The other day I was looking for a stitch marker. I pulled out my kit bag and started riffling through, pulling out all manner of items (a random button, a thimble, a Hello Kitty ruler, a bit of yarn, a bull clip and 4 pens) until I finally located the little pouch of stitch markers right at the bottom.
My kit bag is not the most organised. Instead it’s a bit like a Mary Poppins bag. Need a needle, here you go. Missing a row counter, use mine. Want to make a pompom? I have a pompom maker in here somewhere! It’s like an Aladdin’s cave of crafting tools.
When I started knitting, I didn’t have anything in my bag other than my current project on the needles, the yarn and a pattern. However as my knitting improved and I moved on to more difficult patterns, I found that I often needed something extra. A new technique like cables suddenly called for a cable needle. Or a finished project needed to be sewn together. And so my kit bag grew.
And this got me thinking. If I was just starting out, what would I need in my kit bag?
So below is our definitive list of must-have tools for your on-the-go kit bag.
- a pair of scissors. Mine is one of 3 from a set from Ikea
- a crochet hook. If you are a beginner, this is very handy to pick up dropped stitches.
- stitch markers for those who crochet, knit in the round or have intricate patterns to follow. I have both store bought Clover and beautiful black cat stitch markers from Etsy
- a pen or pencil to follow a pattern or count rows and stitches. Again most useful if you are a beginner.
- needle guage - very useful when using double pointed or cable needles as the size is not usually marked on them
- wool/ tapestry needle - for sewing up your finished project or inserting life lines in intricate lace projects (more on life lines later)
If you are an advanced knitter or crocheter, you may also need the following in addition to the above list:
- needle protectors - handy if you are knitting on cable needles on the go. They act as a needle cap to keep your knitting on the needle in your bag (I speak from experience!)
- cable needles if you are wanting to try out cables or even patterns where stitches are put on hold. They are also good for larger projects as the weight of the project will not be held on the needle and subsequently, your hands. With a cable needle, the project can rest in your lap.
- pom pom maker - these come in a variety of forms. And everyone likes makes a pom pom!
This list is endless and judging by the contents of my kit bag, can contain a number of random things!
If you are missing anything in your kit bag, check out our website where you can buy some essentials in fun colours.
What do you carry in your kit bag? Send us your photos or post on Instagram with hashtag #whatsinyourkitbag and we will feature them here and on our Instagram page.