Hey Hey! You can craft with inferior products, but why would you want too? Below is a list of amazing products and services that are useful for yarn enthusiasts!
This page contains affiliate links but I only post products I believe in and use.
What is this page about?
This page is intended to offer you resources that may benefit you. I have spent a lot of time going through my large basket of tools and handpicked my favorites. I hope that this will give new crafters a headstart and help other crafters who may be struggling with finding the best products and resources.
Do you have any questions? You can email me at admin@veronicamarae.com/design or leave a comment on this page. Feedback would be appreciated.
Have fun Crafting!
Needles and Hooks
Options Interchangeable Nickel Plated Circular Knitting Needle Set. This set is by far the best thing that has happened to me during my knitting career. I rarely use straight needles anymore because they are to bulky and short straight needles just don’t have enough needle. Do you get what I mean? Options are great. The needle twists on and off. The cords bend easily. It may take some time to get used to them. You will want to tighten them regularly as you knit. This has not been a problem for me and they have never come apart while I was working with them.
Options Interchangeable Nickel Plated Circular Knitting Needle Tips. If you like the needle set above I highly suggest you get any other needle sizes that are interchangeable. If you are lucky enough that your set has them all that’s great! They should go from about size 4- size 11. Also make sure you get all of the cord lengths that you may need. That way when you are itching to start a project you don’t have to wait!
Options Interchangeable Knitting Needle Cable Connectors. I’m going to be honest here. I JUST found this listing and I’m super intrigued. To be able to take the cables I already have and make them longer? It’s worth a try and the price is right.
6″ Nickel Plated Double Pointed Knitting Needle Set. Notice a theme on my list? I love the nickel plated needles from knit picks because they are so smooth and light weight. I even love the sound they make while I’m knitting. The length of double pointed needles is really up to you. Just remember the smaller the length of the needle the less stitches you can hold. So if your aim is to make baby socks? Smaller is great. This set comes with 5 needles of each size. Perfect for sock making.
Amour Crochet Hook Set. Any product that comes in a zippered case has my attention. It comes with built in organization? Organization is my jam. They have comfort handles and each size is a different color for easy identification.
Must Have Accessories
If I have won you over on the nickle plated circular needles (that I’m in love with… broken record?) you should take a look at the accessories that knitpicks.com offers. If you are going to purchase your needles and hooks there it makes since to pick up your stitch counter and stitch marker as well because they are comparable in price (most are cheaper then other stores I’ve purchased them from) and they are good quality. The list for accessories is below.
View sizer. Every knitter and crocheter needs one, and if it has a ruler on it too, even better. This one sizes needles and hooks.
Locking Stitch Markers. Stitch markers are used to keep track of your stitch count among other things. I love that these ones lock so they can’t fall out.
Cable Stitch Holder– 3 piece. If you ever want to make beautiful cables these can be very helpful. This is a pack of 3. These ones are mostly straight which I prefer, but the have curved ones as well.
Stitch Holder– This holder is different from above. I use these all the time. They are like a large safety pin so that you can walk away from ‘open’ stitches without worrying. I have added the link for this stitch holder but I hesitate to. I use them so often that I would encourage you to find a small pack of them.
Books
Stitch N’ Bitch: The Knitters Handbook. I learned how to knit and crochet when I was a child but I didn’t catch onto knitting until I was in my early 20’s and it was because of this book! If you want to learn how to knit I think this is the best resource for you. It discusses everything you could ever need to know, including how to save your work if you drop a stitch (which is a knitter’s worst nightmare).
400 Knitting Stitches: A Complete Dictionary of Essential Stitch Patterns. All knitters, no matter how advanced need a stitch dictionary. There are a lot of good ones out there, some even specializing in types of knitting. However, this is a great book that lets you explore 400 stitches and that is hard to beat.
Crochet Stitch Dictionary: 200 Essential Stitches with Step-by-Step Photos. Here is a dictionary for crochet. I personally haven’t tried this one and the one I use is no longer published. It has great reviews and offers detailed photos and step-by-step instructions.
The Beginner’s Guide to Writing Knitting Patterns: Learn to Write Patterns Others Can Knit. If you’re ready to move on and create patterns for others, or just for yourself, this book can help get you there. This book takes you from concept to publication with chapters in: garment structure, formatting, test knitting, and copyright laws.
Yarn
There is a lot of yarn out there but here are some brands and weights that I use often.
Impeccable Yarn. At micheals. It’s bulky and I use it every winter to make new hats and scarves for the kids. It comes in some beautiful colors and really shows off a textured stitch.
Comfy Sport Yarn. By Knitpicks.com. This yarn is well, comfy. I’m a sucker for soft yarn and this lightweight yarn can be used for almost any project.
Red Heart. A trustworthy multipurpose yarn. I’ve used it for crafting projects, winter wear, and blankets. It holds through multiple washes as well.
Lion Brand. Another trustworthy yarn. I find this yarn a bit softer than Red Heart but that’s because it’s not meant for DIY use.
Cascade Sport. At Craftsy. It’s wool and offers the wool feel with lightweight fiber.
Online Resources
Ravelry. A free community for fiber artists where you can socialize, research patterns, and so much more.
Craftsy. Yes, it is a store but it offers so much more. It has a broad range of information on all types of crafts. Join the craftsy community and take classes in sweater making, cooking, writing, and almost any craft you can think of.
Knitpicks. Another online store but they have so much more to offer than shopping for high end yarn. Find free tutorials from professional designers.
Craft Yarn Council. They claim to be the industry’s one-stop resource and I don’t disagree. You can find information on education, industry standards, how you can get involved in the fiber community.
Instagram. A great knitting and crochet community. Try these hashtags: #knitting, #crochet, put some more when you get your phone.
Pinterest. All the best ideas are found on pinterest! Search for free knitting or crochet patterns and go wild.
A Note On Small Businesses
If you are lucky enough to have a local yarn store in your area don’t let that resource go to waste. They often carry yarn large retail stores don’t carry and have amazing customer service.