The Voices in my Head

The voices in my head:  What have you accomplished, loser?

Me:  Um, I finished The Sweater That Would Not Die.  And I made another totally new sweater.  And a shawl/wrap thingy.  And a cowl. And I'm making dog sweaters to donate, and I've started next year's Hat Not Hate project. Oh, and I also updated a hat pattern.

TVimH:  Feh!  You think that's enough?

Me:  Well, yeah!  Who the heck are you to question my accomplishments?

TVimH:  What about the charity pattern collection?  What about the numeric goal you had for published patterns? What about the new merch on TeeSpring you wanted to add?  What about....?  What about...?

Me:  SHUT UP!  You listen to me, voices from my past!  I am doing what I can, as best I can, with the resources and limitations I have.  Every time you throw one of those questions at me, I ask myself who said those words first, because it sure as heck wasn't me! It has taken me years to learn that, to own that, and to try to remember it consistently.  You might occasionally win the day, but as God is my witness, you will not win this war!

Recent stuff.  Forgive me for not doing more formatting.

Roll up! Roll up!

 What in the world am I going to do with all of this hand-dyed yarn?

If you say knit with it, I shall take actions that are beyond me to name, but that will leave you in severe pain and dismemberment.

OK, yarn, I'm waiting.  Tell me what to do with you!

Ginger Bear:  You've had me the longest!  Don't you think you should make something beautiful with me first?

Me:  Shut up, you!  That's why I can't decide! Besides, I keep you as a memory of the time when Daniel actually remembered I was alive.

Cascade Yarns:  If you use us first, we won't tell anyone that we were a gift from someone who received a giveaway prize but couldn't use us because we're 100% wool.

Me:  Shut up, Cascade!  I'm not afeared of you!

Traveler, MaryJaneKnits, Marigoljen: You only have us because of that lovely man at the retreat who was de-stashing and donating sales proceeds toward the retreat scholarship fund.

Me:  That is true. But you are one hank each. You haven't yet suggested a design. Hit me.

Simple Pleasures Yarns:  We were the most expensive in your collection, and you have 500 yards of us! And we're a solid color! It's about time you did something!

Me:  I can't deny it.  What do you want to be?

Simple Pleasures Yarns:  I dunno......

Blue Ply Alpaca:  You have 1090 yards of us, and you won us in a giveaway. We are a solid color, too, and we were completely free!

Me:  You're still not giving me ideas. At least not ideas that involve a crochet hook. A fire pit, maybe.....

Undiscernible concerted voices:  Shawls!  Make more shawls!  

**heavy sigh**  I was afraid of that.  

Well, actually, I do like making shawls.  Stay tuned.  

A new project

Good morning boys and girls, cats and dogs--we are an inclusive blog here!

I am announcing a new project. I had previously announced a project to create a pattern e-book to benefit The Hunger Project. I will complete this project, but not as soon as I had hoped.

My new project has to do with pet rescue, which should surprise no one. I want everyone who can to make dog sweaters and blankets and either send or hand deliver them to pet rescue organizations near you. If you have any kind of craft accessory projects you can do for cats, do that as well. Do not send anything to me, but rather to your favorite pet rescue organization. 

I'm not doing any kind of count, no contest, no giveaway. I simply want to encourage people to show some love to the rescue pets. I would be happy to hear about your projects, and whenever I can I will mention them on my Wednesday Free-for-All on YouTube, but I don't need to know. I just need for you to show some love if you can.

I have made several sweaters like this.
Click for pattern.

I have made several copies of this sweater, too.  
Click for the pattern.

Gosh, I'm good!

Scene:  A conversation between me and my Easton Cardigan, hanging on a mannequin

Me:  What would you like to tell the world?

Cardigan:  Um, I dunno. You're the writer. You designed me and created me. The ball's in your court!

Me:  OK. Well, then, here is a little back story. I wanted a cardigan of my own making to wear at a fiber retreat later this month. I had another one in the works, but it has problems. I saw another designer do a simple pullover using granny squares, and I thought it would look great as a cardigan, using two contrasting colors and two kinds of granny square, neither of which is the traditional granny square. (I sort of hate the traditional granny square.) 

Cardigan: That didn't take much prodding. Keep going.

Me:  Well, I had some nice budget yarn in two complementary colors, in sufficient quantity for a cardigan. (Two cardigans, actually. Maybe I'll make another design....)  Once I decided it was time to move forward, I got quite excited about it. I put aside two other designs I was working on--that were giving me difficulty anyway--to make it. I created the front and back panels very quickly, pieced them together, and hung them on the mannequin to ask the help of dear Mr. Gravity in how the pieces hang. (No, I didn't offer burnt offerings up to the god of Gravity, although it doesn't sound like a bad idea.) 

Cardigan: Sounds like all was going well!

Me:  Well, I also completed the sleeves quickly--stripes in the same colors as the squares--but they didn't match up! Ahime! After careful examination, I recognized that counting errors had caused my troubles, and I had committed those errors on both sleeves. I wound up reworking both, but that still didn't take all that long.

Cardigan: Where do you stand now?

Me:  Almost done reworking the second sleeve.  Piecing it together and then finishing with edging, collar, waistband, and buttons will be a piece of cake.  

Cardigan:  Yeah, yeah.....call me when it's done.

THE NEXT DAY

Cardigan: You've been manhandling me all day. What's the story?

Me:  I've finally got you pieced together and all the finishing done. You look quite nice, if I do say so myself!

Cardigan: No thanks to you! Gray tweed and rust tweed together? What were you thinking?

Me: Um, I was thinking those are two color ways that complement each other quite nicely.

Cardigan: Color way? What the heck is a color way?!

Me: Shhh! You don't want to anger the Yarn Police! It's what yarn people call a color. I don't know why. I would say the colors are this and that striped, but they would come up with a fanciful name and call it a color way. So you have two solid-color yarns with a tweed effect, so they are called gray tweed and rust tweed.

Cardigan: Feh!

Me: Don't give me any attitude, you! You know what frogging is, don't you?

Cardigan: Yeah, I know! It's what you did to my sleeves before you made them over.

Me: And now they're much happier and healthier sleeves. 

Cardigan: What an able-ist attitude! You hated my sleeves because they were different!

Me: Your sleeves were not people with disabilities. Your sleeves were components that did not match each other because I myself had made counting errors when creating them. So I recreated them anew. Call me cruel if you will, but would you rather languish at the bottom of a storage bin and be passed around from one thrift shop to another, or be worn with pride among other yarn crafters?

Cardigan: Oh, shut up and show the pictures! I'm done with you!

Me: Just one more thing--sewing in loose ends. This will be a pinch and sting......

LATE THE NEXT DAY

Cardigan:  What now?

Me: I just have to adjust the neck.  Hold still.

Cardigan: I will not hold still! I thought you were done!

Me: And I thought life would be beautiful. Shut up and let me do this!

Cardigan: This had better be worth it!

The finished product!  Finally!

It was worth it.

Story Time: Christmas Blanket

 

The sides are a little ripply.
I didn't follow the pattern instructions
to alternate smaller corner 
increases

Detail of the center.
Final blanket is about 54" square

A friend made a brilliant suggestion of telling the stories behind various finished objects. My first thought: "Blog content!" So here we have the story behind this blanket.

I had quite a lot of green yarn that I had bought for another blanket project. Long-time viewers of my YouTube channel will recall a blanket project I called The Big Green Monster. I recall working on it during some live streams, even. About 2.5 skeins in, I got bored, so I put it aside. At some point I decided I wouldn't pick it up again to finish, so I had several more skeins of yarn and a partial blanket to find a use for.

I had ordered the Christmas yarn from Herrschner's using a substantial discount. They had emailed me this discount code when their database told them it had been over a year since my last order. In addition to a few other things, I ordered two skeins of this Christmas yarn. I had started several different projects using this yarn, but decided against them all. None of them looked right because the variegated yarn was just too busy for the design. 

I then remembered having created a Spiral  Granny Square blanket, based on a design by Krista of The Secret Yarnery. I thought it might be a good way to use a substantial amount of both yarns. It worked! I showed progress on Instagram and on YouTube and received a lot of encouragement.

I had my Hat Not Hate YouTube live stream on July 25. I offered the blanket as a reward to anyone who would sponsor a substantial amount of the postage required to send the hats to Hat Not Hate, as well as  for other giveaway prizes. A generous viewer stepped forward to offer that sponsorship. Now that the blanket is finished, it will soon be off to the sponsor. She has already told me she plans to display the blanket on the back of her sofa during the Christmas season. She is happy. I am happy it will go to a good home. UPS is very happy at the money I've already spent on postage, and they will be happier still in coming weeks as I send this blanket and the hats off!  (Alas, the sponsorship amount has already been spent on giveaway postage, so the rest comes out of the Bearded Yarn Pockets, which aren't all that deep!)

Perhaps not a terribly riveting story, but I hope you enjoy the pictures.

The leftovers. There are still quite
a few untouched skeins of green

 

New pattern: The Gia Hat

Please note: I make all my hat patterns free of charge to inspire crocheters to make hats for charity, particularly for Hat Not Hate. Please feel free to redistribute this pattern, so long as you include this note and credit the pattern creator. Please visit my Ravelry store and consider purchasing a pattern that is not free.

This hat was created using Ice Yarn Macaron generously supplied by Gia at YarnNut.com, so of course I had to name it for her. Macaron yarn is labeled as a 3, which we in the US would call a DK, but I think it is more a 4, if not a 4.5. This pattern will work with any worsted or chunky (4 or 5) yarn and an 8 mm/L hook. If you choose a lighter weight yarn, you will likely have to adjust row counts and hook size.

My wedge terminology works perfecctly well with this hat, even though the top is done with HDC instead of DC. For more information about my wedge terminology, see this video.

For a larger hat, add a 6th increase round at the top and/or repeat rounds 7 & 8.

Yarn: Any worsted or chunky, such as Ice Yarns Macaron. Solid colors work well, as would some but not all variegated yarns. Self-striping yarns should change colors fairly quickly. Manual color control is also an option to created a striped effect.

Hook: 8 mm/L

Stitches:

Single crochet (SC)
Back-loop single crochet (BLSC)
Hafl-double crochet (HDC)
Double crochet (DC)
Front-post double crochet (FPDC)
Slip stitch (SS)
Slipt stitch to join (SSTJ)

Method:

1. Ch2; work 9 HDC in the 1st ch; SSTJ with 1st HDC.  (Alternately use the magic ring or a ring of chain stitches--use what works for you.) (9)
2. Ch 1; work 2 HDC in each HDC from previous round; SSTJ with 1st HDC. (18)
3. Ch 1; work HDC in 1st HDC, 2 HDC in 2nd st [HDC in next st, 2 HDC in next st] repeat bracketed instructions to end, SSTJ. (27)
4.  Ch 1; work HDC in 1st 2 HDC, 2 HDC in next st [HDC in next 2 st, 2 HDC in next st] repeat bracketed instructions to end, SSTJ. (36)
5. Ch 1; work HDC in 1st 3 HDC, 2 HDC in next st [HDC in next 3 st, 2 HDC in next st] repeat bracketed instructions to end, SSTJ.  (45 for this and all subsequent rounds)
6. Ch 1; SC in same st and every stitch below, SSTJ.
7. Ch 1; SC in 1st st, DC in next st [SC in next st, DC in next st] repeat bracketed instructions to end; add one more SC; SSTJ.
8. Ch 3 (counts as DC), SC in DC below, [DC in next SC below, SC in next DC below] repeat bracketed instructions to end, adding one DC at end; SSTJ.
9. Ch 1;  SC in same st and every stitch below, SSTJ.
10. Ch 1;  SC in same st; BLSC in every subsequent SC below, SSTJ
11. Ch 1; HDC in same st and every subsequent SC below, SS behind the original ch 1.
12. Ch 3 (counts as 1st FPDC); FPDC in every HDC below, SS behind the original ch 3.
13. Ch 3 (counts as 1st FPDC); FPDC in every FPDC below, SSTJ.
14. Ch 1; SC in same st and every subsequent st below, SSTJ
15. Repeat round 14.  Tie off.

Sew in loose ends. Bribe someone to model it on Instagram.  

If you have any questions, please contact me.  

Another hat pattern!

 Alicia Stitch Hat

This hat is an excellent accompaniment to my Alicia Shawl pattern, which at my Ravelry store here.

Please note:  I make all my hat patterns free of charge to inspire crocheters to make hats for charity, particularly for Hat Not Hate.  Please feel free to redistribute this pattern, so long as you include this note and credit the pattern creator.

All my links: https://linktr.ee/BeardedYarnDudes

An earlier iteration.  

Yarn:  Any solid or variegated DK or worsted weight yarn. I am quite fond of Lion Brand Jeans for this hat (see pics), but many others would work. I hesitate to recommend a self-striping yarn, unless the stripe is shorter than those found in Lion Brand Mandala, for example.  (Although I am exceedingly fond of Lion Brand Mandala for other patterns.)

Hook:  5.0 (H) or 5.5 (I), or other hook to suit the yarn.

Stitches:  

• chain (ch) 
• single crochet (SC)
• back-loop single crochet (SC working in the back loop of the stitch rather than both loops)
• half-double crochet (HDC)
• double crochet (DC)
• front-post double crochet (DC working around the post to push it forward, rather than the top of the stitch)
• back-post double crochet (DC working around the post to push it back, rather than the top of the stitch)
• slip stitch (SS)
• chain 1 space (ch 1 sp)

Hat top:

Ch 4, slip stitch to join (SSTJ) with first ch, creating a ring; alternately use the magic ring

1. ch 4 (counts as DC + ch), DC in the ring, ch1, [DC in the ring, ch1] repeat until there are 6 DCs and 6 ch 1 spaces, SSTJ in the 3rd ch of the ch 4 that began the round (6 DC + 6 ch 1 sp) 

2. ch 4 (counts as DC + ch), DC in the ch where the SS from previous round is located, [ch1, DC in next ch 1 space, ch 1, DC in next DC] repeat until the last DC has been worked, ch 1 + DC in last ch 1 space, ch 1, SSTJ in 3rd ch of the ch 4 that began the round (12 DC + 12 ch 1 sp)

3. ch 3 (counts as DC), 2 DC in next ch 1 sp, [DC in next DC, 2 DC in next ch 1 sp] repeat to the end of the round, SSTJ in top of ch 3 that began the round (36 DC)

4. ch 3 (counts as DC), DC in next DC, 2 DC in next DC, [DC in next DC, DC in next DC, 2 DC in next DC] repeat to the end of the round, SSTJ in top of ch 3 that began the round (48 DC)

5. ch 3 (counts as DC), DC in next 2 DCs, 2 DC in next DC, [DC in next 3 DCs, 2 DC in next DC] repeat to the end of the round, SSTJ in top of ch 3 that began the round (60 DC)

6. ch 4 (counts as DC + ch 1), skip 1, DC in next DC, ch 1, skip 1, DC, ch 1, [DC in next DC, ch 1, skip 1, DC in next DC, ch 1, skip 1, DC, ch 1] repeat to end of round, SSTJ in 3rd ch of ch 4 that began the round (36 DC + 36 ch 1 sp)

Measure your hat top after round 5. If the diameter is 7.5 in (19 (cm) the hat brim will measure 22-23 in (56-58 cm). If you omit round 6—or indeed, 5 and 6--it will have no negative effect on the final hat.

Side of hat: 

(each round has the same number of stitches as the last round of the top)

1. Ch 4 (counts as DC + ch1), skip 1*,  [DC in next DC, ch 1, skip 1] repeat to end of round, SSTJ in 3rd ch of the ch 4 that began the round. Optional: omit this round, or work R 2 and then R 1.   *If previous round is all DC, skip 1 DC; if previous round alternates DC and 1 ch 1 sp, skip the ch 1 sp.
2. Ch 3 (counts as DC), DC in every ch 1 sp and DC of previous round, SSTJ at top of ch 3 that began the round
3. Ch 3 (counts as DC), DC in every DC of previous round, SSTJ at top of ch 3 that began the round 
4. Ch 1, HDC in the same st where you worked a SSTJ, HDC in all remaining DC from previous round, SSTJ
5. Ch 1, SC in the same st where you worked a SSTJ, BLSC in all remaining HDC from previous round, SSTJ
6. Repeat R 1, working with SC from previous round
7. Repeat R 2, work SSTJ behind the ch 3 that began the round, not in the top ch
8. Ch 3 (counts as FPDC), BPDC in next DC, [FPDC in next DC, BPDC in next DC] repeat to end of round.  If more height is required, repeat this round.  SSTJ in top of ch 3 that began this round. If less height is required, omit this round entirely and consider working round 9 twice.
9. Ch 1, SC in ch where you worked SSTJ in previous round, and in all remaining stitches from the previous round.  Tie off

Sew in loose ends.  Bribe someone to model it for Instagram pictures.  

Please address any questions or comments to beardedyarndudes@deb8.biz.

New hat pattern!

Rice Stitch Hat

Please note:  I make all my hat patterns free of charge to inspire crocheters to make hats for charity, particularly for Hat Not Hate.  Please feel free to redistribute this pattern, so long as you include this note and credit the pattern creator. Please visit my Ravelry store and consider purchasing a pattern that is not free.

Yarn:  Any worsted weight yarn, such as Lion Brand Pound of Love.  Would also work with a DK weight yarn.   Approximately 105 yards/95 m.

Hook:  5.5 mm/I

Stitches:  Chain (ch), single crochet (SC), double crochet (DC), front-loop double crochet (FLDC), slip stitch (SS)

Size can be adjusted by altering the number of circle rounds and rows of rice stitch.  You could also use different sizes of yarn or hook sizes.  If you use a different number of rounds for the circle, make sure you join at the end of the last round in the manner described in step 5 below.

Method:

Create initial disc:

1. Ch 4, slip stitch to join (SSTJ) into a ring.  
2. Ch 3 (counts as DC here and throughout), work 11 more DCs.  SSTJ in top of ch 3. (12 DC total, including ch 3)
3. Ch 3, DC in same stitch, 2 DC in each DC from previous round.  SSTJ in top of ch 3. (24 DC total)
4. Ch 3, 2 DC in next st, [DC in next st, 2 DC in next st] repeat bracketed instructions to end of round.  SSTJ in top of ch 3.  (36 DC total)
5. Ch 3, DC in next st, 2 DC in next st, [DC in next 2 st, 2 DC in next st] repeat bracketed instructions to end of round.  SSTJ in top of ch 3.  (48 DC total)
6. Ch 3, DC in next 2 st, 2 DC in next st, [DC in next 3 st, 2 DC in next st] repeat bracketed instructions to end of round.  SS behind ch 3 to join.  (60 DC total)

Body of hat:

1. Ch 3 (counts as FPDC), DC in next st, [FPDC in next st., DC in next st.] repeat bracketed instructions to end of row, SSTJ in top of ch 3. 
2. Ch 3, FPDC in next st, [DC in FPDC below, FPDC in DC below] repeat bracketed instructions to end, SS behind ch 3 to join.
3. Ch 3, DC in next st, [FPDC in next DC below, DC in FPDC below] repeat bracketed instructions to end of row, SSTJ in top of ch 3. 
4. Repeat rows 2 and 3, until hat has reached desired size. Whether you end on a row 2 or a row 3 does not matter.
5. Ch 1.  SC in same st, and in every st below. SSTJ in 1st  SC (60 SC)
6. Repeat previous row.  Tie off.

Sew in loose ends.  Bribe someone to model it for Instagram pictures.  

Please address any questions or comments to beardedyarndudes@deb8.biz.

A new pattern--April Rectangle Shawl

Everybody and her sister has been creating ponchos recently, so I had to jump on the bandwagon.  I came up with this easy poncho, and it is now available on my Ravelry store:

Hugs & Kisses Hat

Please note:  I make all my hat patterns free of charge to inspire crocheters to make hats for charity, particularly for Hat Not Hate.  Please feel free to redistribute this pattern, so long as you include this note and credit the pattern creator.

This hat uses the hugs & kisses (or Xs and Os) stitch.  This would be a great complement to the Hugs & Kisses Scarf available on Ravelry and Etsy.

Yarn:  Any worsted weight yarn, such as Lion Brand Pound of Love.  Would also work with a DK weight yarn.

Hook:  5.5 mm/I

Stitches:  Chain (ch), single crochet (SC), back loop single crochet (BLSC), double crochet (DC), slip stitch (SS)

Puff stitch:  There are many types of puff stitches, but this is the type for this pattern—DC4tog ([YO, insert, pull through loop, YO, pull through 2 loops] work bracketed instructions 4 times for a total of 5 loops remaining on the hook; YO, pull through all 5 loops), ch1

Cross stitch:  Skip 1, DC in next st or sp, DC in the skipped st or sp, working behind the DC just worked.

Method:

Create initial disc:

1. Ch 4, slip stitch to join (SSTJ) into a ring.  Ch 3 (counts as DC here and throughout), work 11 more DCs.  SSTJ in top of ch 3. (12 DC total, including ch 3)
2. Ch 3, DC in same stitch, 2 DC in each DC from previous round.  SSTJ in top of ch 3. (24 DC total)
3. Ch 3, 2 DC in next st, [DC in next st, 2 DC in next st] repeat bracketed instructions to end of round.  SSTJ in top of ch 3.  (36 DC total)
4. Ch 3, DC in next st, 2 DC in next st, [DC in next 2 st, 2 DC in next st] repeat bracketed instructions to end of round.  SSTJ in top of ch 3.  (48 DC total)
5. Ch 3, DC in next 2 st, 2 DC in next st, [DC in next 3 st, 2 DC in next st] repeat bracketed instructions to end of round.  SSTJ in top of ch 3.  (60 DC total)

Body of hat:

1. Ch 1, SC in same stitch and every stitch in previous round.  SSTJ in 1st SC (60 SC)
2. Ch 3, sk 1, puff stitch in next st, cross stitch in next 2 st., [DC in next st, sk 1, puff stitch in next st, cross stitch in next 2 st] repeat bracketed instructions to end of row.  SSTJ in top of ch 3.
3. Ch 3, cross stitch using spaces on either side of puff stitch below, puff stitch in space between DCs of cross stitch below, [DC in next st, cross stitch using spaces on either side of puff stitch below, puff stitch in space between DCs of cross stitch below] repeat bracketed instructions to end.  SSTJ in top of ch 3.
4. Ch 3, puff stitch in space between DCs of cross stitch below, cross stitch using spaces on either side of puff stitch below,  [DC in next st, puff stitch in space between DCs of cross stitch below, cross stitch using spaces on either side of puff stitch below repeat bracketed instructions to end.  SSTJ in top of ch 3.
5. Repeat R. 3 & 4.  Repeat R. 3.
6. Ch 1.  SC in same st, and in every st below. SSTJ in 1st  SC (60 SC)
7. Repeat step 6.  (Optional:  Repeat a second time.  Also optional:  make 2nd and 3rd iterations of SC row BLSC.)  Tie off.

Sew in loose ends.  Bribe someone to model it for Instagram pictures.  

Free PDF download here.

Please address any questions or comments to beardedyarndudes@deb8.biz.

  

Your Favorite Tools

In January I did a live stream on my YouTube channel that was all about favorite tools for crochet and yarn crafts.  Here is the video itself:

I began by discussing crochet hooks and the difference between tapered hooks and in-line hooks.  I shared some of my favorites.  At that point I had just received my only Furls hooks as a gift, and I will say that I have enjoyed using it ever since. Furls hooks run a little dear in price, and on my budget I have not been able to purchase more for myself, but when I win the lottery I will definitely think about it. Right after the Lexus and the grand piano.  (Here is my affiliate link to Furls, if you are leaning toward buying some for yourself or for a gift.) I will state that the that plastic hooks with the clear acrylic handle that you can light up remains among my favorites. I just like the way they work with my grip and fit in my hand.

We did talk about Tunisian hooks.  I don't have a preference there, because my experience with Tunisian crochet has not been uniformly happy.  I have gotten more use--and more joy--from my Tunisian hooks stirring my drinks than in actually creating projects.  I had a set of teak Tunisian hooks on long flexible cords that I included in a recent giveaway.  (Immediately thereafter I conceived of a fun design that mixes traditional and Tunisian crochet, but I did still have some hooks left--remember the drinks!--and was able to do a prototype.  And I have a trusted confidant testing that full pattern.)

We talked about storage for tools, for yarn, for patterns.  Frankly, I covet the kind of space some yarn YouTubers (YarnTubers?) have. Many of them sit in front of a very impressive yarn wall, with organized shelving to easily view and choose the right yarn for the next project.  I don't have that kind of space, and although I do enough yarn to last me through the Apocalypse, I don't have the amount I see on some of those yarn walls.  As far as storing tools, since I crochet in pretty much the same place every day, I am happy keeping my hooks in a pencil can and a mug.  I have recently seen people using pencil/paintbrush holders like we might have seen in art class in school, where there is one hole for each pencil, paintbrush, or hook.  Apparently they can be found for very little at stores like Dollar Tree.  I use a pencil case from my local office supply store--the school supply/stationery section of any big discount store is also a good source--for stitch markers and tapestry hooks.  As long as I remember to zip it shut every time, I'm golden.  (Also, I don't need fancy stitch markers. I'm happy with cheap plastic stitch markers that come 5 gazillion for $1, or something like that.)  Regarding pattern storage, for those patterns I print out, I have a plastic file box that is probably 12 inches deep containing printed patterns organized by project type.  I also have a tremendous number of patterns that I have downloaded but never printed, organized in file folders on my computer.  And I back up my computer often.  (I recommend you back up often, as well.  You can buy an external drive for not much money, and both Mac and Windows OSs have built-in backup utilities.  The time will come when you will be glad you did!)

One amazing tool that deserves its own paragraph is a thumb drive that has a jack I can plug into my iPhone (11, I believe) and another I can plug into my computer's USB port.  Although I do my YouTube live streams using the FaceTime camera built into my computer, my pre-recorded videos are all done with my phone.  I even edit them with iMovie on my phone.  So this thumb drive has proved invaluable in transferring movie files from phone to computer.  Devices like this are available at electronic stores, and even at electronic sections of big department stores.  I bought the one I use, which has a 64 GB capacity and comes with an app for transferring the files from phone to drive, from Amazon at a quite reasonable price.  (I lost my Amazon affiliate link because I had absolutely no sales, but I encourage you to use other YarnTubers' affiliate links to begin any Amazon shopping session.)

Software tools.  I mention that I use iMovie on my phone.  I usually don't edit my live streams, but I use iMovie to edit out yawns and ums and ers from my recorded videos on my phone.  I can insert graphic text cards that I create in TextPicFree, which you might imagine from the name is a free app.  I can also insert photos that are stored on my phone.  I almost always end with a cute Bitmoji image.  If I feel really ambitious, I will insert some royalty-free music into the introductory images of my videos.

What about you?  What are your favorite tools?