Recommended Resources
Nearly out of yarn? Need another set of needles for your next project? Running low on stitch markers or tapestry needles? Or are you looking for the perfect pattern book?
Try one of these terrific online shops to fit all your knitting needs. No need to go running around the Internet — the best are all right here!
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Everything You Need for Your Next Project
Amazon
Of course, everyone knows Amazon. Not everyone likes Amazon, and I admit I’m not thrilled with their business practices (or their owner). However, there’s no question that there are some things you can find on Amazon that you either can’t find elsewhere, or it’s an awful lot of inconvenience to look for it elsewhere.
(I will also admit that Amazon provides a lot of jobs to people who might otherwise struggle to find employment, so I’ll give them credit for that as well.)
Below you’ll find books helpful for those learning to knit and books with knitting patterns that are ideal for customization to create your own special projects.
Some of My Favorite Knitting Books found on Amazon
- Learn to Knit: Not only will you find fantastic learn-to-knit books in this collection, but you’ll find some knitting kits as well.
- Knitter’s Handy Book of Sweater Patterns: Anyone who wants to try knitting an adult sweater for the first time really needs to try this book. I can’t recommend it more highly for its simple and clear step-by-step directions. I also love that you can choose the type of pattern you want to knit and what size you want, and the book will handle the rest for you!
- The Knitter’s Handy Book of Top-Down Sweaters: This book is for anyone who dislikes seaming and wants to avoid it as much as possible. The sweater patterns in this book addresses this need!
- The Knitter’s Handy Book of Patterns: This book is to other types of patterns, like hats, scarves, and mittens, what the first two are to sweater-knitting. (And this book includes a few sweater patterns, as well.) What I especially love about this book is that it offers sizing from infant to adult. You simply can’t go wrong!
- Getting Started Knitting Socks: As a diehard sock lover, I couldn’t let this book go without getting some love. If you want to learn about the joy of sock knitting, you’ll definitely want to pick up this delightful collection!
Bookshop.org
Have you heard of Bookshop.org yet? Let me tell you, if you want to support your local (or the closest thing you might have to local) bookstore, Bookshop.org is the way to do it!
Bookshop.org is a network of independent local bookstores from all across the country. It is an excellent way to find books you need and support small businesses all at once.
Here are Bookshop.org links to all of the above-mentioned books available through independent bookstores:
Support Independent Bookstores When You Purchase These Books
- Learn to Knit: You’ll find seven fantastic books that will help you learn to knit (or teach someone else)!
- Knitter’s Handy Book of Sweater Patterns: Anyone who wants to try knitting an adult sweater for the first time really needs to try this book. I can’t recommend it more highly for its simple and clear step-by-step directions. I also love that you can choose the type of pattern you want to knit and what size you want, and the book will handle the rest for you!
- The Knitter’s Handy Book of Top-Down Sweaters: This book is for anyone who dislikes seaming and wants to avoid it as much as possible. The sweater patterns in this book addresses this need!
- The Knitter’s Handy Book of Patterns: This book is to other types of patterns, like hats, scarves, and mittens, what the first two are to sweater-knitting. (And this book includes a few sweater patterns, as well.) What I especially love about this book is that it offers sizing from infant to adult. You simply can’t go wrong!
- Getting Started Knitting Socks: As a diehard sock lover, I couldn’t let this book go without getting some love. If you want to learn about the joy of sock knitting, you’ll definitely want to pick up this delightful collection!
Want a book not shown here? You can easily look for a book (or a type of book) right from the search box below!
Knit Picks
I think I’ve been a Knit Picks customer almost as long as the company has been in existence! I love the way this company works directly with yarn mills and manufacturers to offer great prices on truly wonderful yarn.
If you’ve ever believed that “the good stuff” costs too much for you to knit with, I’ll bet you’ve never tried Knit Picks yarn!
My KnitPicks Favorites
- Swish Worsted: This is, without question, my favorite superwash merino wool. It’s soft, it comes in a dazzling array of colors, and it’s ridiculously inexpensive. What’s not to love?
- Stroll: My favorite merino wool-blend sock yarn, for similar reasons to Swish Worsted: soft, fabulous colors, incredibly inexpensive.
- Brava Bulky: Need to knit an easy-care item fast? You’ll reach for Brava again and again.
- City Tweed DK: This yarn is heavenly. Its blend of merino and alpaca fiber makes it incredibly soft and warm, and the tweed is so appealing you’ll love knitting with it.
- All Knit Picks Wooden Needles: I’m especially partial to their circular needles, but every kind of Knit Picks wooden needles is a delight. Warm to the touch, utterly beautiful, cables (in circular needles) with very little memory, and a slick surface that allows easy knitting no matter what yarn you’re using.
Leisure Arts
Leisure Arts offers a great selection and terrific prices on yarn. Leisure Arts also offers knitting needles, notions, and a terrific supply of knitting pattern books. You can find many other crafting supplies as well!
Some Leisure Arts Products You’ll Love
Lion Brand
Lion Brand has long made a name for itself as some of the country’s best and most affordable yarns. They add new lines to their selection all the time. You’ll find everything from inexpensive and easy-care acrylic to more luxurious (yet still well-priced) merino, alpaca, cashmere, and much more.
Some of My Favorites from Lion Brand
- Vanna’s Choice: One of my all-time favorite worsted weight acrylics; it’s soft and luxurious-feeling, and it comes in a wide array of colors.
- Wool-Ease Thick & Quick: Wool-Ease worsted weight is wonderful as well, but I love the bulky yarn that combines the easy-care of acrylic with the warmth of wool. It’s fantastic for blankets.
- Scarfie: Just one skein of this acrylic-wool blend bulky yarn will be enough to knit a full-length scarf! You’ll love the variety of self-striping ombre colors, too.
- The LB Collection: For luxury yarn on the cheap, you can’t go wrong with the LB Collection. You’ll find exotic yarns like camel/merino wool and merino wool/yak/alpaca blends and fabulous plant blends like cotton/bamboo/linen and cotton/bamboo.
Take a look and see all the goodness Lion Brand has to offer in yarn!
LoveCrafts
Simply put, I am in love with LoveCrafts’ massive selection of yarn, as well as their delightful selection of knitting needles (including KnitPro–formerly Knitters Pride–which are near the top of my favorites) and abundance of free knitting patterns.
If I attempted to share all the yarns and needles I love from LoveCrafts, it might fill an entire page on its own! So instead, below you’ll find an easy way to browse their worsted weight yarn, wool yarn, sock yarn, bulky yarn, and knitting needles.
Fabulous Goodies from LoveCrafts
Start here and browse the many delights LoveCrafts offers!
Note: check the upper right corner of the page to ensure you’re browsing in your preferred country!
Sirdar
This UK-based online yarn shop has some of the loveliest yarns I’ve ever seen, and I absolutely adore their hand-painted bamboo knitting needles and crochet hooks.
Sirdar Finds
Etsy
If you love to shop small businesses, Etsy is the place for you!
At Etsy, you can find handspun yarn of all varieties, as well as all sorts of hand-dyed yarn. You can also find a rich assortment of knitting needles in so many fantastic brands. My very favorite needle brands are KnitPro and ChiaoGoo, and yes, you can find them both at Etsy shops!
One of the best things about Etsy is that it’s truly international. If you want to seek shops located in your own country (so you can avoid massive shipping charges):
- Click the “All Filters” or “Filter” button at the top left of your screen.
- Scroll down and select “Shop location.”
- Enter your own country and/or state to get the shops nearest you.
Etsy Recommendations
- ChaioGoo Needles: ChiaoGoo produces my absolute favorite aluminum circular needles. The cables have less memory than almost any other brand I’ve ever used. I also love the slightly brushed quality of the aluminum, which gives it a little more “stick” than most metal needles.
- KnitPro Needles: And KnitPro produces my very favorite wooden needles. My favorites are the Dreamz and Ginger series, but really, you can’t go wrong with this brand.
- Hand-Dyed Yarn: Oh, trust me, my friends. You will want to take a look at the most glorious selection of hand-dyed yarn available in one place on the Internet. You’ll fall in love!
Yarnspirations
I have been a huge fan of Yarnspirations’ many yarn lines for well over a decade! I find that the Yarnspirations brands are some of the most economical yet practical yarns available anywhere. Many of their brands are perennial charity knitter favorites!
Yarnspiration Delights
These delightful yarn lines really need no introduction–but come on in if you need to stock up!
In need of supplies? Help yourself to any or all of the stores listed here!
