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Find inspiration for your next knitting project
Mayflowers knit universe is an oasis of inspiration. You know it for sure - you love knitting and crocheting, but lack the right recipe. We know the feeling. We are even yarn tossed, and love knit and crochet as much as you - because you can't imagine a whole day, without having yarn in your hands, can you?
Quality crochet and knitting patterns
You can explore both free knitting patterns and crochet patterns by clicking the link.
Our selection of recipes is wide and covers designs from the latest trends, through the more classic style and back to retro. Whatever knitting pattern or crochet recipe is about, we try to deliver it easily understandable and of the best quality.
Many associate knitting and crochet sweaters with autumn and winter, but this is often due to incorrect yarn choices. That is why we also have designs for all seasons- both knitting and crochet patterns for summer and winter.
Find Crochet Knitting Kinges by Level and Category
Whether you have little or much experience in the creative yarn world, we have recipes tailored to your level. For beginners in knitwear and crochet we have free crochet and knitting patterns at the beginning level, which simply welcome the new world.
The practiced and more experienced knitters can find free recipes with challenging twisting patterns, patent knitwear, weaving knitwear, fair isle and more.
If you crochet, there is also a lot to choose from. Both small teddy bears and larger creations with many elements.
Regardless of your level, you will surely find a recipe that suits you.
In the overview below you can sort between all our knitting and crochet patterns. Already have a project in mind?
Find inspiration on our subpages for: Accessories, Baby knit, Knit for children, Women's knitwear and Knit for gentlemen.
Choose the right crochet or knitting pattern
With over 500 modern knitting patterns and just under 100 free crochet patterns, it's easy to be overwhelmed. Which recipe should you choose? What are you going to keep an eye on?
What will you do?
First of all, you need to decide what you would like to do. Of course, it involves first and foremost deciding whether you want to crochet or knit.
We have many free recipes for knitted clothes, so here you also have to choose whether you want to knit a sweater, a top, a cap or maybe something completely third.
One last consideration is also the recipient. We also have a large collection of free knitting patterns for children, so it is also possible that your next project is for the family's smallest.
It is always more fun to knit when you have a clear vision of what you want to knit and who you want to knit it for.
Choose the proper difficulty
Crafts must be both fun and cozy, which is why it is important to find the right recipe that fits your level.
Our range includes both challenging and Beginner-friendly crochet and knitting patterns, then read the recipe before you get started so you are sure it is not too difficult.
Techniques and procedures
In addition to difficulty, it is also a good idea to consider whether there are certain techniques or practices that you dream of trying out.
For example, do you love crochet rod masks, or would you like to try knitting a blouse with raglan outlets?
A project always becomes more fun when you love the process, so find a recipe with the right approach.
Good advice for yarn substitutes for crochet and knitting patterns
You've found the perfect recipe and now you're ready to start your next project. The knitting pattern or crochet pattern is printed and is ready, but the yarn selection in the recipe makes you hesitate. Maybe this is a wool sweater, but you are allergic to wool - or maybe the yarn is simply expired.
If you have not been in this situation before, it is easy to think that you will have to give up the project and find a new recipe. But fortunately, it's not that bad. You have the opportunity to replace the original yarn with an alternative.
The guide below is primarily intended for knitted or crocheted clothing, where it is important to hit a precise size size. If you make blankets, Crochet teddy bears Or similar, it is not quite as important to hit exactly the same size, and therefore it is even easier to substitute for another yarn quality.
Keep an eye on knitting strength or crochet strength
First of all, check out the knitting or crochet strength of the original yarn for the recipe. The knitting fast is important when choosing alternative yarn.
If you make clothes and do not comply with the knitting or crochet strength, you will find that the clothes are either too small or too large.
Knitting or crochet strength is always indicated as x stitches = about 10 centimeters, so it is easy to compare across different yarn qualities.
In some recipes, it is also important to keep in mind that the number of sticks per 10 centimeters fit. This is especially if the length of, for example, a blouse is decided by a given number of deckes.
Have the fiber type in mind
Our Mayflower Easy Care and Mayflower Cotton 8/4 have almost the same knitting or crochet strength, so it is obvious to think that they can freely replace each other. They can do that in some recipes, but you need to be aware of the differences in the fiber types.
All types of fibers have different properties. Wool yarn, for example, is light and elastic, while cotton yarn is more firm and does not extend. Therefore, knitted or crocheted things will get vastly different expressions according to the fiber type.
To be sure to get a good result, it is a good idea to choose a yarn quality where the fiber type is reminiscent of the original yarn. Ideally, for example, you replace one type of wool yarn with another type of wool yarn.
If in doubt, it is always a good idea to read more about the specific yarn that you are considering. We often advise on which projects that the yarn is best suited.
Calculate the yarn length
When replacing one yarn quality with another, make sure you still have enough yarn. The yarn keys can have different running lengths, and if the replacement has a shorter running length, you need more keys - otherwise you do not risk having enough yarn for the entire project.
Always make a knitting or crochet sample
You should always do a knitting test before you start a project and it is extra important if you do not use the original yarn.
When doing a knitting sample, knit a small patch in the yarn so you can check that knitting or crochet strength fits. Remember to wax the test so you are sure that the firmness fits after washing.
A yarn replacement in practice
We have written about how to best find a yarn replacement, but it has only be theory. So maybe it's relevant to look at a practical example. What do you do for example if you find an easy knitting recipe for a sweater in our Easy Care Classic wool yarn and can't stand wool?
First of all, of course, you need to check the knitting strength of the original yarn. Here Easy Care Classic has a knitting strength of 22 stitches = 10 centimeters on stick 4.
In theory lies Mayflower Cotton 8/8 Close to this knitting strength with 20 stitches = 10 centimeters on stick 4, but cotton is not elastic and therefore you may end up with the finished sweater getting a very different expression that may not match your expectation. Therefore, let's look for other alternatives.
The best bid is probably Mayflower Amalfi, which consists of 52% cotton and 48% viscose. Here the viscose contributes with ease and helps keep the shape, so that the result is more just the original yarn. And the knitting strength is also really nice, because it is called 21 stitches = 10 centimeters.
But we are not done yet, because we also have to look at the running length. Let's assume you should use 10 keys Easy Care Classic in the original recipe. Our Easy Care Classic has a running length of 106 meters per day. key so that a total of 1060 meters of yarn must be used for the recipe.
In comparison, Amalfi has only one running length of 95 meters per day. key so we just have to check if there is enough yarn. We do this by saying 1060 meters divided by 95 meters per day. Key = 11.16 keys. That is, you need to use 11.6 keys Amalfi to knit the recipe, which for safety is rounded up to 12 keys.
And then you actually just have to do a knitting test. There was a single stitch in the difference in their knitting strength, so you might need to adjust with half a stick size. It is also possible that you can make it fit without adjustment, and then just get started on your knitting project.
If you have trouble with a crochet or knitting pattern
Even the most experienced handwork enthusiast can run into problems with an otherwise easy knitting pattern. When that happens, there are some good advice that can help you along the way.
Read the full recipe through again
You should always read the whole recipe before embarking on a project. In this way you get an overview and at the same time see where the most challenging elements are in the recipe.
If problems arise with a recipe, it is a good idea to reread the entire recipe from end to end. It may be that you have misunderstood something when you read the recipe for the first time.
Make a minor test
Often it is just a single element that can tease in a knitting pattern. Maybe it's a hollow pattern that doesn't look right or you can deal with getting some deckes.
It can be frustrating to have to start over and over again so you can make it easier for yourself by making a small lap where you test the technique. Then you can resume work when it is controlled.
Get help from someone you know
It can be worth gold to get help from an experienced knitter or crochet - and it is especially good if you have the opportunity to put yourself together physically.
It can be a learning and cozy experience that can end up being quality time. Even if you are experienced, it can help a lot to look at the recipe with someone else.
Ask for help online
There are many who use Mayflowers free recipes, which is why there are probably others who can help you further with a particular recipe.
On Me & Mayflower on Facebook Is there the opportunity to ask others about Mayflower's recipes. Often you can get in touch with others who have followed the same recipe.
Send us a message
If you have tried other options unsuccessfully, send us a message. We want to help you get to the finish line with my recipe - and at the same time we can just double check if the recipe needs to be adjusted and whether items should be elaborated.
