Apr
Okay so Simply Crochet magazine is honestly one of those things I kept seeing at the bookstore and finally grabbed during summer 2023 when I was stuck at home with a sprained ankle and needed something to do besides rewatch The Office for the millionth time. The subscription thing is kinda weird because you can get it digitally or physical copies and they’re not always the same price depending on where you live.
The magazine itself comes out monthly and each issue has like 20-30 patterns usually. They range from really basic stuff like dishcloths to these elaborate blankets that would take you months to finish. What I actually like about it compared to just finding random patterns online is that everything’s been tested and the photography is really clear so you can see what you’re supposed to be making. Also the yarn weights are clearly marked which sounds obvious but you’d be surprised how many free patterns online just say “worsted weight yarn” and then the finished project looks nothing like what you made because the designer was using some weird indie dyed stuff.
Getting a Subscription vs Single Issues
So here’s the deal with buying it. Single issues at Barnes & Noble or whatever bookstore are usually around $13-15 which is kinda steep for a magazine honestly. But if you get a subscription it works out to like $8-9 per issue. The UK pricing is different and sometimes better if you can figure out how to order from there but then shipping gets complicated.
I did the digital subscription for a while through their app and it was fine I guess but I really missed having the physical magazine to flip through. Like you can’t easily bookmark pages on the app or at least I couldn’t figure out how to do it properly. Also my cat Miso kept walking across my tablet and closing the app which was annoying when I was trying to count stitches.
The subscription auto-renews which caught me off guard the first time because I forgot I’d signed up for a year. Check your email confirmations because they do send a reminder but it’s like 30 days before renewal so if you’re not paying attention you’ll get charged again.
What’s Actually In Each Issue
Every magazine has this mix of patterns and they categorize them by skill level. Theres usually 2-3 beginner projects, a bunch of intermediate stuff, and maybe one or two advanced things. The beginner stuff is honestly sometimes too basic like they’ll have a pattern for a simple scarf that’s just single crochet rows and I’m like… do people really need a whole pattern for that? But I guess everyone starts somewhere.
What I really use it for is the intermediate patterns. They did this really cute market bag pattern in the June 2024 issue that I made using Paintbox Yarns Cotton DK in this teal color. Took me maybe two evenings of crocheting while half-watching TV. The pattern was clear and the construction made sense even though I had to frog it once because I miscounted the foundation chain.
One thing that annoyed me about a lot of their patterns is they assume you have access to the exact yarn they used. Like they’ll specify “Rowan Cotton Cashmere” or whatever and list the specific colorway but then the substitution suggestions are super vague. I ended up just using what I had in my stash most of the time which worked fine but the gauge would be off sometimes.
The Gauge Thing Everyone Complains About
Speaking of gauge – this is gonna sound basic but you actually do need to check it for their patterns especially the clothing ones. I made this cardigan from the March 2024 issue and completely skipped the gauge swatch because I was impatient and the whole thing came out like two sizes too big. Used Stylecraft Special DK which is cheaper than what they recommended but the pattern was written for a tighter tension than I naturally crochet with.
They do include the hook size and expected gauge in every pattern which is helpful. Usually its something like “18 stitches and 20 rows = 4 inches in double crochet” or whatever stitch pattern they’re using. Just make the dang swatch it’ll save you from having to remake the entire thing later.
Yarn Substitutions That Actually Worked
Since I almost never use their exact yarn suggestions here’s what I’ve figured out works pretty well. When they call for DK weight I usually grab Paintbox or Stylecraft because both are cheap and the color range is huge. For chunky blanket patterns the Bernat Blanket yarn works fine even though it’s slightly bulkier than true chunky weight – you just might need fewer stitches.
This one shawl pattern from early 2024 called for some fancy mohair blend and I just used Lion Brand Scarfie because that’s what I had and honestly it looked fine. The drape was different but not in a bad way. I feel like unless you’re making something that really depends on the specific fiber content like a lace shawl that needs blocking you can substitute pretty freely as long as the weight is right.
Digital vs Print Patterns
The digital version lets you download PDFs of individual patterns which is actually really useful if you just want one specific project from an issue. They’re stored in your account so you can access them later which is better than ripping pages out of the physical magazine I guess.
But the print version you can physically mark up and write notes on. I always scribble in the margins about what yarn I actually used and any modifications I made. Plus its easier to prop open next to you while you’re working instead of having to keep your phone or tablet unlocked and awake.
The print magazines also have these ads for yarn shops and upcoming crochet events that the digital version sometimes cuts out. Not that I really care about ads but sometimes they feature new yarn lines or tools that are actually interesting.
Skill Level Accuracy
Their skill level ratings are mostly accurate but sometimes they mark things as intermediate that I think are pretty easy or vice versa. There was this amigurumi bunny in spring 2024 that was marked beginner but involved some weird shaping for the ears that was actually kinda tricky if you’ve never done increases and decreases in the round before.
The advanced patterns are usually advanced because of the stitch pattern complexity not because the construction is complicated. Like they’ll use something like alpine stitch or Catherine wheel stitch that has a 4-row repeat and you gotta pay attention. But the actual assembly is usually straightforward.
The Types of Projects They Focus On
Lots of blankets and afghans obviously because those are popular. Baby stuff shows up in almost every issue – little cardigans, blankets, stuffed toys. They do seasonal things too so summer issues have more cotton patterns for tops and bags while winter is all about chunky scarves and cozy blankets.
Home decor is a big category – cushion covers, baskets, wall hangings. Some of it is really cute and some of it feels kinda dated like those mandala patterns that were everywhere a few years ago. Fashion accessories like shawls and cowls show up regularly.
They’ve been doing more modern clothing patterns lately which I appreciate. The spring 2024 issues had some actually wearable crop tops and cardigans instead of the weird shapeless tunics that crochet magazines used to always feature.
That One Pattern I Keep Coming Back To
There was this corner-to-corner blanket pattern in the September 2023 issue that I’ve made like three times now as gifts. Uses basic C2C technique but the color blocking is really well designed so it looks more complicated than it is. I made the first one with Red Heart Super Saver because I needed cheap yarn for a big project and it actually held up really well through washing.
The pattern gives you the exact number of skeins needed which is SO helpful for budgeting. Nothing worse than running out of yarn three-quarters through a project and the dye lot is discontinued or whatever.
Subscription Cancellation
If you decide you wanna cancel they make it reasonably easy through your account settings on their website. No phone calls required which is nice. Just remember to do it before the renewal date because they don’t do partial refunds if you cancel mid-subscription.
I cancelled once after about 8 months because I had too many unfinished projects piling up and didn’t need more pattern temptation. Then I resubscribed like 4 months later because I missed having new patterns to browse through so that’s probably gonna be my cycle forever.
The Community Aspect
They have a Facebook group and Instagram where people post their finished projects from the magazine patterns. It’s actually useful to see how different yarns and colors look in the same pattern before you commit to making it. The community is pretty friendly from what I’ve seen though I mostly just lurk.
Each issue also has a letters section where readers send in photos of their completed projects and sometimes the editors pick them to feature. I’ve never sent mine in because I’m lazy about taking good photos but some people really get into it.
Special Issues and Collections
A few times a year they put out special issues focused on one thing like “Simply Crochet Baby Collection” or “Simply Crochet Home” with patterns all around that theme. These are separate from the regular subscription usually so you’d buy them individually. They’re thicker and have more patterns but also cost more like $18-20.
I got the baby collection one when my friend was pregnant in spring 2022 and made her like half the patterns in there. The little cardigan with the hood came out so cute even though I used Caron Simply Soft instead of whatever fancy merino they suggested. That was actually during a really messy breakup and having all those small projects to focus on was good for keeping my mind occupied I guess.
Technical Instructions and Tutorials
Most issues include some kind of tutorial section especially for trickier techniques. They’ll show you how to do things like invisible joins or different types of edges. The photos are usually clear enough that you can figure it out even if the written instructions are confusing.
They also have abbreviation guides in every issue which seems redundant after the first one but I guess is helpful for beginners. Standard UK crochet terms which can be confusing if you learned with US terms since they’re different – like UK double crochet is US single crochet and it gets messy.
Value for Money
Whether its worth it kinda depends on how much you actually crochet. If you’re making stuff regularly and always looking for new patterns then yeah the subscription pays for itself compared to buying individual patterns online which are usually $5-8 each. But if you’re a slow crocheter who takes months to finish one project then maybe just buy single issues when you see a pattern you really want.
I probably make 2-3 patterns from each issue on average which means I’m paying like $3 per pattern with my subscription. That’s definitely cheaper than buying them individually. Plus you get ideas for future projects even if you don’t make them right away.
The digital subscription is slightly cheaper and takes up zero physical space which matters if you’re trying not to accumulate more stuff. But I really do prefer having the physical magazine to flip through without screen time. Your preference probably depends on how you like to work – some people are totally fine with following patterns on a tablet while they crochet but I find it annoying to keep switching between my work and the screen.
Random Tips That Might Help
Check if your library carries it before subscribing – some libraries have magazine subscriptions you can access digitally for free through apps like Libby. Mine doesn’t have Simply Crochet specifically but has other craft magazines.
If you’re outside the US the shipping time for physical subscriptions can be weird and inconsistent. I’ve heard people say their issues arrive anywhere from on-time to like 3 weeks late.
Save the magazines after you’re done with them because you’ll definitely want to go back and reference patterns later. I started keeping mine in a magazine holder and its actually been useful to flip back through when I need a quick project idea.
The yarn requirements listed are usually pretty accurate but I always buy one extra skein of the main color just in case because my tension tends to be looser than average. Better to have extra than to run short and have to wait for shipping or whatever.
Some patterns have video tutorials linked through QR codes in the magazine which is a newer thing they started doing. Actually really helpful for complicated stitches or construction methods that are hard to explain in just text and photos.
