Know Your Knitting Accessories:
Just as you need to have all the right ingredients to prepare a good dish, in knitting also you need to have all the right knitting accessories to create all different kinds of patterns.
It is essential; for every knitter whether a beginner or experienced to have the right kind of knitting accessories. Here are some of the knitting accessories that you can find in the market or even in the internet as there are many sites that sell these accessories. You don't even have to leave your home, you can shop from your favorite chair and get all the knitting accessories that you want in the Internet.
Common Knitting Accessories:
Needle gauges:
These knitting accessories are punched with holes corresponding to needle sizes and are marked with the old numerical sizing as well as metric sizing so any needle size can be checked easily. The needle size corresponds to the smallest hole it can go through
A ruler or tape measure:
A ruler or tape measure is a knitting accessory used to check tension squares, when working to a measurement and to check the overall measurement of a completed project. For best results always measure work on a flat surface ensuring that the work is not stretched before measuring
Wool, sewing or knitter's needles:
Wool, sewing or knitter's needles are used to sew completed pieces of knitting together. These knitting accessories are large with a broad eye for easy threading and a blunt point that will slip between the knitted stitches without splitting or fraying the yarn. A tapestry needle is also suitable
A row counter:
It is used to count the number of rows that have been knitted. It is a cylinder with a numbered dial that is pushed onto the needle and is turned at the completion of each row. This is especially helpful when working long pattern repeats
Cable needles:
These knitting accessories are short needles with points at both ends. They are used to hold the stitches of a cable to the back or front of the main body of the knitting to form a cable pattern. They generally come in three thicknesses and can be either straight or with a U bend to stop stitches slipping off. Use a cable needle smaller than the needles you are using if possible as this will prevent stretching the stitches.Stitch holders:
Stitch holders resemble large safety pins and are used to hold stitches while they are not being worked e.g. Stitches are left on a stitch holder at the neck to be picked up later for a neckband
Yarn bobbins:
They are shaped pieces of plastic onto which you can wind short lengths of yarn. Where two or more colors are used in a row, it can be difficult to avoid the yarn tangling. Using knitting accessories-bobbins, keeps the yarns separate by allowing them to hang at the back of work. They are also used for picture knitting.
Pins:
Pins come with a colored glass head (if possible) to avoid losing them in the knitting, are used to mark the tension swatch and also when picking up stitches evenly along an edge (to mark sections)
Point protectors:
These knitting accessories are available in different sizes. They slip on the points of your needles when you put your knitting down. They keep your stitches from falling off the ends of the needles
Stitch Markers
Stitch markers allow you to quickly and easily mark important stitches within your work .They prevent you fiddling and knotting bits of yarn when trying to mark a particular stitch. An essential tool when knitting in complicated patterns or when knitting in the round to mark row ends.
Yarn Ball Winder
This knitting accessory, ball winder is a great labour saving device - a must for machine knitters, but a great addition to any knitter's kit. Use on its own or with the knitting swift.
Knitting Knobby:
Knitting knobby comes complete with a pick (hook). It makes tubes of knitting which can be sewn together to make mats, animals and much more. It works best with sports weight to worsted weight yarn. This craft is also called "corking".
Once you are acquaint with these knitting accessories you can make any kind of patterns and do any kind of experimentation that you want. These knitting accessories make your work much easier as for eg.you can use a stitch marker to mark at any important point that you want or you don't have to go through the pain of counting each rows again and again whenever you want to increase or cut stitches, instead a row counter will do the job for you. With these modern accessories, you won't knitting issues, but if you need any help there are lots of tele seminars also that assist in learning the use of thee accessories.
Though knitting is an old art even today it still remains as fresh as it ever was and now with these knitting accessories available they only make knitting easier and more interesting.
