Apr
Okay So Annie’s Attic Patterns Are Actually Pretty Decent
I grabbed my first Annie’s Attic kit back in spring 2022 when I was basically living on my couch binge-watching The Office for the third time and needed something to do with my hands. The pattern was this doily thing which sounds super grandma but actually turned out kinda cool for a plant holder situation.
The thing with Annie’s Attic is they sell both individual patterns and full kits, and honestly you gotta figure out which one makes sense for what you’re doing. The kits come with yarn already which is convenient but also sometimes it’s yarn you wouldn’t pick yourself. That first doily kit had this Red Heart thread in it – not the Super Saver stuff but their crochet thread which is actually pretty smooth to work with. I think it was size 10 thread? The white one that comes in those balls that look way smaller than they actually are yardage-wise.
How The Pattern Collections Actually Work
So Annie’s Attic does these themed collections like they’ll have a whole book of dishcloths or a collection of baby blankets or whatever. I picked up their dishcloth collection summer 2024 because my kitchen sponges were gross and I was trying to be more sustainable or something. Each pattern book usually has like 6-12 different designs and they’re spiral bound which is actually really helpful because the book stays open while you’re working.
The patterns themselves are written in standard crochet notation – they’re not doing anything weird or proprietary. You get your materials list, gauge info if it matters for that project, and then row-by-row instructions. Some of them include charts too but not always. The dishcloth ones didn’t have charts and honestly for something that simple you don’t really need them.
One thing that annoyed me SO MUCH about the dishcloth patterns was they kept saying “work even” without specifying for how many rows and I’m like… I taught myself crochet from YouTube videos and random blogs, I don’t always know what “work even until piece measures 8 inches” means when my gauge is probably off anyway. Like just tell me how many rows you did in your sample?
What You Actually Get In The Kits
If you buy a full kit instead of just the pattern, here’s what usually comes in the package:
- The yarn in the amounts they calculated you need (sometimes with a tiny bit extra, sometimes not quite enough if you crochet loose)
- The printed pattern on paper, not a book
- Sometimes a photo of the finished item but it’s usually pretty small
- Hook size recommendation but never an actual hook
That last part is important – you still need to supply your own hooks, scissors, yarn needle for weaving in ends, all that stuff. The kit is really just yarn and instructions bundled together.
I did one of their throw blanket kits and it came with Caron Simply Soft in like four different colors. Which fine, Caron Simply Soft is perfectly serviceable yarn, it’s soft and cheap and comes in a million colors. But it also splits like crazy if your hook catches it wrong and I spent half the project fixing stitches where I’d accidentally split the yarn and only grabbed half the plies.
Actually Using The Patterns When You’re Not A Pattern Person
Here’s the thing – I learned crochet by watching people make stuff and then just… making stuff. Didn’t really follow patterns much at first. So when I started using Annie’s Attic patterns I had to actually learn how to read them properly and it was kind of a learning curve even though I already knew how to crochet?
Their patterns use abbreviations like everyone else does. sc for single crochet, dc for double crochet, all that. They usually have a key at the beginning that lists all the abbreviations used in that specific pattern. You’re gonna want to actually read that key because sometimes they use ch-sp for chain space or sk for skip and if you’re not paying attention you’ll miss it.
The gauge section always tells you what your tension should be. Like “16 sc and 18 rows = 4 inches” or whatever. Honestly I almost never make a gauge swatch because I’m lazy and impatient, but if you’re making something that needs to fit (like a baby sweater or whatever) you should probably actually do the gauge swatch. I learned that the hard way when I made a baby blanket that could’ve fit a toddler bed instead.
The Baby Afghan I Made During That Whole Breakup Situation
Fall 2023 was rough and I stress-crocheted my way through this baby ripple afghan pattern from Annie’s Attic. My cat kept laying on the work-in-progress which was annoying but also kind of comforting? The pattern called for Red Heart Super Saver in pastels – I used the baby pink, baby blue, and white. Super Saver gets a bad rap but honestly it’s durable as hell and it softens up after you wash it a few times.
The ripple pattern was basically repeating increases and decreases to make that wave shape. The instructions were pretty clear about where to put your increases (work 3 dc in same stitch) and decreases (dc3tog). But they organized it weird where they’d give you the setup rows and then be like “repeat rows 2-4” and I kept losing track of which row I was on because my brain was mush at the time.
What actually helped was using a row counter app on my phone. Not something Annie’s Attic tells you to do obviously, but their patterns assume you can keep track of where you are and sometimes you just… can’t. Especially with repetitive patterns where every row looks basically the same.
The Yarn Situation And Substitutions
If you’re buying just the pattern without the kit, you need to actually go buy the yarn yourself. The pattern will tell you what they used – brand, color name, yardage needed. But you don’t HAVE to use exactly what they say. You just need to match the weight.
Like if the pattern calls for worsted weight yarn (that’s the medium thickness, number 4 on those little yarn weight symbols), you can use any worsted weight yarn. I’ve substituted Lily Sugar’n Cream for Red Heart, I’ve used Big Twist from Joann’s instead of Caron, whatever. Just make sure the yardage is close to what the pattern says or you might run out.
The kits don’t give you that flexibility obviously since the yarn is already picked. Which is fine if you like their color choices but sometimes their color combos are a little… dated? I got a granny square kit once that had these brown and orange and yellow colors that were very 1970s kitchen vibes. Made it anyway because I already bought it but ended up giving it to my mom who actually liked those colors.
Skill Level Ratings Are Mostly Accurate
Annie’s Attic rates their patterns as beginner, easy, intermediate, or experienced. From what I’ve made, these ratings are actually pretty honest. The beginner stuff really is simple – basic stitches, no complicated shaping, clear instructions. The experienced patterns have things like lacework or complex colorwork or shaping that requires actual attention.
That doily I mentioned earlier was rated intermediate and yeah, that felt right. It had picots and cluster stitches and you had to pay attention to stitch counts. Not hard exactly but not something you can do while watching TV without looking.
The dishcloths were rated beginner and easy, and those you CAN make while watching TV. I made like six of them while getting through a whole season of whatever I was watching – I think it was Schitt’s Creek? Basic stitches, small project, done in an hour or two each.
Things That Genuinely Annoyed Me About The Process
Okay so besides the “work even” thing I mentioned, here are other annoying bits:
The photos in the pattern books are sometimes shot in weird lighting where you can’t actually see the stitch detail clearly. Like they’ll photograph a white doily on a white background and you’re squinting trying to see what the edge actually looks like.
Some patterns have you weaving in ends as you go, some have you doing it all at the end, and they don’t always tell you which approach they assume you’re taking. I prefer weaving as I go but sometimes I forget and then I’m stuck with like 47 ends to weave in at the end and I hate everything.
The yarn amounts in kits are sometimes JUST barely enough. I was making this scarf pattern and ran out of yarn with literally six inches left to go on the length they recommended. Had to just bind off early and call it a cowl instead. Would’ve been nice if they built in like 10% extra or something.
Pattern corrections aren’t always easy to find. If there’s an error in a pattern, Annie’s Attic usually posts corrections on their website but you have to actually remember to check. I made half a project wrong once before someone in a Facebook group mentioned there was a correction posted.
How To Actually Pick A Pattern That Won’t Make You Hate Life
Look at the yardage requirements first. If a pattern needs 2000 yards of yarn and you’ve never finished a big project before, maybe don’t start with that one. Be realistic about your attention span.
Read the actual stitch list in the pattern before you buy it. If it lists a bunch of stitches you don’t know and don’t feel like learning, pick something else. Or be prepared to YouTube every new stitch, which is fine but takes longer.
Check if the pattern has assembly required. Some of Annie’s Attic blanket patterns have you make a bunch of squares and then seam them together. If you hate seaming (I hate seaming), maybe pick a pattern that’s worked in one piece instead.
The reviews on their website are actually helpful sometimes. People will mention if the pattern has errors or if the yarn amount was wrong or if the finished size is way different than stated. Worth reading through a few before you commit.
What I’d Actually Recommend Starting With
If you’re new to following patterns in general, start with their dishcloth or washcloth patterns. They’re small so if you mess up it’s not a huge time investment lost. They use basic stitches mostly. And you end up with something actually useful instead of just a practice swatch you throw away.
I made their “Kitchen Brights” dishcloth set and used Lily Sugar’n Cream cotton yarn in random colors I had laying around. Each one took maybe an hour and you can see pretty quickly if you’re doing the pattern right. Plus cotton yarn is cheap so even if you screw it up completely you’re not out much money.
For something slightly bigger but still manageable, their baby blanket patterns are good. Baby blankets are small enough to finish relatively quickly but big enough that you get practice with maintaining tension over a larger piece and keeping track of rows. That ripple afghan I mentioned was maybe 30×35 inches? Took me a couple weeks of casual evening crocheting.
I wouldn’t start with their lace doily patterns even though those are pretty. Lace is fiddly and uses thin thread and requires consistent tension and it’s just a lot for a first pattern-following project. Work up to those.
The Kit Versus Just Pattern Question
So should you buy the full kit or just the pattern? Depends on a few things honestly.
Buy the kit if you don’t have a yarn stash already, if you like the colors they picked, if you want everything in one package and don’t want to think about it. The kit costs more than buying the pattern and yarn separately usually would, but it’s convenient and you know you have enough of the right yarn.
Buy just the pattern if you have yarn already that would work, if you want to pick your own colors, if you’re trying to use up your stash (I have… so much yarn in bins under my bed, it’s gotten out of control). The pattern alone is cheaper and gives you flexibility.
I’ve done both depending on the situation. That doily kit made sense because I didn’t have crochet thread sitting around. The dishcloths I just bought the pattern book because I had cotton yarn already. The baby blanket I bought just the pattern but then ended up buying new yarn anyway because I wanted specific colors, so… that logic didn’t really work out but whatever.
Where To Actually Buy This Stuff
Annie’s Attic patterns and kits are sold on their website directly and also through Amazon and sometimes at craft stores. Joann’s carries some of them. Hobby Lobby has them sometimes but I try not to shop there for… reasons, but they do have them.
The prices are usually pretty similar across retailers. Sometimes Annie’s website has sales or bundle deals. Amazon has them with Prime shipping which is nice if you’re impatient like me and want to start a project immediately.
You can also find older Annie’s Attic patterns on Etsy and eBay, especially vintage ones from like the 80s and 90s. Some of those are actually really cool in a retro way. I got a vintage granny square vest pattern from Etsy that’s definitely very 1970s but I kind of love it? Haven’t made it yet though, it’s in my “someday” pile.
Libraries sometimes have crochet pattern books you can borrow including Annie’s Attic ones, which is a good way to try before you buy if you’re not sure about a pattern. You can photocopy the pattern or just use it at the library, though photocopying is technically a copyright gray area but people do it anyway.
Actual Tips For Working Through The Pattern Without Losing Your Mind
Use stitch markers. Even if the pattern doesn’t tell you to. Mark the beginning of rounds, mark where pattern repeats start, mark whatever helps you keep track. Those little plastic ones are cheap and helpful.
Highlight or cross off rows as you complete them. I print out patterns (or photocopy from books) specifically so I can mark them up. Trying to keep track mentally does not work for me at all.
If you’re gonna put the project down for a while, leave yourself a note about where you are. I’ve picked up projects weeks later and had absolutely no idea what row I was on or what I was supposed to do next. Now I stick a post-it note on it like “just finished row 23, next is row 24 which starts the new color.”
Don’t assume you can just wing it partway through. I’ve tried to get creative and modify patterns midway and it usually ends badly. Either follow the pattern or intentionally modify it from the start, don’t try to do both halfway through.
If something seems wrong, it probably is. Like if your stitch count is suddenly way off or the piece is looking weird, don’t just keep going hoping it’ll work out. Stop and figure out where it went wrong. I’ve had to rip out entire sections because I kept going when I knew something was off.
The pattern might be wrong occasionally. It happens. If you’ve triple-checked your work and it still doesn’t match what the pattern says should happen, search online to see if others had the same issue. Usually someone has posted about it in a Ravelry forum or something.
