This is a look into my “toolbox”.

These are the products I use in my crafting. I own and use everything I list here.

I made this list because I know others might find it useful to know what things I use.

Hooks

A general note on hooks, I’ve noticed the letter system isn’t completely accurate nor is it used consistently. I would really recommend, despite my husband’s objections to the metric system, to learn the mm numbers for your hooks, too.

Teamoy hook case (Amazon affiliate link)

• Keeps my stitch markers, hooks, pencil, pen, scissors, stylus, and everything else I need together
• There are other colors and styles which you may need to search on Amazon for

Clover Amour (G) (Amazon affiliate link)

• Handle makes it easier to hold

 

Susan Bates (H, regular and bamboo-handled) (Amazon affiliate link)

• Handle makes it easier to hold
• Hook shape can split yarn at times

Clover Amour M/N/9.0mm hook (Amazon affiliate link)

• I’d like to note that this has 2 letter designations

Lion Brand Q hook (Amazon affiliate link)

• Useful for quick projects or ones with big stitches

 

Lion Brand S hook (Amazon affiliate link)

• Also useful for quick projects

 

Boye Crochet Master hook set (Amazon affiliate link)

• This was my first hook set I bought
• Has 16 steel hooks for thread crochet (sizes 00 through 14)
• Has 8 aluminum hooks (D through K)

 

Project Management

Clover stitch markers (Amazon affiliate link)

Clover stitch markers (Knit Picks affiliate link)

• My go-to stitch markers
• Don’t catch on yarn
• Easy to open and close

 

Knitter’s Pride stitch markers (Amazon affiliate link)

• These are a bit better priced
• Not quite as well made, so can catch on yarn
• More in a package so good for counting long foundation chains, etc.

 

Stitch markers with clip (Amazon affiliate link)

• Clip lets you label what you’re marking
• Paper that comes with them doesn’t stay in well

 

Dritz T Pins (Amazon affiliate link)

• For blocking

 

Small Color Wheel (Amazon affiliate link)

• Lets you see complementary colors and other combos

 

Large Color Wheel (Amazon affiliate link)

• Same as small wheel, just bigger

 

Yarn Organization

Art Bin yarn drum (Amazon affiliate link)

• Easy to keep yarn contained
• Three ways to carry it (two different strap ways plus handle on top)

 

ArtBin yarn tote (Amazon affiliate link)

• Very roomy
• The insert really helps you organize your yarn
• Easy to carry bigger projects
• False pockets on the one side are somewhat annoying
• Real pockets are nice for papers and hooks

 

Feeling Superfine tote bag (Knit Picks affiliate link)

• Versatile
• Good large project bag
• Good for helping turn large projects at the end of the row without them getting twisted up
• Sturdy, but I don’t test it with heavy things

 

No Skein No Gain project bag (Amazon affiliate link)

• Nice for small projects, on the go
• I linked to a search that shows you all the bags Amazon has, since there are different sayings
• Knitters Warehouse link to my specific bag (I use them to buy my yarn sometimes)

 

Knit Picks ball winder (Knit Picks affiliate link)

• Use it to make center pull cakes
• You need a swift or a makeshift swift if working from a hank

 

Digital kitchen scale (Amazon affiliate link)

• I use it to see how much yarn is left over when a project is done
• I also use it to separate skeins into equal parts while winding

 

Pattern Organization

Avery binders (Amazon affiliate link)

• To store my patterns
• Have several for different ventures
• I tend to use the Durable or Heavy Duty ones (I like the easy open rings on these)

 

Avery page protectors (Amazon affiliate link)

• Used so I don’t have to hole punch my patterns
• Heavy duty is best if you keep more than a few pages in each protector

 

Sparco document stand (Amazon affiliate link)

• Holds my patterns while I’m crafting

 

 

Sewing Tools

Singer sewing machine (Amazon affiliate link)

• The start/stop button is a lot easier to use than the foot, so that’s a pretty neat feature
• I’ve used the embroidery feature to personalize blankets for the kids

Fiskars fabric scissors (Amazon affiliate link)

• Really good at cutting fabric
• Worth defending from non-fabric use!

 

Olfa rotary cutter (Amazon affiliate link)

• VERY sharp blades, so watch out
• Ergonomic one available, too, but I haven’t tried it

 

36″ by 48″ self-healing cutting mat (Amazon affiliate link)

• Very large, ideal for cutting up large pieces of fabric

 

Smaller, Olfa self-healing cutting mat (Amazon affiliate link)

• Double sided
• Perfect for small jobs

 

Omnigrid ruler value pack (Amazon affiliate link)

• 4 different sized squares

 

Creative Grids Non-Slip ruler (eBay affiliate link)

• 6 1/2″ by 24 1/2″ rectangular one with circles
• You can flip it around and use it two ways

 

Color Evaluators (Amazon affiliate link)

• Useful when determining which shades are darker or lighter

 

MFC seam ripper (made by me)

• Fits my hand well
• Is sturdier than the generic sewing kit ones
• Looks nice (if I have to tear out stitches why not do it in style?)

 

MFC seam ripper & stiletto (made by my husband)

• Same as single seam ripper, but this has a stiletto attached

 

 

Blogging Tools

Nikon D3300 with 18-55mm lens (Amazon affiliate link)

• This is my first DSLR camera
• Included a strap and a charger for the battery

Nikon 55-200mm lens (Amazon affiliate link)

• I didn’t pay full price

 

Extra Nikon battery (Amazon affiliate link)

• Very useful so you don’t have to wait for the battery to charge before taking more pictures

 

Lexar Professional SD card (Amazon affiliate link)

• High enough capacity to take lots of pictures before I have to empty it

 

Camera bag, shoulder (Amazon affiliate link)

• I use this when I’m carrying just the camera and few accessories

 

Camera bag, backpack (Amazon affiliate link)

• How I store all of my photography equipment when it’s not being taken anywhere
• I also use it to carry a lot, especially the manuals (see below)

 

Samsung 10.1″ tablet (Amazon affiliate link)

• I use this to write blog posts (with the keyboard below), browse Pinterest, work in Trello, etc.

Samsung tablet case (Amazon affiliate link)

• Good for protecting my tablet

Logitech Bluetooth keyboard (Amazon affiliate link)

• This is neat because you can use it for up to 3 Bluetooth friendly devices
• I have mine linked to my tablet and my phone
• This makes typing up blog posts on my tablet a LOT easier

 

Keyboard case (Amazon affiliate link)

• This keeps my keyboard from getting smashed up when I put it in my bag

 

The Crafter’s Guide to Taking Great Photos (Amazon affiliate link)

• Photography guide specifically for crafters

 

How to Blog for Profit: Without Selling Your Soul (Amazon affiliate link)

• A good first guide for bloggers looking to gain money, though I like Pat Flynn more (see below)

 

Pat Flynn business books (Amazon affiliate link)

• Will It Fly
• Let Go, 2nd edition (only available as an e-book)
• Also check out his work at Smart Passive Income (he’s my business guru)

 

The Beginner’s Photography Guide, 2nd Edition (Amazon affiliate link)

• Good for understanding the basics of photography

 

Nikon D3300: From Snapshots to Great Shots (Amazon affiliate link)

• This is meant as an extra manual to get even more from your camera specifically (there are different ones for different cameras)

 

Craft Books

Blue Ribbon Afghans from America’s State Fairs: 40 Prize-Winning Crocheted Designs (Amazon affiliate link) (not worth $50!!!!!)

Blue Ribbon Afghans from America’s State Fairs: 40 Prize-Winning Crocheted Designs (eBay affiliate link) (not worth $134, yes I saw this price…)

• Cool book, but don’t pay a lot for it
• I repeat DO NOT PAY MORE THAN $15 max for this book!

 

Jewelry Making and Beading for Dummies (Amazon affiliate link)

• Good first resource on beads and jewelry-making

 

The Complete Book of Crochet Border Designs (Amazon affiliate link)

• I’ve used this to find borders for my blankets, including one for a customer

 

The Complete Book of Crochet Stitch Designs (Amazon affiliate link)

• LOTS of possible stitches

 

Quiltmaking by Hand by Jinny Beyer (Amazon affiliate link)

Quiltmaking by Hand by Jinny Beyer (eBay affiliate link)

• My first theory book on quilting by hand

 

Quilting 101 (Amazon affiliate link)

• My first quilting book, a very handy resource
• I liked that it had a DVD with it, too

 

DVDs and Classes

Learn to Sew a Designer Handbag (Amazon affiliate link for the DVD)

Learn to Sew a Designer Handbag (Annie’s online class link)

• The Annie’s DVD goes on sale for way less than the Amazon price
• The Annie’s online class listing links to the DVD class (same just online verses offline)

 

Magazines

Crochet World

• Rare that I get an issue with no pattern I like
• The one magazine I’ve gotten consistently for years
• Archived issues for sale (affiliate link) (Note: subscribers get access to back issues for free)

Interweave Crochet (Crochet Magazines, affiliate link)

• Like the format of the magazine (theme group of pictures, then the patterns)
• A bit more trendy in fashion and pattern types
• See Resources page to link to Interweave’s website

 

Other Products

If you would like to see my top picks for website resources, head here.