Explore Crochet & Knitting

A Traditional Craft for All Ages

You might have thought that these needle crafts were reserved for grandma's in rocking chairs, but you'll be surprised at how popular crochet and knitting is with people of all ages! Explore the creative world of knotting and knitting with hooked needles, yarns, and more from the following resources offering an abundance of free learning how-to information, patterns and project ideas, tips, and techniques.

Crochet & Knitting How-to Resources

Smart Crochet
Free filet crochet tutorials and free patterns. Covers crochet basics, starting your work, checkmark mesh, increasing, decreasing, working borders, finishing work, and cut edges. Free patterns include Northern Light afghan, God Bless America centerpiece, Lapland valance, Larissa table runner, edgings, and symmetrical place mats.

Tapestry Crochet
"Tapestry crochet is similar to regular crochet, except that one or more yarns are carried while another is crocheted. The finished pieces look woven instead of crocheted." Learn more about tapestry crochet, and find free patterns for a spiral basket and a necklace pouch.

Heavenly Hookers Crochet
Custom designed afghan crochet patterns. Features crochet hints and tips for stitch types, attaching new yarn for color change, finishing off, weight conversion chart (grams to ounces), and crochet hooks and gauges.

Originals by Gidge
Original crocheted designs for fashion dolls. Dozens of free downloadable patterns and crochet helpers available.

KnitNet
The online knitting magazine featuring free content for visitors! Includes how-to patterns with project tutorial photos, a wealth of articles, and gallery of items. Has free online video demonstrations covering abbreviations, casting on, knit stitches, purl stitches, and casting off.

Crochet Guild of America
A group dedicated to the promotion of the art and skill of crochet; the preservation of historical projects; the promotion of future crochet design ideas; and the achievement of excellence in all facets of crochet.

Fiber Art Shop
Features a free online "Learn to Knit" class with lessons covering tail cast on, knit stitch, purl stitch, and cast off.

Knitting at About.com
A solid knitting resource with topics covering free knitting patterns, adult clothing, afghans and pillows, baby / kids patterns, dishcloths, felting and fulling, dolls and toys, holiday patterns, machine knitting, and vintage knitting. Regular articles and how to section features learning to knit, dyeing information, help and how-to's, special techniques, spinning and fiber, miters, stitches, and color design.

Knitted Threads
Designer of custom knit and crochet patterns. Features crochet, hand and knit patterns for sweaters, vests, hats, socks, and more. Has tips and techniques for general knitting, machine knit tips, afghan and blanket edgings, beads for buttons, and changing colors.

Lisa Souza Knitwear
"Your online source for ready made garments, yarns, kits, buttons, accessories and patterns." Features projects from hand dyed cotton, wool, and mohair yarns; free intarsia charts for several projects to download, and a gallery of hand-knitted designs.

PatchworkCrochet.com
Offers fully-illustrated crochet patterns. Features free illustrated techniques for crochet basics and patchwork crochet and sample patterns including: flower garden afghan, wheels doily, and medallions afghan.

Crochet at About.com
A solid crochet resource featuring free patterns, filet charts, and how-to's for all aspects of crochet. Regular articles and topics cover free patterns, bead crochet, blocking / starching, buttons, freeform crochet, hooks, hints, charts, learn basics, and stitches.