Helpful Hints and Tips

Your hand-knitted creations represent hours of effort, creativity, and love. With the right washing, drying, and storing techniques, your handmade treasures will stay as charming as the day you finished them.

When you find a pattern you adore, but the suggested yarn is unavailable or outside your budget, substituting yarn becomes a handy skill.

Whether you’re working on a sweater, hat, or pair of socks, mastering tension will ensure your project turns out as intended.

Ah, Christmas. The season of mistletoe, mulled wine, and — if you're ambitious — an unruly tangle of yarn and knitting needles.

Crochet is a journey, and although everyone’s path is a little different, beginners often stumble over the same hurdles. Here are the top five mistakes new crocheters make — and how to avoid them.

Crocheting is a particularly versatile and rewarding craft to learn, and the best part? Even a beginner can create beautiful, functional pieces.

If you've ever picked up a crochet hook and a skein of yarn, excited to dive into a project, only to find yourself staring at a page full of abbreviations and symbols that seem like a foreign language, you're not alone.

If you've ever finished a knitting project and found it doesn't quite lie flat or the stitches don’t look as even as you'd like, blocking is the answer.

Knitting is a rewarding and creative hobby that can produce anything from cosy scarves to intricate sweaters. If you’re new to knitting, starting with a few fundamental stitches will help you to build your skills and confidence.

If you're looking to expand your knitting skills, it’s definitely worth mastering the Magic Loop technique to take your circular knitting projects to the next level.

If you suffer from carpal tunnel, repetitive strain injury, or arthritis, you know the frustration that comes from traditional methods of knitting and crocheting. We're here to help! 

Learn how to choose yarn colours for a crochet or knitting project with our colour theory guide!

Looking for fun, yarn themed ways to keep your kids happy and creative this summer? We have some ideas! 

Ever wondered what Tunisian crochet is, or what makes Tunisian crochet hooks special? We're on the case!

Sometimes, a hank or skein of yarn can feel intimidating. Our guide on using an umbrella swift and ball winder should get you good to go in no time!

We've selected some of our favourite cotton yarn for baby blankets, so your spring and summer bundles of joy don't overheat! 

Looking to pare down your yarn hoard to make some room for new ones? Our stashbuster patterns are just what you need! 

Soften cotton yarn with these tried and tested tips, and rescue that finished project from the cupboard! 

Are you a macrame beginner? Check out our favourite macrame tutorials and ideas and our marcrame yarn and cord suggestions!

Do you have a great idea for a knitting pattern, but don't know the best way to get the idea onto paper? This short tutorial shows you how to make colourwork knitting charts using the free Google Sheets tool. (Can also be used with Microsoft Excel!) You can also use graph paper!

If you have arthritis, carpal tunnel, or sore hands, then these hand stretches for knitters and crocheters could help you enjoy your crafting time again!

Have you ever wondered how to read a lace chart? It's true that they can seem like a challenge, but hopefully with our tutorial you can brave any complicated pattern!

Want to learn how to crochet a granny square? This simple tutorial (with videos!) will get you started and on your way to a snuggly blanket before you know it.

Have you ever looked at a yarn label and wondered why it felt like reading a foreign language? Our tutorial explains the deep, dark mysteries of a yarn label.

Making toys is one of the joys of being a crocheter: but the techniques can confuse even a seasoned yarn artist. Learn to crochet amigurumi with our series of video tutorials to teach you the basics!