Reviews - Knitting Companion

KnitFix Emergency Fix Keychain

Stitch savers are a convenient tool for fixing up dropped stitches, but not all are created equal. Now, KnitPicks offers a portable option.

Eucalan Wool Wash

This is a good go-to wash solution for working with woolens. As a no-rinse wash with a low soap-to-water ratio, this is absolutely worth consideration as your go-to wool wash.

Slap Your Llama Stitch Markers

These are good, general stitch markers for tracking which side of your work you are looking at, available at a highly cost-effective price.

While Addi Turbo circular needles are a more expensive needle than what you might find at your local craft store, they give value for the money spent. They are good if you are working with a “stickier” yarn, such as wool, that doesn’t necessarily slide smoothly over your needles. They don’t warp when knitting at a tight tension or doing fancier needlework, and I was really impressed by the join. The blunt tips are perfect for yarns that split easily.

KnittersPride Lace Blocking Mats

I think that these are good blocking mats, and they are definitely step up from blocking on home surfaces. The quality of blocking is significantly improved, and I would invest in blocking mats before I invested in a yarn swift or a ball winder. That being said, if you tend to block multiple projects at once, or block larger projects, I think you are best served by purchasing two of these sets. That’s a heavier investment for some knitters, but I think your satisfaction with your finished objects will be worth the investment.

Stanwood Yarn Ball Winder

If you wind more than 5 skeins/month, I strongly advise you to get a ball winder, and this ball winder is a solid place to start.

Stanwood Umbrella Yarn Swift

If you typically wind more than three hanks per month, you should be strongly considering a swift, and this is great way to enter the market. I would strongly recommend this yarn swift to anyone considering a purchase, especially if you are currently using a manual method (like a chair or your partner) to hold your hanks while you wind.

The Della Que Grand Circular Needle Case Holder

This circular needle case is pricey; $78 is nothing to sneeze at. However, I have regained my ability to effectively organize all my circular needles, which I am grateful for, and I have not accidentally re-purchased a duplicate size since I organized my needles. I consider this case a good value for the dedicated knitter who tends to hoard needles and needs a way to easily and nicely organize them. DellaQ makes this case a delight to use, especially with the usage of fun colors and fabrics.

Boye Row Counter

Boye row counters are a good option for the novice, budget-conscious knitter. They can get a bit heavy on the ends of your needles, and care must be taken to avoid accidentally jogging the counters.

Clover Bamboo Circular Needles

Clover circular needles are generally my go-to needles for most projects. I love how warm they feel in my hands, and yarn typically slides right over them. Their blunt tip is perfect for most projects, as they won’t split plys.

CocoKnits Colored Open Stitch Markers

While I love how light-weight and thin these are, I’ve relegated these stitch markers to the back of my knitting trunk, as I had too many issues with split yarn and paint flaking off the markers.

Coco Knits Concrete Magnetic Tray

While I wish the magnet was a big stronger with a wider field of force, I imagine that the gang at Coco Knits had to balance a lot of design considerations when making the tray. I find it easy to use, and its simple but attractive design does mean that it gets left out. It has not become the end-all-be-all that I hoped for originally, but I’m quite satisfied with it and I do use it to temporarily store other tools I’m working with in the moment.

Clover Soft Stitch Markers

Some of my favorite stitch markers due to their flexibility and softness, these perform best when working with larger-gauged projects, such as those using a worsted or bulky yarn weights. When working with lighter-weight yarns or smaller needle sizes, some gapping may occur so you will likely want to work with different markers

Stranded Colorwork: Basics & Beyond Class Review

Sunne Meyer breaks down the material quite nicely so that it is easily digestible. She also talks through many of the finer points regarding each of the patterns that are included with the coursework. Make sure to watch the final module where she talks through fixing mistakes and adding embellishments; those saved me a lot of grief.

DellaQ Lily Straight Needle Roll

I have never felt so organized when it comes to my needles! There is something about unrolling my case and seeing all my needles laid out before me that helps make my knitting experience feel special.

Knitting Abacus by Ablet

My must-have tool on any pattern where I have to count rows or pattern repeats. Be gentle with the magnet, or the clasp can break.

Coco Knits Colored Stitch Markers

Perfect for projects that use lighter-weight yarns or are knit on smaller needles that more easily show gaps or tension differences. The magnetic quality makes them easy to keep track of, and you get enough of each color to use them nicely in patterns.

The Yarn Stranding Guide

My new “must-have” tool when managing multiple yarns on a project.

Coco Knits – Yarn Snip

Review Summary: I wish they were a bit sharper out of the box and that they were a bit smoother in the hand, but the initial action is good. I love the ability to pick and just cut something one-handed.