When I first started to crochet, I often wondered how to do certain things and had to rely on what I could find in books and magazines. Today the internet has changed all that – now there is an explosion of self-help information on websites of professional organizations, designer websites, YouTube, and yarn websites and in community groups and forums. In this section I am sharing some resources to help you with your craft. This list is by no means all-inclusive but is meant as a starting point for further exploration.
Professional Organizations:
Professional organizations serve many purposes. They give people a chance to connect to others who enjoy the same hobbies, and they can connect you to designers. Plus, they are a reliable source for education and resources. Here are a few of the organizations available to fiber enthusiasts – some require membership to access all the features of the site:
Craft Yarn Council – excellent resource for both knitting and crochet.
Patterns and Yarn:
Who does not love yarn and patterns, especially free ones? Sometimes I like to just get on the internet to explore to find not only that perfect pattern but also to get inspiration on what I might like to crochet or create next. Here are a few sites that contain patterns, free and for sale. Some also sell yarn and thread:
Ravelry (setting up an account is free)
Free Pattern Websites:
1001 Patterns (Knit and Crochet)
Crochet Forums
There are several knitting and crochet forums where you can connect with others, see projects, obtain links and resources, find inspiration, and get patterns. Here are two that I have found beneficial, and both require you to sign up, but it is free to do so:
Ravelry –a wonderful place for patterns, but you also have your own space to keep track of your projects and yarn stash and create a library of patterns; you can also participate in groups.
Knitting Paradise – a community where people can connect to discuss, pose questions, and get help, find links to resources, display projects, and more. Designed for knitters as well as crocheters.
Other
Yarn Sub – a place to go to find yarn substitutions; they will provide several options for matches and identify how close the match is to the original yarn; they also have a newsletter you can subscribe to, and it is a resource for new yarns and yarns being discontinued.
Also, do not forget to check out YouTube, Pinterest, and Etsy for products, patterns, instructions, and inspiration.
