Useful tools while crocheting

Useful tools while crocheting: My crochet tools!

What do you need to turn a crochetpattern into a crocheted creation?

To crochet you usually don't need much. A skein of yarn and a crochet hook and you can get started. Some of us crochet the most beautiful things out of our heads and others like to crochet according to a pattern.

As a designer of amigurumi crochet patterns, I crochet without a pattern, but I do write down everything I do while crocheting, so that someone else can also make these super fun creations!

But there are still a number of useful tools, utensils that you want to keep on hand when you are going to make a crocheted creation.

Scissors, needle and fibrefill are essential!

In all my patterns you will find a list of the materials used and there you will always find these 3!

For example, you can't do without scissors to cut off your thread, a needle to hide your loose threads or embroider a nose, for example. To do this, use an embroidery needle, a needle with a blunt tip.

I also use a long needle to secure the arms and legs through the body. This is always a pointed long needle, which I often pull through the work with the help of pliers. I will tell you more about pliers in a moment.

If you are going to crochet cuddly toys and amigurumi, you also need filling. I regularly buy a large bag of fiberfill filling. I like to work with some stiffer filling instead of the softer filling, but that's more of a personal choice. I also sometimes use the filling of pillows. I'm always amazed at how much stuff goes into a crocheted amigurumi creation.

Use Stitch markers!

I can't do without stitch markers! I always use them, if I don't I lose count. I also use them to determine place when I'm designing. So they are very easy to put the arms on the body, to see if it will look the way I want it to.

When I crochet with fluffy yarn, I use a lot of stitch markers!

If you want to read more about which ways you can use a stitch marker, read my blog: 8 ways to use stitch markers.

What else do I use when designing and crocheting amigurumi?

What else do I have in my toolbox, besides scissors, needle, and stitch markers? I say toolbox, but I have a large Kipling case, where everything fits. Unfortunately, the bag with filling does not fit in, otherwise I would have crammed it in!

The standard handy utensils during crocheting

• Pencil, eraser and pencil sharpener. While designing a new amigurumi pattern, I make my notes in a notebook with pencil. This makes it easier for me to make adjustments to my notebook and I can make drawings right away. I prefer to make drawings with pencil!

• Pins to pin all parts in the right place before I sew everything. I use small pins, but also some larger and longer pins.

• Textile glue, to glue small things to my crochet, such as the dots on the cap of the mushroom gnome. If you do not want to use textile glue, you can also sew everything very well with thin sewing thread.

• Measuring tape, always useful to measure the size of my creations. That's something I do last, when I'm finishing the pattern.

• Thick cardboard or thick plastic: from thick cardboard or thick plastic (for example the lid of a cottage cheese tray) I often make the surface for a gnome or the soles for the shoes of my creations.

Create a frame for your crocheted creations

• And what I can't live without: Electric wire

I use black installation wire of 1.5mm2, it has a diameter of 2.8mm. I have a roll of 100 meters, but there are also rolls of 5 meters for sale.

I use this thread in most of my creations as reinforcement and so that you can put the creations in all kinds of positions. I know it can be quite tricky, crocheting around an electrical wire, but it gives a creation that little bit extra.

So dive into your shed, maybe there is still a piece of wire or a few handy pliers that you can use!

If another handy tool is missing, please let me know. I like to try new things!