Learn this simple yarn organization method to help you store and organize all your leftover yarn after a crochet project.
Here are some supplies you might need:
Multiple Sizes of Ziplock bags!
Rubber Bands! You will need them to help secure your yarn balls. You can also use bobby pins and hair clips.
As I am sure you all know after you crochet something from one skien of yarn you can be left with a half-used skien. A little something like this-
When they are about this size I turn them into a cake. I use my electric winder (sadly it got discontinued!) but there are some regular yarn winders out there that you can use.
Once you wind them up you get a nice little yarn cake like this, which makes it easier to store.
Whenever I want to make something new or design something quick, I go to my crate wall and use my yarn scraps before I got to my big yarn wall that has all my full new skiens of yarn.
Once you use a bit of your caked up yarn scraps, it will get smaller and can become messy. At this point I ball up my yarn!
You take your yarn and wrap it around your three fingers. Just keep wrapping until you have a nice chunk wrapped around like so.
Once you have wrapped it enough around your fingers, you are going to slip it off your fingers and start wrapping around the middle of the yarn. It will start looking like a little bow.
Now you will keep wrapping all around and it will create a little yarn ball.
Once your yarn is balled up you take your rubber band and wrap it around it to secure the ends so it does not come undone!
Soon you will have a lot of yarn balls lying around and that is where the ziplock bags will come in handy.
You can sort and store them by yarn brand, size or color.
I store all my balls of yarn (and ziplock bags full of yarn balls) in a basket I scored at a yard sale.
If you have tiny bits of yarn that you can barely even make a yarn ball out of, you can still save them! I group them by brand and use an old pickle jar to store them.
I use my little baby yarn balls for things like attaching tags to my items or when I lose at a game of yarn chicken and just need a LITTLE more to finish a project.
I hope this yarn organization tip was helpful for you and your leftover yarn! I have another post coming out soon about what I do with my yarn tails. So be sure to check back for that 🙂
If you have been crocheting for a while now, you have probably designed some of your own pieces and thought about sharing those designs with the rest of the maker community. I think it’s a very natural progression for a crocheter to want to try their hand at designing and I say GO FOR IT! If that’s you, you may not know exactly where to start. In this post I have listed all the components a crochet pattern might need (some are optional depending on the design) in hopes that it will help you to write your first pattern. Don’t worry about writing these down, I have provided a PDF for you guys that’s linked at the end.
I also want to throw this out there, I am still very new to pattern writing. I just released my first pattern in summer 2017 and I think I now have a total of 11 patterns in my Etsy shop. You don’t have to be super experienced to write a pattern, just put all the information you think a reader would need to know and you’ll probably be good. But, in case you are a list person, or just like to double check your work, this post is for you.
Some of the links in this post may be affiliate links, meaning I may receive a small commission, at NO ADDITIONAL cost to you, from purchases made using the links provided.
DON’T BE SHY First things first, you are an amazing human being. You are talented and your design idea is a good one!! Do not be scared to write your first crochet pattern. The crochet community is amazing and there is going to be so many people there ready to cheer you on. Don’t be worried about if people will like it, because who cares! You did a thing, and you put it out on the internet for the entire world to see and that is an accomplishment in its self! If you don’t want to make it a paid pattern you can post it to Ravelry as a free pattern! Do not let fear hold you back because you never know, your pattern may be the next big thing. Or maybe your pattern may touch the heart of a mother who is suffering from postpartum depression and your pattern inticed her to pick up her crochet hooks and your pattern changed her life. You literally never know, so just do it! And be excited about it! Because I’m excited for you ☺️.
Ok, now that we are on the same page, here is a list of things your crochet pattern should include (Remember some are optional).
Introduction: Explain what the pattern in, who it’s for, and the different ways you can use it. If your pattern is for multiple sizes, you can explain that here in the intro.
Finished Item Pictures: I suggest putting a picture of the finished piece on the cover page of your pattern. I received a less than 5-star review once because there wasn’t a finished product picture on the front page, and after reading the review, I totally understood that customer’s point of view! I also include different angles and some close-ups of the finished piece at the end of most of my patterns.
Materials: List all the materials needed to make this pattern, in detail. When you list the yarn, list the brand, color, weight, and how much of it you will need to complete this pattern. Get very specific when it comes to yarn details, the more info the better! You can also include any yarn substitutions here just in case your reader lives in an area that doesn’t have the same yarn the pattern calls for. Include the hook size/brand, if you need stitch makers or pins, scissors, tapestry needle, polyfill, anything they will need to complete this project needs to be listed here. Pro Tip: Kitchen scales are great for weighing yarn and determining how much you will need for a specific project.
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Stitch Key: List all the abbreviations of all the stitches you use in the pattern and what the abbreviations stand for. Example: SC is Single Crochet. You will also need to indicate if you are using US or UK terminology. Here is a master list of crochet abbreviations by Crafty Yarn Council.
Special Stitches: It’s smart to explain how to do the crochet stitches your pattern uses. Pretend the reader of your pattern doesn’t know very much about crochet and explain how to do each of the stitches used, step by step. Include video links as well if you want to be extra sure your customer will be able to understand and complete the pattern. Pro Tip: Whenever I go to explain how to do a stitch, I always crochet the actual stitch in a swatch and type out exactly what I do, as I do it. Start keeping all your stitch explanations in a document on your computer so next time you design a pattern with that stitch, you can just copy and paste.
Gauge: When I first started designing patterns I didn’t include the gauge. Then I had to go back and add it in and send the updated pattern to everyone who already purchased it, it wasn’t fun lol. So just include the gauge from the very beginning and save yourself some hassle! What is a gauge? Gauge just tells you how big your stitches are. To create your gauge you crochet a certain number of stitches for a certain number of rows. Say you crochet with a size I hook, 15 single crochets for 15 rows and you get a 4″ by 4″ square. If someone is following your pattern and they make a “15 single crochets for 15 rows swatch” and their square is only 2″ by 2″ they know they either need to loosen up their tension significantly or go up in hook size until their gauge matches yours. If their gauge doesn’t match yours, then their finished piece will not have the same measurements as yours.
Dimensions: Include the dimensions of your finished piece. If you offer more than one size, include dimensions for all sizes. I also like to include dimensions throughout the pattern, if necessary, so the customer can see if they’re on track during making the project instead of making the whole thing and realizing their tension was off.
Before you start tips: Sometimes I have a pattern where I need to explain something to the reader before they start the project that way they know what to expect. In my Crafty Watermelon Pillow pattern, I had a whole “before you start” page that explained how I used stitch markers before certain rows, complete with pictures. I also had a “before you start” section in my Kate Bun Beanie pattern pointing out to pay close attention to the end of each row because after some rows you turn your work when after others you don’t.
Video Tutorial Link: If you make a video that corresponds with your crochet pattern make sure to include the link in the pattern its self. If your customer is reading the PDF on their computer the link should be clickable (at least it is on a Mac), but if they print it out they can just type it in by hand. Pro Tip: You can use Bitly.com to shorten URLs so that they are easier to read/type out.
The Actual Pattern: The easiest way to do this is to write the steps/rows/rounds as you physically do them. Be sure to pay attention to the little details like turning after chaining, tying off, switching colors, leaving a long tail for sewing, things like that. I always put a stitch count at the end of each row so my reader can easily go back and check to see if they have the right number of stitches.
Progress Pictures: I personally include a lot of progress pictures in my patterns. My thinking is the more pictures I include, the fewer questions/confusion my reader will have. Some designers use very little, if any, pictures. You will want to do what’s right for your particular design. Try to imagine a first-time crocheter is following your pattern and include pictures on any part you think needs extra explaining. I have actually started offering a “printer friendly” version of my patterns too that doesn’t include the pictures, that way if the reader doesn’t need the pictures they can save ink/paper when printing. You can also use arrows on your pictures if you need to bring your reader’s attention to a specific detail. In some of my pattern pictures, I use an arrow clip art image to show exactly which stitch I’m talking about in the pattern.
Pro Tips: Throughout my patterns, I sometimes include “pro tips” to help the reader. With my Kate Bun Beanie pattern one of the increase rows doesn’t have a nice repetition, I wrote out exactly how many stitches to do in between each increase in the pattern but some readers may be more advanced crocheters and all they need to know is that row has 5 increases. That’s what I would say in a “pro tip”.
Graphs, Charts, or Diagrams: Some crochet designs are better explained using stitch graphs, charts (think graphgans), or even diagrams you make yourself. There are a couple of online programs available that will help you make crochet charts. Stitchworks and Stitch Fiddle were both recommended to me by fellow designers. Here is a list of crochet chart symbol meanings by Craft Yarn Council you might find helpful.
Blocking: If your piece requires blocking you could explain in your pattern how to actually block a crochet item, or links to tutorials that you think explain it perfectly (be sure to give credit to the maker who’s link you’re using)
Copyright: You will want to include your copyright info somewhere within your pattern. I always put mine on the very last page. Your copyright should state that the pattern is your intellectual property, and so are the pictures. The reader is not permitted to sell or share the pattern in any way. If you give the reader permission to sell the finished piece, you will include that in your copyright, but ask that they credit you for the design. Here is what my copyright looks like at the bottom of my patterns.
Conclusion: I always like to include a conclusion at the bottom of all my patterns. In my conclusions I thank the reader for supporting my shop, invite them to follow me on social media, and encourage them to share pictures of their finished pieces and tag me. I think it’s important to let your customers know how thankful you are for them, plus if they just finished your pattern and they loved it, they might really want to look you up on social media and would appreciate the info!
That pretty much sums up everything I can think of that you would need to include in your crochet patterns. Like I mentioned in the beginning, some sections are optional depending on your specific design. It’s always good to look at more experienced designers patterns too as a reference (please do not copy anyone though). If you need a little extra help DeBrosse has some amazing pattern templates available for purchase under “Maker Tools” on her site. She also has some awesome Pattern Writing Notes in her shop too that are great for helping you stay organized. I actually have both her pattern template and notes from when I purchased her MasterClass.
I hope this post has encouraged you to try giving pattern writing a go and relieved some of the anxiety you may have had about leaving something out. Thanks so much for reading and good luck writing your crochet patterns! You’ve got this!
❤️ Ashley
I have been crocheting since I was about 10 years old. My Mamaw taught me how to crochet a chain and that’s what I did, crocheted million foot long chains, all day long. Eventually, she taught me the double crochet stitch, then after that everything else I learned was basically from youtube and books (yes actual paper books I bought at an actual bookstore). I feel like every time I see a new technique or a new way of doing things, I’m immediately like “the way I do it is fine”, and I won’t give it any more thought until months (or sometimes years) later. Then when I take the time to learn the new technique I am BLOWN AWAY!! ” Why didn’t I do this sooner?!”
Some of the links in this post may be affiliate links, meaning I may receive a small commission, at NO ADDITIONAL cost to you, from purchases made using the links provided.
I have accumulated a list of all the things I was too stubborn at first to learn, but then after I actually took the time to learn it, my whole crochet game changed. I’d like to invite you to give some of these things a chance, especially if you have never tried them before. Some of these tips/tricks take a lot of practice to “master”, so don’t give up if you can’t get it with the first couple of tries! You will get it eventually, I have faith in you. ???? Also, I just want to point out, I do know that just because these techniques work better for me does not mean they will work better for you. I will never tell you my way is the right way and your way is wrong. Every crocheter is different! We each have our own ways of doing things and our own unique crochet styles, that is one of the reasons I love Crochet so much!
Ergonomic Crochet Hooks
If you follow me on Instagram, it’s no secret how much I love my handmade polymer clay crochet hooks! After I made the switch to ergonomic hooks I never looked back! They are so much easier on my hands and wrists than regular hooks are, and they look super cute too! Not to mention I’m supporting other small shops (like mine) when I purchase one of these beauties.
Most hook makers offer curvy styled and slim styled hooks. I personally like the big fat curvy hooks, the bigger the better! You could play around with both designs and see which one you like better. They do take a little getting used to, just keep practicing with one until you get the hang of it and I bet you will LOVE IT! I haven’t had anyone message me yet saying they didn’t like ergonomic hooks after trying them.
If you would like to see a post showcasing all my crochet hooks and which maker they came from, leave a comment on this post letting me know!
Magic Ring (or circle)- An adjustable starting round used for crochet amigurumi patterns, granny squares and other patterns that work in crochet rounds. (WikiHow)
This was one of the crochet techniques I put off for a long time. I was absolutely fine with chaining 3, joining them into a circle, and putting my stitches in the middle of the circle. That worked fine for me and I felt like there was no reason for me to change. Wrong. Once I figured out how to do the Magic Ring, and practiced it until my hands turned blue (not really) It became almost like second nature. I ALWAYS use the Magic Ring over chaining and joining now, even if the pattern suggests the chaining and joining method. In my opinion, it’s faster, cleaner and easier, once you get the hang of it! It does take practice though, figuring out how to hold it and crochet around it at the same time took me forever, but like I said, it’s totally worth it! I was looking through YouTube videos, trying to find a good one for this post, and there are a lot of different videos showing all the same thing but each one is explained a little differently! If this video by June Gilbank on YouTube doesn’t make sense to you just look around and you might find a different video that’s easier for you to understand!
Crocheting in the “Back Bump”
If you have any of my pillow or bag patterns you should have seen steps on how to crochet in the back bump of your chain. This was totally new to me a couple years ago. I saw where people were saying “it gives your work a nice finished look”, and again. I was like ” I think the way I do it has a nice finished look!” Wrong again lol. Crocheting in the Back Bump of your chain DOES give your crocheted piece a finished, uniform look. It’s also great when you are crocheting down both sides of your chain (like in my patterns) because then your work is very symmetrical and tight. I do know there’s a time and a place for everything, and not all patterns need to be made with the back bump technique. I’m just saying I like the look of it and its worth learning if you are not familiar with it, in my opinion.
I really like this video I found by Fiber Flux on YouTube. It is very informative and you can clearly see what she is doing.
Foundation Crochet
Ooo this technique is one of my FAVORITES! I don’t even remember when I first saw foundation crochet in action, I was probably just looking through YouTube videos or something. I immediately liked it because I thought “oh wow, that would save me so much time.” Usually, when I am designing a new pattern, I will chain however many I THINK will be enough, then come back down with my single crochets or half double crochets or whatever stitch I’m using at that moment. 9 times out of 10 my chain would be too short 🙁 It is more stretchy before you add the row of stitches and it’s hard for me to estimate how many chains I need to make to get the finished length I want. With foundation crochet, I can just single crochet until it fits! Way less trial and error!!
I really like how Future Girl Craft Blog explains Foundation Single Crochet in this video.
But you can also do Foundation Half Double Crochet and Foundation Double Crochet too!!
Tapestry Needle This tip might be super obvious to some of you, but when I first started crocheting, I would “hide my tails” with my crochet hook instead of using a tapestry needle. One, I didn’t have a tapestry needle, and two, I didn’t know there was another option. This was another one of those game-changer moments where I didn’t even hesitate to try it out. Like most people I know who crochet, sewing in your ends is the worst! So I was all for any techniques that would make that job easier, faster or cleaner looking.
For those of you who don’t know, tapestry needles look like giant sewing needles. You can get dull ones or pointy ones (I prefer the pointy ones myself) and you can get them made from different materials too, like plastic or stainless steel. The eye is big enough for yarn to go through and then you literally sew your tails into the crochet stitches to hide them. I literally used to keep pulling my yarn out of the top of my project, then back down through the bottom, then back up through the top, over and over again with my crochet hook before I learned about tapestry needles!
When I sew in my loose ends now, I like to sew them into the body of the stitches (making sure it’s not showing on either side of my work) and make a few passes back over where I’ve previously been. That way I know it is all intertwined with itself and is super secure. If you don’t use a tapestry needle to sew in your loose ends, comment on this post and let me know the technique you use!
Here’s a nice video from Red Heart Yarns on YouTube
Single Crochet Invisible Decrease
When you make cute little amigurumi creatures do you have big ol’ gaps where your decreases are? This technique will fix that! I wasn’t hesitant to try the SC invisible decrease because one, it looked really simple, and two, as soon as I saw the finished product it created I was like shocked! It is sooo much cleaner than the way I was doing it before!
You basically just do a normal single crochet decrease but the trick is you do it in the front loops only, instead of under both loops like normal.
Insert your hook into the front loop of your first stitch, then twist your hook a little and go straight into the front loop of your next stitch, Yarn over and pull through the two loops you just made, Yarn over and pull through two. It’s super simple, and the look it creates is drastically cleaner than a traditional single crochet decrease, in my opinion.
Here is a video from Red Haired Amazona Crochets on YouTube, showing exactly how to do a Single Crochet Invisible Decrease.
OttLite Floor Lamp
I just bought this lamp last week and I already love it! I have been crocheting with poor lighting for over a year now and the second I turned on my OttLite the difference was astounding! I knew I needed a lamp but I had no idea what kind of lamp and I didn’t even know there was a lamp out there that is made specifically for creatives! Here is a picture showing you my same workspace, taken seconds apart, one with the OttLite and one without it.
According to my friends over on Instagram, you can get Ottlites at Joann’s, with a coupon, and get them at a pretty good deal. I was so desperate I just went straight to Amazon and purchased one with m prime account so I could get it as soon as possible. I have linked the exact lamp I bought here (affiliate link). If this specific lamp isn’t in your budget at the moment OttLite has a bunch of different options like this desk lamp.
My eyes are so thankful and I can work more efficiently now that I can actually see what I am doing. I have also found other uses for the Ottlite,???? it makes a perfect impromptu iPhone tripod for filming your workspace! If you are currently working in poor lighting do your eyes a favor and invest in some lighting source to take the edge off, you only get one pair of eyes in a lifetime.????
MAGIC FASTEN OFF
The last game-changing crochet technique I am going to share with you guys, on this post, is how to close off small holes, like in amigurumi. I use this technique every time I make a bottom-up beanie (like my closed Claire Bun Beanie or Juliet Bun Beanie), to close the hole at the top so it’s very clean and uniform. This was also a technique I was open to trying because it looked super easy, and I really liked how the finished product turned out. As I have been researching this technique, trying to find a good video for you guys, I have learned there are a couple ways of doing this. This is how I do it. Thread your tail onto your tapestry needle, then insert your needle into the front loop of the first single crochet closest to where you just tied off, then loosely pull your tail through. Insert your needle into the front loop of the next single crochet and loosely pull your tail through. Continue around with all single crochet stitches, then when you get back to the beginning pull your yarn tight so the hole closes completely. Sew in your tail and your all set! Here is a video showing you how to do what I just described 😀 Just skip to the 9:50 time point in the video 🙂
Well, that’s it folks! A few of the crochet techniques that were serious game changers for me and took my crocheting to the next level. I hope you learned something you didn’t know before you came.❤ If you guys like this post let me know in the comments and I will try to do a part two! Also, if you’re not already, be sure to subscribe to my blog and be the first to know when I post something new (including free crochet patterns!) and head on over to my Instagram if you want to see some behind the scenes action, new pattern releases and just the crazy stuff I post daily in my stories.
This tip might be super obvious to some of you, but when I first started crocheting, I would “hide my tails” with my crochet hook instead of using a 
