I felt pressured to buy only indie/hand-dyed yarn to knit with after watching all the knitting podcasts online. I also felt like I needed to have a stash. Now I much prefer to watch people who knit with commercial yarn just as much as they do with hand-dyed yarn. I think this is just a hobby, I don’t want to spend all my savings on it!

This is my input as an old Boomer with tons of discretionary income: I buy it all. Some stuff is useful and some is decorative. The proper tools are time savers and protect your yarn and fabric. The decorative stuff makes me happy. I can't believe I knitted for nearly 40 years without a ball winder and swift. They are such time savers and make the neatest little balls. I spent an entire evening winding a ball of laceweight by hand. I ended up with a tangled mess that took me hours to sort out. Equipment and supplies like mats can be stored in shallow boxes under the bed. Cut up a box each time I block a project. Cardboard that gets soggy and curls up. No thank you. Tiny scissors are easier on the hands, and you're less likely to cut too deeply accidentally. I love my yarny lifestyle and everything that comes with it.

As a disabled knitter thank you THANK YOU for mentioning needing some of these items for accessibility!

40 yrs ago (yes, a boomer), I became interested in embroidery so I purchased a few excellent tools. Well-made tools can last a lifetime and offer pleasure while practicing your art, craft, or hobby. I have found this with knitting and crocheting. Important to be mindful in selections

I would say small scissors is a tentative necessity. I mainly work with lace to sport weight yarn and used to use fabric scissors and be super careful. This past Christmas I was given a pair of decorative embroidery scissors... Game changer! They are tiny and super sharp and give me more joy when snipping yarn

I love winding yarn by hand. It's something I do when my hands are tired from knitting. I feel like it gives me a chance to really preview the yarn, find out if it has any knots or other defects, etc. I just put it on the back of a chair or around my knees and wind it with my hands. Also I like balls of yarn. They look quaint and cute to me.

I'm all for community ownership! One member of our knit&stitch group purchased a ball winder and swift because she had the funds, and she lets the rest of us use them. Another member picks up needles at second-hand shops and shares them with the group. Excess yarn, patterns and fabrics are freely gifted at meetings. No need for every individual to own every item - share and share alike! 💞 Also, our LYS lends equipment for free to members of the local fiber arts guild, which anyone can join. If there aren't fiber groups in your area, reach out and organize - we knitters can definitely do community!

I really needed this!! Consumerism has her sharp little claws in me so bad, and it's hard when so many people in the community are always telling you that you need this or that every time you log onto social media. That, and the guilt from having so much acrylic yarn already in my stash that people have made me feel is unusable since it isn't wool. Thank you for the breath of fresh air!!

For the hand dyed yarns - Don't feel pressured to buy the yarn because its a limited release. It is likely that a similar yarn will come around again or something you love more will come along. I ran into that issue when I first started buying but I'm more particular now and much happier with my purchases.

This is an interesting perspective. Thank you for sharing it! I always appreciate hearing how others view this hobby. If we’re being truly spartan, we really don’t need anything but one pair of needles and a ball of yarn. At the end of the day, what someone chooses to use is about ability and preference. If someone doesn’t have disposable income or space, they might only knit one thing at a time. That also might mean they can’t buy a lot of yarn due to lack of storage. Maybe they also forgo certain tools. If they don’t knit outside their house, they might not see the point of small foldable scissors or how a closeable project bag keeps everything in the bag (and not rolling around the bus or under the craft night table). I think there is a difference between buying stuff willy nilly because you think you should, and mindfully building up your tools and materials to support how you like to engage in your craft. I’ve been knitting for 30+ years and I appreciate the technical innovations that didn’t exist when I was in my early 20s. For me, I don’t get stressed by lots of yarn. It’s pretty and it’ll get used at some point. I like to knit multiple projects at once so I have lots of project bags. My project bags are an expression of my personality and interests. Some are cheap from Amazon and some support independent artists. Same idea with my yarns. I’m happy using cheap commercial yarns but also am able to support indie dyers and do. I also have the space to make this hobby as stress free as I need it to be to focus on the knitting. So I have mats and pins, a ball winder and table top swift, “fancy” stitch markers to differentiate parts of the pattern, and a stash that includes different fibers and weights. I have had a lot of these tools and materials for over a decade (or more!) so really, for me, these are investments in this craft I’ve been practicing for most of my life. I don’t need all of these things but I am glad I have them.

I used to be one of those people who buys ~everything~ when they first get into a hobby. I started knitting 12 years ago and picked up a ball winder and blocking mats&pins from knit picks and honestly, I'm glad I did! They've been indispensable for me. I also picked up a set of addi interchangeable circulars and I use every size (except the jumbo size 15's I chose as an add-on). And these things have traveled with me from my parent's home, to dorm rooms, to tiny attic bedrooms in crowded houses and apartments with roommates and finally to my own apartment. I always make room for the stuff I'm going to use on a regular basis. Looking back, I think I may have waited a bit longer to get some of the more expensive tools, but, if you're planning to do a hobby for your lifetime I think investing in tools that helps save time and lend to a nicer final result is totally worth it. Except yarn bowls lol. I want one so badly but cannot justify the purchase.

Thank you for supporting budget or acrylic yarn! I feel so strongly about it. Modern acrylics can be really great. We can't all afford those wonderful natural yarns that we woul love to own.

I really enjoyed this and it was nice change of pace from seeing knitting podcast videos that always seem to end with a big yarn haul. I’ve been thinking more critically and what knitting channels I watch and how they approach displaying consumerism. One thing I’ve done is be really honest with myself about whether I like how a sweater turns out. Twice this past year I’ve frogged entire finished sweaters and used the yarn to knit different sweaters I’m much happier with.

I've come to realize that as much as I like the look of mohair it is really impractical in my climate. Even somewhere really cold, if you're indoors there's heating (too hot for mohair) and outdoors you'll still need a coat. I started knitting about 12 years ago, before the huge mohair trend, and back then it never even crossed my mind that I would ever want to knit with it. Fast forward to 2020 and I totally felt like I was missing out before I was able to get a bunch of mohair. It can make any project so much more expensive, and in my case, just ends up making it harder to wear. I feel like there's a misconception that when it's recommended in the pattern you absolutely need it to get a decent result but I've knit a bunch of mohair patterns with 100% friggin cotton and the resulting piece is absolutely fine, and much more wearable where I'm at.

I use a yoga mat, works really good! You can also use a rag rug or cotton rug. And yes, project bags!! I don’t have any but got old totebags from concerts and stuff I wanted to support so I just use those. Both for projects and grocery shopping haha. I do need a pair of smaller scissors tho, not very cute but portable, i take my knits everywhere and I don’t want to be accused of wearing a weapon 🙈😂

I never imagined someone would consider yarn bowls and tiny scissors a "trend". For me those kind of objects are simply there to make the process of knitting more enjoyable if you find them interesting or good for you, not for *everyone* to buy them.

I do have a scissor fetish. I extended my crafting mojo, by learning to sew my own gorgeous projects bags. Never thought I would become a sewer, but loving it.

The needle set yes! When I first started knitting the upfront cost of an interchangeable needle set was super intimidating. In the end I just acquired the needles I needed for projects I wanted to make and have now ended up with interchangeable needles from 3 mm - 4.5 mm. I don't really gravitate to projects with larger needle sizes, so very happy that I didn't splurge on a set with needles I wouldn't have used!

I find it funny you mentioned the tiny scissors because I was recently contemplating getting some. I always keep a dental floss pack in my knitting project bags and use the floss cutter to cut my yarn lol its great for traveling too because I dont have to worry about the scissors poking holes in my bag or getting taken away when flying! Great video!

I know I commented earlier after only watching half but I wanted to reiterate how glad I am that you made this video. So many people get carried away by how cute and aesthetic the KZfaq and Instagram yarn community is. I think the influencers forget that most of their viewers are either beginners or just doing this as a hobby. Hobby yarn crafters cannot afford the crazy expensive accessories nor should we attempt to buy them. I love my yarn ball winder but I wound balls by hand for 10 years before that and I never hand any issues. A swift is simply unnecessary for most people that cannot afford the fancy hand dyed yarn anyway. Project bags?!?! The idea of spending any amount over $5 on a bag to hold yarn? Absolutely not. A grocery bag will work just fine for me. Pretty stitch markers that use lobster claw clasps that are hard for many people to open and close? No thanks. My yarn scrap or Bobby pins work just fine. I love my lightbulb stitch markers for holding my live loop on crochet project just so they don’t unravel but a Bobby pin and a little luck works just as well at preventing unraveling. I hope more KZfaqrs recognize where many of their viewers are at and come back down to earth. You are such a relatable yarn crafter and I hope you continue to make videos like this. Have a great day!

Well done you..... I am an old boomer, and sometimes I am just amazed at what people think they need, and a lot of podcaster's stashes resemble yarn stores. The main thing is to not feel pressured, one way or the other. I am not on social media so it isn't a problem for me....as I said I am old😊

a set of interchangeable needles is wonderful and time/money/effort saving, but only if you knit a lot, not once in a while. Children playing mats are amazing perfect replacement for blocking mats and for a quarter of the price. Thank you for all your wonderful content!

I don't knit but I do crochet and I feel like almost all of these apply to both, so this was very helpful. I just started and I felt overwhelmed by getting every yarn I liked, getting tools, etc. But I have come to realize that is fine to just get the yarn I'm going to use at the moment, and I don't need all of the tools if I have other stuff that works as well

As a knitter who started knitting right when blogs were still popular and Ravelry groups were huge but Instagram was just starting to gain serious traction i suffered from MAJOR FOMO. Those self striping sock yarns that sold out within minutes of a shop update- Had to have it! The kit for the new popular knit of the week, how fast can i get it shipped? Project bags that all the ‘popular’ knitters had- i need 2! Stash… OMG if it’s not a “S.A.B.L.E.” (Stash Aquired Beyond Life Expectancy) sized stash like ‘do you even call yourself a knitter”😂? Then there was the spinning phase… you couldn’t POSSIBLY be a Fiber Arteeeste if you didn’t spin your own yarn and know the properties of how each sheep breed behaved, and all the different spinning techniques! It was an adrenaline fueled time that left me exhausted and to be honest i ended up just stuck creatively! I had all the ‘stuff’ and for what? to keep up with some imaginary club? I started realizing i spent more time following social media then actually KNITTING! I went from finishing projects to being paralyzed with bags full of half started items and no clue where to start. I’ve dreamt of having a ‘im not unalive but my creativity is Estate Sale’ ~all to say love the video, happy to find your channel, and hope more people really start saying these things and getting back to what brought us together in the first place, the making!

Here in Ukraine we mostly buy yarn in balls and don't need to wind them, and I really appreciate this. This skins looks really good for me only in pictures. And the culture to make cakes from them sounds for me so hard. I don't want to wind and find even storage for all this products for winding))) as also for storage blocking mats I agree that we don't need most of things, I think they are for made for gifts, but not to buy them on your own ☺️

Your brother bought you a ball winder and Swift unprompted??? That is a REALLY GOOD GIFT 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

I didn't have a winder for a while and didn't have a problem until I got into fingering and lace weight yarns 😅 definitely the winder was a game changer when I had a skein of mohair or fingering!

This is my first time watching your channel. What an interesting episode to stumble upon! You are so right that we don’t need so many things. I am overrun by my things related to this craft and I need to reign it in a lot. That said, I also appreciate that you took the time to mention accessibility. For every person that is something different. I have been through several ball winder and swift combinations before finding what works best for me. I can’t use my knees or the back of a chair. I will have a mess in no time. I actually have a pricey umbrella swift mounted in a floor stand, and a motorized ball winder mounted on a rolling hospital bed tray. This is what works for me because table space is a premium and I can’t actually get on the floor. (I’m in a wheelchair.) That said, I probably have more than 100 knitting bags (I don’t need them all!), thousands of stitch markers, and hundreds of needles. It’s nuts. BTW I’m in Maryland and I host a weekly knit group on Zoom (and on my back patio when the weather is nice) if you’re ever interested. Let me know and I can send info.

loved every part of this video!! you really got me with the having an extensive stash one BUT i do agree, i've definitely noticed that i feel a constant sense of stress & guilt over the amount of yarn i have & it makes me hesitant to start new projects that *aren't* knitting from stash. i really appreciate your thoughts (& this trend) overall!!

Project bags... My favorite! I bought a great one from a second hand store, 5$ and it's an old lunch purse... Anything that has the right format for the specific project I am working on... Otherwise, reusable shopping bags are my go-to.

Great video. I’ve knit for decades. Most of these items didn’t even exist when I started knitting (and I was 7 with no income). I blocked with towels only for years. Add a fan and your garment will dry quickly. Stitch markers were always yarn scraps. Project bags were any bag you could find. The gadgets are not necessary.

The twisted yarn is called a hank, and the ball winners actually create cakes, not balls. Also, acrylic is bad specifically because washing and wearing it contributes to micro plastic pollution. It is a huge issue we as crafters NEED to deal with. There are other options that are equally non-allergenic and don't shed pollutants, AND we need to be yelling at manufacturers to give us more better options without the plastics involved.

Bravo! Just how many project bags does one person need? Do they really need to be seasonally appropriate? I would venture to day I could find dozens of various sized fabric, vinyl or leather bags that other things have been packaged in. Horror of horrors, I frequently have used lovely old purses as project bags 😲. They even have interior pockets.

The joy of it for me is in the actual moment of creating and the zone I get into, so one project at a time is all I need. I think we’re kinda conditioned to think buying more stuff is gonna make it more fulfilling or enjoyable but that’s absolutely not true! At the end of the day it’s just me and my lil zone

You make a lot of good points. There are youtube videos out there who make viewers feel that they should make sweaters from the young new designers using expensive yarns. I say make what appeals to YOU, not what is popular, and use your stash or yarns you can afford instead of consuming the latest trend or using what expensive yarn the you tuber has been paid to advertise.

I bought blocking mats after finishing my first sweater because I thought I had to, and when I pulled them out the package I was like "Oh lord... they're essentially floor mats with a grid." They're handy! But I've only used them that one time and I've been knitting/crocheting for a few years now and I just do the towel method with a fan and flip the garment over part way through.

This was such a great video!! I feel like consumerism/over-consumption is such an important thing to talk about in general, but I think it's such a great conversation to have about knitting (especially because knitting is one way to combat over-consumption of fast fashion, but that doesn't exclude knitting from promoting over-consumption, it's just in a different sense). This is such an important conversation to have, so thank you for starting it!

Thanks Mandy, I'm with you on this issue. I have knitted for 40 plus years and never found a need for swift/ball winder. It the same as buying prechopped veg at the supermarket! As for all the other paraphernalia.....I make a plan with what I have. I also think it's daunting for new knitters who think they need to have all these multitude of extra stuff before they can feel confident to try to knit. I have just recorded an episode of my podcast in the same vein.🎉

Loved this discussion and I totally agree! I’ve definitely been influenced to buy things that I don’t need or use and honestly haven’t enhanced my knitting experience.

I used to TRY to knit, but all my plans only ever ended in half finished projects or were reduced to a small test patch. Or I would crochet tiny clothes for cuddly toys and such, freehand. And then I got my ADHD diagnosis at 43, and started to understand more about how my brain works, and started on medication... In the first two years after I started treatment, I FINISHED more projects than I'd done in the previous 43 years... I mostly stick to "ADHD friendly yarn" (colour variegated, ombre, anything that gives me interesting colour changes without creating more ends to weave in...), I hunt down my self-named "Netflix knits" (anything simple enough that I can knit while watching my shows), and I'm more realistic and forgiving with myself. It helps me cut back on new WIPs, it makes it more likely that I will actually FINISH something, and it allows me to enjoy knitting rather seeing it become a chore. But I also recognize that I have TWO separate hobbies: One is BUYING yarn, the other is actually DOING stuff with it. ;) Best buy? See-through plastic bins for storing my yarn (of which I have... quite a lot). Makes me go downstairs and look through my stash rather than forget it exists and order more yarn... Second best buy - interchangeable circular pins, saving me from DROWNING in a million circular pins when I abandon a WiP and need to buy a new set of pins... Now, I just need a new wire. ;) Also makes it easier when you need to switch to a bigger or smaller pin in the middle of the pattern, you just attach the correct pin on the right side and knit a round before switching out the left pin.

I'm a really conscious buyer so I actually don't own anything that I don't use extensively in my knitting process (okay... a yarn ball, but I made it myself when I was throwing pottery). Regarding stash, I just want to say that if you're a long time knitter, this is the kind of things that "happen", I think (at least in my case). I've been knitting for 9-ish years and I've never tried to build a stash, but leftovers or projects that didn't work out led to a substantial amount of yarn. That's why 2023 is "destashing year" for me. Cost of living has increased significantly in Europe, so I'm definitely more careful about my spending. I find it actually super exciting to think of projects that would work with the amount of yarn available. Lovely video!

I really didn’t want to spend money on a project bag, and I remembered I had kept those little bags that sheets come in. Fairly good for a sock project bag, though beware the needles will poke through. 😂

Same. My Stacy is huge, and the reason for it is that I have friends who are Indi dyers, and I get custom colors. Over the years, with my family, buying yarn as gifts has gotten out of control. Since the pandemic, I started destashing by shopping my stash. I make all my sweaters and tees due to my sensitive skin. I appreciate you mentioning the disabled knitters. I agree there is so much that people get pushed and you don't need.

For me, I almost got a ball winder and swift combo for my birthday last year. Then I realized I didn't need it. For one, I'm a super slow knitter so I'm not winding yarn very often. For another, I'm able to hand wind my yarn just fine, especially with the help of one of my bar stools. I'm a pretty conscious consumer, and I take weeks and sometimes months to decide if I really want or need something. And this process saved me buying something I didn't need and cut out that potential impact on the planet.

I think it's worth taking the time to find good tools that work well for you. The right kind of knitting needles for a project can make a world of difference with how enjoyable the project is to knit because no one wants to knit with needles that are too sticky, too slippery, too blunt, or too sharp. Therefore, I have a variety of interchangeable sets in different materials and with different tips for different kinds of yarn and different knitting stitches. I've had some of the sets for 35 years, and they're still going strong. I've also had my handmade squirrel cage swift and adorable little stork scissors for that long. I agree that there are a lot of things you don't need, but good basic tools are worth the investment.

I do enjoy multiple projects on the needle at once (I usually have multiple books on the go at once as well) and it suits me… I will finish them all. I think everyone works differently. But I am trying to be more deliberate and mindful about what I buy this year. I genuinely feel it’s a far healthier (and more financially responsible) approach for me. I love your mauve sweater btw

I’m an “old boomer” of 72 years. I was raised by a mother who grew up during the “Great Depression.” I was raised to research, question and look for an alternative for much of life’s tasks. Good luck with your knitting and vlogs.

I have been a crocheter for decades and have only been dipping my toes into the knitting community for the past year or so and it is soo different.

I live in Romania and here the idea of buying project bags is weird and unnecessary. I personally use old pillow cases that I don't use anymore. Hand dyed yarn is so expensive and the shipping is expensive...we stick with commercial yarn

These conversations are really important. I see the value in talking about this in other hobbies and fashion.

There is a lot of pressure via social media to always be buying new tools and yarn and make the trendy patterns and have a high volume of output and it is easier than we like to think to get swept up in that instead of going at our own pace and to our own tastes and preferences. I do love pretty tools that aren't absolutely necessary though, I figure if I am going to spend hours doing my hobby I feel like it is okay to indulge in buying tools that make the magpie part of my heart sing to use. I have a small carved wooden box I keep my tools in (including small fancy scissors lol) and I always love when I sit it down on the table and open it up to work on my knitting

I love the idea of de-influencing to encourage sustainability. On the topic of yarn sustainability (and note that I do love seeing yarn stashes that rival LYSs :-)), I have a "rule". If I don't use an object that I've made and a) it doesn't use intarsia/mohair/unspun yarn and b) I still find value and beauty in the yarn, I'll rip back the object to reclaim that yarn (much as if it were a 2nd hand sweater from a thrift shop). I've done this more times than I can count. Sometimes I need to do it more than once to find the right project for that yarn. And every time I unknit (which is a labour-intensive project of its own sort), the yarn potential returns. As does my creativity pertaining to that yarn. No handmade object is off limits. That's one of the ways that I continue to be able to knit compulsively without having a closet full of 800 sweaters and shawls. Also, it saves money and improves my knowledge of yarn properties as applied to various projects.

this is big relatable!!! I've found myself being more resourceful?? creative?? when I walk myself off a ledge of trying to buy myself out of a problem

Re: scissors, I used to travel a lot and I actually just put nail clippers in my project bag! No fears of TSA, I have many, it cuts yarn well, AND I have nail clippers handy if I need em!

About 2 years ago, i bought small skeins of yarn, one in each color at the dollar tree. I was planning to crochet little food toys but I got into knitting and just love that more. I'm thinking about making baby hats and donating them or keeping a stash when I hear somebody is pregnant but idk why I just haven't done it yet 🤣

Well this IS a breath of fresh air. It’s like the difference in buying designer clothing or accessories vs getting something nice at a dept store. I want to learn to knit a sweater but have been scared to waste over $100 in hand dyed yarn ! I feel like I can/should start with a child’s size sweater in a cotton blend - duh! I LOVE the hand dyed stuff, silk and cashmere blends who wouldn’t- and understand why many of the knitting pods promote the indie dyers. However I love your point that you are NO less a knitter if that is not budget friendly for you/us. Great message ❤

After ~15 years of knitting, the tools I absolutely cannot live without are my Yarn Boss bag (can hold multiple projects/enough yarn for a blanket, and keep them organized. I love it. So much better than toting around 3 or 4 reusable grocery bags), swift and ball winder (I have Lyme arthritis which makes hand winding an exercise in cruel and unusual punishment, and I've recently started dyeing my own yarn with food coloring), interchangeable needle sets (I have 2, plus extra tips in my most used sizes), Stitch 'n Bitch: The Knitter's Handbook by Debbie Stoller (still refer back to it now and then, has held up surprisingly well considering what I've put it through), mini tape measure and scissors (regular ones too bulky/unwieldy, respectively), yarn needles (weaving in ends, evening out stitches), and a handful of crochet hooks (I love me a provisional cast on and fixing stitches 8 rows down without frogging). I find I actually do better with at least two live projects, but that's probably my ADHD talking. Especially if one is a large project (blanket), having a hat I can whip through is nice for breaks. Anytime someone expresses an interest in knitting, I tell them to get three things: A set of US 7 needles (straight or circular), a ball of decent yarn (pet the yarn, would you wear a scarf made out of it?), like Simply Soft (acrylic in a vast range of beautiful colors, available at Michaels, etc), and the Stitch 'n Bitch book (at a library near you). If practical, I'll send them a couple pairs of straight needles (I don't use them anymore and have SO MANY), and a ball or two of Simply Soft (I stocked up on it during a massive sale in uni- might have gone overboard, also don't use anymore except for little notions like a leaf or flower I'm adding to a hat and rarely then). Max cost? $20. Min? Free. You enjoy it, go from there, you don't, you haven't invested much in it so no worries. Whenever I was buying yarn specifically for a project, I'd allow myself one splurge to add to my stash. Made it easier not to wander into a yarn store to browse and end up BUYING ALL THE THINGS if I had a nice little curated pile of pretties to get excited about working with. When we used to go to Roche Harbor, which had a weekend market, I'd pick up a small skein of hand dyed alpaca from a woman who did everything from shearing to dyeing (she had a small alpaca farm on the island), and intersperse it in projects for a touch of luxury and pizazz. Now I buy if I need a specific color, or dye (trying to dye to match USC's colors was... interesting and MadTosh's Blood Runs Cold is an almost perfect match for Liverpool red, aside from the awesome name). I recently knit two baby blankets, the first one using MadTosh Barbara Deserved Better - Home weight, then MadTosh discontinued that weight and I decided to learn to dye yarn. ~$210 versus ~$65, and no one has discerned a difference yet :D

I appreciate your insights. I am what some may call “a boomer” and many of your ideas are what knitters have used for years before all the hype of specialty items. I do love them and don’t need them. Thank you for sharing and enjoy your knitting.

I bought a Coach oversized tote bag to use as a knitting bag about 15 years ago, it should last me for another 40 years…I am okay with buying quality items, that I will never need to replace. I do use my knitting bowl all the time, the one I have is taller; I usually have a darning needle, tape measure and a stitch marker or two hanging around in the bowl along with the yarn, keeps things organized. I do agree that these items aren’t necessary, they sure make my knitting more enjoyable. I think I own everything but tiny scissors! If you ever get into lace work, you will find that blocking mats and lace wires can be very useful. I have been knitting since I was 10 years old, it has taken me years to purchase tools and making due until the time was right and I made the choice to buy something. Being conscious about purchasing things and weighing value, is the message I took from this video. Thank you for making it.

This is the best knitting video I have seen as a beginner. I’m an avid collector of every hobby I start and love to by so much stuff. This is stopping me from wasting my money, thank you!!!

When I started, I always wondered why people buy project bags when you can use your craft to make your own exactly how you want it! An owl basket for yarn was my first project. Now I have bought one project bag and I do really really love it, but I got it to bring my WIPs to places that are on the dirtier side, so I made sure to get a more durable material than the ones I made myself. Also, they cycle goes Reduce, Reuse, Recycle. Buying just a couple sizes of high quality interchangeable needles reduces the amount we consume. Thrifting yarn and and multi use bags that can not only be used as project bags but for other purposes as well reuses what we already have. Thrifting yarn projects for the materials recycles the yarn that would otherwise be thrown in a landfill and gives it new life.

„it's hard to be nuanced on the internet“ - loved it :D

A plastic shower curtain liner from the Dollar Store is great for blocking.

the tiny needle nose scissors- i didnt think i needed them. got them as a gift- turns out theyre a life saver when hair gets tangled in your yarn/project. i get long hairs wrapped so tightly around my yarn that i cant remove them with my fingers and those just fix it so quickly

I have taught knitting and crochet and done commission work for about 20 years. So when I see info that could confuse a new knitter I gotta step in. The first one that you held up is not a skein it is a HANK. The difference is important because you can't directly knit or crochet from a hank but you can (and most do) work directly from a skein. A hank has to be put on a swift, chair or someone's wrists/arms or feet, the loop needs to be maintained and THEN wound up. A skein looks more like a log (think big box store yarn). If you use a winder you just made a "cake" of yarn, some countries call it a center-pull ball, then there's a hand wound ball. Small SHARP scissors are actually necessary for colorwork knitters whom steek (cut) their circular work open to make it flat. Oversized for the size of the gauge can cause you to cut up the wrong column of stitches. (You could potentially ruin a project this way). But if you don't do steeking a cost effective, small snips option would be a set of nail clippers. Just make sure they are sharp and only for yarn. Lol Project bags can be harvested from other items. If you know someone whom drinks Crown Royal those bags are perfect small project bags because they cinch closed and can be hooked on your belt or bag to take with. Also lots of sheet sets come in a bag... that's a great medium sized project bag... and those are free.

I have wound skeins into balls by hand and it can take forever if you have a lot! I found that if you ask the seller of the yarn shop, they usually have a ball winder and are willing to wind it into a ball for you for free. For blocking mats, i read that an extra mattress (like in your guest bedroom) can be used, you can put plastic wrap over the top to prevent the wet garment from soaking the mattress and the pins can easily pierce the plastic.

FYI - if you knit lace shawls, blocking mats and pins are a must have. I actually pull mine so tight I have to use clamps to hold the blocking mats to the table, or they would curl up. For sweaters, I agree. Not necessary.

Thank you so much for this video! I was feeling pressure to have a few projects worth of yarn sitting around at all times from watching KZfaqrs and their stashes, but after just a few extra skeins I felt stressed by the mere sight of them, making knitting less enjoyable for me. Will be donating anything I don't have immediate need for. Thanks again!

Omg the tiny scissors get me too! I have never understood them. I was an early childhood Ed major in college, so I have an absurd number of kiddie scissors that I use when I’m on the go lol. Plus, they’re not as easy to lose as the cute teeny ones

I’ve been knitting for over 40 years, (boomer, sorry lol.) When I started knitting some things did not exist; circular needles, interchangeable needles, modern project bags, indie yarn…really indie anything, fancy stitch markers, skein winders and swifts, blocking mats, Ravelry, the internet, etc, …you get the point. I was still able to knit and enjoy my craft without those things. However, I will say that I now own many knitting tools and they have enhanced my knitting experience quite a bit. I’m also at a place in my life where I have the space to keep them and the financial ability to invest in them. You are right, there is no shame in being thrifty and I was a thrifty knitter for many years. The one thing that I have that I really don’t use are fancy stitch markers ( they get caught in my knitting), and my yarn bowl. I use it some times with a one skein project. I just had your KZfaq channel pop up on my home page. I really enjoyed this video and will definitely watch again.

For the scissors, I do have a small pair not only for portability, but also because they're TSA friendly when I want to crochet while I'm traveling. Don't need fancy scissors, I just got a cheap one from a kids craft area in a big box store. However, I know a KZfaqr who says she uses nail clippers as portable scissors.

What you need Yarn, needles and/or hooks, a yarn swift, and notions. Extras that I recommend, pencil and a pad of paper, a good ball winder, a reference book foe stitches and techniques, stitch markers. As for how many projects are going on at once, some people do better with many projects. Projects and swatches can be used to learn knees techniques.

You also don't need those massive knitting accessories/tools kits with 80 different kinds of stitch markers, three pairs of scissors, a stitch counter, etc. It's totally fine to just buy things here and there when you need them. Especially if you are new and don't know your preferences yet- ending up with an entire kit's worth of useless tools vs. three stitch markers you don't really like, is a vastly different gamble.

Mandy! I love this video! (I love all of your videos 😉). And thanks for the shout out. That was awesome. ❤ Quote of the day: “It’s hard to be nuanced on the Internet.” Ain’t that the truth. 😉

Years ago, my mom bought me a starter pack of needles that I haven't used in years. Just recently, I dug into it and found a stitch holder and a row counter, something I may actually use now that I am knitting more complex patterns in loom knitting (I kept failing at the needles, but became unusually adept at loom knitting). But the three sets of needles... I may try again, just because the needles are a pretty blue and gold; or, I could use them to transfer stitches from loom to loom. 🤔 It's always good to think of what you can do with what you already have. Speaking of, I met a gal who is knitting on a pair of toothpicks; too cute!

The majority of my yarn stash is secondhand/vintage yarn, or gifted to me. I always tell people that if they have yarn they aren’t going to use, to give it to me because I’m constantly knitting/crocheting so I will find a way to use it up!

mandy i gotta say i use all my interchangeables because i use all yarn weights - actually i wish they came in smaller sizes because i do socks as well

Yes to all of this. Seriously, the exact same thoughts are going thru my head right now. I am all for supporting small businesses, but the price of project bags is ridiculous-so I make my own if I want one. I rarely knit the “it” sweater when everyone else does-I knit what I will wear! I have culled my crafting supplies and feel so much better! You really don’t need a lot to create beautiful items; I am working thru my small stash so I can buy yarn when I want to make something instead of the yarn languishing, waiting for it’s turn to be used.

This is such a good take! I often feel very pressured because it seems like working on 5-6 projects at the time is the norm, while I barely have the money to work on one project at the time lol

Just found your podcast. You are right, we only need the needles and yarn. I am guilty of owning most of what you described, however, I only added things as I needed them and some items were gifted. I really do enjoy the ball winder, swift, and blocking boards, these are recent additions and I knitted for years (decades) before I added them. I have knit bowls, but frequently just use clear zip-sealed bags to store yarn, patterns, etc. Love being able to look and see exactly what is in there. I use plain jump rings that you can buy in the jewelry department of craft stores for stitch markers and the little bulb safety pins for place markers. Probably one of the most useful items is a maker journal/notebook where I document changes and keep a record of what I made.

Less than two minutes in and already impressed with your practicality. When I start a new hobby I get everything and end up spending money I don’t need to. Why, why, why? So good on you!

A friend always knit straight from the skein. She put it around her neck and knit from there, when she was done at knit night, she just twisted it back into the skein. Lamp shades work great as a swift. Beach towels are great for blocking. Only need pins for lace. I have started using old chachkas for yarn bowls, like my mothers old crystal candy bowls, even bone-china tea cups.

ive been making my nephew a blanket for his first birthday, ive been working on it for a few months (im a beginner to knitting). I'm a student and I cant currently afford to buy yarn thats not acrylic/craft store. I felt a bit bad for using acrylic yarn because id heard that it had a reputation for being too cheap so its nice to hear reassurance surrounding that :)

I had previously felt that I needed more and more... now I am changing my thought process and I am working towards stashing down my supply of yarn to only keep 1-2 projects worth of yarn around above what I am already working on. I'd enjoy feeling less pressure from my own stash about what I need to work on.

I have been crocheting and knitting for 24 years …. I have never bought a bowl for yarn, no tiny scissors, no project bags. I did buy a ball winder but not the thing that holds the yarn while it winds. I just use the kitchen chair. I use the kid’s scissors from back when they were tiny and I had to buy this fiscal ones. I use baskets, or reusable bags for projects. I use the same crochet hooks I bought 24 years ago. Heheheeheh I love this video! I feel like for me, we’ll I’m older so I didn’t even know what all that stuff was for. But it’s good to be reminded that we need to slow down and ask ourself.. do I need that or want that!!

Instead of a yarn bowl, I clip binder clicks on to any box/organiser box and pull the yarn through the handles. It's quite useful for colorwork

I haven't used my yarn bowl in forever. I keep all projects in a backpack, that I got from my MIL, and I have one bag for smaller items/traveling easier, that I got from a local thrift store and my husband said it's a lunchbox/bag. They work great for what I need so I don't have to go scrounging around in totes and other bags.

I bought 4 24" interlocking play/yoga mats at Aldi for $9.99 to use as blocking mats. For decades I used cardboard. About 5 years ago I bought a ball winder, but for many, many years I used a toilet paper cardboard core to handwind yarn cakes and two kitchen chair backs to hold the Hank while winding.

I love this video! there's so many things I have gone without in my knitting just because I couldn't afford all the fancy stuff. by getting creative with solutions you can absolutely knit and even knit a lot without spending very much money. I also unwind sweaters to use the yarn, as well as thrift for destashes. so I have only ever bought yarn from yarn shops when I had gift cards. I didn't know it was controversial to unwind sweaters but I'm not suprised! I agree with you that textile waste is so ridiculous, I can't se anything wrong with sourcing our craft materials from what is essentially a waste stream. Thanks for your thoughtful video!

I have a cheap "umbrella style" swift, but NO ball winder. I tried the back of the chair, and the swift is much better. But I don't really need a ball winder because I wind the ball itself by hand. I clamp the swift on a nearby table and let it free spin while I wind at my own speed. BIG TIP if you hand wind: make sure not to wind too tightly! It can damage the fibers. As I'm winding a ball, I'll usually keep two fingers under the yarn I'm winding, just to make sure there's a little slack in the yarn.

Excellent topic and one we need to hear more often!!!!

I have repurposed cute bags that products came in. Like Kate McLeod she sends her lotion stone kits in perfect bags for sock projects of needles storage. I’ve bought organic sheets (from Marshals) that came in drawstring bags made from the same material, they make great project bags.

loved this concept! There are certainly a lot of "alternatives" I used in my own knitting. One of the knitting accessories that tends to irk me though are notions pouches; they often seem a bit crammed and impossible to organize unless you're dropping hundreds on stitched leather organizers with designated spots than end up quite bulky anyway. Instead, I have a little bento-style lunch box from Walmart that I use to organize most of my notions and then keep a few stitch markers and tapestry needles in a small pill bottle that lives in a project bag. I've been thinking about putting together a similar kind of video on thought-processes around yarn-buying specifically, and I agree with you that it's so hard to capture the nuance, but It's certainly possible to be observant of patterns without coming across as overly critical!

For blocking pins, I've found that they are much cheaper in the sewing section of crafts stores. I do have some blocking combs, which are really useful for blocking lace work.

I find blocking mats so useful when they have the lines for measuring/making sure things are blocked perfectly square. I keep them behind my couch because space is limited! 😆 My swift is under my couch too.

As an old lady (not a boomer but close ;) Gen X actually ) I find there are a few things I do use regularly. I don't have an actual knitting bowl, I use a small deep Chinese restaurant style bowl I already had in my cupboard. I have a tendency to knit with very fine yarn while sitting at my computer desk watching videos. It fits nicely and I am not chasing the ball around if it falls off my desk. After 50 years of knitting I do not own a blocking board. I do it on ironing board with some never rust pins. For scissors I did invest in a good pair of fiskars 6 inch squeeze scissors (actually bought them in the gardening department for floral pruning). At my age they are just easier on my hands that full size scissors or teensy tiny ones. ball winder and swift. I do own both because of my spinning. For a single skein of purchased yarn it just isn't worth the hassle of setting them up. I've been winding balls by hand for decades hasn't killed me yet. LOL Another thought for interchangeable sets. SOME companys let you buy the parts separately and build your own set which is what I have done slowly over time. That way I really just own the ones I use on a regular basis. Stitch markers. If I have them to hand I use them. If not a loop of contrasting yarn works just as well. My ONE exception to this is working double pointed where a safety pin is my go to solution when I have to mark within the knitting itself. Surprisingly I don't have a ton of stuff for my knitting and what I do have has been slowly accumulated over half a century. Some has just worn out or disintegrated over the years and I just didn't bother to replace it. Haven't missed any of it that I tossed. Then again needles have come a long way from the crap boye plastic needles of the early 70's (I started knitting at the age of 5). So anything that was replaced probably was replaced with better stuff. Also for anyone trying to destash yarn. Many cities and towns have senior citizen centers that would be happy to take your old yarn. I know in Lubbock Texas there used to be a yarn store that took peoples yarns and sent them out to senior citizens to knit caps for kids which were given out with the Marine coat drive every year. I am sure there are many programs like this. Might be worth looking in to.

I'll say something about little scissors: they're good for cutting threads in sewing close to the fabric. And I also use small snips to keep on my nightstand for projects or also cutting because regular scissors are just too bulky for one clip

I agree with you on the point of considering if one really needs a big amount of yarn to stash. When I began my fibre journey I (mostly for financial reasons) purchased a mystery box of 11kg of scrap yarn without labels. This helped me get started and not feel like I had wasted money when my beginner projects were wonky and uneven. I've now crochet with this yarn for about two years and am FINALLY getting to a point when I can comfortably shop for yarn for specific-ish projects. I'm in hindsight really glad I did it this way, because now I know much more about what kind of things I like to make and what kind of yarn I like to work with. I'm getting started with knitting and I find it so much fun to plan out what yarns to purchase for my wearables! :D

i love my tiny scissors 🥲🥲 they’re the best for getting in there and snipping those little ties when your mohair/suri fuses itself together!!! lolol

One tip from this old boomer. I do have those play mats that I use for blocking. I store them upright behind a dresser. They can also slide under a bed, if you’re not storing other things under there. I agree you don’t need a lot of stuff to knit, but having a set of tools along with my project is so handy. I agree, lots of things can be used in place of knitting bags, but they’re fun to have and ask for if someone wants to buy me a gift. I have several of the items that you mention are unnecessary and I use them all the time. I do like the idea of simple, inexpensive substitutions, though. Your comments came across as a bit judge-y rather than suggestions. Thanks for taking the time, it gave us lots to think about!