Buying guide for Best knitting kits
If you’re thinking about taking up knitting, you might be wondering how to get started. Step one involves rounding up supplies for your first project. While you can buy needles, yarn, and other items individually, your most cost-effective option is to invest in a knitting kit.
Knitting is a relatively affordable pastime, especially if you’re a casual knitter who works on small-scale projects. As your skills grow, you’ll need to invest in needles of different sizes, as well as knitting tools that help polish the fine details in your project. Knitting kits typically include a collection of needles, as well as scissors, stitch accessories, and even crochet hooks. Some starter kits also come with yarn to get you started right away.
Looking for an effortless way to collect all your knitting essentials? Our buying guide gives you an overview of knitting kits and some recommendations so you can choose one to start knitting in no time.
Key considerations
Benefits of using a knitting kit
Value: The top reason people buy knitting kits is value. It’s far more cost-effective to buy supplies and tools in one fell swoop than it is to spend big bucks on individually priced items.
Time: Knitting kits save time because you don’t have to spend hours in a craft store wondering which supplies you need to buy. These kits have carefully curated collections tailored to your project needs.
Organization: Knitting kits usually come with a case to keep you organized. Not only does it keep your knitting essentials sorted at home, it also makes them portable and easily packable.
Knitting kit components
Needles: Most kits come with straight knitting needles made from metal, plastic, wood, bamboo, or carbon fiber. Some kits also contain circular knitting needles, which are needle tips connected by a thin cord.
Cable knitting needles: Cable knitting needles are contoured tools that help hold stitches when you create cable patterns. They come in various shapes, such as straight ones with a “bump” in the center, hooks, and parabolas.
Scissors: Scissors are often included in kits as well. They come in a variety of sizes, including the mini ones seen in travel sewing kits, space-savvy midsize pairs, and full-size scissors. More often than not, their grips are designed for right-handers.
While scissors are included in many kits, it’s a tool many knitters and crafters recommend buying separately. Good-quality scissors are sharp enough to slice through yarn with a single cut and less likely to cause the fibers to fray. Never use your knitting or fabric-crafting scissors to cut other items because it can dull the blades.
Tapestry needles: These resemble sewing needles, only they’re much larger so the eyes can be threaded with yarn. They aid in hand-sewing details, weaving in loose ends, and finishing off projects. Tapestry needles are usually made of metal or plastic.
Knitting clips: These tiny plastic clips keep corresponding pieces in place, which is a big help in advanced projects like knitting garments with sleeves.
Stitch markers: These are rings or devices that resemble safety pins, with a self-securing mechanism. They’re used to indicate pattern changes, right side/wrong side, and flat knitting.
Case: Knitting kits typically come with a case, either a soft zippered case or a plastic case that resembles a tackle box. Zippered cases are equipped with elastic bands or slots to secure needles, as well as other pockets. Plastic cases feature compartments of various sizes and have a snap closure.
What’s not in a knitting kit
Most knitting kits come with only tools and accessories, so you’ll need to buy new yarn for every project. Yarn is sold by the ball, skein, or hank. The labeling on it tells you the yardage and weight and often indicates the recommended needle size.
Did you know?
Experienced knitters often invest in small knitting kits so they can take their hobby on the road instead of toting a full collection of regular accessories.
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Types of knitting kits
Starter and practice kits: These kits are geared toward beginners, so they’re as user-friendly as possible. They usually contain the basics to get you started, with only a couple sets of needles, a pair of scissors, and a few tapestry needles. Starter sets also have a few small balls of yarn to practice stitches as well.
Project kits: These kits come with all the tools and materials you need to complete a single project, such as a scarf or a pair of socks. This consists of a single pair of knitting needles, speciality yarn, pattern, and instruction guide. The needles are often high quality, so you can save them to use for other projects.
Needle-only kits: These kits are often purchased by seasoned knitters who already have other knitting tools and supplies. Most needles in these sets are finely crafted and made from metal, bamboo, or carbon fiber. Sets typically consist of different sizes of straight or circular needles, however there are some kits that come with cable needles as well.
Essentials kits: These kits build on the basics and come with needles in several sizes, cable needles, scissors, tapestry needles, and stitch markers. These kits are intended for experienced knitters who have mastered intermediate techniques and are proficient enough to work on more challenging patterns.
Deluxe kits: These offer a larger assortment of what you’ll find in essentials kits. As far as needles go, you can expect up to ten needle sizes, and sometimes more. These kits also include a variety of shapes and sizes of cable needles, whereas other kits usually contain no more than three. Many deluxe kits also include crochet hooks and accessories as well.
Knitting kit prices
Knitting kits come in quite a broad price range, between $10 and $150. Quality drives the price, especially when it comes to the needles and the case.
Inexpensive: In the $10 to $30 range, you’ll find a decent assortment of starter kits, as well as kits with a limited selection of needles. There are also many kits with plastic accessories, but the quality isn’t the highest.
Mid-range: If you’d like to invest in a quality needle set or deluxe knitting kit, you’ll spend between $30 and $80. Most project kits are also in this range.
Expensive: Knitting kits priced from $100 to $150 include top-quality needle sets and deluxe sets featuring metal tools. While the novice knitter can use them, they’re usually purchased by experienced knitters.
Tips
Keep your knitting tools clean. Metal knitting tools can be wiped down with a metal polishing cloth or alcohol. Bamboo can be cleaned with vinegar and water, and plastic tools can be wiped down with most cleaning products.
Check out the brand’s social media channels. Some companies that make knitting kits upload free patterns and video tutorials. Many projects are designed around the accessories and tools included in their kits.
Close the case securely. Knitting kits contain a variety of tiny pieces, so make sure you close your case every time to prevent items from escaping. They could end up lost or pose a choking hazard to kids and pets.
Check needle size when buying a kit. Needles are available in a variety of sizes, usually expressed in millimeters. There are US, UK, and Japanese sizing guides, so make sure you know which one the kit utilizes.
FAQ
Q. I already have some knitting tools, so is it still worth investing in a full kit?
A. From a value perspective, yes. If you compare the price of the kit to the price of even one tool or accessory, it’s often less expensive. On the other hand, if you’re an advanced knitter, you might be ready to buy either a top-quality kit or individual tools of superior quality.
Q. Can kids use knitting kits?
A. Absolutely, and they’re a great way to help kids learn the basics with all the tools and accessories at their disposal. Younger kids, however, may feel overwhelmed by the assortment, so it’s better to choose a kid-friendly kit for them.
Q. I bought a project knitting kit, but I made a mistake and now I’m out of yarn. How do I replace it?
A. If you know the type and weight of the yarn, you can probably replace it easily. On the other hand, knitting project kits often use speciality yarn, which you may not find in stores or online. In this case, if you’d like to continue with the yarn, it’s best to reach out to the company that assembled the kit to inquire about replacing it.
