15 guides
Knitting and crochet guides
Plain-English guides to learning knitting and crochet. No affiliate links, and nothing to buy beyond yarn and a hook or needles.
Getting started
Choosing a craft, supplies and first stitches.
- Knitting or crochet: which first?
Both are great. Here's the difference.
- Your first supplies
Less than you think.
- How to read a yarn label
Everything you need is on the band.
- Learn the basic stitches
A few stitches go a long way.
Yarn
Weights, fibers, gauge and budget.
- Yarn weights explained
From lace to jumbo.
- Yarn fibers
Wool, cotton, acrylic and blends.
- Why make a gauge swatch?
Ten minutes that save a project.
- Yarn on a budget
Lovely things for less.
Making
Projects, patterns, mistakes and finishing.
- First projects
Small, simple and useful.
- How to read a pattern
Abbreviations and repeats.
- Fix common mistakes
Everyone makes them.
- Finishing and blocking
The step that makes it look finished.
Enjoying it
Comfort, groups and giving.
- Hand and wrist comfort
Take breaks and stretch.
- Groups and classes
It's more fun together.
- Make and give
Handmade gifts and donations.