Apr
okay so Jayda InStitches patterns, right? I’ve worked through maybe four or five of her designs now and honestly they’re pretty solid if you know what you’re getting into. The first one I tried was back in spring 2022 when I was basically living on my couch binge-watching Schitt’s Creek for like the third time and needed something to keep my hands busy.
The thing with her patterns is they’re written for people who already kinda know what they’re doing. Not like super advanced or anything but she doesn’t hold your hand through every single stitch. Which I actually prefer because I hate when patterns are like “now insert your hook into the stitch” yeah no kidding where else would I put it. But if you’re still at that stage where you need everything spelled out this might frustrate you.
Her blanket patterns especially are pretty straightforward. I made the Cottage Waves blanket in summer 2024 using Lion Brand Pound of Love because I needed a LOT of yarn and wasn’t gonna spend a fortune on something that big. The pattern called for worsted weight and gave you like three size options which was nice. I did the medium throw size and it turned out maybe 50×60 inches or something close to that.
What annoyed me though was the way she writes her stitch counts. She’ll give you the count at the end of a row but sometimes it’s not super clear if she’s counting chains as stitches or not and I had to rip back like three rows at one point because I couldn’t figure out where I went wrong. This was definitely a me problem too because I wasn’t paying close enough attention but still, a little more clarity would’ve saved me probably two hours of frustration.
The wearables are where things get interesting. I made her Seaside Cardigan pattern and that’s when I really understood her design style. She uses a lot of simple stitches but combines them in ways that create texture without being fussy. Like the cardigan was mostly just single crochet and half double crochet but the construction method made it look way more complicated than it actually was.
For that one I used Caron Simply Soft because it was on sale at Michaels and I had a coupon. Needed like eight skeins I think? Maybe nine. The pattern said eight but I always buy extra because running out of yarn in the middle of a project is my personal nightmare. The color was called Soft Blue or Ocean or something very generic like that.
One thing about her sizing though – and this is important – her measurements run pretty true but you gotta actually check your gauge. I know everyone says this but with her patterns it really matters because the drape of the fabric is part of the design. I didn’t check gauge the first time and my cardigan ended up being like two inches too wide in the shoulders which honestly wasn’t terrible but it would’ve fit better if I’d just taken ten minutes to make a gauge swatch.
Her shawl patterns are probably my favorite category. Made the Twilight Wrap in I think it was early 2023? Used Red Heart Unforgettable in the Tidal colorway. That yarn is kinda splitty and annoying to work with but the color transitions are really pretty and worked well with the lace sections in the pattern. The shawl itself is a triangle shape worked from the top down which I prefer because you can just keep going until you run out of yarn if you want it bigger.
The lace charts in her patterns are… okay so she includes both written instructions and charts which is good because I’m not great at reading charts honestly. I can do it but it takes me longer and I usually end up converting them to written in my head anyway. But having both options is helpful if you’re trying to learn charts or if you’re one of those people who finds them easier.
Something that’s not really her fault but the PDF formatting can be a little weird when you print them. I usually save patterns on my tablet but sometimes I like having a physical copy and the page breaks don’t always land in logical places. Like you’ll get half a row instruction on one page and the rest on the next page which means lots of scrolling or flipping back and forth.
Her market bag pattern is really popular and I can see why. It’s quick, uses cotton yarn which actually makes sense for a bag, and the construction is clever. You make the base first then work up the sides in the round. I used Lily Sugar’n Cream because that’s basically the default cotton yarn everyone uses and it’s cheap. The pattern has you single crochet the whole thing basically but you switch up where you place the stitches to create a textured pattern that looks like little Vs or arrows or something.
My cat kept trying to sleep on the bag while I was working on it which made things difficult but whatever, she does that with every project. Anyway the handles are worked separately and then sewn on which I wasn’t thrilled about because I hate seaming but they actually stay on really well and the bag holds a ton of weight. I’ve used it for groceries and library books and it hasn’t stretched out weird or anything.
The baby blanket patterns from her collection are cute but pretty basic. If you’re making something for a baby shower or whatever they work fine but don’t expect anything revolutionary. Lots of granny squares or simple stitch repeats in pastel colors. I made one using Bernat Baby Blanket yarn which is that really thick puffy stuff that works up fast. Pattern was done in maybe six hours total while watching TV.
One pattern that didn’t work great for me was her Messy Bun Hat. The concept is cool – it’s a beanie with a hole at the top for your ponytail or bun – but the sizing was off. I made it exactly to pattern specifications using the yarn weight she recommended (worsted, I think I used Red Heart Super Saver in like Charcoal or something) and it was way too loose. Just slid right off my head. I ended up giving it to my friend who has more hair than me and it fit her better but still, kinda disappointing.
Her patterns usually include a materials list that’s pretty accurate. She’ll tell you yardage and hook size and any notions you need. Sometimes she suggests specific yarn brands but mostly she just gives you the weight category which is fine. Leaves it open for you to use what you want or what’s in your stash.
The difficulty ratings on her patterns are generally accurate too. When she says “intermediate” she means you should probably know how to increase and decrease and read a pattern without getting confused. Her “beginner” patterns are actually beginner-friendly, not that thing where designers say beginner but actually mean you need to know seventeen different stitches.
I tried her Ripple Throw pattern using I Love This Yarn from Hobby Lobby because again, budget crafting here. That pattern has you doing a classic ripple stitch which creates those wavy stripes. Nothing groundbreaking but sometimes you just want a reliable pattern that looks nice and doesn’t require a ton of brainpower. Made it while my roommate was going through a breakup and needed company so I was just sitting there crocheting and half-listening to the same story about her ex for like the fifth time.
The written instructions in her patterns are generally clear but she does use abbreviations without always defining them at the beginning. Like she’ll throw in “BLO” for back loop only and if you don’t already know what that means you gotta figure it out. Most of her patterns have an abbreviations list though, just not always on the first page where you’d expect it.
Her amigurumi patterns are okay but not my favorite. I made a little bunny from one of her Easter-themed patterns and it was cute but the head ended up kinda lumpy no matter how evenly I tried to stuff it. Used Red Heart Amigurumi yarn which is specifically made for that but still had issues. Might’ve been my tension or maybe the pattern needed more specific shaping instructions, hard to say.
Photo tutorials aren’t really included in her patterns which would be helpful for some of the trickier construction methods. Like the cardigan I mentioned earlier, it’s worked in pieces and then seamed together in a specific order and having photos of that process would’ve made it way easier. I kinda had to logic through it myself and hope I was doing it right.
The stitch patterns she creates are usually pretty forgiving though. Even if you mess up a little bit or your tension isn’t perfect the overall fabric still looks decent. That’s actually something I really appreciate because I’m not a super precise crocheter and I don’t wanna rip out rows constantly.
Price-wise her patterns are reasonable. Usually like $5-8 depending on complexity which feels fair for what you get. Some designers charge way more for basically the same amount of content. And she does sales sometimes which is when I try to stock up on patterns I’ve been eyeing.
The color suggestions she includes are sometimes helpful and sometimes really bland. Like she’ll suggest “blue or green” which okay sure but that doesn’t really narrow it down. Would’ve been nice to have specific color names or examples but I get that everyone has different taste and access to different yarn.
Her cowl patterns work up really fast which is nice for gift-making. I made three of her Twisted Cowl pattern in one weekend using Wool-Ease because it was November and I needed teacher gifts. The pattern is just a long rectangle that you twist and seam into a circle but the twist creates this infinity scarf look that seems fancier than it is.
Support and pattern corrections are decent. I found an error in one pattern where a stitch count was wrong and emailed her about it and she responded pretty quick and had already posted a correction on her website. So she’s at least maintaining her patterns which some designers don’t bother doing.
The seasonal patterns she releases are kinda hit or miss. Some are really specific to certain holidays which limits when you’d actually make them. But others are seasonal in a more general way like “cozy fall blanket” that you could use any time really.
Overall I think her pattern collection is solid for intermediate crocheters who want relatively simple projects that still look finished and intentional. Not gonna change your life or anything but they’re reliable and usually turn out like the pictures which is more than I can say for some pattern designers honestly.
