Welcome to Crochet Current! 🧡 

Our kitchen renovation is dragging on, but that didn’t stop me from going to Ollies this week — I scored some deeply discounted Bernat Blanket yarn for cozy winter blankets!

A huge storm knocked out power for the evening, but nothing keeps a crocheter down — I was able to continue my work with a neck light I had originally bought for working with black yarn!

Thank you for supporting me and please share my newsletter with a friend who likes crochet!

In this week’s e-mail:

• Survey says a lot about yarn artists

• The huge second-hand clothing market in Kenya is being remade

• How much yarn do I need? Everything you need to know

YARN OVER HOOK

My Weekly Favorite Finds

🧶 Manage Your Stash

• A new app that keeps an inventory of your yarn, patterns, WIPs and more. (YarnKeep)

⭕ You can never have too many stitch markers!

• Take a break from crocheting to make your own. (HeartHookHome)

🟨 Granny Square of the Week

• Sunflower Sky Granny Square (SoGrannySquares)

 🧡 Featured Crochet Charity

• Care Blankets in St Petersburg, FL collects blankets for people in need when cold weather hits. (CareBlankets)

✨ WIP - Decoy Wasp Nest

• Have you ever heard of a decoy wasp nest? (CrochetCurrent)

  👉 What are you working on? Reply to share it with me!

LOOPED IN

News

• Survey Says! Results from Yarn Consumer Survey 2025. The latest Yarn Consumer Survey highlighted interesting trends, including a surprising increase in in-store yarn spending vs last year. Online spending still outpaces in store spending across all age groups. When it comes to finished projects, the survey says that on average, people start 19 projects in a year and complete just 16. (Craft Industry Alliance)

• A new yarn factory in Egypt signals global expansion in crochet supply chains. A Turkish textile company, Ulusoy, signed an $18 million agreement to establish a yarn and textile production facility in West Qantara, a city in Egypt near the Suez Canal. The factory will produce a wide range of yarns—including household crochet yarns. With 80% of its output intended for export, this move strengthens Egypt’s role in the international yarn market and supports the growing demand for crochet supplies worldwide. Could this mean more options—or better prices—for crocheters? (Daily News Egypt)

• Turning pattern downloads into charitable donations. From June 16 to July 6, 2025, every free pattern downloaded from the Yarnspirations online pattern archive contributes to a donation made to Warm Up America—a nonprofit that distributes handmade blankets and garments to those in need. (Yarnspirations)

• Crochet transforms lives through upcycling. Dynamite Hooks, a social venture founded by Triza Apasi in Kilifi, Kenya, illustrates how crochet can transform lives and also is transforming the second-hand clothing market. The group promotes mental health, economic empowerment, and environmental sustainability by upcycling thrifted sweaters into yarn. Their work has grown into a formal business, offering workshops, participating in fashion events, and co-founding Arts and Hearts, a platform for emerging, sustainable artists. Dynamite Hooks exemplifies how fiber arts can foster resilience, creativity, and social change across Africa.  (NewsCentral)

STITCH BY STITCH

🧶 How Much Yarn Do You Actually Need?

Crochet Yardage Cheat Sheet: How Much Yarn for Every Project

Ever stood frozen at a yarn sale (👀 looking at you, Joann & Ollie’s), wondering how much is enough? You’re not alone.

Estimating yarn needs is one of the trickiest parts of crochet—here’s your quick-reference guide to help avoid mid-project panic. With this guide you’ll be able to confidently answer the big question: How much yarn do I need?

🧵 Why Yarn Math Is So Tricky

Before you dive into the math, consider these key factors that influence how much yarn your project will need:

• Pattern complexity: Intricate stitches (puff, bobble, cables, post stitches) are yarn hogs.

• Yarn weight: Thicker yarns =  fewer stitches =  less yardage.

• Hook size & tension: Larger hooks and looser stitches often use less yarn. Tighter stitches can eat up more.

• Sizing: Are you making a baby blanket or a queen-size afghan? Yarn needs increase the larger the project.

• Gauge swatching: Boring, but worth it. A swatch helps to confirm your stitch and row count before calculating final yardage.

📊 Quick Yardage Estimation Chart

Here’s a simple starting point for many common projects. These are ballpark ranges—but they’ll help you avoid yarn chicken.

 Pro tip: Screenshot this chart or print it out to keep in your project bag!

🧮 Yarn Estimator Formulas

The Lazy Math Method:
Find the number of yards in your skein (check the label), then divide your project’s total yardage by that number. Round up.

👉 When in doubt:
Pattern Yardage x 1.15 = Safe Buy Amount
(That extra 15% saves your sanity if you run short!)

Pro Tip: Use a digital kitchen scale to weigh your swatch, then multiply to estimate how many grams you’ll need for your full project

🧵 Yarn Buying Tips You’ll Wish You Knew Sooner

• Buy in One Go – Matching dye lots = consistent color

• Stick With One Line – Different lines can feel really different.

• Check Patterns First – Yardage is often listed right in the materials.

• Look at Yardage, Not Skeins – A “skein” can mean anything.

• Use Digital Tools – Try YarnSub to find an equivalent yarn.

🛒 Best Tools for Estimating Yarn

• Yarn Calculator App (iOS/Android) → Quick on-the-go estimates.

• Digital Scale for Yarn → Know exactly how much is left mid-project.

• Project Journal → Track how much yarn each project uses for future reference.

Estimating how much yarn you need might seem like a guessing game, but with a solid gauge swatch, smart math, and the tips above, you’ll save time, reduce waste, and boost your confidence.

A little planning goes a long way—your future self (and your wallet) will thank you.

👉 Got a favorite yarn-estimating trick I missed? Hit replay and share it with me – I might feature it an upcoming issue.

IN STITCHES

WEAVING IN THE ENDS

Thanks for reading — let me know if you enjoy my e-mails by sending a reply or clicking the poll below. It should work this time — fingers crossed! 😊

Stay cool and see you next week.

—Michelle 🧡

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