#handmadewithlove — Public Fediverse posts

Five Things I Never Crochet Without

People always assume that the most important part of crocheting is the yarn.

Or the hook.

Or maybe that magical pattern that somehow works perfectly on the first try.

Don’t get me wrong—they’re all important. But after years of crocheting just about everywhere imaginable—on the couch, in waiting rooms, during road trips, and while pretending to watch television—I’ve discovered there are a handful of things I reach for every single time.

Some of them are obvious.

Some might surprise you.

But every one of them has earned a permanent spot in my crochet routine.

1. A Pair of Kiddie Safety Scissors

This one usually gets me some funny looks.

Most crocheters swear by tiny, razor-sharp embroidery scissors.

Me?

I reach for a pair of kiddie safety scissors.

Why?

Because they’re just dull enough that I don’t have to panic every time they’re near my project. They’ll cut yarn beautifully, but they’re much less likely to slice into the blanket, sweater, or shawl I’ve spent hours making.

Ask me how I figured that one out.

Let’s just say I’ve accidentally snipped my actual crochet project before, and once is all it takes to make you rethink your choice of scissors.

Now my trusty little safety scissors go everywhere with me. They may not be fancy, but they’ve saved me from repeating that mistake more than once.

Sometimes the best crochet tools aren’t the expensive ones—they’re the ones that fit the way you crochet.

2. Stitch Markers (Even When the Pattern Says You Don’t Need Them)

If you’ve ever thought, “I’ll definitely remember where that stitch is,” allow me to gently welcome you to reality.

You won’t.

At least I won’t.

Stitch markers aren’t just for beginners. I use them constantly—marking the beginning of rounds, keeping track of repeats, noting increases, holding pieces together, and reminding myself where Future Me needs to pay attention.

They’re like little sticky notes for your crochet project.

Future You will be incredibly grateful.

3. A Plain Sheet of White Paper

This might be the strangest thing on my list.

It’s not a fancy gadget.

It doesn’t cost much. And it isn’t even technically a crochet tool.

I almost always keep a plain sheet of white paper nearby when I’m working with dark yarn.

If you’ve ever crocheted with black, navy, forest green, or deep burgundy yarn, you know the struggle. Sometimes it feels like the stitches disappear completely.

Here’s the trick.

Slip the white paper behind your work.

That simple background creates enough contrast that the stitches suddenly become much easier to see. Instead of squinting and guessing where your hook belongs, you can actually see what you’re doing.

It’s one of those little tricks that has saved my eyes more times than I can count.

Now, whenever I pull out dark yarn, I automatically reach for a piece of printer paper, too.

4. A Pen and Notebook

Ideas have terrible timing.

They don’t wait until you’ve finished your project or sat down at your computer.

They show up halfway through row 27.

Or while you’re trying to fall asleep.

Or when you’re working on something completely different.

That’s why I never crochet without a pen and notebook nearby.

Sometimes it’s a quick sketch of a stitch pattern I’d like to try. Other times it’s a note reminding me to change an increase, write down a row count, or save an idea before it disappears into the great yarn-filled abyss where forgotten inspirations seem to go.

I’ve learned the hard way that telling myself, “I’ll remember that later,” is almost guaranteed to end with me not remembering it later.

Now, whenever inspiration strikes, I simply write it down and get back to crocheting.

Future Me is always thankful.

5. A Project Bag

If your current project has ever lived in a grocery bag…

a reusable shopping tote…

or the front seat of your car…

welcome to the club.

A dedicated project bag keeps everything together—your yarn, hook, pattern, scissors, stitch markers, measuring tape, and whatever mysterious little notions always seem to accumulate along the way.

It also protects your yarn from dust, curious pets, and the universal enemy of crocheters everywhere…

The yarn barf that somehow appears the moment you toss a skein loose into your bag.

A project bag isn’t about being fancy.

It’s about staying organized enough that you actually spend your time crocheting instead of searching for where you put everything.

Honorable Mentions

It’s amazing how quickly the area around me fills up once I settle in for a crochet session.

A measuring tape.

A row counter.

An extra skein of yarn—because I’d rather have it nearby than get up halfway through a row.

Lip balm.

My phone for checking pattern notes, answering messages, or snapping a quick progress photo.

A highlighter for marking my place in a printed pattern.

A small crochet hook case with a few backup hook sizes.

A small bowl or tin for stitch markers and yarn needles.

A lint roller…because our cat, The Manager, seems to believe every project requires a quality-control inspection before it’s finished.

See?

This list grows very quickly.

The Real Essential

If I’m being completely honest, though, none of those things are the one item I truly never crochet without.

The real essential is enjoyment.

I’ve learned not to rush projects just to finish them.

I’ve stopped worrying about every tiny imperfection.

I’ve accepted that sometimes I’ll frog ten rows, and sometimes I’ll discover six months later that I accidentally skipped an increase somewhere.

The world keeps spinning.

Crochet isn’t about perfection.

It’s about creating something with your own two hands.

The tools simply make that journey a little smoother.

Now I’m curious…

What’s the one thing you absolutely refuse to crochet without? I’d love to hear what has earned a permanent place in your own crochet kit.

Handmade dvd junk journal book
My boyfriend was throwing his dvds out ask if i wanted anythink from it 😁 OH YES ... i took them from him and made myself a junk journal using the paper covers and a box set
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Much Love Grows On Trees....On a crisp white background.

ART
https://fineartamerica.com/featured/much-love-grows-on-trees-3-heart-art-sharon-cummings.html

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This little beauty has SOLD and will get it's new home on Friday. Sold to a local collector. I've been painting lately and loving it!

ART
https://sharoncummingsart.pixels.com/

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Update: SOLD!!!!

Doing a little painting lately...Just creating whatever my soul desires. :)

You can see my art here: https://sharoncummingsart.pixels.com/

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