Bruce sitting in a field of grass

KNITTING & CROCHET TOOLS


Flip & click on a tile to learn more!

Ball winders are used to make a ball out of yarn purchased in hanks or skeins. The resulting ball of yarn sits nicely & moves without effort, while knitting. Most knitting stores will have one for you to use and some online stores give you an option to ship yarn as a ball.
Ball winders are used to make a ball out of yarn purchased in hanks or skeins. The resulting ball of yarn sits nicely & moves without effort, while knitting. Most knitting stores will have one for you to use and some online stores give you an option to ship yarn as a ball.
Primary tool used for crochet. Also used in knitting for adding skipped or missed stitches. Knitters use a crochet hook to add skipped or missing stitches without having to take your piece apart.
Primary tool used for crochet. Also used in knitting for adding skipped or missed stitches. Knitters use a crochet hook to add skipped or missing stitches without having to take your piece apart.
A tool used to measure gauge - the size of your stitches and rows based on the yarn and needles used for your project. A knit chek can also help identify the size of unmarked knitting needles.
A tool used to measure gauge - the size of your stitches and rows based on the yarn and needles used for your project. A knit chek can also help identify the size of unmarked knitting needles.
Primary tool used for knitting. There are 3 types: straight, double pointed, and circular.
Primary tool used for knitting. There are 3 types: straight, double pointed, and circular.
Use a soft measuring tape to properly size your hats, gloves, sweaters or scarves.
Use a soft measuring tape to properly size your hats, gloves, sweaters or scarves.
Easily make perfect poofs to embellish your projects.
Easily make perfect poofs to embellish your projects.
Art Sheers/Scissors A pair of sharp scissors that are dedicated to crafts or knitting will prevent fraying or soiling yarn. When making pom-poms or other embellishments that require cutting multiple strands of yarn at once, dull scissors will be difficult to use and may result in an uneven result.
Art Sheers/Scissors A pair of sharp scissors that are dedicated to crafts or knitting will prevent fraying or soiling yarn. When making pom-poms or other embellishments that require cutting multiple strands of yarn at once, dull scissors will be difficult to use and may result in an uneven result.
Knitting cables requires slipping stitches in front of back of other stitches. Cable knitting needles help the knitter securely pass stitches over or under stitches without dropping or losing stitches. A small, double point, knitting needles can be used to hold stitches as well - bamboo works best for this purpose.
Knitting cables requires slipping stitches in front of back of other stitches. Cable knitting needles help the knitter securely pass stitches over or under stitches without dropping or losing stitches. A small, double point, knitting needles can be used to hold stitches as well - bamboo works best for this purpose.
Attach directly on fabric or needles tokeep track of stitch number, the beginning of a round project, the front side of a piece, etc.
Attach directly on fabric or needles tokeep track of stitch number, the beginning of a round project, the front side of a piece, etc.
A blunt end needle (to prevet catching on yarn) used to combine pieces, hide loose ends of yarn or add embelishments.
A blunt end needle (to prevet catching on yarn) used to combine pieces, hide loose ends of yarn or add embelishments.
A tool used to hold a hank or skein of yarn while it is being wound intoa ball.
A tool used to hold a hank or skein of yarn while it is being wound intoa ball.
Holds yarn in place to prevent it from rolling away or tangled while working on your project.
Holds yarn in place to prevent it from rolling away or tangled while working on your project.

KNIT CHEK

A knit chek is used to measure gauge, which changes with various yarn weights & needle size/types. This tool allows you to create projects with specific measurements. A knit chek has holes for you to verify the size of unmarked knitting needles & crochet hooks.

KNIT CHEK

Knit chek image showing the basic parts of the tool.

How to use a knit chek:

  1. Knit a 4" x 4" (or larger) swatch of fabric. Smaller swatches are not recommended as edge stitches often have inconsistent stitch sizes.
  2. If you plan to use more than one needle size or yarn types, create a larger swatch, switching needles or yarn every 4 inches. Don't forget to mark the spot where you changed needles or yarn.
  3. Wash & dry the swatch (check your yarn for specific instrutions - you may need to do this step by hand) to account for changes in the yarn that may occur after contact with water.


4x4 SWATCH

Example of a 4 inch by 4 inch swatch, used to measure gague with a knit chek.

PART 2

  1. Looking at your swatch, decide what qualifies as a stitch. A knit stitch looks like an upside down V and a purl stitch looks like a dash.
  2. If you plan to use more than one needle size or yarn types, create a larger swatch, switching needles or yarn every 4 inches. Don't forget to mark the spot where you changed needles or yarn.
  3. Wash & dry the swatch (check your yarn for specific instrutions - you may need to do this step by hand) to account for changes in the yarn that may occur after contact with water.


KNIT STITCH & PURL STITCH EXAMPLES

Diagram picture showing how to count knit stitches on a swatch.

Diagram picture showing how to count purl stitches on a swatch.

PART 3

  1. Place the knit chek over your swatch with a middle row of stitches (not your edge stitches) visible in the L-shaped hole.
  2. Using the ruler along the edge of the L-shaped hole, count the number of stitches fit acoss one inch.
  3. Multiply the number of stitches that you counted by the desired width of your project. For example, if you count 5 stitches in an inch and need your fabric to be 20 inches wide, you would need 100 stitches per row (5 x 20 = 100).

Example of how to use a knit chek over a swatch to measure gague. Includes example of a swatch with 3 stitches within 1 inch of the knit chek

In this example, you can see 3 knit stiches within 1-inch, inside the knit-chek window gauge. If you needed a 20-inch piece of knit fabric, you would need 60 stitches in a row.

3 stitches per inch x 20 inches = 60 stitches