How to get free patterns

If you’re anything like me, your pattern book/magazine stash takes up at least as much room as your yarn stash. The cost of all those books and magazines soon adds up. I’ve stopped buying magazines and I generally only get books as presents these days. But there are some ways to source great free patterns.

1 Ravelry
Ravelry is a fantastic site for free patterns. The search facility is excellent, really easy to use and with lots of search terms so you can find exactly what you want. You can also request that only free patterns are displayed, so you don’t have to wade through lots of paid-for ones. This is the search function that every pattern site’s search facility should be judged by. Ravelry should be your go-to place for freebies.

2 Yarn suppliers
These will often provide free patterns to support their yarns. Red Heart is particularly good, with 2,005 free knitting and crochet pattens at the time of writing. Red Heart yarns aren’t available in the UK, but you can usually substitute with something suitable. Designer Yarns (stockists of Debbie Bliss, Noro, Louisa Harding and more) also offers lots of free patterns.

Red Heart's Octagons & Squares Crochet Throw
is a gorgeous free pattern.

3 Craft blogs
Bloggers can be a great resource for free patterns. Established designers will often publicise a new range by offering a free pattern, and you can get hold of patterns by such well-known names as Debbie Bliss. It’s worth following budding designers too, as these will offer free patterns to help get their name out there.

4 Vintage
In the UK, copyright expires after 70 years, so any patterns from before 1943 are copyright free. It’s worth searching for old patterns to see what you can find. This doesn’t mean that all vintage patterns you find on the internet will be free. People can charge what they want for vintage patterns they’re offering on their websites. It does mean, however, that you should always check whether you can download a pattern for free before you part with any cash.

Keep an eye out for pattern books in charity shops too. These won’t be free, obviously, but you can pick up some great bargains.

5 Design your own
This is by far the most fun way of getting free patterns, in my opinion. You also learn lots of new techniques, improve your knitting and end up with a garment that’s totally unique, totally your style and fits perfectly.

This Union Jack iPhone cover is one of several covers I've designed.