Best of 2018 – Top 18 Patterns and Tutorials

2018 was a fabulous growth year at Stitches n Scraps. There were fun blog hops, giveaways, make-alongs, and of course lots of patterns and tutorials! Let’s take a look back at the top 18 patterns and tutorials that I posted in 2018, and some of the other fun we had along the way.

Make Alongs

Knit alongs and crochet alongs are a great way to learn new techniques. I co-host 2 make-along groups on Facebook, with several other designers. Between those two groups and a couple of events right here, we’ve had a lot of opportunities to knit and crochet together this year.

KAL Corner Knitting

At KAL Corner, we spent the year knitting along on the Harmony Blanket. There were 48 beautiful squares with a wide variety of stitch patterns! This year’s fun has already started, with our Finishing Touches KAL.

This year long event is made up of 4 mini KALs, each around a different theme. All of the projects will be items that would be the perfect finishing touch – for an outfit, for home, and for gifting.

CAL Central Crochet

CAL Central was home to several crochet along events throughout the year. We started with the New Year, New Skill CAL, then the Softie CAL, the Washcloth CAL, and finally our signature event, the Holiday Stashdown CAL. Next week we’ll be starting a new our new, Hygge Home CAL. Join us for comfy, cozy, home decor patterns. More details coming soon!

Scrappy Stitchers

I hosted two crochet along events on this site and the Scrappy Stitchers Facebook group. The first was the Jazzberry Crochet Along, followed by the Autumn Air Crochet Along. Marie from Underground Crafter and I also co-hosted a Christmas in July CAL. We had a lot of fun with those, and I plan to have more CAL events in 2019.

Other Events

Besides the events I hosted or co-hosted, I had the pleasure of participating in lots more! There was the annual afghan CAL on Moogly and the Make it for Me CAL on ELK Studio. I also did a design for the Halloween CAL hosted by Underground Crafter and Oombawka Designs, and the Scarf of the Month club with Oombawka Designs and The Stitchin’ Mommy. I plan to participate in all of these again this year too if possible!

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Product Reviews and Giveaways

I got the chance to share some amazing products with you this year, many of them in the form of giveaway prizes for the various events. I also was able to review and giveaway several other products including books, cactus crochet kits, t-shirt yarn kits, fiber wash products, storage boxes, a weaving kit, and a hook and knitting needles. Part of the reason I go to so many conferences each year is to see what’s new in the fiber arts world and bring it back to share with you. I hope to find lots more neat stuff to share with you this year!

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Top 18 Patterns and Tutorials

It’s been a busy year! Here on Stitches n Scraps (not counting magazines and other publications), I published a total of 42 patterns (27 crochet, 14 knitting, 1 chart for both). I also posted 22 tutorials (7 crochet, 8 knitting, and 7 other). Out of all of those, these were the 18 most viewed:

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#18 Tesseract (crochet pattern)

Blocks of alternating textures twist around this fun to make hat, capped off with a spiral design. Available in 6 sizes, so you can make one for the whole family.

#17 Norwood Park (crochet pattern)

Norwood Park combines color blocking with a unique, asymmetrical, “V” shape. Lightweight yarn and tapered ends make it light enough for spring weather, even when wrapped around.

#16 Stocking Ornament (crochet pattern)

Brighten up your holidays with this cute little stocking ornament.You can use any size yarn you like, so it’s a great stashbuster!

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#15 Bohemian Wraps of Three (knitting pattern)

Bundles of stitches are gathered together and wrapped, to create the simple and stylish texture. The pattern includes both written and charted versions of the instructions.

#14 Bavarian Cardi (crochet pattern)

Comfy and warm, the Bavarian Cardi is heavy enough for layering on cold winter days. The unisex design is available in sizes ranging from 6 months to 4T.

#13 Serrana the Mermaid (crochet pattern)

This sweet, 19-inch doll is sure to delight mermaid fans and amigurumi enthusiasts alike. She’s a little bit sassy, completely adorable, and a whole lot of fun to make.

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#12 Needle Sculpting an Amigurumi Doll Face (tutorial)

In amigurumi, needle sculpting is a way to add contours to an otherwise smooth surface. This is a particularly useful technique for sculpting facial contours on both knit and crochet amigurumi projects.

#11 Bandkerchief (knit pattern)

By request, this is the knit version of my popular, crochet Bandkerchief pattern. Just like the original, it looks like a kerchief, It’s available in 5 sizes, from baby to adult.

#10 New Eastside (crochet pattern)

With its urban style and a casual fit, the comfy, New Eastside cardigan may become your go-to jacket for spring and fall! The simple construction is almost seamless, with limited shaping, patch pockets, and an optional zipper.

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#9 Loopy Flower Square (crochet pattern)

Use the Loopy Flower Square as a blanket square, trivet, or just for decoration. Twisted loops give the center flower a 3-dimensional pop, and add a textural border element as well.

#8 Stars & Stripes Washcloth (crochet pattern)

Celebrate this summer with the Stars & Stripes Washcloth! The star stitch pattern is fast and fun to make, and gives the washcloth its fabulous, scrubby texture.

#7 Angel Ornament (crochet pattern)

This sweet little Angel Ornament works up in under an hour, and makes a great gift. The open, granny stitch pattern lets the tree lights shine through, making her seem to light up inside.

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#6 Eyelets in the Stream (knitting pattern)

Rolling waves are punctuated by rows of eyelets, for an eye catching square that’s fun and easy to make. The pattern includes both written and charted versions of the instructions.

#5 Fair Isle Locked Down (knitting tutorial)

Fair Isle is a colorwork technique in knitting, in which you work with multiple colors at once. This usually leaves “floats” or loose strands of yarn at the back of the work. In this tutorial, learn how to lock those floats down with every stitch to create a smoother finish at the back.

#4 Intermeshing Crochet Basics (crochet tutorial)

Intermeshing crochet is a technique of working 2 layers of crocheted mesh together. It creates a thick, squishy fabric with fun, geometric designs. Learn the basics in this photo and video tutorial.

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#3 Jazzberry Baby Blanket (crochet pattern)

Jazz up baby’s room with the fun and squishy Jazzberry Baby Blanket! The colors shift through a spectrum of pinks and purples, and each time a color changes, the zig-zag pattern changes direction as well.

#2 Two of Hearts (knitting pattern)

Just in time for Valentine’s Day, twisting cables form a pair of intertwined hearts. The pattern includes both written and charted versions of the instructions.

#1 Gold Coast Lapghan (crochet pattern)

Throw it over a couch or chair for the perfect designer accent, or snuggle up under it for some cozy family time. The sunny surface is covered in a delicate, lacy diamond pattern, and accented by a classic shell border in bold, deep purple.

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Did your favorites make the list? What would you like to see more of in 2019? I’m looking forward to another great year full of fiber fun!