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The Slow Stitch Journal

Craft notes, yarn stories, and fresh inspiration.

Notes from The Slow Stitch on learning new techniques, choosing materials, and working through tricky stitches. One useful idea at a time.

A notebook with a US crochet repeat beside a terracotta swatch and teal-handled hook, with a fair-skinned female hand holding a pencil.
Pattern Skills6 min read

How to Read a Crochet Pattern for Beginners

Understand crochet abbreviations, repeats, brackets and stitch counts, with a worked example in US terms and guidance for checking unclear instructions.

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Sage, yellow and plum yarn skeins with plain paper bands arranged on linen.
Yarn Guide5 min read

How to Read a Yarn Label for Crochet

Check yarn thickness, fibre, length, hook guidance, care symbols and dye lots before choosing yarn for your next crochet project.

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Fair-skinned female hands hold separate apricot and teal crochet swatches above a walnut table.
Yarn Guide5 min read

How to Substitute Yarn for a Crochet Pattern

Compare yarn thickness, fibre, construction, gauge and length before choosing a replacement for your crochet pattern. Includes a buying-quantity example.

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Bamboo, plain silver aluminium and coral-handled crochet hooks with distinct heads and grips on a sage surface.
Supplies Guide5 min read

How to Choose a Crochet Hook

Understand hook sizes, head and shaft shapes, grips and materials. Choose a suitable first hook, then check its gauge with your project yarn.

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Separate coral, indigo and ivory granny squares on linen, with fair-skinned female fingers supporting one square corner.
Pattern Skills5 min read

How to Plan a Granny Square Blanket

Use a finished square and sample join to plan blanket dimensions, layout, colour counts and separate yarn estimates for squares and borders.

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A rust-orange crochet tote with two short handles and a pale lining beside blue and cream yarn on a blue table.
Supplies Guide5 min read

Choosing Yarn for Crochet Bags

Assess yarn, fabric, handles, lining and care together before choosing materials for a crochet bag. Start from the actual pattern and a representative sample.

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A burnt-coral crochet swatch rests on pale wood with its lower edge curling upwards and matching yarn behind it.
Troubleshooting5 min read

Why Is My Crochet Curling?

Distinguish a tight starting edge, rolling fabric and cupping rounds. Check construction, stitch counts and gauge before changing hooks or adding a border.

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Comprehensive Pillar Guides

Looking for our complete step-by-step master guides?

Our learning guides connect useful stitches, material choices and project planning in one place.

Beginner's GuideTools, tension, and first stitchesAmigurumi MasteryTight stitches & stuffing tipsHat & Beanie GuideCrown math & elastic ribbing