A yarn-crafter's project bag (or basket or shelf) is always full of yarn and patterns, but what about those little things that make our crafting time extra special?

Personally, I can't do without a good audio book. I have trouble paying attention to a movie while I knit, but I can follow along with an audio book, and with a project in hand, time flies by before I know it.

Fingerless gloves or wrist warmers are a lifesaver. Cold fingers don't move very well when you're trying to knit or crochet. This can be a good aid for arthritic hands too. Make it your next project – a fun and fast one just for you! Ravelry.com has tons of free patterns for these; from plain to fair isle, cables and lace, there is a pattern there for just about every style and skill level.

Lotion is really nice to have on hand too, especially with the cold weather. Knitting and crochet aren't any fun when your hands are all dry and cracked. Summer presents the opposite problem - when it's hot out, my hands get all sweaty. Who wants sweaty knitting? Gross. One customer had a great solution: keep a travel-size container of baby powder nearby for sweaty hands.

That about does it for the special extras in my knitting bag. What's in your bag?

Tune in next week for our yarn-dyeing tutorial. It's easier than you think!