Knitting

Free Patterns, Tutorials and Project Ideas

Claim Your FREE Book – Knitting For Beginners: Create Your Dream Projects in 3 Days

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This book is available on Kindle for free, hurry and download as free books don’t last long and you don’t want to miss this book.

The truth is that we all feel stressed sometimes because of the infinite amount of our daily tasks. In addition, we often can’t stop thinking about the problems that are tormenting us. In the long run, this can cause anxiety or even depression.
In these moments, it is essential that you turn your attention to something else… for example, creating a pretty scarf!
Knitting is a really therapeutic hobby. Everyone who practices it says that it calms their anxiety and stress. In fact, the repetitive movement of your hands allows your mind to relax and stop focusing on issues that are making you anxious. Because you are focused on creating your project, you will be able to completely distract your mind.
Imagine the satisfaction of being able to turn your idea into something tangible and functional. You can then give your creations to the people you love and enjoy the smiles on their faces when they see that it is something you made with your own hands. Your creation will be a truly original gift, unique and inimitable!
This hobby will allow you to be productive, and not waste a second of your time. In fact, you can take your project with you and work on it at any time and anywhere.
The purpose of this book is to teach you how to knit in the easiest, fastest way, while having the most fun!
Specifically, this book includes:

  • The 7 health benefits of knitting, and how this hobby can actually help you reduce stress and relieve anxiety;
  • Knitting for left-handers;
  • The best types of needles;
  • Where to buy your yarn (including a list of websites where you can find the best deals)
  • How to read a pattern like a pro;
  • Stitch patterns for beginners, intermediates and advanced;
  • Basic and advanced techniques in knitting;
  • 27 easy and fun projects, with images and step by step instructions… It will be impossible for you to leave them halfway done!
  • How to maintain the right tension in your projects, and avoid tangles;
  • How to knit a perfect edge;
  • 11 tips to avoid the most common mistakes;
  • Washing tips;

Have you read?

Book Review: Best Dressed Crab and Friends – Knitted Sea Creatures With an Ocean of Outfits

I knew I was going to like this book the moment I saw a crab wearing a puffer vest.

Best Dressed Crab and Friends by Karla Courtney is one of those knitting books that’s completely unnecessary in the very best possible way. Do we need knitted sea creatures with entire wardrobes? Probably not. Do I now want a lobster in a sweater sitting on my craft-room shelf? Absolutely.

The book includes patterns for six knitted sea creatures, including a crab, turtle, lobster and puffin, along with an impressive 44 little garments and accessories.

And the outfits are where this book really becomes fun.

There’s a crab with a bum bag and puffer vest, a puffin in a varsity jacket and a turtle with interchangeable shells. You can knit pumpkin, strawberry, peppermint, gingerbread and Christmas tree shell designs, so apparently even turtles need seasonal wardrobes now.

There is also an oversized turtle shell with a hidden pocket for a hot water bottle, which is both slightly bonkers and rather brilliant.

Plenty of Room to Make Them Your Own

Looking through the preview pages, I particularly like the little colourwork sweater charts. You can follow the designs provided or start mixing colours and motifs to create completely different outfits.

The patterns are supported by a techniques section, photos and charts, so although the finished creatures look quite detailed, the instructions are designed to be approachable.

If knitted animals with wardrobes are already your thing, have a look at our review of Knitted Wild Animal Friends, which includes 12 knitted animals and their clothes.

We’ve also previously reviewed Knitted Animal Friends, another lovely choice if your yarn stash is slowly turning into a miniature knitted zoo.

More Than Just Cute Knitting Patterns

One nice extra is that Best Dressed Crab and Friends also includes marine facts from scientists and fishermen, including lobsterman Jacob Knowles.

Author Karla Courtney is already known online for her wonderfully quirky knitted sea creatures, with her videos clocking up millions of views, so turning them into a full pattern collection feels like a very natural next step.

What I like most about this book is that it doesn’t take itself too seriously. These are the sorts of knitting projects that make people smile.

They’re fun to make, fun to photograph and would make very memorable handmade gifts.

Would I Buy It?

Yes.

Especially for the knitter who already owns plenty of sensible knitting books and needs something a little more playful.

It’s a great pick for anyone who enjoys knitted toys, colourwork, novelty knitting or making ridiculously tiny clothes.

And really, if you’ve ever wanted to knit a fashionable crab, this may finally be your moment.

Best Dressed Crab and Friends: Knitted Sea Creatures with an Ocean of Outfits is published by GMC Publications and is due for release on September 8, 2026.