Crochet

Patterns, projects and techniques

Ravelry, Pinterest, or ?

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Where do you go (other than here 😉 to get your crochet eye-candy fix?  I have several go-to sites for patterns when I know what I want to make, say a scarf or babyghan.  But, when I just need some motivation or inspiration, I find that I’ll spend hours surfing the web in search of that project, yarn, or idea that will jump start my next project.  Where do you go?

I love Ravelry.com.  It’s free, has lots of great photos of lovely projects, including pictures of many crocheters’ finished items of the same project to see how they will look interpreted in different yarns or even different gauges.  It is also very clear most of the time who the author of the pattern is and who has merely posted a photo of a finished piece.

Pinterest.com is a fantastic site for eye-candy and inspiration. (See the all crochet room?) It can also be a huge time-sucker!  If I’m not careful, I can spend more than an hour clicking from one picture to the next, like turning the pages in a huge crochet picture book.  While this is certainly enjoyable, I find it a bit more difficult than Ravelry to source a pattern.  That can be frustrating.  When I have fallen in love with a certain something, I really want to know where I can find the pattern.  Pinterest makes this a bit more daunting – sometimes even a lot more daunting.

What I often find myself doing is seeing the inspirational piece then heading over to www.crochetpatterncentral.com to see if the pattern is available anywhere on the net.  Old school?  Maybe.  But, it can get me there.

Craftcrave.net is another site, newer, that is similar to Pinterest that is growing.  If there are other similar sites out there, I have yet to find them.  Not sure I want to!  LOL.  I might never have time to actually pick up a crochet hook again.

So, what is your favorite site to go to for crochet inspiration?

Comments

  1. The Craftster.org crochet boards are a favorite place for me! There are lists of tutorials/patterns available, but also a ton of posts with inspiring photos (many with outside pattern links, too).

  2. Like you mentioned, Ravelry is a very fun site for inspiration! I also the yarn brand sites, such as Caron.com, Lionbrand.com, and even the Kreinig website!

  4. Ravelry for me at the moment but I find it frustrating too as many of the projects are made with yarn available in US only. Also, it’s not always clear if the pattern is in US or UK terminology. Still do spend lots of time there.
    I spend a lot of time on youtube learning new stitches and often learn off Teresa Richardson’s site as she explains things so clearly.

  5. Ravelry is mine so far. I sometimes find a pattern and like it but have a hard time getting past the example. So I’ll scurry over to ravelry to see what others have done and get inspiration that way.

  6. Definitely agree with Craftster! They have inspiration for all the fiber arts (crochet, knit, spin, weave, embroidery, etc) plus sooo much more!

    As far as crochet goes, i-crochet.blogspot.com is my go-to site> It combines the visual interest of Pinterest with the ability to credit the source like Ravelry because each photo is being added by the creator!

  7. I have finally succumbed to the Pinterest pull. And, I must say that I agree. It is so inspirational. Such a wonderful place to organize my links in one concise location. Scary when I start trying to organize all the links to flowers I want in my garden. ha! I think my most popular board is the one where I am trying to pool together Tunisian crochet patterns that are currently available. I try not to spend too much time there, but it *is* fun. 🙂

Have you read?

Shock Wave Free Crochet Lap Blanket Pattern

This Free Shock Wave Crochet Lap Blanket Pattern from Mary Maxim looks like one of those wonderfully satisfying projects that gives big cozy payoff without fiddly detail. Mary Maxim lists it as a free download, designed as a crochet afghan/lap blanket, with a finished size of 45 x 50 inches.

What immediately stands out is the yarn choice. The pattern is made with Bernat Blanket Extra Thick, using 5 skeins, and calls for a U.S. U/50 (25 mm) crochet hook. That is gloriously chunky territory, which usually means fast progress and lots of squishy texture. If you are in the mood for a project that feels substantial in your hands and grows quickly row by row, this one definitely has that appeal.

Mary Maxim describes the blanket as having a beautifully textured, plush, soft finish and suggests it as a project for home décor or gifting. Based on the materials and oversized hook alone, that sounds about right. This feels like the sort of blanket you make for curling up on the couch, draping over a chair, or giving as a practical handmade gift that will actually get used instead of folded away “for best.”

The pattern is marked Easy, and the listed stitch requirements are straightforward: chain, repeat, double crochet, single crochet, and slip stitch. That makes it sound approachable for confident beginners and very appealing for anyone who wants a relaxing crochet project without too much counting drama.

I also think the lap blanket size is a smart one. Not every crochet blanket needs to become a giant commitment that takes over the lounge room and your will to live. A 45 x 50 inch blanket is a useful, manageable size for gifting, for wheelchairs or reading nooks, or just for keeping on hand for chilly evenings. That practicality gives this pattern extra appeal. The usability point is my own take based on the finished dimensions Mary Maxim provides.

At the moment, the pattern page shows no reviews, so there is not much customer feedback to go on yet. Still, if you enjoy easy crochet blanket patterns, super chunky crochet throws, or quick lap blanket projects, this one looks like a solid freebie to save.

My overall take? This looks like a fast, cozy, beginner-friendly crochet blanket pattern with plenty of texture and instant-gratification energy. Very much the sort of project you start because it looks easy, then keep going because the yarn feels ridiculously soft.