Truth be told many knitters have a fair amount “stuff”. One of the things about knitting needles, patterns and yarn is that they are necessary to knit, but the rest of the items that are sold in yarn shops and online are fairly dependent on the knitter. Many knitters actually have two bags, one for knitting at home and one that they grab on their way out the door.

Items I feel are necessary in the “heading out the door bag” are not too many actually, yarn, pattern, stitch holder (for emergency dropped stitches) and a pen or pencil.

Other items that are more or less necessary, but you don’t have to have them with you at all times are:

Needles

As mentioned in previous article Knitting Needles there are many different kinds of needles so having a variety on hand may save a trip to the store.

Yarn

Some smooth cotton yarn that doubles as a life-line, stitch holder, provisional cast-on or to store your project off the needles if you are going to be leaving it for a long time. It frees up your needles and if you use straight needles taking your project off the needles keeps the yarn from stretching.
Yarn stash (most of you know what that is and why you have it) it is the yarn sitting in your house just waiting to be knit up.

Measuring tools

Measuring tape
Straight edge with inches and centimeters for checking your gauge
Needle sizer (metal preferably and one that does U.S., English and metric)
Stitch and row counter

Project Management

Scissors
Stitch holders, Stitch markers, tips for your needle, safety pins, post-it notes (for marking your row on a chart),
Cable needles
Crochet hooks

Finishing

Blocking board
Blocking pins
Blocking wires
Yarn needles

Miscellaneous

Blank Paper or a small notebook to keep track of where you leave off and adjustments you may want to make.
Copy of pattern-a matter of choice, but often knitters make a copy of the pattern they are using so that the vagaries of life do not wreck the original. Make notes directly on the copy, but if it is a problem with the pattern note it directly on the original, no sense making the same mistake twice.
Sheet protectors for the pattern copy or original
Ball winder and swift - Yarn stores have these, but you don’t always remember or want to wind your yarn as soon as you buy it.

The list could go on and on. Go to the Bella Knitting Forum to share what you keep in your knitting bag.