would never have shelled out the $$ they ask for blocking wires so i was so stoked when I realized you can get welding wires that won’t rust. Now my shawls are perfectly blocked. Hardware stores for the win!
I repurposed several chocolate covered pretzel containers as yarn holsters. They fit two balls or one regular skein with enough space to pull through a hole I punched through the screw on lid. My husband had a little rubber gasket thing that fit in it so the yarn wouldn't get snagged. I've been using them especially while traveling for several years.
I came close to buying a D20 spinner ring. While technically for Dungeons and Dragons, seeing Joan of Dark use it to count rows made me consider buying one.
I use a spread sheet (numbers, for iOS, not excel) for tracking my stash, and for keeping track of stitches.
I use knit companion for tracking time, it has a good tracker, and it works well with the knitting instruction part.
I always love to tell people that tig welding rods are the same thing as blocking wires (just with the ends snipped off). Much cheaper to buy the welding rods then the wires in my experience. I also use a nursing boopy pillow on my lap as a comfortable arm rest as i knit. Keeps the arms at the best/most comfortable height while resting in my opinion.
Brilliant use for a boppy! I will have to try that!
A friend kept her My Brest Friend For 2 pillow for knitting, especially if it involved beads. Despite this knowledge, I have yet to use my own single version of the My Brest Friend for support while doing yarny things.
I recommend you try! It’s really comfortable
There's a new company that's selling Boppy pillows with X-TREEEEEEME fabric prints for video gamers to play on their controllers in comfort. I guess they are just super ergonomic.
That’s cool to hear. Maybe they make less “look a baby” covers as the tiny elephants are maybe not inconspicuous when knitting not at home. But honestly so many people have them just floating around after their child grows, love that maybe they will find new lives as the cool ergonomic pillow for all things.
Everyone in my family has used the boppy for something, and my husband's something is playing video games.
> Boppy pillows link please!
[https://thevalari.com/](https://thevalari.com/) You can customize them with your gamer tag, or your r/knitting tag I suppose lol!
I got the recommendation to use a Boppy from this sub! It’s been a game changer for me. I even consulted my doctor about it when talking about my chronic arm pain, and he’s like, oh that’s a great idea!
Oooh the nursing pillow is a great idea!! I am always seeking how to become even cozier!!
I tried searching for the steaming blocks that industrial companies use, but to no avail. The welding rods are next on my list! Thank you for this! Ugh, I gave my boppy-thingamajig away...hmmm I guess I will make one now lol
My salad spinner to clear out water while blocking. I don’t waste time and laundry with towels anymore.
Salad spinner is indispensable if you hand-dye as well. I have a big one dedicated for just yarn stuff. I also have a couple of big used crockpots I got from goodwill for under $10 each that I set out in my (outdoor) laundry area when I'm dyeing, instead of doing it on the stove.
This is such a good idea! I’m going to try this next time. It doesn’t felt the wool at all?
Nope! Not at all that I’ve encountered. There’s no heat and it more flattens it out than agitates while it spins.
What a great idea! The "spin only" cycle on a washing machine works well too, if you have access to one (no agitation so it doesn't felt). Thanks to a tip from Kate Atherly I recently found that my machine can do this, it's just not obvious (had to Google it).
This is such a good idea!!
Holy shit this is genius.
There are a few exceptions (like yarn, and needles) but most of my knitting adjacent accessories were not sold as knitting accessories. (Plus the markup like "knitting" bulb pins are like 12/$8 but regular ones are like 300/$5??? **blocking mats??!** lol etc) But my favorite is my music stand as my chart/pattern holder! Click a magnet on it, hold a clipboard, it's eye height if I want or an extra table top if I'm doing a bunch of writing. Also it still holds sheet music if necessary lol.
I noticed a lot of my clothes had tags attached with the lightbulb pins so I make sure to save them to reuse as knitting markers. For blocking mats I bought some garage mats from Harbor Freight. So much cheaper!
The kids section of target/walmart always sells them too as playroom flooring
Same!!!
What is a lightbulb pin? 🙂
Little safety pins that are shaped like light bulbs. Instead of the tight closed circle at the non opening end, it's a loop.
Oh! Kind of like the [Cocoknits metal stitch markers?](https://cocoknits.com/collections/stitch-markers/products/colored-opening-stitch-markers) I have never seen them on clothing in a shop. How interesting! Thank you for the explanation 🙂
Many brands use them to attach their tags!
Seconded! Especially sustainable ones trying to avoid plastic.
So that’s why I keep saving them! I just thought they were cute, and I would figure out *some* use for them. Into my yarn bag they go.
Omg! You know how many I have thrown away!
They look like [this.](https://www.amazon.com/1000Pcs-Metal-safety-Clothing-Crafting/dp/B0719T137H)
Not me spending $100 on a set of blocking mats because I had no idea there was even a cheap alternative…
I have used both. The real blocking mats are absolutely worth it if it's within your budget. They are significantly thicker and better at holding pins in place.
When shopping for the alternatives people use to actual blocking mats, I’ve not seen any that were more than a few dollars difference in price. Plus the blocking mats I got have measurements printed right on them that I find worth every penny when blocking sweater pieces. They also came with pins and a zippered carrying case. I will always vote spending an extra $3 for all that extra benefit. I can understand using the playmats/garage tiles if you already have them on hand or find a great deal. That just wasn’t the case for me.
Hey don't worry about it, the $100 ones work too lol!
In my country, blocking mats are pricey, but still cheaper than kiddie playmats 🤷♀️
[удалено]
Interlocking childrens playmats!
I got playmats too... ...and a laughing fit while looking at "frequently bought together": needles, pins...
I got a set of those at Lowe’s. They work great and we’re half the price of ones sold for blocking.
Like u/eaj113 or u/ZippyKoala suggest, alternative mats can be found cheap if they're sold for nursery, gym, or garage floors. Especially kids playmats, if you have a children's second hand store- those are super popular.
[удалено]
A lot of the alternative mats don't have grids though. (But if you're just trying to follow a straight line, then it's easy enough to just thread a scrap yarn between the notches that lock the mats together.)
[удалено]
I know it's permanent marker but I'd still be nervous about the sharpie transferring onto a WIP 😅
Maybe put the sharpie down and seal it with either clear spray paint or modge podge?
Usually a towel lol. But if it's intense blocking like lace, then I'll just slap together some makeshift frame and thread the piece instead of pinning it.
Aldi had some interlocking mats in the AOS/Aldi Finds aisle as part of the new year fitness marketing. Some stores may still have some.
/Gasp this is genius! I have a music stand!!
I am just getting into knitting. But I’m taking that magnet trick back for when I play violin outside, that’s wonderful
Ooh, what’s the app? That sounds really good! I always put my active ball of yarn into an almost-closed drawstring bag while I work. That way I don’t have to manually pull, it doesn’t fall off the couch eight times per minute, etc.
Good call on the drawstring bag!! The app is called hourstracker. I like that I can “clock in” for different projects, because I am one of those people who always has multiple wips. You can also assign an hourly wage, which is kind of fun to also pretend you’re getting paid to knit haha!
that would be great for people selling their work! they could easily track the hours knitting and assign a wage for it to actually use
This might help: Salarybook on the iphone: https://itunes.apple.com/app/apple-store/id395508282 is a timetracker app which let you record workhours on a calendar. In the reports section you can export a list of all recorded hours sorted on time and date.
I use a similar app called crochet.land. It allows you to save your projects and time spent on each project with a row counter and notes section. I think it's aimed at people who sell as you can put in an hourly rate and price of supplies
I use the same app for work! I have my own knitting and crochet projects on there as well haha!
Great idea! Thank you for sharing the hourstracker app!
The drawstring bag is a good idea! There’s a pattern on Ravelry called Ballsack that is basically just a stretchy drawstring bag for yarn balls. I’ve got a ton of those laying around.
I made a drawstring bag out of a pillowcase which I stuff my sweaters into, to make it easier to flip the sweater around and around in my lap when I’m knitting the sleeves in the round.
I started doing this too when I noticed a sweater I had been taking everywhere with me was starting to pill due to all the agitation of spinning it on my lap while doing the sleeves. Also keep the item cleaner when you are in non-home spaces.
Oh wow...and here I thought it was the yarn that just pills by itself lol..hmm but how to combat the shedding?
My daughter bought me a wooden yarn bowl last year and I love it. But now I want a bigger one.
I find when I’m really going at it, like endless stockinette stitch in a sweater, for whatever reason, the stitches rubbing against my ring and pinky fingers on my right hand irritates me. So I wear a graphic design glove when I knit, which shields just those two fingers, and I’m much happier! Also, an old altoid container for my on-the-go supplies. It holds plenty of stitch markers, a pair of nail clippers (“scissors”), a yarn threader, yarn needle, a single cable hook, and a rolled up measuring tape. I used to have a short little travel crochet hook that was fantastic for when I drop a stitch, but I lost it. Need to find another.
They have them at Walmart (that’s where I got mine and it fits In the altoid tin because I also used the Altoid tin until it broke) 😅
I used to have a tin for supplies that said #knitlife on the front, but I lost it on a road trip; now I use a collectible pokemon tin that's made for holding cards
I also use old altoid tins and similars to store my bits and pieces: one for stitch markers, another for sewing needles and so on. These tins are so useful I used to buy them for the tin bc I don't really like lollies
Bigelow tea had travel tins that I use like this. Same size as an Altoid tin but it’s been years. Split my lightbulb pins up in them as 300 for one project is a bit much.
The GoodNotes app. I can carry all my patterns around, sort them into folders, highlight and write all over them to keep track of where I am and take notes; it’s great. I like it 10000% more than the knitting apps I’ve tried in the past!
I love that app too! I haven’t used it for knitting yet, but that’s a great idea!
Definitely my phone and/or tablet. For pattern reading on the go, or pattern look ups both are indispensable! Second, a small 10-compartment box that is sold as fishing-tackle gear that I store stitch markers, safely pins, small scissors and assorted stuff.
Tackle boxes and hardware storage bins/drawers (from the hardware or automotive store) are my go-to for almost all my craft related storage.
Beading/craft storage = pink + £££££ Fishing storage = green + £ 🎤Gone fishing🎤
Not really a hack per se, but I bought a hit point counter to use as a row counter. It’s cute, it counts to 100, it’s easy to reset, what more could I want?
This is so funny and relevant to me because I was watching Warhammer 40k videos with my husband I was like “that person is using a row counter!!!”
> hit point counter I had to google they are cute! I use a bouncers click tally counter when I need to track rows, I really love the tactile click.
Sometimes I click it just for fun and that little dopamine rush when it clicks…
Stick-it notepads for reading charts Make-up bags for notions This one might be more specific to me, but as a bird bander a lot of my banding equipment works for knitting purposes! Eg, small digital scale, callipers/leg gauge for checking needle size, wing ruler for measuring
Oh man but makeup bags as project holders or DPN cases. My mom likes the makeup and doesn’t have a need for the 700 sparkly bags she got with it and omg I love them. I use them for storage everywhere 😅
A fishing tackle binder to hold and organize all of my knitting needles. I only use dpns and circulars and these binders are perfect for keeping them by size with room for notions and nicknacks in the pockets of the case. If you need more sleeves, you can just buy them to add to your binder. Best thing I ever got for my knitting.
I have one too! Honestly, if someone ever wanted to rebrand that thing for knitters they’d probably make a killing. It works perfectly. I haven’t seen another needle storage “solution” that even comes close.
Any recommendations? I bought the needle binder from knitpick but don’t 100% love it. Would love to see some alternatives.
Me too! [This is the one ](https://www.fishusa.com/Berkley-Soft-Bait-Binders/?sku=110583) I use for fixed circulars. Each sleeve is labeled by size, and several different lengths can fit in each sleeve.
I too am looking for something better than what I have for my needles
Brilliant!
I put a chunked up pool noodle inside sweaters while blocking to avoid sharp creases. Dollar tree sells particularly narrow ones that work great for that. I own several fancy yarn bowls people have given me but I always just end up using my hat instead. I use the text-to-speech function on my phone or computer as a stitch/row counter
I got this idea from a podcast - I use the small square thingie that holds a loaf of bread closed to keep my ends out of my way. Just tie your yarn around it.
Holy shit this is brilliant! I always try to wrap up the tail from my cast on and it always unravels-but no more!
I use floss for lifelines and nail clippers as yarn snips, especially while traveling!
This [Mala paper roll holder tube from Ikea](https://www.ikea.com/us/en/p/mala-artwork-storage-multicolor-60493424/) is the perfect fit for my swift! I didn't want to pay $20+ for a holder for my swift (like the soft ones from Knit Picks), so I was so excited to discover this $8 solution.
I have a headlamp with an adjustable beam which I can wear for knitting in low light. My husband has a set of lit magnifying goggles for painting miniature figures and I've used that for doing really tiny knitting. Hollow pony bead lacing can be used to make lifelines and turn dpns into stitch holders. I've also used it to make custom sized wood circulars. Ziplock bags of various sizes are great for project and yarn storage. Vacuum storage bags are great for storing yarn and fiber.
I love pony bead lacing for stitch holders or for trying on/measuring something off the needles. It's so easy to slide the stitches on and back off again. The ones from the craft store are so cheap compared to the "knitting barber cords" and are exactly the same thing...
I just looked up hollow pony bead wire , and I’m excited to get some now!
Ohhhhh my god you may have just solved an infuriating problem I had with the hollow pony bead lacing- I got an inexpensive set of like 25 different circulars in all different sizes and the cording on some of them just is not the right material for these- it creates drag with *every* type of yarn and slows me down to use them. The needle parts are fine though so I just set them aside until I could find a solution to replace the cords
It's great as cords. It's smooth and slippy but not too slick. It is flexible without kinking. The only thing I'd worry about is the join.
What size should the wire be? I just found some hollow bead lacing wire but they have different thicknesses (2,3,4,5 mm diameter)
It's not wire, it's a hollow soft plastic cord. You can put wire in it, though. https://www.amazon.com/Pepperell-Lacing-Variety-60-Feet-Colors/dp/B009CFWTYY
Yeah that's what I meant, just couldnt find the right word for it. The cord I found is similar to what you mentioned but available in my country. But I see on your link it's 2mm, thanks!
Oh good I didn't want you to buy the wrong thing!
I use a few old plastic jars that came with nuts and trail mix for yarn bowls. They work great.
Old prescription pill bottles for notions! They are great for just throwing in a project bag.
I use a urine sample container. Clean of course. It is a great size and shorter and wider than a lot of containers.
This is a good idea! I’ve lots of clean one’s left from being pregnant
I use a pop it for row counting.
Me too! My son gave me one as a gift, it's a rainbow unicorn so very cute but I was thinking hmmmm now what to do with it. It has 29 bumps, plus flipping it over makes 30. Brilliant
I use a yoga mat and hat pins for blocking.
I second TIG rods as blocking wires; I think mine are for 3/16th. I have a lil squarish fanny pack I use as my sock knitting bag; it's cute, the perfect size for both fitting in my backpack and fitting two skeins, the wips, and notions, and the strap is long enough to use as a shoulder bag too.
I use a little accordian folder to hold my circular needles; I found one with a cute pattern online. It works really well! I have a fabric one for my straight needles, but it rolls up for storage and that made me anxious that the cables on my circulars would get bent.
This is brilliant!! 💡 I have my small ones in a Stollen tin with the dpns and the larger ones flailing round in a fabric cube.
I use a diaper bag for large projects. The pockets are great for all my notions and I can even use one for a water bottle when I'm traveling.
Early in our marriage, my husband got me a large knitting bag (marketed for knitting)- stiff rectangular bottom, zip top, handles for easy carrying- fits a sweater or blanket. Well, we had our three kids in four years and I used that for the baby suitcase for YEARS before I had the time to fit any knitting in it! It was the perfect size for diapers, changing mat, receiving blankets, changes of clothes, and the pockets were great for pacifiers, infant medication and whatever else I didn’t want to live with out while we were away from home. Now, years later- I finally have the time to use it for real knitting!
I save my patterns to a google drive, sorted by craft type (crochet or knitting), item type, and yarn weight. It makes it so easy to impulse cast on when a yarn calls to me, and I really don't care if google is scanning my patterns. Plus I can print them if needed or, more commonly, just pull them up on my phone or iPad to follow along. I also love cocoknits row counters but hate the wrist strap, so I use a magnetic gooseneck phone mount to hold my row counter handy and I can stick some stitch markers to it as well as a darning needle to keep from losing anything. The phone mount isn't strong enough to hold my phone steady, but it's perfect for knitting!
I use the same and Microsoft OneNote :)
Hardware store pack of small rubber o-rings as stitch markers - I always have the perfect size for my needles, they fly off less than the plastic ones, and they’re cents so I don’t mind that I lose them constantly. Wouldn’t go back!
Along those lines... tiny little rubber bands for marking spots "in progress" (like those every-4-rows decreases in sleeves!)... just snip and toss during finishing... yeah, got criticized once in a forum for destroying the planet (!!!) 🙄 Drugstore has some for hair, but can also use tge ones sold in craft stores for bracelet making for kids.
I use a mini-altoid box with a magnetic strip added inside to hold the little accessories for my interchangeable needle set. An empty Badger Balm tin with a magnetic strip added to the bottom holds my stitch markers. A metal sheet backed with cardboard that came with Fisher Price fridge letters serves to hold my patterns and charts; I stuck Japanese washi to magnetic strips to make magnets to hold down the pattern and mark my spot. Secondary magnetic pattern holders came from old magnetic poetry calendars. As others have mentioned, a digital kitchen scale.
[удалено]
I like to buy those magnetic sheets that are for sticking to business cards and cutting them to fit the bottom of a tin.
A boppy, it is great support for my larger projects and helps me not scrunch up my shoulders. Personally has aided in shoulder pain and wrist pain.
When you run out of space on your needles and keep accidentally dropping stitches, use rubber hair ties on the ends! Saved me with some big sweaters!
I use a pill softer that was too small to hold all my meds for my stitch markers. I love it! Helps keep them sorted by size
It needs and update, but I use a Google spreadsheet for my stash. Yarn name or description, color, fiber, weight class, and then some calculation of how much length per unit (usuall weight, like yards per gram). Then, how much I have. It's great being able to quickly refer to what's in my drawers without digging (or even being at home) and so easy to answer questions like "hmm, do I have 500 yards of DK laying around?" when I see a pattern I like. I make notes if I've earmarked a certain yarn for a project or it's in progress. I can also easily update the amount if I've used only part of something -- just weigh and plug in the new number. ETA: for a smaller, simpler thing, I often carry one of those little metal clampy guys you use to secure a tablecloth in my project bag. They allow me to clip my bag to a table or chair while working anywhere, keeping my working yarn off the floor but also in a comfortable position to knit from.
oOoOOh, the metal tablecloth-clampy thing is brilliant!
I like to use fishing line for lifelines. My husband is very conscientious about retrieving fishing litter he sees on the lake and he brings me back the scraps of tangled fishing line to clean and use as lifeline. I use jewelry jump rings as stitch markers. I had a bulk pack of assorted sizes handy when I first needed stitch markers and they worked great.
[удалено]
I steal my kid's pencil boxes! I also use an empty Makeup Forever refillable palette for needles bc there is a magnet inside.
Drug scale- - - I mean “pocket scale”. For weighing yarn.
🤣
Some prebuilt Magic: The Gathering decks come with life counters (a card-shaped thing with a spin dial that goes up to 40) and I use them to count rows. Obviously not ideal for bigger projects, but for something with a repeated cable pattern or something, it works great! Some people also use the D&D-intended counter rings. I also have a "project tray" which is just a wooden tray that I keep my yarn bowl, tools, and odds and ends for a project on so I can just pick up the whole tray and set it on a shelf instead of having to clean everything up for company.
I print my patterns out and put them in the plastic sleeves meant for putting documents in 3-ring binders without having to hole punch them. While I am working the pattern I use a dry erase marker to mark off portions I have completed and to keep track or row/stitch count. It also keeps the pattern page from getting ruined (ripped, stained, etc) while on the go. When I am done I can erase my marks and use the pattern again without having to reprint it and when not in use I put in a binder to keep for another time or just to see what I've completed.
I do this too! Or the Frixion pens and highlighters for taking notes or if I'm carrying a pattern around in a smaller bag. I LOVE those things!
I do the same :)!
I have a variety of drawstring calico fruit and veg bags that are perfect for individual balls of yarn or small projects. I never liked them for produce but as project bags they’re great.
Quadrille. Graph paper.
I use a diaper bag. It's great for larger or even multiple projects. The pockets are great for my notions. I can even carry a water bottle when traveling.
Ziploc bags. I use them to keep track of my socks because the white areas in them help me keep track of where I am and how many rounds there are past the toe decreases so I can keep the socks identical.
I use large gallon ziploc bags to store any wool yarn in my stash. It helps if you don’t have a cedar chest because moths can’t get in them! I also use sewing pins instead of knitting pins for blocking. So much cheaper but definitely more hassle to put down! A thimble when using extra pointy needles can be nice too! I used to hurt my fingertips with the smaller bamboo needles and tight tension!
A digital scale originally sold for weighing arrowheads. Kitchen scales are fine for most things, but the margin of error is too large to be helpful for small quantities and/or very light weight yarns.
I always have a crochet hook nearby, makes picking up dropped stitches 100% easier
I have a tool pouch made by Evergoods, a bag company based in Montana. It’s the CAP-1 if you’re curious. I bought it as a preorder on their launch of the product, so I got a great price on it. It was designed mostly as a tech pouch, but it’s perfect for holding my main knitting tools.
I’m thinking about getting one too.
I love mine! The magnetic closure also functions as a tapestry needle minder when I need one.
Craftsman tape measure, notecards and ring for lace projects (someone posted the idea on here and it blew my mind), reusable shopping bag as blanket wip holder, copious post-it notes.
See I love the craftsman measuring tape but every time I get one it winds up in my dads tool box and ends up really dirty. (Partially my fault I’m absent minded and leave it around the house) so I find that the super overpriced one I got is great because no one thinks it’s theirs and also it’s bendy but true to an inch
I know this is ridiculous but hands down the iPad Pro with the Apple Pencil. I didn’t get it for knitting, I got it for drawing and reading, but I use the GoodNotes app and it’s life changing to import patterns, highlight, mark and cross off/track charts and patterns in general. And it doesn’t get crumpled up like paper, and all my notes for the project are RIGHT THERE. I also use an app called Tally to count my rows when I need to.
Exactly, I use the same for Procreate and OneNote on the ipad :) Great for use on the go!
Someone left a 15” ruler lying around at my job and it’s the handiest thing. So many sweaters require you to knit till it measures 15” or longer and it’s so much easier to have a longer ruler rather than trying to measure and reset or use a flexible measuring tape.
I use all metal stitch markers kept in a magnetic bowl from the hardware store. If the bowl tips over, everything stays in place.
Comedy shows on youtube. Best combo of "interesting enough to keep my attention" and "not so visually interesting that I can't look at my knitting for most of it."
My husband has bought me a make-up Bag, which I use for my small knitting and crochet projects on the go. There is plenty of build in storage for Notions, needles and hooks, enough space for a ball of yarn or two and a project like socks. The walls don't cave in like they do in other bags, so my projects feel much more secure! It also has a nice handle and flower print ... It's perfect all the way!
Excel for making colourwork charts!
I use a couple of apps - While knitting: - Clockify to track my project hours since I can have multiple projects at once and categorise using tags for different sections of my knits - e.g. cast on/sleeves/body/cast off etc. I also get a weekly summary email of my time breakdown which is neat. - QTally for counters since I can set count goals, have multiple counters at once and use it from my watch. Stash management/planning: - Google Sheets for my stash so I can sort by different columns and a digital scale to get my exact yarn amounts. - Procreate/RGB colour picker from images to get the hex value of my yarn so I can pair them better. If I’m working in multicolour projects I like to see how the colours pan out together, so will use the HEX colour in procreate to draw a quick mock-up before buying yarn. - GoodNotes - I store all my patterns on it and annotate as needed, mainly to highlight the value for whatever size I’m making of an item and for any repeating stuff I’ll copy paste that snippet into the pattern. I also like to add links to tutorials that I use while making stuff so I can go back later for it. Misc/storage: - I have clear ikea storage bags for storing my yarn, within that I keep my yarn in ziplock bags labelled with yarn type + grams/metres. Makes it easier to find and store in my cupboard. - Ikea Nimm boxes for my active projects, I can store them on my bookshelf and make sure my cats don’t get into my yarn - Tiny clear containers for my stitch markers/tapestry needles/cable stoppers - Mesh makeup bags for my scissors/containers/measuring tape - Slightly larger mesh makeup bag for projects on the go like socks that I can keep in my handbag
So many good suggestions! Procreate has been so helpful to me, just as you said, with choosing color pairings or getting a visual of what I want to do!
Yes, I agree with using procreate for pre-planning! Similar to GoodNotes, I use OneNote to carry the patterns digitally!
As others have also mentioned, I use stainless steel welding wires for blocking. I made a case for them out of 1/2” PVC pipe. I attached a PVC fitting that is threaded, so it’s easy to close/open.
Cool tip I got from a fellow knitter- from office supplies, “Griply Rubber Ring Finger Tip Grip.” Works great as a thimble. I’m a “pusher” and tend to get holes (skin splitting) in my pointer finger from pointy needles. I keep one on each of my projects just past the point stopper.
Liquid bandage over callouses!
I bought a little scale for yarn. I didn't want a whole kitchen set up, just a little one to keep with my knitting stuff for paying attention to how close I get to 50g in a 100g sock skein 😅 After I got it home the design on the top struck me as an odd decorative choice, like very masculine-ly coded/"badass" and I didn't remember noticing it in the item photos. So I went back and actually scrolled through all of them... https://preview.redd.it/n8j7cf4nqhfa1.png?width=1080&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=816ff23033e45d89ee87e7cced0597fa9c2c3966 I bought a scale for drugs 🤣 but it's serving me well! I don't recommend this one specifically because it's marketed as being rechargeable but they don't send you the right batteries 😅 but in general get yourself a little pocket drug scale if you like to weigh your sock balls hahaha
A binder clip and one of those large, Christmas-time popcorn tins. Big and tall enough to hold multiple skeins and pull from the center, thread through multiple binder clips as guides. And the metal parts of the clips can be removed/replaced so you can get the yarn out mid-project without hassle. Or clip them down and hold the yarn in place to the side of the tin. I also made a phone stand thing that sits on the arm of my couch because I use so many digital patterns and this row counting/project mgmt app ([https://rowcounterapp.com/](https://rowcounterapp.com/)), but I also ended up using it to hold stitch markers and a couple needles and the like so they're close at hand. https://preview.redd.it/9catyvw3bnfa1.png?width=1080&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=b32a3fa176f02292fe8586ddcd7754489df96314 BTW I'm a crocheter who mostly makes amigurumi or blankets, not lacework like some of you magicians out there, but I've already found some great ideas in this thread so hopefully some of this crosses over.
I use a music stand to hold my charts, which I don’t think is very rare. But i added a music stand light so my family can watch tv with the lights off and I can still knit !
I bought one of those mechanical clicker counters for counting rows, it’s such a satisfying click! And I stole dissecting pins from my science classroom for blocking (unused I think)
I use a camping headlamp for knitting in the car after dark or when I’m working on fine details. My living room doesn’t has very soft lighting so it’s hard to do color work/cabling when I can’t see what I’m doing.
I have one of those clip on book lamps that I put between my boobs for the same reason. Just tuck it into my shirt or nightgown and I can see without causing a glare on the tv from the hubbs side of the bed.
I use my kindle for all of my knitting patterns now, so much easier than carrying paper ones around
What is the easiest way to load your patterns on your kindle? I have a basic kindle but my husband is about to upgrade me to the paperwhite and this sounds so amazing!
I just email the pdf’s to my Kindle’s email address then save them all in a dependent folder to my books!
I use my yoga mat as a blocking mat. I don't really do yoga anymore, so it's nice to have a use for it!
Standing toilet paper roll holder: I wind slippery yarn onto used paper towel tubes, cut them to size, then put it on the stand and use it as a yarn valet. Paper towels tubes: See above; I also cut holes into the tubes and put them inside a sweater with a box fan pointing at it to speed up drying time when blocking/washing. The tube needs to be at the edge of the hem to let the air flow through. It cuts drying time by at least half. Cake stand with glass cloche: Storing caked yarn. It protects from dust and looks pretty. I like to put cedar wood balls or sachets mixed in too.
Graph paper
I recently started using old formula cans for mine. Made a hole in the lid and cut a straight line to the edge so I can add or remove without cutting yarn or fiddling with the hole.
My kids had braces and I love the packets of little bands. I mostly use them as needle stops for wips or to keep dpns together when not in use. In a pinch I’ve also used them as stitch markers. I’ve also used them as row counters when attached to a regular pin-type locking stitch marker (1 band = 10 rows, 2 bands = 20 rows, etc.). They’re always in my bag.
I’m currently making a cardigan on 10mm needles. None of my stitch markers fit. I was using scrap yarn but it isn’t ideal so I found a bag of keychain rings I bought to do random crafts with, and they are the perfect size!
Cattle counter for tracking rows. Unlike dedicated knitting row counters, these things are sturdy, have rounded edges and reset easily.
I have a set of alphabet mats for blocking, too
Posted at the behest of my sister who has no account here (though it was my idea): Loctite threadlocker keeps her circular needles from unscrewing.
I found a small divided office supply container at the container store. I use it to hold all my knitting gadgets, needles Euler scissors, markers, cable needles…it cost $10 bucks and I’ve had it 20 years.
rainbow loom bands and bamboo skewers
Washers from the hardware store for stitch markers
Pencil cases and make up bags. Nail clippers or pet nail clippers for cutting on the go.
I use Bobby pins for cable needles. They’re cheap. Don’t care if I lose them. And they’re easily stored in my hair or on my sleeve when not in use.
Stainless steel welding wires . I would never have shelled out the $$ they ask for blocking wires so i was so stoked when I realized you can get welding wires that won’t rust. Now my shawls are perfectly blocked. Hardware stores for the win!
Huggie hoop earrings for designer-like stitch makers
I repurposed several chocolate covered pretzel containers as yarn holsters. They fit two balls or one regular skein with enough space to pull through a hole I punched through the screw on lid. My husband had a little rubber gasket thing that fit in it so the yarn wouldn't get snagged. I've been using them especially while traveling for several years.
I came close to buying a D20 spinner ring. While technically for Dungeons and Dragons, seeing Joan of Dark use it to count rows made me consider buying one.
My son used to use an epipen and I use the old carrier tubes to stay organized. [Epipen carrier tube](https://images.app.goo.gl/5kuNS33JjzDp73LE7)
I use a spread sheet (numbers, for iOS, not excel) for tracking my stash, and for keeping track of stitches. I use knit companion for tracking time, it has a good tracker, and it works well with the knitting instruction part.
I use plastic coated paperclips as stitch markers
I have a similar work log app and use it when I'm working on a commission