Needlework Crafts Needlework crafts include cross stitch and embroidery, crochet and knitting, and quilting. There are many free Internet resources for those interested in these crafts. This pathfinder includes links to free patterns, stitch guides and tutorials, associations and organizations, and much more! Associations and Guilds The Crochet Guild of America: http://www.crochet.org The Crochet Guild of America (CGOA) is a national organization for crocheters. CGOA offers benefits to members, such as free patterns, a subscription to Crochet magazine, and educational opportunities. Non-members can use some of the free resources on the website: instructions for the left handed, instructions for right handed, and guidelines for teaching children to crochet. The Embroiderers Guild of America: http://www.egausa.org The Embroiderers Guild of America (EGA) is a national organization for those interested in embroidery. The EGA offers educational programs and certification for both members and non-members. This website also offers contact information for local chapters and information on upcoming events and seminars hosted by the EGA. The Knitting Guild Association: http://www.tkga.com The Knitting Guild Association (TKGA) is a national association with over 10,000 members in the United States. TKGA offers an annual conference for members. Members also receive a subscription to Cast On magazine, access to TKGA classes, and free admission to conferences and events. National Quilting Association: http://nqaquilts.org The National Quilting Association (NQA) is a national association, open to anyone interested in quilting. The NQA website provides information on their annual quilt show, other events, and about National Quilting Day. Non-members may use the website to view photos of quilts from recent events. 1
Crochet & Knitting Crochet on About.com: http://crochet.about.com About.com s Crochet webpage includes many resources for crocheters. For those new to the craft, this webpage provides instructions on basic stitches with pictures and diagrams to help guide the crocheter. Patterns for beginners are included with the beginning stitches. Other free patterns are available on this webpage and are broken into the categories: free patterns by technique, free patterns by theme, gifts for her free patterns, hexagon shaped motifs, thread crochet, easy patterns, advance level patterns, and experienced level patterns. Crochet Me: Fueling the Crochet Revolution: http://crochetme.com This website provides many crochet resources. Free patterns are available and are organized into type of item (i.e. scarves, hats, etc.). Articles with tips and tricks are also available. There are also forums where users may look for answers to common questions. To comment or ask questions, a free account must be created. Projects and patterns are also shared in the forums. The Daily Crocheter: http://www.dailycrocheter.com The Daily Crocheter provides patterns and other resources for crocheters. A new pattern is posted daily and previous patterns can be viewed by searching categories. The Daily Knitter: http://www.dailyknitter.com The Daily Knitter provides multiple resources for knitters, but one of the prominent features is their collection of links to free knitting patterns. A Pattern of the Day is posted daily, but previous patterns can also be searched by category, such as scarves, mittens and gloves, hats, and so on. Featured patterns are also selected and are viewable on the website. Knit Wiki: http://www.knitting-and.com/wiki Knit Wiki is a wiki page that provides free patterns, instruction, and resources for knitters. The page began in 2007 and the most recent addition occurred in November of 2009. The wiki can be searched using a search box on the left panel on the main page. Knitting on About.com: http://knitting.about.com About.com s knitting webpage includes instructions on how to knit (which include pictures and diagrams). Many free patterns are available. These patterns are sorted into groups (based on 2
holiday, type of garment, or who the item is for). This site also includes book reviews on knitting books and information on the types of tools and needles needed for knitting. Knitting Help: http://www.knittinghelp.com Knitting Help is a website that provides assistance to knitters. There are fifteen videos on different stitches and techniques to assist both new and experienced knitters. A section for patters and a glossary of terms are also available on this website. Knitty Magazine: http://www.knitty.com Knitty Magazine is a free quarterly magazine published online. Each issues feature new, free patterns and articles. Back issues can be searched for patterns or articles. Both are searchable by category. The Purl Bee: http://www.purlbee.com The Purl Bee is a blog that features knitting and crochet patterns and projects. In addition to the frequent blog posts, this website includes over 20 tutorials for knitters and crocheters. This can be found halfway down the page, on the left panel. Ravelry A Knit and Crochet Community: http://www.ravelry.com Ravelry is a free online community for knitters and crocheters. Once a free account is set up, users may view patterns (many of which are free), ask questions in the community forums, and share projects. The patterns are searchable. The advanced search offers many limiters, such as yarn specifics, needle sizes, and skill level. Cross Stitch & Embroidery All About Needlepoint: http://www.aboutneedlepoint.com All About Needlepoint provides many resources for cross-stitchers and embroiderers. This website includes information about types of threads, supplies needed, types of stitches (some with diagrams), and links to many freely available patterns. Counted Cross-Stitch, Needlework, and Stitchery Page: http://home.comcast.net/~kathydyer This personal website, run by Kathy Dyer, includes information about cross-stitch and needlework. The two most unique items on this website are the Online Gadgets. One is a How Much Fabric calculator and the other is a What Fabric Count calculator. By entering 3
information about the pattern the stitcher is going to use, these calculators will tell the user exactly how much fabric or what fabric count to use. Cross-Stitch on About.com: http://crossstitch.about.com About.com s cross-stitch website provides instructions on how to cross-stitch (with many pictures), a section for patterns, and a section specifically for holiday patterns. Links are also included to more information about cross-stitch tools, supplies, and books. Cross-Stitching.com: http://www.cross-stitching.com Cross-Stitching.com provides some basic information about cross-stitch. It also provides many free patterns (called charts on this website). There are over 3,000 patterns, but not all are free. However, when entering a category of patterns, the top sub-category is always free charts, so these are easy to sort out. Doe-C-Doe Blog: http://doecdoe.blogspot.com Doe-C-Doe is a frequently updated craft blog. At least once a week a vintage embroidery pattern is shared. Doe-C-Doe also shares other vintage embroidery patterns on a Flickr site: http://www.flickr.com/photos/22309813@n02/sets/72157603907273295/. On the Flickr site there are over 200 vintage patterns available. LollyChops Blog: http://www.lollychops.com LollyChops is a frequently updated craft blog. The blog owner also shares embroidery patterns she has designed. All patterns shared are free. Rittenhouse Needlepoint: http://rittenhouseneedlepoint.blogspot.com Rittenhouse Needlepoint is a blog with frequent instructional posts. At least once a week a new stitch is featured. Written instructions are given, as well as photographs of the completed stitch. Sometimes drawn diagrams of the stitch are also included. This website s only search capability is to view the archives by month. Stitch Dictionary: http://www.needlecrafter.com/stitches/stitches.html The Stitch Dictionary provides a brief description for hundreds of stitches used for embroidery, sewing, and cross stitch. Some descriptions include pictures or diagrams of the stitch. 4
Quilting Film in the Fridge Blog - Tutorials: http://www.filminthefridge.com/category/tutorials Film in the Fridge is a quilting blog. The blog owner writes about current projects and shares images of them. The tutorials section (the link above) is a collection of the tutorials shared on the blog. These are for many types of items, but all use quilting techniques. Free Quilt Patterns from History: http://www.patternsfromhistory.com Free Quilt Patterns from History is a collection of quilt patterns and their histories from different eras. There are four sections: Quilt Patterns of America s Pioneers, Civil War Quilt Patterns for Re-enactors, 10 Quilt Blocks with Biblical Names, and Colonial Revival Quilts of the 1920 s and 30 s. There is a Google Custom Search set up to search all quilts. Quilt Blocks Galore!: http://www.quilterscache.com/quiltblocksgalore.html Quilt Blocks Galore provides instructions and patterns for many types of quilts. The patterns can be browed by the alphabet, by the size of the quilt block, or by browsing images of the patterns. The Quilt Index: http://www.quiltindex.org The Quilt Index is a collection of information and images about quilts. This website is managed by the Alliance for American Quilts. The site s search capabilities are very in depth. The user may search by such things as the quilter, the quilting group, the location where the quilt was made, the fabric type, the fabric pattern, and many other search limiters. The site can also be browsed based on the collection, time period, style/techniques, purpose, location, and fabric. Quilts and Quiltmaking in America 1978-1996: http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/qlthtml The Quilts and Quiltmaking in America 1978-1996 database is a part of the Library of Congress American Memory database. A gallery of photographs can be browsed or the database can be searched by keyword or quiltmaker. Quilting on About.com: http://quilting.about.com About.com s quilting website contains many resources for quilters. Patterns and instructions are available on the site. Photographs of projects and discussion forums are also part of this website. 5
Quilting at Craft Gossip: http://quilting.craftgossip.com Craft Gossip is a craft blog with multiple sections for different crafts. Their quilting section includes blog posts about contributors current quilting projects, information and news relevant to quilters, and free patterns for quilts. Scrap Quilts: http://www.scrapquilts.com Scrap Quilts provides many free quilt patterns. Quilting instructions are also available, as well as photographs of quilts. The site can be searched using a Google Custom Search. 6