yarn

We have created a visual step by step guide to help you learn about the basics of crochet. Whether you're new to stitching and would like to learn how to crochet or if you're a knitter looking to diversify your skills today we'll teach you how to get started crocheting!

I discovered the Norrland Hat pattern on Ravelry and decided to take on the challenge. I love the trees and snowflakes, and I have never done colorwork and cables at the same time. Since I love learning new things, I bought the pattern immediately and cast on.

I made some modifications, including turning the hat into a slouch instead of a beanie, and I wanted to explain those in case you want to modify your project, too.

When grading alpaca yarns for knitting, there are different classifications depending on what knitting association you reference. In this article I will highlight the most common ways we grade alpaca yarn so you can make the best choices when choosing alpaca for your knitting and crochet projects. 

Learn some of Kelley's top tips for improving your knitting and crochet. She'll help you be a better knitter by sharing some of her expertise about learning skills, unique approaches to the craft, and her opinion on several tools and techniques.

Determining how much yarn you need for a project is a very common problem we see in our store and with our online customers.  You don't want to over buy but you also don't want to run short and not be able to match your dye lot or worse yet, find another skein if it is no longer available. 

Fortunately, most knit and crochet patterns include a list of materials, including how many skeins of yarn you will need to complete the project. However, sometimes we have to ask the question, How Much Yarn Do I Need?

AlpacaDirect.com is a 5-star Google Trusted Store website and the best place to buy yarn online for knitting and crochet.

That means you can shop confidently and securely knowing Alpaca Direct has passed Google's rigorous inspection and received over 600 five star customer reviews.

Kelley discusses a technique to 'Create your own fade' and make your own gradient yarn projects without buying a gradient yarn. She also shares new spring knit and crochet project ideas and reviews her favorite crochet hook.

We are getting more and more great chunky and bulky yarns in stock!!  With each new shipment, I find another must have yarn.  Here are a few projects I would be excited to cast on in one of our awesome new arrivals.