There’s something especially satisfying about choosing a new project. A fresh ball of yarn, a pattern you actually feel excited to make, and the optimistic belief that this one definitely won’t end up half-finished in a basket somewhere.
If you’re looking for a little inspiration, we’ve gathered some of our favourite free knitting and crochet patterns from the Crossways collection. There are quick projects, good starting points for newer makers, and a few that give you something more interesting to get stuck into.
All of the patterns below are free to download, and we’ve included the yarn weight for each to make choosing your yarn a little easier.
Not sure what 4 ply, 8 ply or 12 ply actually means? Our guide to yarn ply is a good place to start.
1. A textured scarf
Knitting | 12 ply | A nice first project
A scarf is a classic first knitting project for good reason. There’s no complicated shaping, you get plenty of practice with the same stitches, and by the end you’ve made something you can actually wear.
The Patons Textured Scarf uses 12 ply yarn, so it grows noticeably faster than a finer knit. That makes it particularly good if you’re new to knitting and would quite like to see some evidence of your hard work before next winter.
Find the free Textured Scarf knitting pattern
Shop 12 ply yarn
2. A colourful crochet scarf
Crochet | 8 ply | A good next step
If you’ve learned the crochet basics and want something with a little more going on, the Patons Square Motif Scarf is a lovely project.
It’s made from individual crochet motifs in different colours, so you can follow the original palette or raid your stash and make it completely your own. It uses Patons Cotton Blend 8 ply, making it a lighter scarf that works beyond the depths of winter too.
Find the free Square Motif Scarf crochet pattern
Shop 8 ply yarn
3. A textured beanie
Knitting | 12 ply | Quick and satisfying
Beanies sit in a very nice part of the knitting spectrum: slightly more complex stitchwork than a scarf, but small enough that the finish line never feels too far away.
The Patons Textured Beanie is knitted in 12 ply and is a great project if you’ve mastered the basics and want to make your first hat.
It’s also the sort of pattern that tends to get made more than once. The first one is for you. The second one is because somebody saw yours and asked nicely.
Find the free Textured Beanie knitting pattern
Shop 12 ply yarn
Browse our beanie and hat patterns
4. A cabled headband
Knitting | 12 ply | Small project, new skill
Want to try cables without committing to an entire cabled jumper?
A headband is a very sensible place to start. The Patons Cabled Headband gives you a smaller project to practice on, while the chunky 12 ply yarn keeps things moving.
It’s also a handy project for using a smaller amount of yarn and makes a lovely handmade gift.
Find the free Cabled Headband knitting pattern
Shop 12 ply yarn
5. A pair of granny square slippers
Crochet | 8 ply | Small, fun and surprisingly useful
If you like the idea of granny squares but don’t feel like making another cushion or blanket, slippers are a much more compact way to put them to work.
The Patons Granny Square Slippers are crocheted in Patons Cotton Blend 8 ply and make a great smaller project once you’ve got the basic granny square under control. They’re also a good excuse to play with colour without committing to a huge amount of yarn.
A nice one for using a few favourite shades, or making a pair as a gift.
Find the free Granny Square Slippers crochet pattern
Shop Patons Cotton Blend 8 ply
Shop 8 ply yarn
6. A granny square cushion
Crochet | 8 ply | Great for playing with colour
There’s a reason granny squares never really disappear.
They’re portable, colourful, satisfying to make and surprisingly versatile once you know how they work. The Cleckheaton Granny Square Cushion turns them into something practical for the home and is a fun way to try different colour combinations.
The pattern uses Cleckheaton Country 8 ply, but you can explore our wider 8 ply range if you’d like to create your own palette.
Find the free Granny Square Cushion crochet pattern
Shop 8 ply yarn
7. A striped crochet cushion
Crochet | 8 ply | A useful weekend project
If granny squares aren’t your thing, the Patons Striped Cushion is another free crochet project that gives you plenty of opportunity to play with colour.
It’s made in Patons Cotton Blend 8 ply, which gives it a lovely feel for homewares, and a cushion is a manageable way to build confidence before moving onto larger crochet blankets or garments.
Find the free Striped Cushion crochet pattern
Browse our cushion and home patterns
8. A cable cushion
Knitting | 8 ply | A good introduction to cables
If cables look much more complicated than they actually are, a cushion is a good place to find that out.
The Cleckheaton Cable Cushion is knitted in Cleckheaton Country 8 ply and gives you enough cable work to learn the technique without committing to an entire jumper.
You end up with a lovely textured cushion, and hopefully a little more confidence to tackle something bigger next time.
Find the free Cable Cushion knitting pattern
Shop Cleckheaton Country 8 ply
Browse cushion and home patterns
9. A classic feather shawl
Knitting | 4 ply | Intermediate
Ready for something you can really settle into?
The Patons Feather Knitted Shawl comes from the Patons archives and uses Dreamtime Merino 4 ply. It’s a finer, more involved knit than the projects above, with a beautiful traditional finish.
This isn’t the one we’d choose for your very first pair of needles, but if you enjoy slower projects and want to make something special, it’s a lovely one to save.
Find the free Feather Knitted Shawl pattern
Shop 3–4 ply yarn
Browse shawl and wrap patterns
10. Knitted cupcakes. Because why not?
Knitting | 8 ply | Small and cheerful
Not every project has to be practical.
The Cleckheaton Knitted Cupcakes pattern makes four little cupcakes in Cleckheaton Country 8 ply. They’re good for play kitchens, a slightly ridiculous pincushion, or just using up a few colours because you felt like knitting a cupcake that afternoon.
Sometimes that’s enough reason to make something.
Find the free Knitted Cupcakes pattern
Shop 8 ply yarn
A quick note on choosing yarn
If a pattern specifies a particular yarn, you don’t necessarily have to use that exact one.
Start by matching the yarn weight or ply, then check the metres per ball and, particularly for garments, make sure you can achieve the tension specified in the pattern.
For beginners, 8 ply is often a very friendly place to start. It’s not too fine, not too chunky and there are plenty of patterns written for it. A lighter, solid colour also makes it much easier to see what your stitches are doing.
If all of that sounds like another language, have a read of our yarn ply guide before choosing your yarn. It explains the difference between 4 ply, 8 ply, 10 ply and the other weights you’ll come across.
Looking for more free knitting and crochet patterns?
These are only a handful of the free patterns in our collection. You can browse all of our free knitting and crochet patterns, or narrow things down depending on what you feel like making:
Scarves & cowls · Beanies & hats · Shawls & wraps · Jumpers & cardigans · Blankets & throws
And if you find a pattern you love but aren’t sure which yarn to use, get in touch or pop into the shop. Matching people with yarn is one of our favourite parts of the job.
Frequently asked questions
Are these knitting and crochet patterns really free?
Yes. Our free patterns are $0 digital downloads. Simply add the pattern to your cart and complete checkout, and the PDF will be emailed to you.
What is the best knitting or crochet project for a beginner?
Scarves are hard to beat for a first knitting project because there’s very little shaping and plenty of repetition. For crochet, simple squares, scarves and small homewares are good places to start.
Try to choose a project you actually want to finish, though. A supposedly “perfect beginner project” isn’t much use if you’re bored with it after three rows.
What yarn weight is easiest for beginners?
We generally recommend 8 ply yarn as a good starting point. It’s easy to handle, stitches are relatively easy to see and there is a huge choice of knitting and crochet patterns available for it.
Can I swap the yarn used in a pattern?
Usually, yes. Start with a yarn of the same ply or weight and compare the metres per ball. For projects where size matters, particularly garments, always check your tension before getting too far into the project.
Where can I find more free knitting and crochet patterns?
You can browse our full free patterns collection for knitting and crochet projects including scarves, beanies, blankets, baby knits, garments, homewares and more.
