Essential Equipment for Hand Knitting

Like all crafts there is some essential equipment that you need for hand knitting. Fortunately there is just a small number of inexpensive accessories that you need to get started. These are itemised here.

 

Knitting Needles: these are of course your main piece of equipment. See section on Knitting Needles for more details on how to choose the right knitting needles.

 

Scissors: for cutting and trimming yarn.

 

Rigid Ruler: for measuring tension swatches.

 

Yarn Needle: you need a needle designed for use with yarn for sewing up your knitting. Traditionally called darning needles, yarn needles have a large eye and a blunt end.

 

Sharps Needle & Sewing Thread: you will need other sewing needles and sewing thread if you are sewing buttons, ribbons and other trimmings to your knitting.

 

Pins: you will need to pins for pinning out your tension swatch and also for pinning pieces together for sewing if required. Pins with glass (or plastic) heads are the most suitable as the heads prevent the pins from working their way into the fabric.

 

Tape Measure: to measure your work.

 

Note Book & Pencil: useful for keeping track of your project, where you are in the pattern and also to make notes for future reference.

 

Crochet Hook: optional. A crochet hook can come in useful for picking up dropped stitches when you have learnt how to use it.