Jun
okay so free crochet patterns online
Right so you want to know where to actually find decent free patterns without paying $8 for a PDF of a dishcloth. I get it. I’ve been doing this long enough that I’ve got some actual opinions about which websites are worth your time and which ones are just gonna frustrate you.
Ravelry is basically where you gotta start
Look Ravelry isn’t the prettiest website and honestly it looks like it hasn’t been updated since 2009 but it’s the biggest database of patterns out there. You can filter by free patterns only which is crucial. The search function is really specific too like you can search by yarn weight, hook size, whether something is worked in the round or flat, all that stuff.
I made this granny square cardigan back in spring 2022 using a pattern I found on Ravelry and the pattern itself was fine but what annoyed me SO MUCH was that the designer had written it assuming you already knew how to do invisible joins between squares. Like she just wrote “join squares using invisible seam method” and I had to go watch four different YouTube videos to figure out what that even meant. But anyway the Ravelry community is really active so people leave notes on patterns telling you what went wrong or what they changed.
The project pages are super helpful because you can see what other people made from the same pattern. Sometimes the original pattern photo looks amazing and then you see 47 people made it and they all look kinda lumpy so you know something’s up with the pattern.
how to actually use ravelry without losing your mind
Make an account first. I know it’s annoying but you can’t see full patterns without one. Then go to Patterns and use the Advanced Search. Check the “free” box under availability. Pick your craft (crochet obviously). Then you can get really specific with filters.
The yardage filter is actually useful if you’ve got like 400 yards of Red Heart Super Saver sitting in your closet and you want to know what you can make with it. I’ve done that more times than I want to admit because I keep buying yarn without a plan.
AllFreeCrochet and the whole Prime Publishing network
AllFreeCrochet is one of those websites that’s covered in ads and has like 50 slideshows but the patterns are actually free and they’re organized pretty well. They’ve got categories for everything from afghans to kitchen stuff to clothes. The patterns usually have good photos.
The annoying thing about these sites is they make you scroll through SO MUCH before you get to the actual pattern. There’s always this long story about why the designer created it and then 800 ads and then finally the materials list. Just be ready to scroll.
FaveCrafts and CrochetMe are part of the same network I think? Similar vibe. Lots of free patterns, lots of ads, generally reliable instructions.
individual designer blogs
Some of my favorite patterns have come from people who just run their own blogs. Megmade with Love has really clear patterns and her style is very modern and wearable. Not like doily stuff or whatever unless that’s your thing.
Make and Do Crew is another good one. She does a lot of blankets and her patterns are written clearly. I made one of her ripple blankets during summer 2024 when it was like 95 degrees outside which was stupid timing on my part but I was binge-watching The Bear and needed something to do with my hands. Used Caron Simply Soft for that one in like four different colors.
The Loopy Stitch has good free patterns too. She includes stitch diagrams sometimes which is helpful if you’re a visual person.
Rescued Paw Designs does a lot of amigurumi if you’re into that. The instructions are pretty detailed which you need for amigurumi because one missed stitch and your stuffed animal looks drunk.
why designer blogs are sometimes better than the big sites
The patterns tend to be tested more thoroughly because it’s their reputation on the line. Big pattern sites sometimes just accept submissions without much vetting. Also you can usually email the designer directly if something doesn’t make sense and they’ll actually respond.
The downside is you have to find them first which takes time. Following crochet hashtags on Instagram actually helps with this even though I know that sounds dumb.
YouTube channels that include free patterns
Bella Coco has a ton of video tutorials and she usually includes a written pattern in the video description. Her voice is really soothing too which sounds weird to mention but when you’re watching a 45-minute tutorial it matters.
TL Yarn Crafts does really good tutorials for blankets especially. She works pretty fast in the videos which I actually prefer because you can always pause but some people talk SO slowly in tutorials.
Jayda InStitches is good for wearables. She explains things clearly and doesn’t assume you know all the terminology.
The thing with video patterns is you can see exactly what the stitch is supposed to look like which helps a lot when you’re learning something new. But if you’re the kind of person who needs to reference the pattern while working you’ll end up pausing the video every ten seconds which gets old fast or you need to write down the—actually most of them put written patterns in the description so nevermind.
WoolAndTheGang and Lion Brand websites
These are yarn company websites but they have free pattern sections. Lion Brand especially has thousands of free patterns. The quality varies a lot though because they’ve been around forever and some patterns are from like 1997.
WoolAndTheGang patterns tend to be more modern looking but their free selection isn’t huge. They really want you to buy their kits.
Yarnspirations is the Bernat and Caron parent company site I think and they’ve got a massive free pattern library. Good search function. Patterns are usually reliable because they’re professionally published.
Hobbii also has free patterns with their yarns. I haven’t used them as much but people seem to like them.
the yarn brand thing
These sites obviously want you to use their specific yarns but you don’t have to. Just match the weight. If a pattern calls for Lion Brand Vanna’s Choice and you use Red Heart Super Saver instead nobody’s gonna arrest you. They’re both worsted weight acrylic.
I’ve substituted yarn on basically every pattern I’ve ever made. Sometimes it works great and sometimes you end up with a blanket that’s three feet bigger than it’s supposed to be because the gauge was off but that’s crochet.
Pinterest is actually useful for once
I know Pinterest is where recipes go to die behind 4000 pop-up ads but for crochet patterns it’s genuinely helpful. You can search something like “free crochet tank top pattern” and scroll through actual photos of finished projects to find something you like, then click through to the pattern.
The problem is sometimes the links are broken or they lead to patterns that aren’t actually free anymore. But it’s a good way to discover new designers and blogs you wouldn’t find otherwise.
Just be careful because some pins link to Etsy shops where the pattern costs money and you don’t realize until you click through.
what to avoid or at least be cautious about
Those sketchy websites that are clearly just scraping patterns from other places and reposting them covered in ads. You’ll know them when you see them. The photos are weirdly low quality and there’s like 50 ads before you get to the pattern and sometimes the pattern is incomplete.
Also be careful with really old patterns from like craft magazines in the 80s. The terminology was different back then and sometimes what they called a single crochet is actually a slip stitch or whatever. It’s confusing.
Free patterns on Amazon Kindle Unlimited can be hit or miss. Some are great but some are clearly written by people who don’t actually crochet and are just trying to make money off keywords. Read the reviews first.
actually understanding the patterns you find
This is important because free patterns aren’t always edited as carefully as paid ones. You gotta know how to read between the lines sometimes.
If a pattern doesn’t list gauge, be suspicious. Gauge matters for anything that needs to fit like clothing or hats. For blankets or scarves whatever you can wing it but for a sweater you need to know gauge.
Check if there are errata or corrections posted. Good designers will have a note on their blog or Ravelry page if there’s a mistake in the pattern. I once made an entire sleeve wrong because there was a typo in the pattern that said row 12 when it meant row 21 and I didn’t check the errata.
Look at the yardage requirements and make sure they seem reasonable. If a pattern says you can make a queen size blanket with 800 yards of yarn, that’s probably wrong unless it’s super lacy or has huge holes.
the abbreviation problem
Not everyone uses the same abbreviations and US terms are different from UK terms which is SO annoying. A US single crochet is a UK double crochet. A US double crochet is a UK treble. It’s confusing and you just have to pay attention to where the designer is from.
Most patterns will have an abbreviation key at the beginning but not always. If you see an abbreviation you don’t recognize just Google it. There are charts online that list all the common ones.
my actual bookmarking system because I’m disorganized
I have a folder in my browser bookmarks called “crochet patterns to make eventually” and it has like 347 links in it. I’ll never make most of them but it makes me feel productive to save them.
Ravelry lets you favorite patterns and add them to your queue which is more organized but I forget to do it half the time. My cat stepped on my keyboard once while I was browsing patterns and somehow added like 15 random patterns to my favorites so now I have a bunch of doilies saved that I never wanted.
Some people screenshot patterns or save them as PDFs in case the link breaks later. That’s probably smart but I never remember to do it.
testing gauge with free yarn
Speaking of gauge, nobody wants to do a gauge swatch but you really should for fitted items. I made a summer top last year with Lily Sugar n Cream because the pattern recommended it and I didn’t do a gauge swatch and the whole thing came out two sizes too big. Wore it anyway but still.
For gauge swatches you need at least a 4×4 inch square. Make it bigger than that actually like 6×6 so you can measure the middle part where the tension is most consistent.
Wash and block your gauge swatch the same way you’ll wash the finished item because some yarns grow when they get wet and some shrink and you want to know that before you make a whole sweater.
when free patterns are actually worth the hassle vs just buying one
For simple stuff like dishcloths or basic scarves, free patterns are perfect. There’s no reason to pay for a pattern that’s like “chain 30, dc across, repeat until scarf is long enough.”
For complicated stuff like fitted garments with shaping or intricate lace patterns, sometimes paying $6 for a well-tested pattern is worth it. The free version might be fine or it might have errors that waste hours of your time.
Amigurumi patterns are usually pretty good free because the structure is simple even if the assembly is fiddly. But again check the Ravelry project pages to see if people actually finished it successfully.
I’ve had good luck with free blanket patterns. There are SO many free blanket patterns out there that you can definitely find something good without paying. Corner to corner patterns, granny squares, ripples, moss stitch—all easy to find free.
keeping track of modifications
When you modify a free pattern write down what you changed because you will not remember. I made this really nice market bag in summer 2024 and I changed the handle length and the number of increase rows and thought I’d remember what I did and then my friend asked me to make her one and I had no idea what I’d actually done differently from the original pattern.
The notes section on Ravelry is good for this if you remember to use it. Or just keep a notebook. Or take photos of your work in progress with notes about what row you’re on.
community stuff and getting help
Reddit has r/crochet which is actually pretty helpful if you’re stuck on a pattern. People will look at your work and tell you what went wrong. There’s also r/casualcrochet which is less active but more chill.
Facebook groups are hit or miss. Some are really supportive and some are full of people who get mad if you don’t use 100% natural fibers or whatever. Find one that matches your vibe.
The Ravelry forums are good for specific pattern help. You can search to see if someone else had the same question about the pattern you’re making.
Most designers appreciate questions but don’t be that person who asks something that’s clearly explained in the pattern. Read it through first at least.
