Crocheting a Fantasy Creature: Lessons From a Craft Fair Phoenix Gradient colour, wings that hold their shape, and the details that make a made-up animal look real

Chunky Chenille Blankets: The Colour-Block Throw Everyone Wants Finger knitting, loop yarn and hooks, and which one actually gets you that braided look

Chenille Plush Toys: Why Blanket Yarn Makes the Squishiest Amigurumi The fuzzy yarn that hides your stitches, and how to work with it instead of against it

Where to Find Free Patterns Online How to search for free crochet and knitting patterns, judge whether one is worth your time, and find a pattern you half-remember.

High Top Striped Slippers - New Version Two-colour high top slippers, the newer version

Crocheted Boot Slippers Re-sizing Pattern Boot slippers in two strands of yarn, with sizing instructions

Crochet and Knitting Guides and Reference

Crochet and knitting guides: a hook size conversion chart, reading patterns and abbreviations, learning to crochet and knit, choosing needles and yarn, and a pattern search board.

The reference shelf: the things you look up halfway through a pattern, and the guides to read before you start.

Look it up: the hook size conversion chart (metric, US and UK), crochet abbreviations and how US and UK terms differ, and how to read crochet, knitting and graph patterns.

Learn: whether you want to learn to crochet or to knit, the basics are here, along with choosing needles, the difference between the two crafts, reusing yarn and knitting socks.

Ask: the pattern search board is where readers help each other track down patterns they remember but cannot find.

GuidesCrochet Hook Size Conversion Chart

Crochet hook size conversions between US, English and metric sizing, with a reference list of crochet abbreviations.

GuidesCrocheted Socks Template - Design Your Own Socks Pattern

design your own crocheted socks pattern.

GuidesThe Pattern Search Board - Can Anyone Help?

a free service to help you find crochet, knit and other craft patterns.

GuidesCraft Tips

GuidesWhere to Find Free Patterns Online

How to search for free crochet and knitting patterns, judge whether one is worth your time, and find a pattern you half-remember.

GuidesUnderstanding Crochet and Knit Pattern Instructions

How to work out what a confusing line in a pattern is actually asking you to do.

GuidesDo You Want to Learn to Crochet?

Crochet is far simpler than it looks -- it is one loop pulled through another, repeated. What to buy and how to start.

GuidesReusing Yarn: Getting the Kinks Out of Yarn That Has Already Been Knit

How to reclaim and straighten crinkled yarn after ripping out a project, so it can be knitted again.

GuidesBasic Knitting for Beginners

Everything you need to start knitting -- choosing needles and yarn, casting on, the knit and purl stitches, and binding off.

GuidesFrequently Asked Questions

GuidesCrochet Graph Pattern Tips

Working from a crochet graph without a mess of woven ends or bulky carried yarn -- the small-ball method.

GuidesLearn to Knit

What a beginner actually needs to start knitting, what to buy, and what to make first.

GuidesThe Differences Between Knitting and Crocheting

How the two crafts actually differ -- tools, structure, fabric, and which suits what.

GuidesHow to Knit Socks

Sock knitting is far less daunting than it looks -- the construction, the heel, and what to expect on a first pair.

GuidesChoosing Knitting Needles

Needle materials, types and sizes -- what actually matters when choosing them.

GuidesHow to Read a Knitting Pattern

What each section of a knitting pattern contains and what to check before you cast on.

GuidesCrochet Abbreviations: Check What They Mean

US and UK crochet terms use the same words for different stitches -- how to tell which a pattern uses.

Explore more: Guides

Was this article helpful?

Loading Next Article...