What's become really handy in the last year are wireless headphones. My partner started working from home, and I was worried I was going to miss my chill and knit times with her needing quiet for work. It's not a definite essential, but it's much easier to knit and watch tv/listen to podcats etc with wireless headphones than with wired ones getting all tangled with the yarn and insisting that you sit close to your laptop/tv.

My level one can't live without are darning needles 1 blunt 1 sharp, embroidery thread, scrap yarn, a crochet hook close to the knitting needle size I'm using, lightbulb safety pins, a few progress keepers, a couple of distinct stitch markers mini scissors or mini pocket knife, measuring tape, cable needles, a silicone thimble, post it pad or notebook and pen, nail file, lotion, lip balm, mints, needle stoppers

Rox, I so much appreciate how you managed to do this video without making it a series of ads for different products. Your approach is so refreshing - I wish more KZfaqrs would adopt a less commercial style. My own must-have-nearby tools are: a notebook and pencil, a straight ruler, locking stitch markers, scissors, and waste yarn.

Plastic tab bread bag clips work great as bobbins for small lengths of yarn for provisional cast on. Wrap cast on tail to them and use a sharpie to write needle size I’m using on project. The heart shaped ones allow me to put my needles through the tab and keep my stitches on my cables when not knitting. Must haves large tapestry and chenille needle.

I use stitch markers for all sorts of things. I occasionally use locking markers but mostly small rings which sit nicely between the stitches and don't snag like my locking markers do. To count which row I am on, I place a marker: if it's after the third stitch, for instance, I'm on the third row. Then I just move the marker on two places on the 5th row, and so on. Different colour markers mean different things to me: little green ones are just for counting stitches on long rows where I find them difficult to count on the cable. Pink ones indicate which row I'm on. And so on. When I have to work a double decrease in the centre of every RS row, rather than mark the centre stitch (or centre 3) I place markers, say 8 stitches before and after the centre: then I only have to find the middle of those. Over the decreases they work their way towards each other until they meet and I need to reset them.

I use this list plus a note book, sweet treats and a small bottle of gin as a knitters advent calendar for my sister last year. She loved opening each day’s handy gift! Lovely episode. Thank you

Ready & Magnifying glasses, tapestry needle and notion pouch with project bag and pattern clip board.

All the tools you name are in my zone 1 too, except the emory board. My only additions are needle point protectors, pen and mini notepad and my yarn needle for sewing/weaving ends.

Roxanne, I hear you. I've made several project bag with tools for each project bag. I knit and crochet. Have at least 4 projects going on at one time. Don't want to take out tools from one to another bag. That includes needles and crochet hooks. LOL😁 Always enjoy your channel. Thank you 👌🏼👏🏼

I’m so glad to hear you don’t use double pointed needles all that much. I cannot seem to get the hang of it. Now,,, how do I change a pattern written for double points into one for two circular needles. That I CAN do. This vídeo was very helpful to me.

I like to use the large locking stitch markers as a cable needle or to hold stitches for the thumbs of gloves.

In addition to what you mentioned I keep a row clicker/counter, tapestry needles and yarn threader, a tiny notebook and mini pen, a few assorted stitch holders and a cable needles in my knitting accoutrement kit. I have several kits made up, so I can keep one in all my projects bags. Another item I love is the plastic, cylinder shaped pill containers that screw into each other. They are perfect to hold all my tiny stitch markers and progress markers. I got mine at my local Dollar Tree. Good idea to add a nail file and small bottle of lotion!

Haha, I like the nail file idea so will be adding one to my box of tricks. My must haves include a dice for counting up to 6 rows, ring markers & tapestry needles.

I have my grandmother’s darning tin. It’s a bit like a darning mushroom, but it’s a tin which holds needles, row counter, stitch markers etc. I also laminate enlarged chart patterns and mark them with highlighter tape as I go along.

Thanks for another wonderful tech Tuesday. The tool I can’t live without is a cup of herb tea and a homemade chocolate chip cookie. Definitely zone 1!

I appreciate you mentioning yarn snags on rough fingernails at 6:17. Here are some tips and tricks from an avid nail-painter to help prevent your nails from interfering with knitting. - File your nails in one direction with gentle swipes. Don't file back and forth like a saw-this damages the layers of your nail and causes peeling. - Czech crystal / glass nail files put emery boards to shame! They have a fine grit that doesn't wear down or dull, and are easy to clean. They are gentle on flimsy, bendy nails but can file through the thickest nails in a pinch. I highly suggest replacing emery boards with a glass file. You will notice a difference the first time you use one. - Moisturize! Your nails can absorb 3x their weight in water. The water expands between your nail cells and can cause peeling and snags. Moisturizers (like lotions and jojoba oil) keep the water out and your nails flexible and hydrated. Moisturizers help with dry cuticles and skin, too. I hope this helps. If any of you have more questions / tips about nail care, feel free to reply. Happy knitting!

I usually have my pattern in a page protector, so I carry highlighter tape to mark the rows especially on a chart.

Saw this video yesterday and thought your stich marker usex to keep row count was a brilliant idea, used it last night on a sleeve top I was doing decreases on and it really helps, I even feel that I finished the sleeve top far more quickly than I normally do as I did not keep stopping to count rows between decreases! Thank you, never too old to learn something new.

All of the mentioned are near me plus a pair of nail clippers. I always seem to get small hangnails that my scissors just can’t seem to handle.

I hadn’t thought of including an Emory board, but will be adding one to my kit now! I also always have a clicking row counter (I use the clover with the locking mechanism) and one magnet to keep my metal stitch markers together.

I have all of these things in my knitting bag and in addition, a row counter, the little key to tighten interchangeable needles and a tapestry needle. I also always have a tin of Altoids. I have no idea why other than my grandmother always did.

My list is almost the same as yours, with a couple of additions. I fashioned a row counter for when I’m knitting in the round, with one of those rotary counters that sits on your needles - I mounted it on a crochet hook and just have it sitting beside me. That has been superseded by my other tool - the Knit Companion app, which I now can’t live without. I love being able to have colour charts on it, multiple counters running simultaneously for eg row counter, colour change and decreases. I absolutely love it.

My go-to’s are just like yours except for one more. When I first started earnestly knitting in 1989, somehow I was acquainted with Patternmorks catalogues. I ordered something called dental tool or dentist’s tool. It’s about 7-8” long with a hook on one end and a thin pointy end on the other. I often use the hook end in place of crochet hook and the pointy end for everything from opening knotty places to creating that just right tiny hole in my yarn. I don’t know if this catalogues are still around of if they still have that dental tool. Somehow I’ve never lost my original one in nearly 32 years.

I like to keep my projects in reusable nylon bags (Chico is one brand). They keep things together, are very lightweight and portable, come in bright colors to spot easily, and I just tie the handles together. Great for travel, IMO. Your nail file is a great idea! Also the extra yarn.

I would include calculator and scale in my list. I love measuring my knitting and yarn, counting stitches and estimate how much yarn is necessary to finish my project.

-To all of these gadgets and tools, I also include some tiny rubber bands to wrap around the end of the needle to keep the stitches from falling off if the needle is crowded or while I'm checking back on something along the cable of my interchangeable needle. -Second is a small supply of tiny bobby pins that I use to secure the end of the yarn to the ball which keeps the yarn from unwinding as I work. I could tie a bow with the yarn end around some of the ball strands, but I prefer the pins because they don't come undone. -Third is a small calculator for a myriad of uses. -On occasion, I will add a small bag of lengths of pearl cotton to use as a lifeline or to use for making more fabric stitch markers in other colors for marking pattern repeats or other pattern notables. With that, I include the bulb pins to put into slip knots on either end to keep the lifeline from working it's way out (which has happened more than once). I'm curious to know if you've added any of these suggestions to your Essentials bag? :-) Great post!

I use all the tools you talked about but I also like to use row counters, they are quite useful for me. I also like to use stitch stoppers, especially when I risk to be interrupted in the middle of a row, or when I try on my unfinished knitting, like a top down sweater.

I do the same. I had to laugh because I have the same items including the emory board.😁

Ooooh! The nail file and small lotion are definitely going into my project bag for traveling. Great tip!!

I also have a pen and paper ( or xeroxed copy of the pattern) for making notes. My number one can’t-knit-without is a metal click counter for counting rows

Fantastic. Thanks so much.

I have all of these including point protectors, pencils & post it note pads🧶

I don't often knit for myself, but I do an awful lot of knitting, and there's one thing in particular I'm concerned with, that being the potential of aroma worked into a gift. So before I sit down to knit, the first thing I do is wash my hands, even if I'm just getting out of bed; I keep a small bottle of Ajax dishwashing liquid on my bathroom sink.

Thank you! As an inexperienced knitter, I find this so helpful!

With every project bag, A couple (because i know I will ask myself where did it go) weaving the ends in - needles. Agree and keep misc dpns and crochet hook handy , mine are always one size smaller than what I am working with. One thing not with every project but nearby is , no name brand of circular 32" , in 1.5 mm , came with a larger set and has been so useful to just insert , when I need to recapture a line of stitches and rip back . (should have remembered and put in a life line , right?) :D

surprised you didn’t mention a needle! i have one sharp tapestry needle and one blunt yarn needle always🧶💖

I used to always use a pen and notepad to track my progress in the pattern. I found an old stitch/row counter with pegs at the thrift store. I don't think I can knit without it now. It's so much faster than using the pen and paper. Not as detailed but it works.

I love those little folding scissors too. I probably have 10 of them around the house! A pencil and highlighter are also in my project bag to mark up patterns and make stitch notes as needed. I use the highlighter to call out specialty stitches in the pattern.

Love the idea of zones. Most of the items you mentioned are in my notions bag but I also have a pencil and pad. Hand cream, nail oil and file in separate small bag.

Every single item you mentioned is exactly what I keep in my notions bag and beside me at all times. When I am teaching knitting these are the items that I recommened knitters have.

I have all the same things in my project bag, including the emory board! Another essential for me, especially in the winter when it’s dark so much, is a headlamp. I have the kind with a strap that you usually wear for biking/hiking. You can aim the light right on your knitting!

Oh yes I love OTT light

Roxy, I love those diaper pin stitch markers and use them in a lot of different ways. they are especially useful in my crochet projects, and I use one to keep the only live stitch from unraveling. I use a teensy note pad and have a pencil in my notions box because, for me, the act of writing helps me to work out the knitting math and keeps me on track with the pattern and the (almost always) changes I make to it. My notions box is a child's pencil box that I picked up for $1.00. I also re-purpose prescription pill bottles, the ones that are clear, to stow yarn needles, a tape measure or anything else that is small and easy to lose like cable joins and hardware. I only have one pair of embroidery scissors that I keep in my notions box. I have a pair of thread snips that are on a peg board with my other cutting tools in my sewing studio.

I have all the tools you mentioned except for the nail file. What a great idea! It is going in my bag now along with a pair of cuticle nippers for those nasty hangnails. I always carry a Silvalume Handi Tool by Susan Bates too. It has a point on one end and a crochet hook on the other. It has been a life saver for me! Thank you for all your hints, tips and techniques!

My knitting graph paper book and writing utensils. This is for current projects and thoughts that I need to capture quickly before I lose them.

Hi Roxanne, Another great video. I keep dental floss for lace knitting, 3M tape flags, post-it notepads and a pencil. Plus row counter. Take care, Kathy

Great video thank you 😊

This was a fun video! All of your tools are necessary in my book too! They are all must haves. Thanks for sharing with us!🤗🤗

I keep a tube of horse ligament in my bag for arthritis. When I’m socially knitting that tube travels the room! Get mine at Tractor Supply.

Thanks for all your help this last year that I’ve been learning to knit! I have everything you mentioned but I also have on my desk and in my notions bag are “needle stoppers”, a stitch marker that is my BOR, a highlighter, post it notes, a notebook, pens and of course all things related to my latest project! :)

I have everything you mention except hand lotion, which I only put on at bedtime as I don’t like the way it feels on my skin. You’ve also reminded me to keep a head torch handy in case my cat is on my lap and I can’t reach the light switch ☺️ Your hair looks especially nice in this video by the way - not sure if hair salons are open in the US now, ours here in the UK are still closed.

I use all the tools you mentioned but cannot live without a knitting machine latch tool to fix errors, as well as my neck reading lights! They look strange, but they're wonderful! 😊

When I start a new project I kit up the notions bag with pretty much the same items. One kit for each project. (So far it’s been max 3, so not too much duplication.) When all the notions are back in the master bin that’s when I mark a project as finished in Ravelry. The only thing I would add to your list is reading glasses. 👓 I have a really good pair that I keep at home that was custom made so I could watch TV without having them sit on my nose. And then each kit bag has a cheap “dollar store” pair for when I’m out.

Nice video! As I sit knitting watching your video, the essential tools that I have are: tape measure, scissors, crochet hook, cable needle, toothpicks (for smocking cabling over a small number of stitches), stitch holder, BOR markers, waste yarn, darning needle, row counter, and a hot cup of tea (or coffee)!

I have a couple of small ott lights Love them♡ A telescoping ott light? Wow! Thank you Roxanne

thank you for all of your tools that you use next to your desk the one thing that I like to have is a good working pan and a notebook if I'm changing from original pattern and I want to make notes so that I can have a long or multiplication dividing separating stitches to make it fit for my project I have a notebook calculator so hopefully you can use these tips to also help you have a great day continue sharing your crafts and ideas

My only others are row counter and tapestry needle. Good idea to keep lotion close by! I find the act of knitting itself can dry my hands out, probably because the wool absorbs oils from my skin.

In my case, I'm just happy when I can find my scissors. I'm kinda the poster child for disorganization though. That said, an emery board would have been handy the other night for just the reason you mentioned. Yarn will catch in rough patches on your nails you can't even see or feel yet.

Most of these (except the emory board, but I always have a pair of nail clippers nearby for the same reason) are my go-tos. After dealing with yarn balls trying to escape the entire time I've been knitting, I recently got a bowl to put them in and now I can't live without it. It's not an "official" yarn bowl with the little curly-cue, just a pretty wooden bowl I found at a thrift store, but it's become an essential tool. Also, I use empty Altoids tins to hold small items such as stitch markers and tapestry needles

The only things I can't do without are knitting needles and yarn (preferably wool). And if I want to take it with me, a zip lock bag. This is off course the bare minimum, so I have more than that ...

I really like my scissors leash. I use the Handy Hearts pattern on Ravelry. It holds a darning needle and assorted locking stitch markers-my favorites are coiless safety pins.

I like to keep a small pkg of dental floss for life lines. I put a piece in the keyhole of my Knitters Pride Zing needle and just knit it through !✌❤🇨🇦

Great video Roxanne! I would add my chain link row counter, a darning needle, rubber bands (to retighten interchangeable circs), & a mini pencil.

I have all those near me, including the emery board & lotion. Winters are dry in the Top of Iowa, too. The other is a good metal yarn needles.

Thank you 😊 I’ve got too many tools as I’ve inherited my Mums and Grandma’s. I really must sort them all out 😊

I would add stitch holders. Not every project needs them but I use them for emergencies if I’m trying to recapture stitches but am worried they might fall off the capturing needle.

Tapestry needles; red felt tip pen and good reference books🧶

A well=made small tweezers. Needles-yarn darning and hand sewing. TINY FOLDING SEAM RIPPER.

I keep all those plus some short cable needles and a Susan Bates Silvalume “handi-tool”. Wouldn’t want to be without it!

All great tools that I keep close, too. Additionally, must haves for me are stitch markers (I like the circular rubber ones, nothing fancy here). Additionally, the Bates row counters with the stem on them to hang off my needle and the little tube of Chibi yarn needles.

cable needle or 1 extra DNP are a must, even if you're not cabling....you can use the tip of the cable to needle to poke at your stitches and adjust the size of your stitch if it is too small or too large, you can capture a dropped stitch with it, basically all the things you said that a spare crochet hook or a looking stitch marker can do, you can do with a cable needle or extra DPN....Ball winders are good to have too.....a must have or stop knitting forever item everyone should have is a PROJECT TOTE bag....put your work, your needles, all your tools and yarns in when you have to stop and go do your daily routine of life.

Good lighting but also a magnifying glass so I can really see what I’m doing!

the nail file *face palm* why didn t i think of that, so logical.

I enjoy making closed stitch markers from my beading supplies (10 mm jump rings are less expensive than crab clasps and take less effort than shaping wire) much more than I like using them myself. I'm feeling slightly hypocritical when making them for knitting friends, since I use plastic locking markers much more than the other ones. Also, I feel less heartbroken when I return from a knitting outing and realise that a regular stitch marker's been left behind than I do if I've lost one of the pretty beaded ones that I've made myself. WRT laddering down to correct mistakes, crochet hooks still feel a bit weird to me if it's been, say, more than five rows. There's something in the movement that feels strange to my wrist, somehow, and I worry about not capturing the right thread in the right time. I made a lot of fingering-weight caps in double ribbing for Christmas, so I had plenty of opportunity to make ribbing mistakes during the darkest days of the year. I developed a method of using to DPN's, the one on the left as the working needle and the one in the right hand holding the rows I'd just laddered down, ensuring that I caught all of the strands. Disclaimer: I'm naturally left-handed even if I knit right to left,, so right-handed people should probably do it the other way around. Tapestry needles are good for more than seaming and weaving in ends, mine often gets used as an all-purpose tool to correct tension flaws or undoing tight knots in the yarn. (Also, being Finnish I can't help but feel national pride in seeing a pair of Fiskars scissors...)

I have all my tools near me too. They are all the same tools you use.

I’m curious about the beautiful sock in the background:)

those plastic stitch markers you showed at the start are nice but they break too easy and fall apart - I use just the "safety pin" type now - like your tips

I would spend a good amount on a light and my cat would find a way to sit right in it...😄😄😄..I knit,crochet and sew..tools everywhere...

My stitch markers like yours break with the first use.

my sister keeps bothering me when i am knitting i need to concentrate and enjoy the peace i get from kitting i keep telling het to not bothering me but she wont listen what do you sugest i do help

Is tool #6 a secret? 😉😂

A friend showed me a counting app for iPhone. It’s called “iCountThat”. It allows multiple projects and multiple counters that you can label within each project.

Yes, stitch markers, those gauge rulers and smaill sharp scissors I use every day. I make most of my sitch markers with some worsted weight cotton yarn taking a long strand and tieing a series of loops; then, cutting one loop off as I need it. The locking ones I use for row counting like you do. My new favorite tool is a flexible neck lamp. With having a recent energy audit on my home and them replacing all the light bulb with energy-saving ones, by the time I sit down to knit at night, that bulb seems to have lost its vigor and is very, very dim--like a 15w lightbulb. The LEDGle neck lamp has been great! It's rechargeable and comes with a USB cable for use with a wall plug or by computer. --KateColors