A fine finish to summer

Once you’ve finished knitting, weaving, crocheting or felting your project, you’ll probably have some loose ends to take care of.  For knitted pieces, I like to use Chibi Jumbo Darning/Tapestry Curved Needles to weave in my ends.  The little plastic case they come in has yet to get lost in my notions bag, and the bent tips make it a little easier to weave through those stitches.
A good multipurpose needle set to get would be Chibi 3-needle Tapestry Needle Assortment. These have straight tips and come in a set of three different sizes- including one small enough to sew a woven dishtowel hem.  And if threading needles gives you a headache, you’ll be pleased to hear about the Darning Needles with Latch Hook Eye set we carry.

As a lefty, it’s surprisingly hard to me to find the right pair of scissors. But I’ve never had trouble with the Merchant and Mills Wide Bow Scissors. These are well made and beautiful in their simplicity. Perfect for your project bag: 3.75" Folding Scissors folds up into a tiny and safe little package so you won’t poke yourself fishing around for them. I also really like the Multi-colored Stork Scissors, because I used to have a plain silver pair of these and the colorful ones are so fun!

I’ve done this by hand before and trust me, it’s worth it to just get the tool. Our most popular model is the Leclerc Double Fringe Twister. Small and inexpensive, this tool is certainly worth trying. If you’re looking for a more robust version, we also carry the Leclerc Quad Fringe Twister. Double up to get the work done twice as fast!

It took me years to accept it, but wet finishing (when called for) is hugely important. Whether I spun it, knit it or wove it, my projects usually end up taking a bath afterward. This step isn’t always necessary (you wouldn’t typically have to block mittens, for example) but when a pattern calls for it, there’s a reason. When I’m preparing a soak for my stuff I typically use Eucalyptus Eucalan Wool Wash 16.9 oz bottle. Eucalan comes in a few different scents – I also really like the Grapefruit Eucalan 16.9 oz. Add a little bit to your water, swirl it around a little with your hand, and you’re ready to give your project a dunk!

Pins, mats, wires – there’s a blocking tool for just about any kind of project! I’ve been using the Knitter's Block Kit by Coco Knits most recently, and I love it. The puzzle piece mat is super easy to put together, and this design allows you to change the shape and dimensions of the blocking surface. The mat also has a soft, non-slip surface so things can stay where they’re supposed to. This kit includes T-pins, a bunch of foam mat pieces, a 48″ square cloth with 1″ gingham checks on it to help with measuring, and even instructions on different blocking methods. Store it in its sturdy jute bag to keep everything in one place!

• Fuzzy brushed mohair seems to be making a comeback – get prepared to fluff it up with the [Sorry, item discontinued or temporarily out of stock] .

• Need to feed an elastic band or drawstring through a casing? The handy [Sorry, item discontinued or temporarily out of stock] is shaped like tweezers, but is a bit wider with little gripper teeth on the ends.

• Sometimes lining up pieces for seaming can be tedious. These Marking Pins for Knitting (10/pack) are multicolored and sized perfectly for pinning sleeves and pockets in place.

• The [Sorry, item discontinued or temporarily out of stock] is two tools in one – affix the darning egg to the stand to mend your socks, or use the clever platform that frees up both of your hands for sewing seams.