Comments on: 31 Days to Get Organized: Tool Kit Essentials

By: Caroline Coogan

Caroline Coogan — Mon, 28 Jan 2013 17:29:00 +0000

I have one main sewing basket that I throw my notions in. I use it to restock three or four mini kits that I have in several bags. I usually use an altoids or other mint tin or a small gift card tin (they have pretty designs or flat tops and are just a bit bigger than altoid tins). They usually hold: tape measure, scissors,needle coils, fix-a-stitch dropped stitch grabber thing, needle stoppers, stitch holders, all different kinds of stitch markers put on a large safety pin, spare large safety pins for stitch holders or whatever, cable needle, interchangeable locking tool with at least two needle ends, sewing needles, and darning needles. I like to keep on kit by where I sit on the couch to knit, one in my purse and the other two get thrown in whatever project bag I’m using as needed. I found I like the gift card tins better because even though they’re bigger than an altoid tin in leaves just enough room to adapt it to whatever project I’m working on without being too much bigger.

By: pat

pat — Mon, 28 Jan 2013 17:08:00 +0000

I purchased a knitting tool kit from an etsy shop, that is the size of an Altoid tin. The mini scissors didn’t last lone but everything else works just fine. I carry dental floss in my kit or purse. The cutting edge has always worked for cutting yarn and I never have to worry about zealous security workers confiscating it. (I’ve had the tiny sewing repair kit scissors taken only to see them sold in the shops on the other side of security). I also use pencil cases. I do like the idea of the clear bags.

By: Rowena

Rowena — Sat, 26 Jan 2013 23:31:00 +0000

My desktop, laptop, & phone all have calculators so I no longer have any need to carry around a calculator. I use the calculator on my phone every day. 15 years ago, sure, I would have put a little one in my tool kit, but they are obsolete. In fact, I don’t know what to do with my old calculator, which is still taking up space in a desk drawer.

By: ramblinroo

ramblinroo — Sat, 26 Jan 2013 13:30:00 +0000

I, too, use a Clinique bonus bag. I keep similar items in mine, but also always a pen. One of my daughters is a knitter, but doesn’t have the time or space to do much regularly. At a loss for ideas for her 23rd birthday, I got her a beautiful silk zippered bag from WEBS and filled it for her; her very own knitting tool kit! it was one of the most successful birthday presents ever!!

By: DeannaC

DeannaC — Sat, 26 Jan 2013 01:42:00 +0000

I use a square bag from the Clinique bonus with scissors, 2 crochet hooks, Chibi case with needles, both kinds of tape measures, stitch markers, thin crochet cotton for life lines, needle sizer, marking pins for seaming, and 3 sizes of cable needles. I keep it beside my chair. For my on-to-go-socks, I pin on a coil-less safety pin and put a darning needle and stitch markers on that.

By: abbottcm

abbottcm — Fri, 25 Jan 2013 21:56:00 +0000

For light travel, I usually just grab my Knit Kit (which has scissors, double ended crochet hook, flexible stitch markers, yarn needle, row counter, tape measure, point protectors, and thread cutter all packaged neatly together… I feel like I’m forgetting something else), needles and yarn for the project I’m working on. Maybe also a cable needle, depending on the project.
For longer travel, like vacation, I keep some necessary notions with my interchangeable needle set. Inside the pocket for those, I keep most of the same things that my Knit Kit contains, with the addition of a needle gauge and cable needle. This setup is what is usually pulled out at home as well.
Then the surplus is in my all-purpose knitting kit. It’s a plastic storage box, about half the depth of a shoe box, about as long, but twice as wide. I keep my fixed circs and dpns in their original package in there, along a free Clinique makeup bag for my notions. That holds stitch holders, spare stich markers in a small Lush tin so they don’t flop about willy-nilly (because really, the reason to have spares is because the others got lost, so if I lost my spares I’d be in trouble), crochet hook, yarn and darning needles, blocking pins, dental floss, and care labels for clothing.

By: SpicyKnitter

SpicyKnitter — Fri, 25 Jan 2013 20:30:00 +0000

Am I the only one with a little calculator in her tool kit? I use it quite often!

By: chrisknitz

chrisknitz — Fri, 25 Jan 2013 19:46:00 +0000

I use a school pencil case like this. http://epicplastic.com/plastic-pencil-boxes/ They are two sided and have several areas divided for all sizes of items. I stock it with: pencil/pen, foldable scissors, needlecase for sewing needles and pins, stitch markers (beaded and plastic rings), crochet hook, yarn needles, tape measure, and cable needles/small dpns.

By: Kelly H.

Kelly H. — Fri, 25 Jan 2013 19:10:00 +0000

I keep mine in an Altoid’s tin: magnet on the lid holding a darning needle, sharp sewing needle and knit picks locking tool. Then there’s folding scissors, tape measure, and two small stitch holders (the safety-pin style ones that “lock”) which have closed stitch holders on one and open-able stitch holders on the other. I also have my Grandmother’s metal ruler/needle guage that I carry around but it doesn’t fit in my tin (I’m on the look-out for one that’s small enough – been thinking of those lovely nautilus ones, perhaps).

I do have a larger tool-kit, but this is my bare essentials one that travels with my knitting.

By: Melissa @ Miso Crafty Knits

Melissa @ Miso Crafty Knits — Fri, 25 Jan 2013 19:07:00 +0000

I have 2 cases, one that I travel with and a large one that stays on my coffee table. I pretty much have the absolute essentials in the travel case. The large one just houes the excess. I’ve actually made a blog post about the notions that I use last summer: http://www.misocraftyknits.com/2012/02/tools-of-trade.html