Tools of my Trade

Since I started knitting I began falling in love with the variety of needles that are out there and the accessories to store them.  The most affordable places I have found to purchase needles is ebay (you can get sizes US 0-15 in DPN, or single pointed, or circular for one low price), and thrift stores.  I found that ebay was really good when I shopped around to find the right price.  I got all of my DPN (double pointed needles) there for one low price which was definitely under $20!  This is a great deal considering you can sometimes spend $5 or more per one set, and I got the whole collection of sizes!  I also got my circular needles at ebay for a very low price as well.  Thrift stores however I find harbor the hidden treasures and vintage looking needles.  You can normally get a bag of them for a couple of dollars.  Definitely worth the price for these unique needles.  So needless to say I have got quite the large collection.

A glimpse at my collection

As you may now be thinking where on earth does she store all of these needles.  Well, ebay came to my rescue again.  I was able to find a really cool knitting needle roll up case for under $15!  This is amazing since in the LYS (local yarn stores) they charge up to $40.  If I was any good at sewing (maybe one day, I do want to learn) I would love to make my own but I would have no idea where to start.

Needle Case I found on Ebay

For the smaller accessories like needles, stitch markers, etc, I found this cute sewing box in at Zellers. It does the trick.

Then there is the circular needles.  They have long strips of cord in between the needles which kind of make them difficult to store, until I discovered a unique holder in Stitch N Bitch: The Knitters Handbook.  When I found this holder I dived right in with no sewing machine experience.  An entire evening and a few proto-types later, my master piece was created.  Thank goodness my mom had donated a bed sheet that she had bought, which was the wrong size for the beds at home.  So I had new fabric and lots of it, which was needed when I cut, and made mistakes, and then cut some more.  The biggest thing I learned is the importance of measuring and pinning your work, and checking it twice before sewing or cutting! In the end I had many broken sewing machine needles, ran out of string, but a first ever completed sewing machine project.  I still have to put the US sizes on the front of each pocket to correspond with the needle in it, but until then it works just fine!  I am proud of my completion of this task and look forward to one day owning my own sewing machine and taking on more projects.

Circular Knitting Needle Holder