Free beginner courses

Pick a craft and work through the lessons in order. Each course starts with what to buy and your first stitches, links each skill to a step-by-step guide, and ends with a first project you can size with our calculators and pattern generators. Tick off lessons as you go; your progress stays in this browser.

• Crochet

  Learn to crochet: a free beginner course

  Hook and yarn, the basic stitches, patterns and gauge, then a first beanie or blanket.

• Knitting

  Learn to knit: a free beginner course

  Needles and yarn, knit and purl, dropped stitches, gauge, then a first hat and socks.

• Quilting

  Quilting for beginners: a free course from first cut to binding

  12 lessons from tools, rotary cutting and the 1/4 inch seam to binding a first patchwork throw.

• Needlepoint

  Learn cross stitch and needlepoint: a free course for beginners

  12 lessons from a first kit and hoop to a framed sampler, then a small needlepoint coaster.

Already past the basics? Browse the guides for one technique at a time, or go straight to the beanie pattern generator and granny square blanket pattern for a free pattern sized to your yarn.