There are of course essential items that you have to have in order to do any hobby and I outlined those in my earlier post which you can take a look at as well. But in addition to those items, there are loads of fun and useful tools that you can have to make cross stitching easier or a bit more fun. Here are 7 of the ones that I think would be most fun or useful.
1. Needle threader
These little guys can come in really handy! Especially for those folks whose eye sight or steady hands are not what they used to be. While I haven’t hit that point yet and I am able to thread my needles without one of them, I love to use these anyway. They can help especially if you are in slightly lower light or stitching on the go in a car or plane where there is a slight unsteadiness.
Needle threaders can come as cheap as a dollar or two for the basic ones making them a really affordable addition to your cross stitching tool kit!
2. Thread conditioner
This one is a bit controversial and there are a number of opinions out there on whether or not you should use it. So is it useful or does it harm your threads over time? These are the biggest questions I hear when the topic comes up. The truth is, I don’t think there is a right or wrong answer here.
In my experience thread conditioner is not needed with regular DMC floss but it is super useful with metallic threads. Does it cause thread deterioration over time? There isn’t a lot of evidence to support or reject this idea although folks seem to think the beeswax conditioner is less likely to cause issues later on then the synthetic type.
My recommendation is to give it a try if you are using metallic threads but avoid it entirely if you are working on an heirloom piece that you hope will stick around for the next few hundred years.
3. Thread organizer
Organizers often come with kits that you buy and there are loads of them available on various sites that are fun and beautiful. They help you to keep your threads separated by colour and organized for various projects. Like needle minders, these can become addicting to collect and having multiple can be useful if you like to have several projects on the go at one time. So if you’ve never tried one, consider making one yourself.
To make one all you need is some thick paper or thin cardboard with holes a bit larger than a hole punch makes, to slide your threads through. Add some labels with colourful pencils or markers and you are set to give an organizer a try. If you love it, then check out some of the beautiful ones available for sale in Etsy!
4. Project bags
These are so amazing in my opinion and once you start using them you will never go back. Each one stores one project, so for those of us that have multiple WIP going on, these are ideal. They hold everything needed in one convenient bag so you can snatch it up and take it with you or keep them stored under your couch or in a magazine rack beside your bed. They keep your projects organized and most importantly clean!
Now project bags do not need to cost a ton. Sure there are loads of beautiful options out there with lovely patterns and fancy zippers and pockets, but they can be as simple as a plastic ziplock bag or a handmade cloth bag. These are super fast and easy to sew with scrap fabric you can use from a fabric stash or pick up from a used thrift shop. You could even use old items of clothing you don’t want anymore.
Just fold a strip of fabric together to create a bag the size you want and sew up the edges. Flip it inside out so the seam is on the inside and you have a simple bag. Fancy it up with a couple of buttons, a zipper if you are adventurous, a handle and even a little pocket. Cheap, fast, cute, and a great way to store and travel with your projects!
5. Needle minder
Now needle minders have an entire following all on their own. Yup these little guys are super popular and there are 1000 of them available for sale all across the web. From beautiful classical cameo’s to fun pop culture themed ones, there is something for everyone!
These are basically a little figure that has a strong magnet pin on the back to hold it to your fabric. It sits there right on your project as you stitch and holds extra needles from your parked threads, or your needle when you walk away for a few minutes for a fresh cup of tea. One thing is for sure, with one of these around, you will never lose your needle again!
6. Magnifying glass
This is one item on the list I haven’t get got, but plan on getting in the near future (it’s on my Christmas list). They can get pricey but can be worth it if you are struggling to see. For me it’s when I work on evenweave, which I love! They come in a lot of different formats and research would be needed to make sure the one you get works for your needs so be sure to read reviews carefully and even better, give one a try before you buy if that’s a possibility.
7. Planner/Project Organizer
A project planner can be super fun and useful. It can also be a great way of tracking what you’ve accomplished and building memories over the year. There are numerous options out there, both free printable ones, purchased digital ones or physical options that you can by from lots of popular designers and cross stitch content creators.
But project planning and organizing can be as simple as grabbing a blank piece of paper or an excel sheet and adding a few columns depending on what you want to track. Do you work on numerous projects at one time, or maybe you collect projects and patterns and then never end up stitching them (we’ve all been a bit guilty of this I suspect). You could list out the projects you want to work on over the coming month or year. Make note of the pattern name, designer and maybe even add a start and finish date to motivate yourself to work on it.
Or maybe you work on one larger project at a time that that’s what you want to track. You could list out the supplies you need in advance to help acquire the right items, you could keep track of your stitch count (especially for those that like to track their stitches and participate in monthly challenges). You could even include notes on your project in a journaling section. Maybe you are stitching something for a new baby and you want to document your thoughts as you go, or maybe you are learning a new type of stitching or are new to cross stitch and you want to document your mistakes and notes on things to do or avoid for future projects.
Keeping a project planner or a project journal is a fabulous way to document your stitching journey so whether you pay for a physical planner or create your own, pick up your pen and enjoy your stitching progress!
Final Thoughts
You do not need to have any fancy tools to enjoy the amazing art of cross stitch, but it’s always fun to have some items in your toolkit that make your hobby easier or more enjoyable. Or maybe you just need an item or two to add to your Christmas list, either way, this list of 7 cross stitching tools that are fun and useful to have should help you to decide if you are looking to add an item to your wish list!
If you are new to cross stitch and want to see what items you have to have in order to start any project, then check out my blog post on 5 Essential items you need to cross stitch and then pop over to How to start cross stitching for the first time for instructions on how to get started!
