Organize Your Crochet: The Ultimate Project Planner

If you crochet regularly, chances are you have more than one project on the go. A half-finished blanket tucked into a basket, an amigurumi waiting for stuffing, a cardigan that only needs one sleeve… sound familiar?

Crochet is creative, calming, and deeply satisfying — but without a little organisation, it can also become overwhelming. That’s where a crochet project planner can make a real difference.

The hidden problem with unfinished projects

Most crocheters don’t abandon projects because they lose interest. They stop because:

  • Yarn details get forgotten
  • Hook sizes aren’t written down
  • Pattern notes are scattered across notebooks or phones
  • Life gets busy and projects lose momentum

A planner isn’t about being rigid or overly structured. It’s about gently supporting your creativity so you can actually enjoy the making process — and finish what you start.

What a crochet project planner helps you do

A good crochet planner brings everything together in one calm, intentional place. Instead of searching through notes or trying to remember what you did last time, you can sit down and pick up right where you left off.

With dedicated project planning pages, you can:

  • Record pattern names, designers, and difficulty levels
  • Note yarn brands, colours, and quantities
  • Track hook sizes and gauge
  • Jot down adjustments, ideas, and reminders

This small habit saves time, reduces frustration, and keeps crochet relaxing rather than stressful.

Keeping track of WIPs without guilt

Work-in-progress projects (WIPs) are a natural part of crocheting. A planner doesn’t judge how many you have — it simply helps you keep track of them.

When each project has its own page, WIPs feel intentional instead of chaotic. You can see what’s active, what’s paused, and what’s ready to be finished when the mood strikes.

The value of built-in crochet reference pages

One of the most useful parts of a crochet planner is having reference information close at hand. Instead of opening multiple tabs or searching online mid-project, you can quickly check:

  • UK and US stitch conversions
  • Yarn weight and hook size guides
  • Standard blanket and hat sizes
  • Common crochet abbreviations and slang

Having these pages printed and nearby keeps your creative flow uninterrupted.

Why printables work so well for crocheters

Printable planners are flexible and practical. You can:

  • Print only the pages you need
  • Reprint favourites as often as you like
  • Use them in a binder, folder, or clipboard
  • Adjust your setup as your projects change

Whether you prefer a minimal system or a cosy, creative workspace, a printable planner adapts to you.

Crochet should feel calm, not chaotic

At its heart, crochet is about slowing down and making something with your hands. A project planner doesn’t take away from that — it supports it.

By keeping your projects organised, your ideas clear, and your notes in one place, you give yourself permission to enjoy crochet fully, without the mental clutter.

If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed by unfinished projects or forgotten details, a crochet project planner might be the gentle tool you didn’t know you needed.

Happy hooking

Ready to Get Organised?

If you’re looking for a calm, practical way to keep your crochet projects organised, my Printable Crochet Project Planner is designed to gently support your making. It will do so without pressure or overwhelm.

It includes project planning pages, notes and ideas sheets, crochet reference charts, all in a soft, cosy aesthetic. I have included some bonus printable crochet care labels to help you level up your gifting. There are also some fun savings sheets to help you buy more yarn! You can print only the pages you need and reuse them as often as you like.

👉 You can find the full Crochet Project Planner in my Etsy shop.

DIY Christmas Crochet Basket Tutorial

With Christmas fast approaching I wanted to share with you a fabulous and practical pattern, perfect for this festive season. These handy baskets can be used to gift or store festive chocolates or just add a little seasonal decor around the home.

These baskets are super versatile. You can swap the colours to suit your own style and add whatever decorations you choose, here I have chosen to add a sweet wooden snowflake, but ribbons, bows and bells would look just as good. The best bit about these baskets is the wooden base.

The wooden base makes this a super quick make and means the basket has a great shape and is sturdy…all good elements for a useful basket to have. You will find bases in all sorts of shapes and sizes on lots of different shopping sites. I got mine from Etsy, as I like to support small business owners when I can. Take a look here to get started

I would just like to talk about your choice of yarn or cord for a moment also. I purchased several versions before I settled on one I was happy with. Some were too splitty, or dull, or just didn’t crochet well. I highly recommend using this 5mm braided recycled cotton cord because it is economical, comes in a great colour range and is easy to work with.

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Pattern notes

The pattern that follows can be adapted to any size or shape base. The pattern uses English crochet terminology, but you can find US crochet terminology in brackets just below.

Ad free version with detailed round by round instruction for Trio of baskets in sizes 12cm, 15cm and 17cm here.

I strongly advise that you mark the 1st chain 1 of each round with a stitch marker. Repeats are marked by *

What you will need

5mm braided cotton cord in colour of your choice

wooden base(s)

scissors

hooks – see below

stitch marker

decorations of your choice – bows / bells / small tree ornaments

Stitches used

DC – double crochet ( SC – single crochet)

slst – slip stitch

Ch – chain stitch

Dc: Insert hook into chain or under both loops of stitch, yarn over and pull through so there are 2 loops on hook, yarn over again and pull through both loops on hook.

Hooks used

5mm and 8mm

To start

Start by holding cord underneath the base. Using smaller hook pull up a loop through the first hole in the base.

Yarn over and pull through loop on your hook.

*Pull up next loop from the underside of base through next hole and complete DC* Repeat around base to last hole. Slst in 1st st.

Now turn work so outside of the basket is facing you.

Round 2: Using larger hook. Ch1 (counts as a st) place marker. DC in next stitch and in each st around.

Round 3: ch 1, continue to place DC in each st for desired height of basket, placing marker in ch1 of each round. Change colours as desired.

eg/ large basket pictured had a base with 37 holes / 17cm diameter. I completed rounds 1 – 8 in candy red and rounds 9 – 11 in natural. Final round in natural also. My basket measures 14cms tall.

Final round: Do not ch1, slst in each st around. Fasten off.

With smaller hook weave in loose ends. Weave starting tail at base so that it fills in the gap.

Now decorate your basket as desired.

Next steps

If you have enjoyed this pattern you can help support what I do by

• Pin for later on your Pinterest board

• leave me a like or a comment below

• tag me in your makes using @yarnyrobin

ad-free version with detailed round by round instruction for Trio of baskets in sizes. 12cms,15cms and 17cms

• join my occasional newsletter for more crochet goodness, exclusive offers and more FREE crochet goodies

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Five Easter / Spring crochet patterns to make and gift…

Spring is upon us, although I’m bracing for the Spring showers, which seem to have started early here! Whether you’re looking for a quick Easter make, for that last minute gift or Easter basket filler, I’ve got some patterns to tempt you…and most of them are FREE… Hurrah!

crochet baby lovey free pattern
Crochet spring bunny lovey

Spring Bunny Lovey – FREE crochet pattern

How about this as a sweet Easter basket filler for baby. Using Oeko Tex standard 100 approved 100% cotton in a 4ply; these lovey’s are soft to snuggle and safe to chew on…and are sure to become baby’s best friend.

Floppy Bunny Ears – FREE crochet pattern

Make these sweet bunny ears to add to hats or headbands. Either way, this pattern is sure to add a bit of bunny magic this Spring.

Face scrubbies and Face cloth crochet pattern

This luxurious set of reusable soft textured facecloths and squishy scrubbies would make the perfect Easter gift for baby, Mom’s-to-be, or just that special girl in your life. They are quick and easy to make, so are perfect to add that handmade touch to gift baskets.

Angelece Blanket – FREE crochet pattern

Why not hook this beautiful baby blanket, ideal for the spring / summer. A beginner’s introduction to filet crochet, the pattern is free and gives instructions on how to size up for a bigger blanket too!

crochet cupcakes

Grandma Dot Tea Cosy – FREE crochet pattern

The simplicity and sweetness of this beautiful Spring tea cosy, makes it quick to make. Suitable for a beginner with a little experience of working in the round, this tea cosy is sure to keep your Easter cup of tea as warm as your freshly toasted hot cross bun!

Don’t forget to pop over to my socials to say hi…I would love to see what’s on your hook. @yarnyrobin

Happy Hooking!

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Just June’s FREE crochet pattern…

Fancy getting this crochet macaron pattern for FREE…here’s how!
Sign up to my email list ready for June’s newsletter and get this perfect macaron pattern for FREE!!
I’m thinking Teddy bears picnics and tea parties by the paddling pool

Macarons and cupcakes

Pattern is a written pattern and suitable for beginners with some knowledge of basic stitches. The pattern includes 20 step by step pictures to assist you.

Stitches used are UK – double crochet and slip st (US – Single crochet and slip stitch)

Materials you will need: 4 ply cotton yarn (the pattern recommends Drops Safran but this can be substituted)(3.0mm) crochet hook or other size to obtain gauge although gauge is not imperative. Tapestry needle scissors and small amount of polyester toy filling (fire safety standard / EN71) stitch marker (optional)

Join my monthly email list and get this macaron pattern FREE aswell as 30% off this crochet cupcake pattern- offer valid up to the end of June 2023

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Happy Hooking!

6 Easter / Spring crochet patterns to make and gift…

Spring is upon us, although I’m bracing for the April showers, which seem to have started early here! Whether you’re looking for a quick Easter make, for that last minute gift or Easter basket filler, I’ve got some patterns to tempt you…and most of them are FREE… Hurrah!

crochet baby lovey free pattern
Crochet spring bunny lovey

Spring Bunny Lovey – FREE crochet pattern

How about this as a sweet Easter basket filler for baby. Using Oeko Tex standard 100 approved 100% cotton in a 4ply; these lovey’s are soft to snuggle and safe to chew on…and are sure to become baby’s best friend.

Floppy Bunny Ears – FREE crochet pattern

Make these sweet bunny ears to add to hats or headbands. Either way, this pattern is sure to add a bit of bunny magic this Spring.

Face scrubbies and Face cloth crochet pattern

This luxurious set of reusable soft textured facecloths and squishy scrubbies would make the perfect Easter gift for baby, Mom’s-to-be, or just that special girl in your life. They are quick and easy to make, so are perfect to add that handmade touch to gift baskets.

FREE crochet Spring Printable PDF

For the month of April 2023 only, if you sign up to my email list, you will receive a pdf for these beautiful spring printable mini tags and postcards, perfect for printing on your choice of card stock (I recommend business card stock) and attaching to your hand-made gifts this Spring / Easter. Please allow 24 hours for your email to update.

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Angelece Blanket – FREE crochet pattern

Why not hook this beautiful baby blanket, ideal for the spring / summer. A beginner’s introduction to filet crochet, the pattern is free and gives instructions on how to size up for a bigger blanket too!

crochet cupcakes

Grandma Dot Tea Cosy – FREE crochet pattern

The simplicity and sweetness of this beautiful Spring tea cosy, makes it quick to make. Suitable for a beginner with a little experience of working in the round, this tea cosy is sure to keep your Easter cup of tea as warm as your freshly toasted hot cross bun!

Don’t forget to pop over to my socials to say hi…I would love to see what’s on your hook. @yarnyrobin

Happy Hooking!

January Beanie Pattern Test…

This is what I have been working on, a brand new beanie design using beautiful squishy alpine stitches. These beautiful front post stitches make this beanie textured and perfect for an ombre colour fade design. However I have also made this beanie in a solid colour block as well as a self striping yarn…and they look great.

I have written the pattern for sizes, 0 – 3 months through to adult, so this beanie can become a real family favourite! I have also written this pattern in both UK and US crochet terminology, so no more pesky converting during making.

I am hoping to slowly work through my portfolio of patterns and get a US version of them written, so watch this space. The pattern is currently with my testers, so I’m on tenterhooks waiting to see how they get on. I have a couple of spots still available if you fancy testing this pattern. You will receive a fully edited version once complete and another of my patterns that you can choose. Let me know in the comments if you do…I would love to have you on board.

Why not subscribe to my brand new email list…where you will receive occasional emails with crochet inspiration, free crochet patterns and exclusive discount codes.

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Niki xx

Happy New Year…

crochet deer lovey, crochet pattern

Happy New Year to you and welcome 2023.

What did you do to celebrate?

Don’t judge me…but I went as far as the living room. We watched TV, I crocheted of course, drank a few glasses of bubbles, ate good food and fell asleep…only to be woken 5 minutes before midnight to watch the fireworks on the TV from London. Not so exciting, but Mr R had the lurgy, so it suited us this year, especially as the grown up Robins were out celebrating with their tribes.

Have you set your plans? Your resolutions? Let me know what they are if you are happy to share…you may inspire me! I have set some plans here at the Nest, you may be pleased to know. I have lots of pattern ideas as well as lots of plans to share free patterns and tutorials with you.

I am also starting an email list and will periodically send exclusive coupon sale codes and free patterns. If you fancy some crochet goodness in your inbox, then I would love to have you onboard. You can subscribe just here and I promise not to spam you!

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I am currently writing a new pattern for a bottom up beanie, which is a completely new way to make beanies for me. I’m just doing the grading, so it can be made for all the family. Here’s a sneak peek…

I have treated myself to some new yarn too, so I will show you that as soon as I take some photos. But for now, I will leave you with some crochet highlights from last year.

Nicola

xxxxx

Free Christmas Gingerbread Star crochet pattern…

crochet gingerbread stars

I haven’t got much spare time at the moment, but I wanted to give you all a little Christmas present to say thank you for stopping by and supporting me over the last year…I really appreciate every one of you that reads my posts, likes my posts or leaves me a comment, so I thought a little free Christmas crochet pattern would be the perfect gift for you.

Enjoy…and Happy Christmas to you from me

XXXXX

Perfect Macaron Crochet Pattern…

The hot Summer weather has me out and about and in the garden which isn’t leaving me a lot of crochet time. So I have been looking for small crochet wins to satisfy my creativity and to gain a sense of achievement with the little time I have. I have found myself creating delicious treats to add to my previous trio of cupcakes and have made these perfect macarons in beautiful pastel shades.

I love the idea of making play food sets and I would have loved these as a little girl; and now with two beautiful neice in my life I have just the right excuse to make play food sets for their play kitchens (albeit I am prepping for a couple of years ahead!).

These macarons are quick and easy to make. With play food sets in mind I treated myself to a Drops Safran cotton yarn pack and am giddy with the colours and have peace of mind that the cotton is Oeko Tex standard 100 approved; which means the cotton has been certified to be free of harmful chemicals and is safe for human use, as well as being verified as both safe and non-irritating to human skin. For more of my patterns using this yarn take a look at my

Peony bib set

and my free patterns

Spring bunny lovey and crochet teethers

which means I am getting through my Drops Safran stash quite quickly and making beautiful items I can gift.

This pattern is written using English crochet terminology but has US terminology in brackets within the stitch abbreviation section of the pattern. The macarons are made in continuous rounds or spirals. A method commonly used in amigurumi and means there are no visible seams. The pattern is suitable for beginners with some knowledge of basic stitches and includes 20 step by step pictures to assist you.

Let me know what you think or if you can recommend any good crochet food patterns I can take a look at!

Use code HAPPY10 for 10% off

Jubilee Bunting…free crochet pattern

With Her Majesty’s Platinum Jubilee just around the corner I thought I’d share my progress on my Jubilee decorations and share the pattern with you. After all what good is a garden party or afternoon tea without a bit of bunting?

To make the bunting flags please see my previous post just here They are simple to make and the lace trim gives a pretty, vintage vibe. What’s more if you tie your embellishments to the flags rather than sew them on, the bunting can be recycled and dressed up again for the next occasion / holiday season in your calendar…clever eh!

I wanted my Jubilee bunting to be traditional in colour , so of course it had to be red, white and blue, but I wanted it to look pretty and almost understated, so you won’t find any navy or lipstick red here! instead I chose a more muted red tone and coupled it with a mid blue. I also wanted to incorporate the Union Jack and found these gorgeous little buttons, which again are more subtle in tone.

Yarn: Drops Saffran in cherry and denim blue

Buttons: Buttonboxdevon

Pattern Notes

This pattern is written using UK crochet terminology and the stitch abbreviations can be found below. I have included US terminology in brackets if you wish to convert.

Stitch Abbreviations:

Ch- chain / chain (US)                               St – stitch / stitch (US)

Slst – slip stitch / slip stitch (US)              Tr – treble / double crochet (US)

Dc – double crochet / single crochet (US)  

Dc: Insert hook into chain or under both loops of stitch, yarn over and pull through so there are 2 loops on hook, yarn over again and pull through both loops on hook.                  

Tr: Yarn over hook, insert hook into chain or under both loops of stitch, yarn over and pull through so there are 3 loops on hook, yarn over again and pull through 2 loops, yarn over and pull through last 2 loops on hook.

Large Jubilee Rose

In cherry

Leave a long tail, ch 50

Tr in 2nd ch from hook, tr in each ch along, dc in last ch

Ch3, turn

2tr in same space, 3tr in each st a long, dc in last st. Fasten off leaving a long tail

Small Jubilee Rose

In denim blue

Leave a long tail, ch 33

Tr in 2nd ch from hook, tr in each ch along, dc in last ch

Ch3, turn

2tr in same space, 3tr in each st a long, dc in last st. Fasten off leaving a long tail

To assemble

Spiral flower in an anti-clockwise direction with one long tail at the front of the rose and one long tail at the back of the rose. With a darning needle take the front tail through to the back of the rose to secure centre petal. Now make several passes of the needle at back of the rose making sure you catch all the layers of the rose. With other tail, thread darning needle and make several more passes at the back of the rose. Tie tails together in a knot to secure. Attach to bunting by passing both tails with a darning needle through to back of flag and tie neatly so tails tuck neatly behind flag and can be easily removed when you wish to re-dress your bunting. Add buttons to string in between flags with hot glue / glue gun.

If you like this pattern and would like me to continue to share my patterns please give me a clap and follow me on instagram

I would love to see your Jubilee Roses, so please tag me in your makes on social media and I will share your lovely makes.

#jubileerose / @yarnyrobin