Modern, size inclusive crochet designs
This blog contains everything from tips & tricks for makers, testers and designers to yarn reviews to showcases of pattern testers for a variety of my designs. If you’re interested in a specific category only - click the links below!
Crochet Tips for Makers
Designing & Testing Tips
Pattern Tester Showcases
Happy crocheting,
Courtney
So, you’re feeling ready to crochet (or knit) your first garment – CONGRATULATIONS! This blog post is going to help you ensure that you are ready and hopefully help you build up your toolbox a little to ensure the first garment you make is a huge success! Also available in video version on my Youtube channel.
Millie is a staple in your fall wardrobe this year! She’s perfect for layering on the cool mornings and nights. This top down raglan is intermediate or adventurous beginner friendly! She’s written in two lengths - cropped and full/hip length. My testers have showcased how this pattern works on different bodies, with different fibres & colours, and in the two different lengths! Check out their versions and exactly what yarn & how much they used and where to follow along with their crochet journey.
Hello & welcome back to the blog! Today is part 2 of the pattern testing series, but this time we’re chatting pattern testing from a designer’s perspective. I’m covering the dos and don’ts, how to run a test from start to finish, and diving deep into the hot topic of whether we should be financially compensating pattern testers for their work!
Spencer was a dress I designed to wear to my friends wedding back in June - so I decided to name it after his new wife! Both the top and skirt are worked from the top down so are easily to alter their length! My testers have showcased how this pattern works on different bodies, with different fibres & colours! Check out their different versions and exactly what yarn & how much they used and where to follow along with their crochet journey.
In today’s blog post we are going to be talking pattern testing! First, we will do a brief overview of what pattern testing is & why it is important. Then, we will get into the nitty gritty of being a pattern tester – from how to become one in the first place, to being the best rockstar pattern tester that every designer is going to want to work with! Much of the focus of this post will be around garments and wearable items, but all the non-sizing specific rules apply to all tests whether you’re making a crocheted sweater or an amigurumi!
This tank top is worked from the top down, without any seams - it’s all joined as you go! Since it is top-down construction you can easily customize the length. My testers have showcased how this pattern works on different bodies, with different fibres & colours! Check out their different versions and exactly what yarn & how much they used and where to follow along with their crochet journey.
My testers have showcased how this pattern works on different bodies, with different fibres and some variety in skirt length! Check out their different versions and exactly what yarn & how much they used, as well a couple testers chose not to do the elastic waistband so you can see how it looks with and without the elastic (it is noted if they did not use it).
One of my most frequently asked questions from makers wanting to break into designing is “How do I know if my idea is unique enough?”. This can be both a difficult and an easy question to answer so let’s dive into the nuances of ensuring that your design idea does not exist already OR is different enough from an existing design so you can feel good about publishing it!
The Daisy Shorts were a long time coming! I first tried making this design a year and a half ago and couldn’t get it quite right. Thankfully, with time and patience I was able to pick her back up and get her out into the world finally! With the help of my lovely testers, Daisy was made SO much better. The pattern is entirely based on your unique measurements. You input 4 of your measurements into the spreadsheet and it populates the numbers you need to make your shorts. You can also change your desired rise and pant leg length.
My testers have showcased how this pattern works on different bodies, with different rises and pant leg length. Some even did a cuffed hem on the legs which I adore! Check out their hard work and Daisy shorts in this post!
If you find yourself wondering how on Earth designers make money, thinking “what does “affiliate link” mean?” or wondering which platform to purchase a pattern on to make sure as much of your hard earned income gets into the pocket of an indie designer – then you’ve come to the right place!
As a maker and pattern enthusiast it may be difficult to know how to best support your fave designers, and we don’t blame you! It’s a confusing world to navigate. I’m going to run through all the ways designers make money and how you can help support designers – from things that will cost a bit more to things that are absolutely FREE! Yes, you heard it – there are FREE ways to support designers!
Welcome back for part 5 of the Gauge Week blog series. Today’s post explains the importance of blocking your swatches. We touch on how different yarns and fibres block differently so you need to block every time. They we talk about how to use your pre and post blocked gauge while working up the pattern!
Welcome back to part 4 of the Gauge Week blog series! Today is probably the most important day yet – how to adjust your gauge! This blog post will cover when and how to change your hook and how to adjust when no matter which hook you try either the height or width is off. Every gauge IS achievable and we show you how!
It’s day 3 of Gauge Week – the day a lot of you have been waiting for! Today’s topic is how to gauge in the round.
Typically, we gauge in the round when the pattern is worked in the round. This is common in yoke style sweaters, hats, socks, and amigurumi, among other things. When you work in the round your stitches all face the same direction. The stitches can behave slightly differently when worked flat versus in the round – that is why it is important to gauge in the round if it is specified that way in the pattern. Find out two different ways to gauge in the round in today’s post!
Welcome to day 2 of Gauge Week! Today’s post covers a basic gauge swatch – one that’s worked flat, in rows, back and forth. A plain and simple gauge swatch is what most patterns call for so that is where we are going to start!
A flat gauge swatch like we’re going to learn today can be done in 5-20 minutes depending on the weight of the yarn/hook size you are using, and can save you from creating a whole piece that ends up being ill-fitting. I know, I know we’re all super excited when we find the perfect pattern and the squishiest yarn that we just want to hop right in, but gauging first can save you a LOT of frogging later.
Welcome to the start of Gauge Week Day 1: What is “Gauge” and Why Do We Do It?
Very basically, gauge is the size of our stitches. Every single person crochets slightly differently than the next – we hold our hooks differently, we tension our yarn differently, we sit differently while crocheting – the smallest things can affect gauge in a big way! The type of fibre or yarn we use to make something can also affect the size of our stitches – acrylic, wool, alpaca, cotton, superwash, bamboo – they all hold onto stitches differently. But don’t let that scare you! You are always welcome to use a different fibre than the designer – you just need to swatch in your chosen fibre.
Who says knitters are the only ones who can enjoy a good Fair Isle style sweater? Not me! In designing my Marzanna sweater I learned a lot about colourwork in crochet and I’m here to share all the deets! I am by no means a colourwork expert and this blog post is just a quick overview of how I managed the two colours while making the Marzanna sweater.