Weaving is one of the oldest textile crafts and involves passing yarn over and under a series of vertical threads, known as the warp.

It can be done on anything from a simple cardboard loom to a large floor loom, so it doesn't necessarily require lots of equipment to have a go.

Different yarns can be combined to create stripes, patterns and wonderfully textured surfaces. Depending on the type of loom and technique used, weaving can produce everything from small decorative pieces and wall hangings to scarves, rugs and fabric.

It's particularly good for using yarns with interesting colours and textures that you might simply want to enjoy looking at.

Although macramé is often associated with cord or string, yarn can also be used for smaller or softer projects.

Rather than creating fabric with stitches, macramé uses a series of knots. By repeating and combining different knots, you can build decorative patterns and shapes.

Yarn macramé can be used for decorations, small wall hangings, tassels, keyrings and other accessories. Chunkier or firmer yarns tend to show the knots particularly well.

Pom-poms are probably one of the simplest ways to transform yarn, but there is much more you can do with them than add one to the top of a woolly hat.

They can be made using cardboard circles, a pom-pom maker or even your fingers. Once you've mastered the basic technique, different colours can be combined and the finished pom-poms trimmed into different shapes.

Pom-poms can become garlands, wreaths, decorations, keyrings, flowers and even little animals.

They're also a useful way of making something creative from leftover yarn.

Tassels are another wonderfully simple yarn craft.

Lengths of yarn are grouped together, tied and trimmed to create a decorative tassel. You can experiment with different yarn thicknesses, colours and lengths to produce completely different effects.

Use them individually as decorations or add them to cushions, bags, bookmarks, bunting, garlands and other handmade projects.

Punch needle sits somewhere between embroidery and rug making.

A special hollow needle is used to push loops of yarn through a fabric backing. As you work across the surface, those loops build into a dense, textured design.

It can be used to make decorative pictures, cushions, wall hangings and other textile pieces. Different yarn colours can be used almost as you would use paint, gradually filling in the different areas of a design.

There are several traditional ways of making rugs using yarn, including latch hooking and rug hooking.

With latch hooking, short pieces of yarn are attached individually to a mesh canvas using a special hook. Gradually, the pieces build into a thick, textured surface.

Designs can be very simple or surprisingly detailed, and the technique isn't limited to rugs. It can also be used for cushions, wall hangings and decorative textile pieces.

Embroidery doesn't always have to involve fine embroidery thread.

Yarn can be stitched through suitable fabric or canvas to create bold, highly textured embroidery. It is particularly effective for larger designs where ordinary embroidery thread might look too delicate.

Another option is couching. Instead of pulling thicker yarn through the fabric, the yarn is laid across the surface and secured in place with small stitches.

This makes it possible to create curves, outlines, lettering and decorative patterns using even quite chunky yarns.

Sometimes the yarn doesn't need to be made into fabric at all.

Wrapping yarn around an existing shape can completely transform it. Cardboard letters, rings, wreath forms, sticks and simple shapes can all be covered with yarn.

By changing colours as you wrap, you can create stripes and patterns without needing to learn any stitches or knots.

It's also another good way to use small quantities of leftover yarn.

Despite its name, French knitting doesn't involve conventional knitting needles.

A small knitting dolly — or larger circular loom — is used to create a long knitted cord. The yarn is looped around pegs and lifted over them one at a time, gradually producing a tube of fabric.

Those cords can then be turned into coasters, decorations, jewellery, words and shapes, or incorporated into larger craft projects.

For something rather more unusual, there's nalbinding.

Nalbinding is an ancient yarn craft that predates modern knitting and crochet. Instead of working from a continuous ball of yarn, shorter lengths are worked using a single needle to create a series of interlocking loops.

Historically it was used to make practical items such as mittens, socks and hats.

It looks a little like knitting at first glance, but the way the fabric is constructed is quite different.

One of the lovely things about yarn is just how many possibilities it offers.

You can loop it, knot it, weave it, wrap it, punch it, stitch it or turn it into pom-poms and tassels. You can create something practical, something decorative or simply experiment with colour and texture.

So if knitting or crochet have never appealed to you, that doesn't mean yarn crafts aren't for you.

There might simply be another way of using yarn that you haven't discovered yet.

The seam allowance is the fabric between your stitching line and the raw edge of the fabric.

When a pattern tells you to sew using a 1cm, 1.5cm or ¼" seam allowance, it is telling you how far from the edge of the fabric your stitching needs to be.

For example, if your pattern uses a 1.5cm seam allowance, your stitching line should sit 1.5cm in from the cut edge.

It sounds simple – and it is – but that measurement has already been taken into account when the pattern pieces were designed.

That means changing it can change the finished result.

Imagine two pieces of fabric that are each supposed to lose 1.5cm when they are sewn together.

If you accidentally sew them with a 2cm seam allowance instead, you have taken an extra 5mm from each piece at that seam.

That might not sound like much.

But repeat a small difference across several seams and suddenly your finished project can be noticeably smaller than it should be.

The opposite happens if your seam allowance is too narrow. Your finished piece becomes larger and you may also have less fabric securing the seam.

This is particularly important when several pieces need to fit together accurately.

One of the most useful habits you can develop when learning to sew is keeping your seam allowance consistent.

If one part of a seam is 1cm from the edge, another is 1.5cm and another wanders towards 2cm, the shape of the finished piece can change.

You may notice:

• seams that look slightly wavy
• corners that don’t quite meet
• pieces that no longer line up
• a finished item that twists or sits unevenly
• patchwork points that disappear into the seam

You don’t need to sew perfectly to make something lovely. But learning to guide your fabric so that the edge stays an even distance from the needle will make a real difference to your results.

There isn’t one seam allowance that applies to everything you sew.

You might come across ¼" seams in patchwork and quilting, while dressmaking patterns commonly use larger allowances such as 1cm or 1.5cm. Other sewing projects may use something different again.

That’s why it is always worth checking the instructions before you begin.

And don’t assume that the seam allowance is included in every pattern piece. Some patterns include it and others expect you to add it yourself.

A quick check before cutting can save a lot of frustration later!

Patchwork is a particularly good example of why accurate seam allowances matter.

A single ¼" seam being slightly out may hardly be noticeable.

But patchwork often involves joining lots of small pieces together. If every seam is just a little too wide or too narrow, those tiny differences begin to add up.

By the time you join several blocks together, you may find that:

• blocks are different sizes
• points don’t meet
• rows don’t line up
• the finished section is smaller or larger than expected

This is why patchworkers often use a ¼" presser foot or another guide on their sewing machine. It makes keeping that repeated measurement much easier.

Seam allowances have another important job when you’re making clothes.

They provide enough fabric to construct and finish the seam while allowing the garment to end up at its intended size.

If your seam allowance is too large, a garment can become tighter. If it is too small, the garment can become looser.

You may also need some of that seam allowance for finishing the raw edges, inserting a zip or making adjustments.

It’s another reason not to automatically trim away fabric until the instructions tell you to.

You don’t have to rely on judging the distance by eye.

Most sewing machines have markings on the needle plate that you can use as a guide. Depending on your machine and the project, you can also use:

• a specialist presser foot
• an adjustable seam guide
• removable tape placed on the machine
• markings on the needle plate

Rather than watching the needle while you sew, try watching the edge of your fabric against your chosen guide. This can make it much easier to keep your seam allowance consistent.

If you’re using an unfamiliar machine, presser foot or seam allowance, try sewing a short test seam on a scrap of fabric.

Measure from the stitching line to the fabric edge.

Is it the measurement you expected?

If not, you can adjust your fabric position or machine setup before you start sewing your actual project.

It takes a minute and could save you quite a bit of unpicking later.

Seam allowances aren’t the most exciting part of a sewing project. They’re usually hidden away inside when the project is finished.

But they are doing an important job.

Once you understand what they are and start sewing them consistently, you’ll find that pieces fit together more easily, measurements are more reliable and your finished projects are much more likely to look the way you intended.

So next time a pattern tells you to use a ¼", 1cm or 1.5cm seam allowance, don’t think of it as just a little bit of fabric around the edge.

It’s part of the pattern – and those few millimetres really do matter.

If accurate seams are something you’re still getting used to, practise them on scraps before worrying about completing a whole project.

Sewing is a collection of small skills, and each one becomes easier with practice.

The aim isn’t to sew perfectly.

It’s to understand why you’re doing something, so you can become more confident making decisions for yourself as your sewing skills grow.

One of the biggest misconceptions about learning to knit is that you need to buy lots of equipment before you can begin.

Walk into a craft shop or browse online and you'll find walls of needles, shelves of yarn and countless accessories. It's easy to think you need all of it.

The truth is much simpler.

You only need a handful of basic items to start enjoying knitting. As your confidence grows, you can gradually add new tools when you genuinely need them.

Starting small means you spend less, feel less overwhelmed and have more time to enjoy the relaxing process of making.

For your very first project, you'll only need:

• One pair of knitting needles
• One ball of suitable yarn
• A small pair of scissors
• A tapestry (wool) needle for sewing in the ends
• A simple beginner pattern

That's it.

Many beginners are surprised by how little equipment is actually required.

Choosing a straightforward project means you'll spend your time learning new skills rather than trying to understand complicated equipment.

There's no need to buy an expensive set of interchangeable needles when you're just beginning.

A single pair of straight needles or a pair of fixed circular needles in one size will be perfect.

Medium sizes such as 4mm or 5mm are comfortable to hold and work well with many beginner yarns.

If you're unsure where to begin, wooden or bamboo needles are often easier for beginners because the stitches don't slide off as quickly as they do on metal needles.

Beautiful hand-dyed yarns are very tempting, but they aren't necessarily the best yarns to learn with.

When you're practising knitting, you want to be able to see your stitches clearly.

A smooth, medium-weight yarn in a light or medium colour is usually much easier to work with than:

• very fluffy yarn
• very dark yarn
• novelty yarn
• extremely fine yarn
• yarn that changes thickness dramatically
• 
  

An affordable acrylic or acrylic-blend yarn can be ideal for learning.

And if you make a few mistakes while you're practising? It doesn't matter.  That's exactly what practice yarn is for.

Crafting can very quickly become a hobby of buying things for your hobby!

Before adding something to your basket, have a look around your home.

You may already have:

✂️ Small scissors
📏 A tape measure
👜 A bag or basket for your project
📌 Something that can temporarily act as a stitch marker
📝 A notebook for keeping track of rows or pattern notes

You can always upgrade later if knitting becomes something you love.

Beginner kits can be brilliant when they're put together thoughtfully.

They can also contain lots of things you don't really need yet.

Before buying one, look at what's actually included.

A useful beginner kit might contain the yarn, correct needles, yarn needle and clear instructions for one achievable project.

A huge box filled with dozens of accessories may look impressive, but much of it could sit unused.

The question isn't:

"How much am I getting?"

It's:

"Will this help me learn?"

This may be one of the hardest pieces of advice for a new knitter!

Yarn is lovely.

There are endless colours, textures and fibres to choose from, and it's very easy to buy yarn simply because you like it.

But without a project in mind, you might discover later that you haven't bought enough, you've bought the wrong weight or it isn't suitable for the things you actually enjoy knitting.

Instead, try choosing your project first and buying the yarn for that project.

You'll gradually discover which yarns you enjoy using — and your stash will probably appear naturally anyway!

The same applies to patterns and books.

When you're beginning, concentrate on learning a small number of skills rather than collecting hundreds of patterns for things you're not ready to make.

Your first few projects can introduce skills gradually:

🧶 Casting on
🪡 Knit stitch
🪡 Purl stitch
🔄 Changing between knit and purl
📏 Understanding tension
➕ Increasing
➖ Decreasing
🧵 Finishing and sewing up

Each new project can add another skill.

You'll learn far more from actually knitting than from owning twenty books about knitting.

Saving money doesn't mean always choosing the cheapest option.

Sometimes spending a little more on the right thing can make learning much easier.

I'd prioritise:

Clear teaching or instructions — because understanding what you're doing matters far more than owning lots of equipment.

Suitable yarn — not expensive yarn, simply yarn that makes your stitches easy to see.

Comfortable needles — particularly if you discover you're knitting regularly.

Everything else can grow with you.

One of the lovely things about knitting is that your toolkit can develop naturally.

When you start knitting in the round, perhaps that's the moment to buy circular needles.

When you begin colourwork, you might find extra stitch markers useful.

When you start making garments, you may decide a good tape measure and blocking equipment are worth having.

Buy things because you need them, rather than because a list somewhere says every knitter should own them.

If you're standing in a shop wondering what to buy, keep it simple.

For your first project, look for:

       One beginner-friendly project 

       The correct size knitting needles for that project

       Enough smooth, easy-to-see yarn to complete the project

       One bodkin (yarn needle)

       Scissors — use the ones you already own if they're suitable

       Clear instructions or guidance

That's enough.

You don't need the perfect craft room.

You don't need an enormous yarn stash.

And you certainly don't need every knitting accessory ever invented.

You just need enough to make those first few stitches.

Start small, learn what you enjoy, and let your knitting collection grow alongside your confidence. 🧶💛

If you've decided you'd like to learn a yarn craft, the first question is often:

Should I learn knitting or crochet?

The good news is that there isn't a right or wrong answer.

Both crafts are relaxing, creative and incredibly rewarding. They each have their own techniques, strengths and unique look, but both can become lifelong hobbies that grow with you.

At RE Treats, we teach complete beginners in a calm, supportive environment, and one of the questions we're asked most is:

"Which one is easier?"

Let's explore both crafts to help you decide.

Knitting creates fabric using two knitting needles and a series of loops called stitches.

Each row builds on the previous one, creating smooth, stretchy fabric that's perfect for clothing and cosy accessories.

Popular knitting projects include:

• Scarves
• Hats
• Jumpers
• Socks
• Blankets
• Baby clothes

Knitting often has a soft, elegant appearance that many people associate with traditional handmade garments.

Crochet uses just one hook instead of two needles.

Each stitch is completed individually before moving on to the next, making it easier to stop and start without worrying about stitches slipping off the needles.

Crochet is particularly popular for making:

• Granny squares
• Toys (amigurumi)
• Blankets
• Bags
• Home décor
• Flowers
• Decorative accessories

It creates a slightly firmer fabric with wonderful texture and endless design possibilities.

This is probably the most common question!

The honest answer is…

Whichever one feels right to you.

Some people naturally understand knitting very quickly.

Others find crochet much easier because they're only controlling one hook.

Neither craft is "better"—they simply suit different ways of thinking and learning.

The best way to discover your favourite is to try one without putting pressure on yourself to be perfect.

• Like repeating rhythmic movements
• Enjoy creating clothing
• Want stretchy, soft fabrics
• Prefer a calm, steady pace
• Like following rows step by step

Many people describe knitting as wonderfully relaxing once they've mastered the basics.

• Like seeing quick progress
• Enjoy textured designs
• Want to make decorative items
• Prefer working with one hook
• Like projects that are easy to put down and pick up later

Crochet often feels very forgiving for beginners because you're usually only working with one active stitch.

Absolutely not!

Many makers enjoy both crafts.

In fact, learning one often makes learning the other much easier because you'll already understand:

• Yarn weights
• Tension
• Reading patterns
• Choosing tools
• Finishing techniques

Many experienced makers switch between knitting and crochet depending on the project they're making.

It's easy to spend weeks trying to decide which craft is "best."

But the truth is…

The best craft is the one that inspires you to pick up the yarn and begin.

You don't need expensive equipment.

You don't need previous experience.

You don't need to get everything right first time.

Every stitch you make is helping you learn something new.

Whether you begin with knitting or crochet, you're taking the first step towards a wonderfully creative hobby that can bring years of enjoyment.

There isn't a wrong choice between knitting and crochet—only the choice that's right for you today.

Many people eventually learn both, but you only need to start with one.

Choose the craft that excites you most, enjoy learning at your own pace and remember that every finished stitch is a step towards greater confidence.

Your creative journey doesn't have to begin perfectly—it simply has to begin.

Choosing yarn can feel overwhelming when you're standing in front of shelves full of colourful balls labelled with names like 4 Ply, DK, Aran and Chunky. If you're new to knitting or crochet, it can seem as though everyone else knows exactly what those terms mean.

The good news is that yarn weights are much simpler than they first appear.

Once you understand the basics, choosing yarn becomes much easier and you'll feel far more confident starting new projects.

Why Does Yarn Weight Matter?

Yarn weight doesn't refer to how heavy a ball of yarn feels.

Instead, it describes how thick the yarn is.

The thickness of the yarn affects:

• 🧶 Which needles or hook you should use
• 📏 The size of your finished project
• ⏱️ How quickly your project grows
• ✨ The texture and drape of the finished item

Using the wrong yarn weight can make a project too small, too large or change how it feels completely.

The Most Common Yarn Weights

Here are the yarn weights you'll come across most often in the UK.

Very fine yarn used for delicate shawls, lace knitting and decorative projects.

Ideal if you enjoy intricate patterns, although it's generally not the easiest place to start as a beginner.

Start with the Right Size

One of the biggest mistakes beginners make is choosing needles that are either too small or too large.

Very small needles can make stitches feel tight and difficult to work with, while very large needles can make your knitting loose and difficult to control.

For most beginners, a 4mm pair of needles is an excellent place to start.

These sizes are comfortable to hold, easy to learn with and work well with many popular yarns, we recommend double knit to start with.

Always check the yarn label, as it will usually recommend an appropriate needle size.

Which Material is Best?

Knitting needles are made from several different materials, each with its own feel.

Bamboo or Wooden Needles

These are often the best choice for beginners.

The slightly textured surface helps stop stitches sliding off the needle, giving you a little more control while you're learning.

They also feel warm and comfortable to hold.

Metal Needles

Metal needles are smooth and allow stitches to glide quickly.

Many experienced knitters love them because they make knitting faster, but beginners sometimes find their stitches slip a little too easily.

Plastic Needles

Plastic needles are lightweight and inexpensive.

They're perfectly suitable for learning, although they can feel less durable than wood or metal over time.

Straight or Circular Needles?

Many people think beginners should always start with straight needles.

While they are a great option, they're not the only choice.

Straight Needles

Perfect for learning the basics.

They're ideal for scarves, dishcloths and other flat projects.

Circular Needles

Despite the name, circular needles aren't only for knitting in the round.

Many knitters use them for flat projects too because they comfortably support the weight of the knitting.

If you know you'll continue knitting, investing in a pair of circular needles can be a great long-term choice.

Don't Worry About Expensive Brands

It's easy to think buying the most expensive needles will make learning easier.

In reality, the best knitting needles are the ones that feel comfortable in your hands.

Many excellent beginner needles are available at very reasonable prices.

As your confidence grows, you'll naturally discover which styles and materials you enjoy using most.

Buy Needles for Your Project

Rather than buying lots of different sizes "just in case," choose the needles recommended for the project you're making.

This keeps things simple and means you'll gradually build a useful collection over time.

Remember—There Isn't One Perfect Needle

Ask ten knitters which needles they prefer and you'll probably get ten different answers.

Some love bamboo.

Others wouldn't use anything except metal.

Some knit everything on circular needles.

Others still enjoy traditional straight needles.

That's perfectly normal.

Choosing knitting needles is a little like choosing a favourite pen—it's personal.

Final Thoughts

Your first pair of knitting needles doesn't need to be perfect.

It simply needs to help you get started.

Choose a comfortable size, a material that feels good in your hands and a simple project that excites you.

Before long, you'll discover your own preferences and develop the confidence to try different tools and techniques.

After all, every experienced knitter started with their very first pair of needles.

Top Tip

🧶 If you're completely new to knitting, I'd recommend starting with a pair of 4mm or 5mm bamboo needles and a smooth, light-coloured double knitting (DK) yarn. 

Light-coloured yarn makes it much easier to see your stitches while you're learning, helping you build confidence from the very first row.