Apr
Okay so Red Heart patterns are basically everywhere
I was making this chunky blanket pattern from their site last summer around June 2024 and honestly the whole free pattern library thing is actually pretty useful if you know where to look. Red Heart has like thousands of free patterns on their website and you don’t need to sign up or give them your email or anything which is nice because I’m so tired of that.
The thing is their patterns range from super basic dishcloths to like elaborate sweaters and you gotta figure out what skill level you’re actually at. I thought I was intermediate but then I tried this cardigan pattern and realized I had no idea what short rows were supposed to look like in practice versus just reading the abbreviation.
How to actually find patterns you’ll finish
So their website has filters but they’re kind of annoying? You can search by yarn weight, project type, skill level but sometimes a pattern will be tagged “easy” and it’s definitely not easy. I made a baby blanket pattern in spring 2022 that was supposedly beginner-friendly and the border alone took me three tries because the instructions for the corners were like deliberately confusing.
Here’s what actually works: search by the yarn you already have. If you’ve got a bunch of Red Heart Super Saver sitting around (which let’s be honest most of us do because it’s cheap and everywhere), just type that into their search. They’ll show you everything designed specifically for that yarn weight and fiber content. Same with Red Heart Soft or With Love or whatever.
I usually buy Red Heart Super Saver in those big skeins from Walmart because it’s like $4 and you get a lot of yardage. Sometimes I’ll grab Caron Simply Soft if I want something less scratchy but that’s not Red Heart brand obviously even though their patterns work fine with it.
The actual download process
Most patterns are PDF downloads. You click the pattern you want, scroll down past all the photos and yarn recommendations, and there’s usually a “free download” button. Sometimes it’s a print button that opens a printer-friendly version. I just save those as PDFs on my phone because I’m usually crocheting on the couch while watching TV anyway.
One thing that really annoyed me is that their PDFs don’t always format well on mobile. Like the stitch counts will wrap weird or the sizing chart gets cut off and you have to zoom in and out constantly. I was trying to follow this chevron blanket pattern while my cat kept walking across my tablet and I genuinely almost gave up because I couldn’t see the repeat instructions clearly.
Understanding their abbreviations and gauge
Red Heart patterns use standard US crochet terms which is good if you learned that way but if you accidentally learned UK terms from YouTube or something you’re gonna have issues. A US double crochet is a UK treble and that screws up everything.
They always include a gauge swatch section. I know everyone says to do gauge swatches and I know I should but like… I almost never do unless it’s a fitted garment. For blankets or scarves or whatever I just start and if it’s coming out too big or small I change hook sizes. Probably bad advice but it works for me most of the time.
The gauge is usually written like “16 stitches and 12 rows = 4 inches in half double crochet” or whatever. If you’re making a sweater you actually do need to match this or it won’t fit right. I learned this the hard way with a pullover that ended up being able to fit like two of me inside it because I used a hook size too big and didn’t check.
Yarn substitution stuff
Even though these are Red Heart patterns you don’t have to use Red Heart yarn. The pattern will tell you the weight (like worsted weight, bulky, etc.) and how many yards you need total. You can use literally any brand that matches those specs.
I’ve used Bernat Blanket yarn for a Red Heart pattern that called for their own bulky yarn. Worked fine. I’ve used Lion Brand Wool-Ease for a Super Saver pattern. Also fine. The texture might be different but the actual construction of the item will work as long as you match the weight and adjust your hook to get similar gauge.
What doesn’t work is trying to substitute like a fingering weight yarn for a pattern that wants bulky. I mean you could but you’d have to recalculate literally everything and at that point just find a different pattern.
Pattern types that are actually worth downloading
Their blanket patterns are probably the most reliable. I’ve made maybe six or seven different blankets from their free collection and most turned out pretty close to the photos. The “Hugs and Kisses” blanket pattern is super popular and honestly it’s cute if you don’t mind a lot of texture stitches.
Baby stuff patterns are everywhere on their site. Hats, booties, little cardigans, blankets. If you need to make a baby shower gift you’ll find something. The sizing is usually pretty accurate for baby stuff because babies are more standardized I guess?
Amigurumi patterns are hit or miss. Red Heart has some but they’re not really known for that. If you want a stuffed animal pattern I’d honestly look elsewhere because their shaping instructions can be vague.
Wearables are complicated
I’ve tried probably four sweater or cardigan patterns from Red Heart and only finished two. The instructions for shaping armholes and necklines are sometimes really unclear. There was this one poncho pattern I started in like fall 2023 and I still don’t understand what they meant by “decrease evenly across row” because they didn’t specify how many decreases or where to place them.
Their sizing charts are usually pretty good though. They’ll give you finished measurements for each size (S, M, L, XL, etc.) and you can measure a sweater you already own to figure out what size to make. I usually go one size up because I like things loose and also because my tension tends to be tighter than average I think.
Scarves and cowls are easy wins. Hard to mess up a scarf honestly. Their infinity scarf patterns are popular and they work up quick if you use bulky yarn.
The annoying parts nobody mentions
Okay so one thing that drives me crazy is when a pattern says “repeat from * to end of row” but they don’t clearly mark where the repeat starts. You’re just supposed to figure it out from context I guess? I’ve had to reread some sections like ten times to understand what stitches are part of the repeat versus what’s only done once.
Also their stitch diagrams when they include them are… fine but not great. Some patterns have photo tutorials built in which helps a lot. But a lot of the older patterns are just text instructions and maybe one finished product photo. If you’re a visual learner that’s rough.
The yarn amounts they recommend are usually accurate but sometimes they’ll say you need 6 skeins and you’ll end up with like half a skein left over. Which is fine I guess, goes into the scrap pile, but it’s annoying when you’re on a budget and trying to buy exact amounts.
Oh and some patterns have errors. Like actual mistakes in the stitch counts or instructions. There’s usually a Ravelry page or something where people discuss the pattern and point out errors but you have to know to look for that. I made this market bag pattern and the handle instructions were completely wrong – the stitch count didn’t match up at all. Had to improvise.
How to modify patterns without breaking them
If you want to make a blanket bigger you can usually just add more starting chains (in multiples of whatever the repeat is) and keep going. Most blanket patterns have a stitch repeat that’s like 6 or 8 or 12 stitches, so you just make sure your starting chain is divisible by that number.
Changing colors is easy, just switch yarns when they tell you to fasten off or at the end of rows. I almost never use the exact color combinations they show in the photos because I use whatever’s in my stash.
Making things smaller is harder than making them bigger honestly. You can’t just subtract stitches randomly or the pattern won’t work. Better to find a pattern that’s already the size you want.
Specific patterns I’ve actually completed
The “Scrappy Happy Blanket” pattern is good for using up yarn scraps. It’s just granny squares sewn together so nothing complicated but it looks impressive when it’s done. I made one during summer 2024 while binge-watching this show about people renovating houses and it took maybe two weeks of casual evening crocheting.
There’s a chunky hat pattern called something like “Favorite Chunky Hat” that works up in like two hours. Good beginner project. I’ve made probably five of these as gifts using Red Heart Grande which is their really bulky yarn.
I tried their “Classic Granny Cardigan” pattern and it was fine but took forever. The construction is interesting – you make a big granny square for the back and then smaller ones for the fronts and sleeves. Seaming it all together was tedious though.
Stuff I abandoned halfway through
There was this really pretty mandala blanket pattern I started and got like 20 rounds in before I realized it was gonna be absolutely massive and take me six months. Frogged it and used the yarn for something else. The pattern itself was fine I just didn’t have the patience.
I also started a virus shawl pattern which isn’t specifically a Red Heart pattern but they have several variations on their site and yeah… those increase really fast and eat up yarn like crazy. Got bored with it.
Tips for actually finishing projects
Print out the pattern or keep it easily accessible. I use the Pocket app to save PDFs so I can read them offline because my WiFi is terrible in my living room where I usually crochet.
Use stitch markers way more than you think you need to. Mark the beginning of rounds, mark pattern repeats, mark where you are if you have to stop mid-row. I use those little plastic ones from the craft store or honestly just safety pins or bobby pins or whatever.
Read through the entire pattern before starting. I know this sounds obvious but I can’t tell you how many times I’ve gotten halfway through something and realized there’s a technique coming up that I don’t know how to do. Then I have to stop and watch YouTube tutorials and it breaks my momentum.
Keep notes about what hook size you’re actually using and what row you’re on. The pattern might say use a 5mm hook but if you’re using 5.5mm because your tension is tight, write that down somewhere. Future you will forget.
Where else to find Red Heart patterns
Their website is the main source but they also post patterns on Yarnspirations which is like a multi-brand pattern site. Sometimes the same pattern appears in both places. Ravelry has a ton of Red Heart patterns uploaded by users too, and you can see other people’s finished projects which helps you decide if it’s actually worth making.
YouTube has video tutorials for some of the popular Red Heart patterns. Searching for the pattern name plus “tutorial” usually brings something up. This helps a lot if the written instructions are confusing.
Pinterest links to Red Heart patterns but honestly I find Pinterest more annoying than helpful because you have to click through like three times to get to the actual pattern and sometimes the links are broken.
I’ve been using their patterns for probably like four years now? Maybe five? They’re honestly a solid free resource especially when you’re starting out and don’t want to pay for patterns. The quality varies but most are decent enough to work from. Just gotta be patient with the formatting issues and occasional errors I guess.
