Essential Knitting Tools: What to Get at the Yarn Store

Are you thinking of starting knitting as a hobby? Heading to the yarn store for the first time and confused about what to buy from the wide variety available? To make the knitting journey smooth and efficient, it is helpful to know the essentials. In this article, we will discuss the essential knitting tools you will need. 

Interchangeable Needle Set

An interchangeable needle set is an awesome purchase for any knitter who plans to undertake more than one or two projects. These sets are made up of different needle tips and cables, which can be screwed together to create a needle of any size and length. They are incredibly versatile, and you do not have to purchase a new needle every time. 

This versatility has not only proven to be cost-effective but also saves space in your knitting bag. These sets can range from US 4 (3.5 mm) to US 11 (8 mm), and multiple cable lengths, so you can knit as small as a scarf or as big as a blanket.

Yarn

Yarn is non-negotiable stuff in any knitting project.  It comes in a wide variety of fibers from squishy wool to easy-care acrylic. A lot of beginners start with acrylic because it’s cheap, easy to wash, and available everywhere. 

Buy one or two skeins of a medium-weight yarn, like worsted, in a color you actually like. Moreover, when buying yarn from any yarn store, make sure to read the label. It mentions recommended needle size and care instructions. 

Scissors 

You won’t use scissors every second, but you really need them. From cutting off yarn tails and trimming ends after weaving them in to snipping new skeins, they are useful. Regular household scissors work fine at first, but having a small, sharp pair you keep just for knitting is worth it. 

Some knitters go fancy with ornate embroidery scissors, others just go for a cheap pair of yarn snips in their bag. Make sure they cut cleanly without shredding your yarn.

Tapestry needle 

Finishing a project is important. After you bind off, you’ll have loose ends hanging, and a tapestry needle is what you’ll use to weave them in so your scarf or sweater doesn’t unravel. They’re blunt and big needles with a wide eye, made to fit thicker yarns. Plastic ones are fine, but the metal ones last longer. 

Stitch markers 

Patterns can get tricky, especially when you’re repeating sections over and over or shaping things like sleeves. Stitch markers are little loops that you clip onto your needles to remind yourself. Having a stitch marker will save you from constantly losing your place. 

Measuring tape 

Knitting is all about size and fit. If you’re making a hat, sweater, or even just a scarf, you need to measure it properly. A simple measuring tape can work. Knowing your body measurements means you can adjust patterns and avoid the headache of a sweater that fits nobody.

Needle gauge & gauge swatch ruler

A gauge swatch is knitting a small square with your chosen yarn and needles to see how many stitches per inch you get. A needle gauge is basically a flat tool with holes in it so you can check the size of your needles.