Tools & Notions
Best Blocking Mats for Knitting (And What Else You Need)
For most knitters, an interlocking EVA foam mat set with a printed 1-inch grid is the best blocking mat choice — it's modular, holds T-pins securely, and.
Tools & Notions
Beyond needles and yarn sits a whole aisle of notions — stitch markers, tapestry needles, gauge rulers, blocking mats, swifts, and ball winders. Some are essential, some are luxuries, and some are solutions looking for a problem. This collection sorts them honestly. We judge tools by frequency of use, durability, and whether a cheaper substitute does the same job. A guide here will always tell you when a locking safety pin beats a boutique marker, and when a purpose-built tool genuinely changes how you work.
Tools & Notions
Best Yarn Winders and Swifts: When They're Worth It
The best yarn winder for most knitters is a mid-size hand-crank model with metal gearing, paired with an umbrella swift to hold the hank under tension.
Tools & Notions
Essential Knitting Tools: What Beginners Actually Need
Beginner knitters really need five things: needles sized to your yarn (often US 7-9 / 4.5-5.5mm for worsted weight), sharp scissors, a blunt tapestry.
Coming soon
- Best Row Counters: Digital vs Ring vs App
- Best Project Bags for Knitters on the Go