The first 6 items are those I consider most important. The others are lagniappe (extras that I believe will be helpful for your crocheting pleasure).

Hooks - Of course! That's a big DUH. You should try different types and sizes - aluminum, plastic, wood, brass, steel, Corian, inline and rounded hook, several different sizes. In my experience beginners usually like to work with larger hooks, so if you're on a limited budget, I'd suggest purchasing maybe a J hook and gradually add to your collection. If I had to choose from the above types, I'd suggest buying an aluminum and a wood hook because they are so different, you really need to experience both. One each in an inline and a rounded hook. That way, right off the bat you can determine your preferences and your future purchases can reflect that. Which is not to say that if you find you prefer inline, you should never buy a rounded hook. Versatility if your friend. :-)

Yarn - Most people learn to crochet using acrylic or wool yarn (as opposed to cotton or the thinner thread). Different yarns do work up differently, but in the beginning you don't want to spend a fortune on specialty yarns for you to work up and rip out while you learn. Get a cheap, acrylic yarn to practice on. But I would also suggest you buy a skein of cotton yarn, because it is such a different feel to work with. When you're more comfortable in your crocheting skills, you should try the different yarns such as wool, wool blends, chenille etc. Remember to buy enough yarn in the same dye lot if you intend to do something with your practice projects. With the cotton, you can make bunches of dishcloths while you learn. :-) Who cares if a dishcloth is a little bit off?

Scissors - This is important. You need a good, sharp pair of small scissors. Actually, to be honest, you need a BUNCH of pairs of good, sharp scissors. LOL Mine keep disappearing.

Pattern leaflets/books/copies of your own designs etc - Everybody has their favorites. I have a list of books elsewhere on site, but there are lots more I could include. I will be updating that list soon. I can tell you one of the books I use most often is Quick and Cozy Afghans. When I'm looking for something quick (and I always am) I check that book first. I also have all the "Vanna" books. I like to look at them, but haven't made many afghans from them. I find I mostly use my own patterns, or make up a new one, making each afghan unique for that person. You'll find that if I make a new afghan, a new pattern appears on the web site. LOL

Reference book - The Righetti book Crocheting in Plain English is a good reference though the pictures are in black and white. Donna Kooler's Encyclopedia of Crochet is great! Lots of color pictures and stitches. The Good Housekeeping Illustrated Book of Needlecraft if good if you like to do different types of needlework. The illustrations are also great. A few good "stitch" guide books would be handy to have as well. It just all depends on how much you want to invest. This can be done over a period of time. The Crocheter's Companion by Nancy Brown is a neat little book sized you can carry it around with you for reference. Personally, I love all the Dummie books and they do have one for crochet. Crocheting for Dummies by Susan Brittain. :-)

Needles for weaving - I like #16, but use whatever you like. Your needle has to have a large eye since you're working with yarn and thick cotton. If you're working with thread, a smaller needle will do fine.

Chibi needle holder - You will use needles for sewing in ends and this wonderful little Chibi holder is great to keep your needles in one place. There are two different ones I believe. One has curved needles and one straight, but you can buy your own needles and stick them in there as well.

Magnifying glass - This is optional and really depends on your eyes and the quality of the patterns you get. Use your judgment.

Plastic sleeve protectors for patterns - I use plastic sleeve protectors to, uhm, well protect my patterns when I eat or drink while I'm working. I don't really do that a lot any more, but if you do, this is a must. I also use these to store my favorite patterns that are not in books. I keep them in a 3-ring binder. This would be patterns I get off the 'net, patterns from my own web site that I print out, patterns I write up freehand, crochet information about hooks or yarn or whatever. I also use them in my Crochet Journal, where I keep a picture and pertinent information on items I've made as gifts so that if I want to make them again, I am able to find that pattern. Isn't it strange that I have hundreds of patterns and yet I continue to go to that book cos I want to make one for so-and-so just like the one I made for such-and-such. LOL

Small ruler and/or nylon measuring tape - Don't get one of those cheapie measuring tapes and don't use the one from your husband's tool box. Most likely it will catch on your thread and mess you up. Get a good one that will be flexible. I found a spring nylon measuring tape made by Clover at www.jklneedles.com . They also had just a regular nylon tape. I ordered one of each. They haven't come in yet, but I'll be sure to let you know if I like them. The one I use now I got at Wal-Mart and it works just fine. I use it and throw it on the table. My only problem with it is that I keep losing the thing. LOL I like to keep one in my carry-along tote bag as well.

Reference sheet giving hook sizes and what hook should be used with what yarn (there's a chart at http://www.yarnstandards.com/weight.html ) Might want to laminate this if you're like me and can never remember if a 4.0 is an F or a G. hee hee

Hook organizer - I have a quilted roll up hook case which I love and which I keep in my plastic Spacemaker box. I also have a couple of the Craft Stor plastic boxes which I keep in my big plastic Craft Stor Compact Tote. I saw these are available at www.joann.com under storage and totes.

Supply case - that would be the Craft Stor Compact Tote I have, or the larger one they also offer. You need something this long to fit the afghan hooks and crochet on the double hooks that won't fit in a smaller box or case.

Carry-all tote for on-the-go crocheting - I have a quilted one. I love it and use it all the time. In fact, I rarely go out for any length of time without it.

Magnetic board to hold patterns -Though I personally don't have one of these, I think it's a great idea if you have a place to put it where you can see while you're working.

Needle threader - In case you think this is only for thread users, think again. I've used it for yarn as well. This is particularly handy if you're getting on in years and the eyesight/hand-eye coordination is not all it could be.

Stitch/row markers/holders - These are handy little things, though I have to admit that I personally just stick a paper clip or a safety pin in there to keep my last stitch from unraveling. Recently, a visitor to the web site made a suggestion I liked so much I put it on the web site. Instead of using a stitch holder or safety pin, you just make what she calls Lil's Knot. It's like a slip knot but you don't use the hook. Your work won't unravel and you don't need to worry about having a pin handy.

Highlighters - When you're working a complicated pattern, it's a good idea to photocopy the pattern and use a highlighter to mark each row as you finish it. Of course, your pattern will have a repeat. You can either make several copies and mark each one in a different color :-) or you can put hearts or pencil marks next to each one, using a different mark each time you go through the repeat.

Pom Pom maker - I don't have one of these, but if you make a lot of hats, it might be a good thing to have

Yarn bobbins - These are neat little creatures. :-) When you finish your project, sometimes you have just a little bit of yarn left. If you leave it alone, it will eventually become a big mess. If you use these yarn bobbins, it will keep those bits neat and you can later work them all into a scrap yarn afghan. Waste not, want not.

Small notebook and pencil to keep track of projects - What a super idea! I have Crochet Journal sheets (see my teaching crochet outline) which I use to keep track of completed projects, but what about those projects that are terminally "in progress". LOL By the time I get back to them, I've forgotten what hook I was using, what pattern, which one of these white skeins is for which project - you know the dye lots are different. LOL With one little note on a page, I can have all that information at hand. I'm thunking myself over the head not to have done this before now.

Office supply tags - Here's another great idea. You know those price tags you can buy at office supply stores? They are tan with a string attached. They're also not very expensive. You can get a box of 100 for just a few dollars. You write all the information about your project down - hook, yarn, pattern, and tie the string around a stitch. Voila! All the info right there on the project. I've done this, but not so elegantly. I usually just tear off a piece of paper, punch a hole in it and tie it on, or sometimes I'll pin it and invariably the pin comes out and the paper gets separated. I'm going out to get some of these soon. Now if only I can remember all that information about my current projects. Think. Think. Think.

Small photo album - If you have "shortcut" patterns that fit on index cards, you can put them in this photo album and keep it near your crochet supplies. I guess this might be more for experienced crocheters, but one day you will all be experienced. What I mean here by "shortcut" patterns is this. You're working a pattern and it's pretty complicated but you can see where it's going. It goes on and on but what you really need to remember is "first row sc" "second row dc" "third row long stitch". Since the previous rows are done, all you have to do is glance down to know what you meant. I remember one pattern particularly that I did. It was so complicated to follow each row. I decided to simplify it.

Instead of reading the entire long instruction, I wrote:
I hook, name of afghan
2/lsc row
dc
6, ch 2, sk 2
6, 2sc in sp, dc
That was one pattern.

The next was
6/lsc
dc
2/sk2
2sc in sp
dc

Of course you have no idea what I'm talking about, but if you were working the pattern, it would make perfect sense cos you've been going through the rows and understand the pattern by that point. This is the kind of thing you'd put in your little album.

Also you might put little notes on hook sizes or what hook to use with what yarn, as noted above.

Please visit my other web sites, Sandra’s Backyard, SandraPetit.com, and Crafty Corral