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Evaluating tools of the trade

Writer's picture: Rebecca (a yarn enthusiast)Rebecca (a yarn enthusiast)

A couple years back, I gave myself a birthday present: a set of Knitter's Pride interchangeable needles. I bought them at my favorite Local Yarn Store (LYS) and have enjoyed using them ever since! They are priced from $104 to more than $130 for the set and are a nice addition to any knitter's tool chest.


This was an interesting acquisition for me because I have a collection of straight knitting needles from a variety of sources. Some came from my grandmother (the one who taught me to crochet a chain when I was 10 years old). She was primarily a crocheter, but had taken up knitting at some point and we found a number of knitting-related items in her collection when we cleaned out her house.


I also have knitting needles that I have purchased from eBay sellers or picked up from estate, garage, and yard sales. All of these are straight knitting needles - not interchangeable, or circular, although I did inherit a few double pointed needles (dpn) from my grandmother's stash.


While I enjoy using my Knitter's Pride needles, sometimes I still prefer a straight pair of needles. This may date me, as I understand that it is now on trend to only use interchangeable, circular needles for everything; but I cannot "quit" straight knitting needles. I'm a faster knitter on those, for starters, and for smaller projects that do not require the circular width to hold the stitches, a less aggravating process (for me).


This preference, and my possession of a set of quite nice interchangeable knitting needles has not stopped me from ogling a NEW set of interchangeable, with an even higher price point: ChiaoGoo needles.


Here's the thing, though: at a price point that ranges from just under $100 to well over $200, my data-centric brain begins to ask myself the obvious question: what's the VALUE ADD of those pricey knitting needles, and what is the Y.O.C. (yarn opportunity cost)?

  • Y.O.C. refers to the amount of YARN that could be purchased for the price of the expensive knitting needles or the differential in price between the expensive ones and a lot from eBay, or a set purchased with a generous coupon from a big box retailer.

Being a data person professionally, I then look for evidence to support my desire for new needles OR my inclination to stand fast. This takes me back to an experiment I did years ago on mascara.


Early into my interest in blogging, I accepted an offer to write for a beauty blog,. My assignment was to test, and then write about, the various brands I was using, from the consumer perspective. What I learned in that period of time was that one can certainly spend a LOT of money on makeup.


The mascaras I tested ranged from less than $10 to almost $30 per tube, BUT no one ever one stopped me on the street or in the office to comment on my eyelashes when I had used the $30 mascara, and none of my girlfriends ever stopped me to say "Hey - you have a problem,..." when I wore the $8.50 mascara.


Why?

The differences were negligible at best, and not noticeable once the mascara was applied and the tube - fancy or not - was put back into the bathroom cupboard. This "discovery" led me to examine my own motivations for buying one over the other - and I have to admit, my preferences shifted back and forth at times. Sometimes I wanted to spoil myself and purchase the designer brand in the fancy container. Other times I simply wanted to make sure I had mascara around and was less concerned about the brand. But at the end of the day, the OUTCOME on my eyelashes was the same, and that is the same lesson I am suggesting for knitting needles and crochet hooks.

I have knitted baby blankets, headbands, hats, scarves, cowls, vests, sweaters and more with both kinds of needles.

No one - not one person - could tell by looking at the finished pieces, which needles I used to knit them. In fact, my most appreciated knitted gifts were made on rickety, straight knitting needles like the assortment pictured here.


I do not write this at the start of another New Year, to discourage anyone who owns (or intends to purchase) a set or 2 of the fancy knitting needles (or crochet hooks). I am writing to educate any crocheter or knitter out there who sees those sets and worries that they'll never REALLY be a good-enough crocheter/knitter unless they have fancy (expensive) tools.


That is a false belief, and I want to free you from it, right here and right now.

You can knit with old school, even ugly knitting needles and create BEAUTIFUL gifts, made with your loving intent for the recipient. They will never know - or even ask - which needles you used to make the item.


Knitting and crocheting (and I could add a paragraph about the rush on expensive crochet hooks, but I think I've made my point) should be activities that we enjoy for the journey. If we want, and can easily afford, an expensive set of knitting needles or crochet hooks, we should buy them. If we have the opportunity to put them on a wish list for a special gift, we should do that too. At the same time, we should remember that the pieces we make are not any nicer, more professional or "worthy" if we use a designer tool instead of a regular one.


The "worth" or value of our creations is determined by the love we put into making and gifting.

While I do enjoy seeing the evolution of tools used in knitting and crocheting, I worry that some folks may be put off that they cannot afford to start this hobby because a $50 crochet hook or a $200 set of knitting needles is out of reach. I want to put that potential belief to bed right here, right now: you can make as many beautiful things with hooks/needles purchased at a garage sale as you can with hooks/needles that are expensive.

Don't apologize for not having (or being able to afford) the expensive ones; don't de-value your creativity for working with "old school" tools; and if you ever begin to doubt this - re-read my mascara story.

Knitting and crocheting should be supportive and creative activities - not another area in our lives that can make us feel "less than" or unworthy.


As we kick off another New Year, let's put self-care and self-appreciation at the TOP of our lists of activities, and work on not allowing others' ideas or preferences dictate how we view ourselves, our skills or our contributions.


Happy New Year to all my fellow crocheters and knitters! Here's to a 2024 that is filled with beautiful yarn creations!

 

(C) 2024 Stitch 'n Dish







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