5 Tools I Use as a Crochet Blogger and Designer

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When people find out I crochet, they always want to know what I make. When they find out I design patterns, they want to know where I get my ideas. Along with the ideas comes the question of what do I use to design patterns. Now, I admit I don’t get this question a lot, but it happens often enough that I thought I would tell you about it.

5 Tools I Use as a Crochet Blogger and Designer

The tools I use are:

• Notebook
• Pen 
• Crochet hook
• Yarn
• Tablet/computer.

These all seem to be pretty obvious, but let me explain some things that might not be quite so apparent.

Notebook

The notebook has a few purposes. It is an idea repository where I list out all the things I want to write about and make. I do sketches of projects, including width, length, and other important measurements. I make a rough draft of the pattern in the notebook, too. And I also use a notebook for writing practice. 

Some people do this in the way of morning pages, a la Julia Cameron in The Artist’s Way. Some don’t. As long as I do the writing practice, it doesn’t matter what time of day it is. I aim for the three pages of longhand writing as she recommends, but some days that just doesn’t happen. (Let’s be honest. Most days that doesn’t happen. I haven’t been very consistent with my writing practice lately.)

I use a different notebook for writing practice. There’s enough going on in the pattern notebook without adding to it. Not to mention, that would make it difficult to find my patterns and ideas in among all the pages filled with handwriting.

Pen

This sounds like a no-brainer since I can’t do any of the notebook work without some kind of writing implement. But the pen does matter. I prefer a pen with a thin tip that writes smoothly.  My favorite pens are Pentel EnerGe;click pens in 0.7. I get mine from Staples. 

Black ink is better than blue or any other color because it doesn’t fade as much. Though with patterns, sometimes there is a section I want to highlight, so I might use a different color then. Otherwise, I’ll use a highlighter.

Crochet Hook

I know of no crochet blogger and designer who doesn’t use a crochet hook. While it is possible to do finger crochet, it just doesn’t work very well for items where you have to get a particular gauge.

I’ve done posts before about my favorite crochet hooks. They’re here and here.

Right now, my current project is a cowl. For it, I’m using a Furls Streamline hook in a size I/5.5mm. 

Yarn

This also seems blatantly obvious. However, there are alternatives to yarn that crochet blogger and designer might use. These include plarn (“yarn” made by cutting plastic bags into strips), t-shirts cut into strips, and others. Also in the yarn category, there is thread, embroidery floss, and a wide variety of yarns made of various fibers and of a variety of thicknesses and colors. I prefer colorful projects to neutrals, though. My current project is using a self-striping yarn in several shades of pink.

Tablet/computer

Patterns and posts could be written with just a phone, but the screen is too small for me to do much on it. I do have a laptop computer, but I find myself using my iPad more often than not. This is for several reasons.

1. My word processing program is on it.
2. My row counting app is on it.
3. I have a chart making app I use from time to time.
4. My blog platform is easily accessible.
5. It’s more portable than even a laptop computer.

These are just a few reasons why I use my tablet instead of a computer. Another crochet blogger and designer may have just as many, or more, for why they use their computer instead. We all work differently.

That’s it.

There are other tools I use, including scissors, tape measures, tapestry needles, and stitch markers. Those are more accessories to the ones I mentioned here. But if you want, I can do a post on those as well.

It’s your turn. Leave a comment and tell me your primary tool in your crochet journey.