Guides
Each guide explains one piece of craft math step by step, with worked examples you can check on paper, and links to the calculator that does it for you.
Quilting
- How to piece a quilt back: seams, overage and wide backingWhere the seams go, how much extra to leave and when wide backing saves a seam.
- Half-square triangles: which method to useTwo, four or eight at a time compared: cut sizes, fabric use and accuracy.
- How to bind a quilt: strips, joins and mitered cornersCutting, joining and attaching double-fold binding.
- How to add sashing and cornerstones to a quiltSashing widths, cutting sizes and how they change the quilt size.
- How to set quilt blocks on pointSetting and corner triangles, and keeping the edges straight.
- Fat quarter size: dimensions, cuts and how many you need18 x 22 inches, squares and strips per fat quarter, long quarters, fat eighths and quilt counts.
- How to wash a quilt: machine, hand, drying and shrinkageCold water, mild detergent, color catchers, drying, old quilts, storage and how much each quilt size shrinks.
- How to hand quilt: needles, the rocking stitch and stitches per inchBetweens needles, thread, thimble and hoop, basting, marking, the rocking stitch, hidden knots and big-stitch quilting.
- How to make a quilt: a beginner's guide from cutting to bindingPattern and size, prewashing, cutting, the 1/4 inch seam, pressing, rows, borders, basting, quilting and binding, with fabric for every size.
Crochet
- How to estimate yarn for a blanket from a swatchTurn a small swatch into yards for any blanket, with borders and bed sizes.
- Crochet hat sizes: how to make a hat that fitsHead sizes, negative ease and when to stop increasing the crown.
- How to make a temperature blanket: rows, colors and rangesChoose rows or squares, set color ranges from real weather data and estimate yarn.
- Turning chains explained: when they count as a stitchTurning chain lengths for each stitch and how they change your counts.
- How to crochet in the round: increases that lie flatMagic ring, increase rounds and why 6, 8 and 12 stitch starts differ.
- How to crochet C2C: increase, straight and decrease rowsThe three phases of corner to corner and how to follow a graph.
- How to count rows in knitting and crochetReading rows in the fabric and keeping track of repeats.
- How to join granny squares: seams, order and blanket sizeSlip stitch, whip stitch, mattress stitch and join-as-you-go compared, plus joining order and how seams change the size.
- Crochet abbreviations: US and UK terms with a full listThe standard US abbreviations, US and UK stitch names side by side, and pattern symbols.
- Crochet border for blanket: easy styles, corners and stitch countsEasy border styles, 3 stitch corners, stitches per row end, fixing ruffles and how much yarn a border adds.
- How to read a crochet pattern: repeats, brackets and stitch countsThe parts of a pattern, what *, [ ] and ( ) mean, charts, and a real hat crown decoded.
- How to change colors in crochet: rows, rounds and endsRow ends, mid-row and round changes, carrying yarn and weaving in ends.
- How to crochet a blanket: a beginner's guide from chain to borderYarn and hook, size, the foundation chain, first row, straight edges, easy stitches, joining yarn and finishing.
- How to join yarn: adding a new ball in knitting and crochetRow end or mid-row, the magic knot, Russian join, spit splice and overlap, weaving in ends, and how many joins a blanket needs.
Knitting
- How to measure gauge in knitting and crochetMake a swatch, count stitches and rows, and fix a gauge that doesn't match.
- Increasing evenly: the math explained, with examplesThe arithmetic behind "increase 12 stitches evenly", worked out by hand.
- Yarn weights explained: from lace to jumboWhat the numbers 0 to 7 on a yarn label mean and how to substitute yarn.
- Knitting ease explained: how much ease for sweaters, hats and socksPositive and negative ease, with the numbers for common garments.
- Elizabeth Zimmermann's percentage system explainedHow EPS turns one chest measurement into a whole sweater.
- How to measure feet for hand-knit socksFoot circumference, length and the ease that makes socks stay up.
- How to substitute yarn in a knitting or crochet patternMatch weight, gauge and fiber, then work out how much to buy.
- How to bind off knitting: basic, stretchy and three-needleThe basic bind-off, binding off in rib, stretchy cuffs and socks, and shoulder seams.
- How to cast on knitting: long-tail, knitted, cable and backward loopThe main cast-on methods, when to use each, the long-tail step by step and how many stitches.
- Kitchener stitch: how to graft a sock toe, step by stepSetup, the knit off, purl on rhythm, even tension, fixing mistakes and tail length.
- How to block knitting and crochet: wet, steam and spray methodsWet, spray and steam blocking, which suits wool, cotton and acrylic, plus lace, granny squares and swatches.
- How to pick up stitches in knitting: edges, necklines and sock gussetsBound-off and side edges, the 3 for 4 ratio, necklines, even spacing, holes and sock heel gussets.
- How to knit a hat: a beginner beanie in the roundYarn and needles, head sizes, cast-on counts for every size, ribbing, crown decreases and finishing.
- How to knit socks: a beginner's cuff-down guideYarn and needles, cuff, leg, heel flap, heel turn, gusset, foot, toe and graft, with full counts for three foot sizes.
- Knit vs crochet: the differences and which to learn firstNeedles or hook, live stitches, fabric, real yarn use numbers, speed, mistakes, cost and where to start.
- Types of yarn: fibers, construction and how to read a labelWool, alpaca, silk, cotton, linen, bamboo and acrylic compared, plus plied, chenille and boucle yarn and yarn labels.
Needlepoint
- Choosing cross-stitch fabric: Aida, evenweave or linenHow each fabric works, stitching over one or two, and picking a count.
- Cross stitch vs needlepoint: what's the difference?Fabric or canvas, floss or wool, and how much of the surface each one covers.
- Needlepoint stitches: tent, continental and basketweaveThe three ways to work a tent stitch and which one suits each part of a canvas.
- How to cross stitch: a beginner's guideReading the chart, starting a thread, strands, needle sizes and your first row.
- How to frame cross stitch: washing, pressing and mountingWash and press the finished piece, mount it on board and keep the glass off the stitches.
- Backstitch in cross stitch: outlines, lettering and French knotsReading backstitch on a chart, working it neatly, and making French knots that stay put.
- Needlepoint canvas types: mono, interlock, Penelope and mesh sizesHow each canvas is woven, what mesh means and which canvas suits your project.