Hands crocheting with warm colourful yarn

Learn the craft

Learn the basics

Short reads for anyone new to knitting or crochet. Start anywhere.

Photo: Imani / Unsplash

Knitting

Knitting needles and yarn up close

Cast-on

Getting the first row of stitches on the needle.

Textured knit fabric close-up

Knit & purl

The two fundamental stitches every pattern is built on.

Knitting in progress with needles visible

Bind-off

Finishing cleanly so your work doesn't unravel.

Both crafts

Assorted yarn skeins in warm tones

Yarn weights

What lace, fingering, worsted, bulky actually mean.

Colourful yarn skeins arranged together

Gauge

Why patterns care how many stitches per inch you make.

Hands crocheting with colourful yarn

Reading patterns

Abbreviations, repeats, and charts — knit and crochet.

Crochet

Hands crocheting with warm colourful yarn

Crochet basics

Slip knot, chain stitch, and slip stitch — how crochet begins.

Crochet work in progress with hook visible

Single crochet

The shortest stitch — dense, structured, perfect for amigurumi.

Colourful yarn and crochet hook

hdc, dc, tr

Taller stitches for faster progress and more drape.

Yarn and pattern notes laid out together

Reading crochet patterns

Rounds, magic circles, amigurumi notation, and US vs UK terms.