Apr
okay so cherry heart patterns
I was working through one of their designs last spring, maybe March 2022? and honestly I picked it because the photo looked doable and I had this weird burgundy Red Heart Super Saver lying around from god knows what project. The Cherry Heart collection is basically this whole library of patterns from different designers and they’re all over the place in terms of difficulty which is actually kinda helpful.
So here’s the thing with their pattern collection – you’re not buying from one designer with one style. It’s more like a curated group situation where different people submit patterns and they all get sold under the Cherry Heart umbrella. Which means you gotta actually READ the pattern description before buying because one pattern might be super detailed with stitch counts for every round and another one is gonna assume you know what you’re doing.
how the actual patterns work
Most of them come as PDF downloads. You buy it, download it, and then you’re looking at anywhere from 3 pages to like 20 pages depending on what you grabbed. The formatting is usually pretty clean – they have charts for people who like visual stuff and written instructions for people like me who can’t read a chart to save their life.
I made this cardigan pattern in summer 2024 and used Caron Simply Soft because it was on sale at Michael’s and I needed a LOT of it. The pattern called for fingering weight but I just… didn’t want to work with something that thin so I sized up my hook and went with worsted. You can do that with most of their patterns honestly, just gotta do the math on gauge.
The gauge thing is where it gets annoying though. So many of their patterns will say “gauge: 18 stitches = 4 inches” but then they don’t tell you if that’s blocked or unblocked, stretched or not stretched. I spent like two hours making swatches for that cardigan because I couldn’t figure out if my tension was right or if the pattern was just written loose.
picking a pattern that won’t make you crazy
Look at the yardage requirements first. If it says 2000+ yards, think real hard about whether you actually want to commit to that. I don’t care how pretty the finished object looks in the photo – that’s a LOT of crocheting.
Check the skill level marking but also scroll down and look at what stitches they’re using. “Intermediate” could mean “you need to know front post double crochet” or it could mean “you’re gonna be doing some weird experimental stitch I invented” and those are very different things. I got burned on a shawl pattern once that was marked intermediate but used this bizarre linked triple crochet situation that took me forever to figure out.
The photos are usually pretty accurate for what you’ll end up with. They’re not doing crazy photoshop stuff or draping things weird to make them look better. What you see is basically what you get, which is refreshing honestly.
actual process of working from their patterns
Print the damn thing out. I know everyone wants to be paperless or whatever but trying to scroll through a PDF on your phone while crocheting is a nightmare. Print it, grab a highlighter, mark where you are as you go.
The patterns usually start with a materials list that’s pretty specific. They’ll tell you the exact yarn the designer used, the color names, how many skeins. You don’t have to use that exact yarn but it helps to know the weight and fiber content. That cardigan I mentioned? Pattern called for some fancy merino blend that was like $18 a skein and I was NOT spending $200 on yarn so the Caron worked fine.
Most patterns have a schematic if it’s a wearable. Actually measure yourself and compare to the schematic because their sizing can be weird. “Medium” in one pattern might fit like a large in another pattern from a different designer in the same collection.
the instructions themselves
They write in standard US crochet terminology which is good. Single crochet means single crochet, not what the UK people call double crochet. Abbreviations are usually listed at the beginning.
Here’s what annoyed me the most though – some of their patterns will give you stitch counts at the end of each row and some won’t. The ones that don’t? You’re just supposed to KNOW you did it right? I was making this baby blanket pattern, I think it was early 2023 when my sister was pregnant, and I got to row 47 and suddenly realized my edges were wonky because I’d been accidentally increasing somewhere and had no stitch counts to check against. Had to rip back like 15 rows.
The baby blanket used Bernat Blanket yarn which was actually perfect for that pattern because it worked up super fast and was squishy. My cat kept trying to sleep on it while I was working on it which was… annoying but also kinda cute I guess.
Some patterns have video tutorials linked. Not all of them, but some. The videos are helpful if you get stuck on a specific stitch or technique. They’re usually on YouTube and they’re actual demonstrations, not just someone talking about the pattern.
modifications and how much you can mess with them
You can change colors obviously. That’s the easiest modification. The striped patterns look completely different depending on your color choices and that’s kinda the fun part.
Changing yarn weight is doable but you gotta do gauge swatches. I know everyone hates swatching but if you’re making a sweater or something that needs to fit, just do the swatch. I learned this the hard way with a crop top pattern that ended up being a regular top because I used slightly thicker yarn and didn’t check my gauge properly.
Some patterns are more flexible than others for modifications. Blankets and shawls? Go wild. Change the size, add rows, whatever. Fitted garments? Stick closer to the pattern unless you really know what you’re doing with construction.
I was watching this show called The Bear while working on that cardigan and I kept getting distracted during the stressful scenes and messing up my stitch counts. Had to rewind both the show and my project multiple times.
what you actually need to know going in
You should probably be comfortable with basic increases and decreases. Most patterns use standard inc and dec methods but they don’t always explain HOW to do them, just where to place them.
Reading your work is important. Like being able to look at your stitches and see where the next stitch should go. Some Cherry Heart patterns have complex stitch patterns where you’re working into spaces or around posts and if you can’t identify what you’re looking at, you’re gonna have a bad time.
Blocking knowledge helps for the shawls and lace stuff. They’ll usually mention if something needs blocked but won’t always explain the process. I just pin mine to foam mats and spray with water but some people get real fancy with it.
the designer variety thing
Since it’s a collection from different designers, each pattern has its own personality. Some designers are really chatty in their notes and will tell you tips and tricks throughout. Others just give you the bare instructions and that’s it.
I’ve noticed some designers in the collection are better at sizing than others. There’s one designer whose sweater patterns always seem to run small, and another whose stuff runs big. You kinda learn who’s who after you’ve made a few patterns.
The pricing is pretty consistent across the collection, usually between $4-8 depending on complexity. That’s reasonable compared to some other pattern sites where people charge $12 for a basic hat pattern.
specific patterns worth mentioning
There’s this one granny square cardigan pattern that’s really popular and honestly it’s popular for a reason. It’s basically just granny squares seamed together but the construction method they use makes it lay really nicely. I made it in fall 2023 using Lion Brand Woolspun in like four different colors and it turned out great. That’s probably the most beginner-friendly sweater pattern in their collection.
The lace shawls are gorgeous but they’re TIME CONSUMING. I’m working on one right now actually, using some sock yarn I got from… I think it’s Knit Picks? The Hawthorne line maybe? It’s taking forever because the stitch pattern repeats are long and you really can’t zone out while working on it.
Their amigurumi patterns are cute but pretty standard. Nothing groundbreaking, just solid patterns for stuffed animals and dolls. I made a bunny for my niece using Paintbox Cotton DK and it held up well to toddler destruction so that’s something.
troubleshooting common issues
If your edges are wavy on a blanket or scarf, you’re probably adding stitches somewhere. Count your stitches every few rows even if the pattern doesn’t tell you to.
If a garment is twisting or not laying flat, check your tension. I tend to crochet tighter when I’m tired or stressed and it shows in the finished piece. Sometimes you gotta just put the project down and come back when you’re not gonna strangle the yarn.
The seaming instructions in their patterns are usually pretty minimal. They’ll say “seam shoulders” but not really explain the best method. I use mattress stitch for most seams because it’s invisible and sturdy, but you could probably whip stitch if you don’t care about it showing.
Color changes can be tricky in some patterns. They don’t always specify if you should change in the last stitch of the row or the first stitch of the next row. I usually change in the last yarn over of the last stitch because it looks cleaner but that’s just my preference.
stuff nobody tells you
PDF patterns don’t come with customer service. If you’re stuck, you’re either figuring it out yourself or asking in a crochet group online. Cherry Heart has a Facebook group I think? But I’m not on Facebook so I just Google stuff or ask on Reddit.
Some patterns have errors. Not a ton, but it happens. Usually it’s something small like a stitch count that’s off by one or an abbreviation that’s inconsistent. You learn to double-check things that seem weird rather than assuming you’re doing it wrong.
The yarn amounts listed are usually accurate but don’t account for gauge differences or if you crochet loose/tight. I always buy an extra skein if it’s a bigger project because running out of yarn when you’re almost done is the WORST.
Dye lots matter if you’re using multiple skeins of the same color. Buy all your yarn at once if possible. I had to rip out like 30 rows of that baby blanket because I ran out of the main color and the new skein I bought was noticeably different even though it was supposedly the same color.
is it worth buying from this collection
If you want a specific style or type of project and you find it in their collection, yeah it’s worth the few bucks. The patterns are generally well-tested and the instructions are clear enough that you can work through them without wanting to throw your hook across the room.
If you’re a total beginner, maybe start with their simpler patterns before jumping into the complex stuff. That granny square cardigan I mentioned is a good starting point for first garments.
For me the biggest value is the variety. I get bored making the same types of things over and over so having access to different designers with different aesthetics keeps it interesting. Plus once you buy a pattern it’s yours forever so you can make it multiple times or come back to it years later.
The spring 2022 thing I was making when I started this – that was actually during a really weird time and having a project to focus on helped. The pattern was for a market bag using cotton yarn, I think Lily Sugar’n Cream? It was mindless enough that I could work on it while watching TV but complex enough that I had to pay some attention. Ended up making like three of them in different colors because the pattern was that straightforward.
Just manage your expectations about pattern clarity and be ready to problem-solve sometimes. Not every pattern is gonna hold your hand through every step but that’s true of most crochet patterns honestly, not just Cherry Heart stuff.
