When you're getting into crochet, there's a lot you're figuring out. How do I get started, what the heck is a chain, which hook do I buy and why are there so many sizes? And one of the biggest and most overwhelming parts is walking through the yarn aisle and having no idea what yarn you should buy. Then, somewhere between your first chain and your first sweater, you overhear someone or read a post online declaring acrylic evil. And suddenly you're not just confused about what

Some links in this post are affiliate links. If you make a purchase through one of these links, I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. A couple years ago I started crocheting a king-size blanket with this beautiful mosaic crochet pattern. I wanted a bit of a statement blanket for our bedroom, and I excitedly dove in. The colors are sort of Mediterranean, pink and teal and cream, colors I am really into and yarn that is so soft and cozy! I worked on it for

To frog or not to frog, that is the question! If you've been going along making progress on your crochet project and suddenly you spot a mistake you made rows before, you're not alone. This happens to us all. You might experience frustration setting in, maybe panic, anger, sadness, or a range of other emotions as you contemplate whether you are going to need to pull out all this work you've done, maybe hours worth of stitches, to fix your mistake and start again. Let's work t

Maybe you're thinking about starting a new project to gift a friend for their birthday, for a new baby in your life, or just for yourself and a blanket pattern has caught your eye (they do make amazing gifts!). You might be a beginner and find it the safest choice for starting your crochet journey as there's no shaping involved, there's typically less stitch counting than a more complex project like a sweater or an amigurumi, and you'll get your stitch reps in. Or, perhaps yo

There are hobbies that energize, and there are hobbies that calm. Crochet can be a fantastic hobby to settle you, and the more I think about it and read into it, the more the important I realize that difference is. So many modern hobbies end up mirroring the same patterns as work and social media, whether we mean them to or not. Photography becomes about editing and posting. Fitness turns into tracking metrics, streaks, and progress photos. Writing shifts toward publishing sc

A handful of swatches. In a culture that treats busyness as a virtue, it’s easy to believe creative hobbies are optional, something to return to only when there’s “enough” time. But the truth is, time rarely makes room for what nourishes us unless we ask it to. Intentionally carving out space for your craft isn’t indulgent or inefficient; it’s a way to protect your attention and come back to what actually feels good for you. And this isn’t just a cozy idea. Research suggests

A cozy, wearable twist on my favorite textured stitches. Find the free Starlight Poncho Pattern Here! The Creative Spark After the Starlight Throw There is something about finishing a big project that leaves my hands buzzing for the next one. That is exactly what happened when I put the final stitches into the Starlight Throw. I loved making that blanket so much, from the star stitches to the puff stitches to the calming rhythm of it all, that I immediately wanted to dive int

Crochet is a slow hobby. Truly slow. This is not an instant-gratification kind of craft, not even close! Even if you’re a fast crocheter, a project can take hours, days, weeks, sometimes months to complete. And in a world where everything is right-now, one-click, instantly-delivered, that makes crochet different. The craft demands presence, patience, and commitment in a way that can be difficult, but extremely rewarding as well. Crochet is one of the few hobbies where progres

Designing the Coziest Crochet Blanket for Fall, the Starlight Throw Get the free pattern here! Every year, as soon as fall settles in, I feel a familiar pull toward a certain kind of project. You know the one: something easy to pick up after work, something repetitive enough to be soothing, but with just enough variety to keep your hands (and mind) engaged. That’s when I know it’s blanket season. There’s something about this time of year. It's the cooler air, the shorter days

A few months ago, I decided to quit pursuing a pattern business I’d put a year and a half into. Then last week I decided to start over with Day With Rae. These big decisions weren’t easy to make, so no surprise that I’ve spent some time reflecting on what’s changed. What drove me to step back the first time around, what has rekindled my interest and passion now, and how do I know it won’t end back where I started? As I glance over at the three WIPS I have in the corner – a sw