FAQ

• You don't need any needles! All of my patterns are for finger knitting with loop yarn. You may find it helpful to have/use a large crochet hook when knitting smaller gauges of loop yarn, and to weave and tie your ends in when you finish your blanket, but this is purely optional and a personal choice. For more information about crochet hooks and other knitting accessories, read our blogpost: What tools do I need?

• All patterns are digital downloads in a .pdf format. When you receive your email confirmation for your purchase, there will be a link included to your pattern purchase. You can download it immediately or at a later time when it is convenient to you. Patterns are non-transferrable and for your personal use only and may not be re-sold. To view your the .pdf file, you may need a file viewer like Adobe Acrobat Reader, which you can download for free.

• If you're having difficulty downloading your pattern, please note that Shopify (who powers our download app) recommends using Google Chrome as your Internet browser. If switching browsers still doesn't work, please let us know and we'll try to find another way to get your pattern to you.

• Yes! Pattern downloads are in a .pdf format and ready for printing. Most patterns include a chart where stitches are identified by letter and colour, so printing in colour is ideal, but not necessary. Some people prefer to view patterns on a screen (computer, mobile phone or tablet), which allows them to zoom in or close-up on parts of the pattern, but this is personal preference.

• It's very difficult for me to assess your abilities! No two people are the same and we all have strengths and weaknesses. I have tried to accommodate different learning styles by including both written instructions and charts (and occasionally pictures) in my pattern instructions. I also include a guide to each of the stitches you will use in the pattern design.

• If you are new to loop yarn finger knitting, I suggest visiting my page What is Loop Yarn? where you will find information and videos/demos, which will give you a better sense of what it entails. If you would like some simpler patterns to start with, I recommend purchasing one of my Easy Blanket Patterns or the Fancy Basket Weave Blanket Pattern, which is free to try!

Do you have a stitch guide or instructional booklet with photos?

• Each pattern includes a Stitch Guide with instructions for the types of stitches used in that pattern. You can also refer to my online Loop Yarn Stitch Guide, which has written instructions for different stitches, as well as links to video tutorials and any blog posts I have written related to those stitches.

• Yes. You can generally use any brand of loop yarn with my patterns, but because loop yarn brands come in different loop and skein sizes, using different yarns may affect the look of your project. To learn a little bit about loop yarn sizes, read our blogpost Loop yarn sizes: How do they compare?

• All of our patterns are written specifically for loop yarn finger-knitting only. However, many hand-knitters (and even some needle-knitters) are able to follow and adapt our patterns, depending on their comfort with following a template. You may wish to try one of our free patterns and decide for yourself if they'll work for you!

• No! I have some patterns for rugs and other small knitting projects - see my Leftover Yarn Patterns and Small Project Knitting Patterns.

• Rarely.  Knitting patterns for clothing generally need to be adaptable to different sizes, and things like sweaters need to be knitted in parts and sewn together - my spatial sense is not my strong point! As I feel more competent I may write the occasional pattern for accessories, but blankets are my main focus. Here are a few simple Clothing Patterns I have written.

• My blanket patterns are generally for throw blankets and come in irregular sizes. Knitting the samples for larger blankets would be much more time-consuming (and leave me less time to write new patterns).

• Also, because customers around the world knit my patterns using different types of loop yarn in different sizes of yarn and skeins, trying to accommodate all of these variables in one pattern is more of a challenge than I am prepared for at this point!

• It has also always been my goal to make my patterns accessible to as many people as possible, so I try to stick to blanket patterns with a yarn cost of no more than around $50CAD/$50USD.

• You can always adapt my patterns to create larger sizes yourself! I give some advice on customizing patterns in this blogpost: Customization: How to adapt patterns for size and add your own special touches! If you need help estimating how much yarn you'll need and how many loops you'll need to achieve the new size, consider downloading my Loop Yarn Worksheets, a printable download that walks you through the calculations involved in modifying a pattern.

• Yes! Please do send me your ideas. Whether I am able to immediately fulfill your request will depend on my time, ability, and whether I think the idea will appeal to a wide audience. You can read the 'Custom Patterns' section of my Custom Orders page to see a couple of patterns that I designed based on customer requests.

• Also, please keep in mind that there are ethical guidelines that I try to follow when writing patterns using 'inspiration' sources: I won't copy patterns written by other loop yarn knitters. If you have a source photo for a design using standard knitting techniques that you want translated to loop yarn - that I can do, but I will also modify the new pattern to make it my own.

• If I do successfully write a pattern inspired by your suggestion, I will credit you as the muse on social media and on my website!

• No. All the blankets and knitted items available in this store are wool-free and made from vegan polyester chenille yarn. (Some knitters outside of North American use the term 'wool' to describe any yarn - here in Canada, we only call sheep's hair 'wool', and all other yarns 'yarn').

• Chenille yarn is a soft, fluffy yarn which looks and feels a bit like terry cloth. It is very soft and light, but warm. Chenille is a synthetic yarn made from polyester.

• My yarn and blankets are vegan in that they are made from synthetic fibres (polyester) from non-animal sources. However, polyester is a synthetic fiber derived from processes involving coal, air, water, and petroleum. The manufacture and transportation of yarn entails processes which are/may not be environmentally friendly.

• Yes! You can wash your blankets and other knitted items in the washing machine (or hand wash) on cold. You can find detailed care instructions here.

• Blankets and other items can go in the dryer on low. A tumble in the dryer is also a great way to re-fluff your blanket if it has gotten a bit squished with use. Do not overheat. 

• Not at all! Blankets are compressed and vacuum-sealed for shipping (it's how we reduce costs for such large items). A quick 10-30 seconds in the dryer on low will fluff it right back up!

• Tracked shipping is free in Canada and the contiguous United States for all knitted items.  Untracked shipping is free in Canada and the contiguous United States for all stitch markers.

• Because of the pandemic, shipping speeds may vary. Processing time for your knitted item is generally 1-2 days max. (most items go out the same day). Shipping times within Canada are usually 2-7 days, whereas shipping to the U.S. is on average 7-10 days because of customs.

• Yes! I suggest you read my page on Custom orders before contacting me wth your request.

• You can find the new Rewards app button at the bottom left of your screen. Simply click the button that says 'Earn Rewards' and then follow the instructions in the pop-up to sign in or create a new account.

• Nope! When you click on the 'Earn Rewards' tab, go ahead and select 'Create an Account', and you will get the option to sign in with your existing credentials. Once you sign in you'll get the points!

• Absolutely! Go ahead and click on that option in the app and you'll get the reward.

• Not at this time. Free downloads are their own reward! And we'll continue to release a few free patterns every year.

• If you made a paid purchase (not free downloads as per above) and didn't get your points - please let us know and we'll try to remedy the problem.

• Point credits for purchases are 10 points per $1 CAD (Canadian dollars) spent, after any discounts. Please note that our shop is set up to allow customers in some markets, like the United States, to shop in their local currency, but our shop is located in Canada, and the points credit is also based on the Canadian dollar equivalent.

• No, sorry! We're so grateful for your support and we've had many sales and promotional events in the past few years, but this new program and points for purchases will only be effective going forward.

• Maybe! Like everything on our website and in our store, we're always tinkering and making adjustments based on our customers needs and interests. We'll definitely keep you informed of any new features and rewards!

• Points currently do not have an expiration date, and we have no current plans to place time restrictions on their use. Our shop is based in Ontario, Canada, and points programs here are governed by pretty strict laws to protect consumers. You can read about those laws here.