Navigating the Online Knit and Crochet World

Feeling a little lost when it comes to online knitting and crochet tools? Navigating the Online Knit and Crochet World is designed to help you feel more comfortable using some of the most useful digital resources available to makers.

In this hands-on workshop, we’ll explore platforms such as Ravelry, Knit Companion, and Tin Can Knits, and look at how they can help you find patterns, organize projects, track your progress, and make better use of the wealth of information available online.

We’ll also talk about shopping for patterns safely and confidently online, including how to recognize warning signs that a pattern may be fake, poorly constructed, or AI-generated and being sold as an original design. We’ll look at things such as designer history, project photos, reviews, pattern information, suspicious imagery, unrealistic construction details, and other clues that can help you decide whether a pattern is worth purchasing.

Participants will also receive a list of reputable websites and pattern sources to help take the guesswork out of searching for quality knitting and crochet patterns online.

We’ll explore:
• Finding and saving patterns on Ravelry
• Using searches and filters to find the right project
• Organizing and tracking your projects
• Using Knit Companion to follow digital patterns
• Navigating Tin Can Knits patterns and resources
• Recognizing reputable designers and pattern sources
• Spotting warning signs of fake or AI-generated patterns
• Evaluating a pattern before spending your money
• Where to search for reliable, quality patterns
• Getting more comfortable using online fibre-crafting resources

Please bring:
• The device of your choice - laptop, tablet, or mobile phone - wifi is available
• The appropriate apps downloaded before class
• Your login information for any accounts you already use

If you are new to these platforms, you will need to set up a free account before using them.

Bring your questions, your device, and even an online pattern you’ve been wondering about. We’ll navigate the digital side of knitting and crochet together so you can leave feeling more confident finding patterns, choosing reliable resources, and using the tools available to today’s fibre crafter.