In an ideal world, I would not only have a cantilever sewing box but also a cantilever knitting box to store all my notions. But unfortunately, we’re not in Mary Poppins world (yep, in my dream world you go on rooftops to dance and you snap your fingers to tidy up your place!!!), I do have a knitting pouch.
First, I must confess something to you: I can’t resist a pretty pouch. It’s just totally impossible to me. When I see one, I have to buy it. I’m a bit nuts but I’m taking some meds to treat it! I bought this particular one at Monoprix a while ago because it reminds me of my grandma textile stamps. It turns out it’s the perfect size to carry everything I need to knit on a daily basis.
My Essentials
- knitting needles: I already presented my color-code compact system here which allows me to carry my interchangeable needles with me at all time.
- interchangeable knitting cables: because you never know what can happen (plus if you have the tips, you must also have the cables!). You might have an urge to cast-on something new or picked the wrong length when you started this huge shawl you have on the needle right now and need a bit more space. I store them in an (ugly) envelope-shaped pouch which allow me to maintain them together without being distorted.
- tapestry needles: my main use of tapestry needles is for life line. I hate weave in ends and rarely do it before the washing and blocking phase.
- stitch markers: I usually have several with me to be able to choose the best match with my current knitting project. I always pick one with a high contrast with my knitting, what’s the point of a marker if you can see it? 😉
- scissors: Those are ma lifelong scissors. I cannot even remember using something else and honestly I think I would cry for at least two weeks straight if I lost them. With time, the cozy softened (and it just strike me, it does look like the fabric on my cuddly toy). Anyway, I I ever lost it and you find it, you know what to do if you want to earn my eternal gratitude!
- dental floss: ideal to put on hold stitches or set up a life line.
- a hook: I use it to fix mistakes and drop stitches. Usually I carry a 3.00 or 2.5 mm because they can be use with almost all kind of projects.
The Little Extras
- my first aid knitting kit: some fingering smooth yarn for provisional cast-ons, stitch markers (you never have too much of those!), some big tapestry needles which can’t fit in my beloved holder, some needle size ID tags if I want to remove my needle tips from a project and cable connectors
- my sewing case: I love it as much as my scissors case! It allows me to safely carry all my sewing needles, pins and safety pins in felt layers which preserve their sharpness. I also store a Decouvit, a needle threader and my new-anniversary-gift wood thimble.
- a needle gauge and colored elastic bands: I love my color-code system but let’s face it, sometimes I suck at it and still need a needle gauge.
- a calculator: when I knit a new design to come, I often need to check measurements, gauge, etc. As I’m a loose knitter, I often need to tweak a bit existing designs to match my gauge. That’s when it’s really to have a calculator with you (and yes I know, you can have one on your phone but I’m really bad with the battery thing…)
- a stitch holder
- some hand moisturizer: all year long. My hands dry pretty fast. Between hard water, hot water, outside cold, crazy dry weather and household management, I need it almost every day!
What do you have in your knitting pouch? What’s your essentials?
