Knitting and Crocheting: Yarn and Tools

Knit one, purl two … or maybe you like to crochet! With a bit of yarn and a little know-how, you can make blankets, scarves, sweaters—and other cozy creations—no matter your level of vision. Whether you already know how to knit and crochet—or you’d like to start a new hobby—let’s take a look at how to choose the tools and materials that work best for you.

And let’s begin with yarn. You might already know that yarn comes in different weights for different projects. Lighter-weight yarns are thinner, and heavier yarns are thicker.

One great tip for knitting or crocheting with vision loss is to choose thicker yarn—which makes bigger stitches. That makes it easier to tell the stitches apart—and to find the right place to insert your knitting needle or crochet hook—both by sight and by touch.

You can find a yarn’s weight on the label: It’s usually identified by a number. Worsted weight yarns are considered medium-weight, and they often have a 4 on the label.

Ed Haines: Now that you've had a chance to learn a bit with us, we'd like to learn more about you. Your name, email address, how you heard about Hadley, and your relationship to vision loss. Learning more will give us a better understanding of how to personalize Hadley just for you. And don't worry, everything you share with us online will be kept safe and secure. Of course, if you prefer to talk through these questions, we're just a phone call away at 800-323-4238. Taking these few steps saves your preferences so you can continue right where you left off and track your progress every time you log on. Plus, it connects you to the Hadley community, and helps sustain our funding to keep Hadley free of charge. And last but not least, it gives you direct access to experts, like me. Now, where were we?