Free Knitting and Crochet Patterns - Find Them

There are so many outlets available these days for free knitting and crochet patterns, it's mind-boggling, and for sure, frustrating to all those designers who market their pattern books. Whether you want to make a baby sweater or couture designed jacket, you can find the perfect free source right here on the Internet. Here are several favorite sources for you.

As a passionate crafts enthusiast, this writer is always looking for new and interesting designs. First and foremost on the list of resources is Ravelry. On Ravelry, you'll be able to communicate with crafters all over the world. Empowering yourself with new ideas, new techniques, and lots of patterns at no cost. With over 600,000 members worldwide, who post photos and patterns of their projects, it's heaven on earth for knitters, felters, spinners, weavers, crocheters and more. Some designers will allow you to download directly from Ravelry, others offer the recipes from their blogs.

Garn Studio is one of this writer's favorites, as it allows the visitor to print free patterns in eleven different languages. Today, right now, this site is posting almost 30,000 free patterns. There's even a link for American English patterns and British English patterns. You'll find felted, crocheted and knitted patterns for adults and children, men and women, hats, mittens, toys, blankets, home goods, and so much more. GarnStudio's luxury Drops Design Yarn, including alpaca, silk, cotton and merino wool is also available at discount prices on their site.

If there is an old back issue of VogueKnitting or other pattern that you just have to have which is still under copyright and unavailable for sharing, try your local library, or search for the pattern book on eBay. Also, yarn shops usually offer patterns at no charge for scarves, small projects, etc. when you purchase yarn. Don't be shy about asking.

And then there are the online magazines. AllAboutYou with British roots offers a vast selection of patterns at no charge throughout their crafting magazine section. Debbie Bliss is just one of the featured designers with many children's patterns available just for the browsing. Interweaveknits is another fine source for patterns. As a designer, you can also submit your designs for publication by Interweave. Knitty is a very colorful, enthusiastic site, where young designers can offer up designs for free and also list designs for sale.

Just about all yarn producers and/or sellers, like Berroco, Bernat, Plymouth, Lion Brand, Redheart, Elann, and more provide libraries of patterns at no charge: every size, shape and type. Go to their websites and join to receive the free newsletters, which always are loaded with patterns or where to find them. Berroco includes video tutorials as well as a vast free pattern library.

There are many, many sources, importantly, before you start a project, using a any pattern, look for photos and errata, corrections made to original patterns. The sources suggested above have test-knitters and crocheters who have provided this service for the manufacturer and/or publisher, and this in itself will save you lots of time and worry-free crafting.

Sources:
Garnstudio
Ravelry
Interweaveknits
AllAboutYou
Berroco

Copyright Sharon Watterson, 2010. All photos used with permission.