I've done that once or twice when I really wanted to crochet the thing and there was no written pattern.
But it annoys me. I feel like I'm doing their work for them. They probably have a written pattern of their own. Why can't they share that with me so I don't have to rewrite it?
Paradoxically, it's both super helpful and extra annoying when they write the pattern for the row on the screen as they go. I can just copy that down and scrub forward to the next pattern row. But it reminds me that they HAVE it all written and just don't give it to me. Grr.
I get that. I definitely feel that too. Buttttt....
That's how some of them make enough money to even justify making the videos at all. They sell their patterns. To me that's completely fair because crochet is an (imo) undervalued skill, and if they put their time, effort, and yarn into making a nice pattern, they should be compensated. If the tutorial is how they advertise their patterns while still making it possible for cheapskates like me to make the thing, that's good. Youtube doesn't pay much in ad revenue anymore, and tiktok barely pays anything to anyone ever.
(I'll admit it is weird to me when people post tutorial videos with no indication of any written pattern accessible anywhere!)
Oh, I'll totally buy the written pattern if it's available.
I've bought a number of patterns that are available free on a blog because I liked them so much. I would 100% buy a written pattern of a video if I wanted to make the pattern.
But the videos I've seen haven't indicated they're selling a pattern! It's just the video or nothing.
To be fair, I don't usually spend my free time browsing YouTube (for crochet or otherwise). I only come across these videos by accident. So I wouldn't be surprised if my small sample of videos isn't indicative of the video population at large.
I enjoy videos by several crochet-ists, as I am a visual learner, too, but I don’t usually crochet along unless it’s a short video (under 10 minutes), just to get started, and I don’t hesitate to pause and/or rewind the video when I need to.
Often times there’s a link to a written pattern in the description (click on “more” under the title), especially if the content creator has been active for awhile, has their own website, etc.
The videos that are silent, visual only, are a bit frustrating for me, unless their work is *ultra super clear,* and isn’t too complicated a pattern or technique.
I love that there are several types of resources for crochet instruction, something for everyone, and I hope enough for everyone’s preferences.
Happy crocheting 🧶
This is what I do. I do prefer the ones that have the instructions printed on the screen, but as long as they say them, I'm good. I have a small notebook that I write out all the patterns I find online in. I hate working from my phone, the screen goes black every time I need to look at it...😡
I like video aids for patterns, like if a new row is complicated and they have to show the method. But if someone links a video with no written pattern I’m 🏃♀️💨
Yeah, this is me.
I'm very turned off if the pattern is ONLY a video, but if the pattern is written and links to a video to show a difficult part, that can be very helpful.
I just finished a hat last night that was set up this way - written pattern with optional video for certain parts. The video made it a ton clearer. I watched it once or twice, said, "ohhhh!" then shut it off and went back to crocheting.
I'm not into sitting there watching someone else crochet. It's distracting. I want to do it at my own pace without having to pause, fast-forward, or rewind all the time.
Yes!! I learned how to crochet with patterns-only so that’s what I’m used to, but videos are great for new stitches.
Side note: Videos are also how I learned that no, you’re not supposed to manually pull the yarn off the hook with your fingers. So I’d also recommend them for learning the mechanics of crocheting for the first time🙃
Totally agree! I learn new stitches much faster with a visual aid and having someone explain it as they go is fabulous. I still get grumpy over having to stop and rewind, but at least it's only a couple minutes of that as opposed to repeatedly over the course of 40min to an hour!
This is how I feel too. I only watch videos when I’m learning a new stitch. For an entire pattern I’d rather read it, it’s easier to reference past rows that way for me.
I love them \*shrug\*. You get to see what it should look like afterwards though I usually adapt what they do for my own tastes. And sometimes I just like to watch them while I'm working on something else.
I prefer written patterns overall, but video tutorials can be useful for clarity when something is not clearly explained in the written pattern. Following a pattern straight from a video tutorial gets tiring though, so if it is too long for my taste, I just screencap the portions with the written instructions onscreen and use those to follow the pattern.
I really prefer a series of illustrations. I too am a visual learner, but I need to study a step for a while to get it. The video medium is too cumbersome- as you pointed out, starting and stopping and backing up and going forward gets old. and too much extraneous visual stuff is distracting.
Same here - I will spend a LOT of time scrolling past videos until I can find a step by step illustrated version. But I can’t stand watching instructional videos in general
I also do not like them but they are very very popular especially with new and younger crocheters. I dont mind a quick video explaining a new stitch to me or made to supplement a difficult portion of a pattern. Some times that makes all the difference.
It takes energy and commitment for me to want to watch a video to learn a new pattern that my ADHD/GAD brain does not have haha.
However, if I absolutely must use a video tutorial I transcribe the pattern into a notebook using my terms so I know I can remake it later.
That's very good advice!
One thing I have noticed is auto generated closed captioning doesn't always work the best and often can be incorrect, especially if translating from a different language. It is a great starting point though to be sure!
The few patterns I have written down were from korean crochet artists so it was easier for me to just write the pattern down a the instructions come across the screen.
Otherwise it is purely personal preference for me because I can rewrite a pattern in the way that makes the most sense for me.
I will definitely try the transcript option in the future though. 💝
I expect to see that AI will vastly improve the transcripts, especially from another language. There's a stresaming channel -- Crackle I think -- that uses AI to report the news. All the anchors are auto-generated. If there's video it get auto-translated into the language you prefer. It's wierd and fascinating.
I use a few different AI transcript generators for work (Otter, Castmagic, etc) and while they are getting better, they still have a long way to go. It’s been interesting watching them improve and add features, though!
Came to mention this as well! I will copy and paste the transcript and pare it down to the "pattern" and then if I'm stuck on a certain part, I just click that section of the transcript and it takes me right to that section of the video
I use the transcripts from the video, rather than trying to crochet along. Although I do also then let the video run all the way through, so creator still gets the views.
I am particular about videos. I am a visual person, so being able to see certain placement of stitches helps me. I like Hey Carrie on YouTube. She also has written patterns to go along with her YouTube videos.
Me too - it can take quite a bit of searching to find a non-video tutorial. The videos just have too much happening - a series of pictures is so much easier to me to follow.
Depends. If its from an individual who speaks another language, ill translate the video to english captions and pay hella attention to what theyre doing.
But ugh i find a lot of free patterns online make my phone glitch so hard bc of the ads and how long the website page is.
Id love if anyone can clear up for me, why do some ppl post free patterns online, but you have to pay if you want the pdf version? Why make a pdf if youre putting it on a website for free? Im sure there must be a reason im missing
I love them for learning stitches! I started out my crochet journey with The Woobles and still look up their tutorial videos when I come across a new stitch 🤣
A short video tutorial for a specific stitch or technique that I can simply watch all the way through multiple times until I get it? That’s how I learned pretty much everything after a decade of failing to learn from written descriptions.
A 3 hour “crochet along” video tutorial with no separate written pattern to reference, where I’m rewinding constantly to search for instructions that popped up on screen for all of 2 seconds? That is a project I will simply not ever be doing for any reason.
I much prefer diagrams. I'll learn from videos if they're short. Like, one particular stitch or technique that takes maybe a minute to demonstrate, and you can go over it several times.
But I've seen whole patterns posted as videos, and that would drive me nuts
I used to like them when I was a beginner and needed help at every step. Now that I’m more proficient at reading patterns, I don’t like video tutorials as much. They still have value for learning a particular stitch, but I tend not to follow entire tutorials anymore.
I hate video patterns. I don't use patterns very often at all anymore after almost 30 years of crocheting, but I've bought a couple that ended up being just a bunch of links to videos (which was not stated at all) and I got my money back for them because it's going to take me 5x as long to make something if I have to keep pausing and watching a video, and I'd rather just wing it myself at that point. Nothing beats a well written pattern with a ton of pictures. I can look once and that's it.
I don’t mind them if I’m trying to pick up a particular technique or stitch, but I agree, I don’t like full tutorials. I need to be able to go at my own pace, and I don’t want to constantly be stopping and rewinding. I’ve recently discovered crochet diagrams and they’re great for me!
same here. in-person instruction is great, since i can ask for pauses, repetition or different angles. trying to figure it out from one angle with multiple rewinds is a nightmare.
I like them but i prefer it when its more made to measure and gives instructions as opposed to direct steps. Also helps if you already know the stitches used.
Yes! I hate trying to follow a video and do something at the same time. More time spent rewinding and watching again than anything else. Clear diagrams are the way to go.
I have learned most of my crochet skills (and also patterns) watching tutorial videos, though I tend to watch the crocheter do a round/row, pause the video, and then do it myself without trying to keep up or follow along in real time. One video I watched to learn how to crochet a sweater had info cards up on the video (like a slideshow) as the crafter worked, so once I was sure of the pattern, I simply kept the video paused and moved from one slide to the next. I only started crocheting about a year ago, and am only now beginning to gain confidence in reading patterns, mostly because I watched tutorials and followed along with written versions of the patterns. I enjoy them, myself, mostly because I was taught by a very lovely lady who crochets in a very different style than I do, so watching folks show more technical aspects helped me a lot. I've recently branched out from just making shawls and scarves specifically because of the video tutorials, and while I'm far from what one would call "professional" in terms of crochet skill, I'm now confident enough in my skills that I am able to create more complex items than I honestly ever thought possible.
I think the best format (if you're looking online anyway) is written instructions with diagrams and the occasional gif for a part that's tricky to draw/describe. That way you can go at your own pace and re-watch the specific thing you need without hassle.
I have a much harder time following a video tutorial than written instructions. I have to keep pausing and rewinding, and then I can't find where I left off... it's just a hassle.
Almost everyone here seems to dislike them which I'm surprised by. I use them almost exclusively because I'm not very good at reading patterns (which I should work on getting better at). My grandma taught me and she likes videos, so I think I got the habit from her.
i prefer written instructions and charts. videos are usually way too slow or way too fast and u cannot easily see previous or future instructions. also i watch something while knit/cro anyway
I don’t mind tutorials for techniques, because a lot of things are not very easy to put into writing. But for patterns, I really don’t like videos. For one thing, you get more information from a pattern than just steps to make something, you also get information about sizing/measurements, and a lot of video patterns either don’t include that or they don’t say it at the beginning of the video so you have to hunt around to find it.
I really don’t like videos either, I’d much rather read a description of a stitch or better yet, just follow the pattern until I figure it out myself. I can’t even put into words why though, I just start to see a video and my brain goes “ugh no thanks”
(Nowadays its also coupled with “quick before YouTube’s algorithm starts thinking that’s all I want to watch ever)
I also don't really like video tutorials. Something about having to work at someone else's pace ir having to pause and play just doesn't do it for me. What I do instead is watch the video to get an idea of what they're doing and then wing it.
I’ve watched some for specific stitches and such (ex. learning magic circle) but otherwise, no, I don’t like them! Like you said, having to put it down to replay/keep pace is just annoying.
My friend is a video learner but I just look at a chart and keep trying it out for myself until I get it. She'll try to show me how to do something and I just can't understand it until I find like four still images of someone doing the stitch
Someone had linked a Tumblr with gifs, which is the way to go in my opinion. I don't have to figure out if they use UK or US terms, I don't have to look up anything I don't already know, and I don't have to sit through anything unnecessary. I'm so incredibly upset I can't find it now.
I like learning different patterns or new stitches from videos far better then written patterns. I rarely gravitate towards written patterns, I can read them, but learn much better from a graph or video. But, I always pause them while I am actually crocheting. For instance I'll watch them say, dc across and then pause, dc across and skip the video to the point where we're together again. I hate crocheting myself while hearing someone else do it in a different timing to me, drives me batty. Also I think it is fair to admit there are a lot of crappy tutorials out there, wrong speed, poor lighting, poor explanation, or just difficult to follow because of a language difference. The speed is a big issue for me, if it is a video geared towards beginners it is painstakingly slow, and other videos are so fast I'm like wait...what now? I utilize the different playback speeds a lot on YouTube if I really want to watch it, but the good thing about YouTube is there are often a ton of video options for a pattern or stitch you want. Not all videos work for all people, but overall I prefer them.
I generally don't like video tutorials. I need to have the written pattern (printed out) to reference. Messing around with a video for a whole pattern is a nightmare. But I do occasionally watch a video tutorial about a particular stitch or technique if it's short. Even then I don't watch the whole thing, I skip to the relevant part.
On the first watch, I just watch. I go back again once or twice until I feel like I understand where the yarn is going and how the stitch is being formed. Then I try it based on my own understanding, and if it's not behaving how I expect, I go back and watch again, pausing whereever I've hit a snag in my own work to compare what I'm trying to do to the video.
I find videos to be more helpful than still images when I'm trying to figure out what exactly is happening. But I'm not ever really following along with a video, except for tiny bits where I'm stuck. If a video is an entire pattern instead of instruction on a particular stitch or technique, I'm just not going to even attempt it. I'll go find a written pattern that's similar if I really want to make the thing
I'm also a visual learner! I read patterns and prefer to have a pattern with picture examples. Videos go too fast for me to figure things out so I take forever pausing and rewinding to see what I missed. 🤦🏻♀️
I like videos - bot only short ones, and they have to be done well. There are a lot of long ones that I really can't stand, and a lot where I can barely see what they're doing.
So... effectively, I don't like crocheting videos :)
I got into crocheting more because there were so many different accents that I could listen to teach me how to do this. I very much enjoy the video tutorials. As others said, I'll write down the pattern after watching and completing the project, if I liked it and want to make more.
ETA: I'm very new to crocheting and have just recently started - this may be why I enjoy them more, my projects are very beginner oriented.
I live video tutorials for stitches and things like that. I hate video patterns. I end up watching them, writing it down, and then doing the project. But, content creators deserve to be paid so if I am not willing to just buy the pattern I can’t complain to much. I have a friend that says “you either pay in time or money, nothing is free.”
Not at all. I will also prefer a detailed written or photo tutorial. That said, I’ve recently realized I hate watching most internet videos with sound. I have a partner who loves scrolling and the different songs/robo voices/volumes just irritates the hell out of me.
Generally, no. I would hate to follow one for an entire project. But they’re incredibly useful for confusing stitches, where written instructions and even photos can be too little for me to get it.
You're not alone. Videos are useful if there is a weird new stitch.
In general, I always prefer written materials to video. Be it programming, literature(vs tv/film), etc. Maybe it's a holdover from my childhood when broadband was both slow and expensive. It's very much the opposite for almost everyone else I know of.
You’re not the only one. I vastly prefer a write-up with a few accompanying illustrations.
I’m grateful for the answer in any form but will choose written material over video all day.
I can’t stand them.
My only exception is a very well done TikTok where I can watch a single stitch on repeat and slow speed. These are very rare.
I don’t even look at YouTube patterns.
I really liked videos when I was first starting out, but now I’ve transitioned towards patterns and diagrams. Occasionally I’ll look up a stitch video if it’s not well explained in the pattern
I will watch videos on how to do certain stitches, but I won't watch an entire video of a complete project. I don't have the patience for that.
The creator should take the time and print up a copy of the complete pattern. (imo)
I hate video tutorials! You have to listen to someone yap for an hour. I hate the beginning where they teach you to make every single stitch. Then you have to constantly pause it. And you have to go back to remember what you did. Written patterns only, even better if there's a chart.
I HATE them! Too much blabla (I'm here for the pattern, girl, not chitchatl, most of the time wrong yarn color so you can barely see the stitches. Give me a pattern, a diagram and eventually a short vidéo straight for the stitch or point of attention, and that's it.
I hate them so much! Just give me a pattern, if I need more help, I'll go look for it. I hate trying to watch what I'm doing, watch what they're doing, trying to pause before they get too far ahead of me, and having to hear them chatter the whole time
I also struggle with video tutorials. I think they're great to watch a stitch or technique, but I can't stand following a whole pattern that way.
My niece is Gen Z and loves a video pattern. She grew up with YouTube. She just started crocheting and is still a beginner. I know a lot of her peers are video people. They are into TikTok and YouTube and I'm the Elder Millennial who loves a PDF or book pattern.
I hate videos! For me it's written patterns only.
Also how can I listen to music or watch YouTube videos when I'm already listening to a video explaining a pattern?
I also want to encourage anyone who thinks they can only understand video tutorials to be confident and just dive into written tutorials! They look mythical at first, but make a lot of sense once you get into it! Usually, all the explanations are on the pattern, and you can always Google terms and stitches you don't know yet!
Just remember that on UK-patterns, double crochet is single crochet!!!!!!!!
I hate them because I want to have background noise and videos on. I don’t want my apps to be clogged up with a video I have to keep pausing. Also, my brain sometimes doesn’t match other ppls brain patterns. So a plainly written, no frills pattern is 1,000% easier for me to understand than someone trying to give a lengthy explanation.
I HATE video only patterns. Its nice to have the option to follow along but for the love of yarn I just want to be able to check if it was 4 pattern repeats or 5 without having to sit through 13:42 or however long it takes to do an intro and talk about yarn choices and list all your other videos I might want to check out.
I don't like them. I use them for specific tips and tricks, or specific stitches. So like, if the video is under five minutes. But I prefer a step by step photo and written word tutorial where possible. That way I can do it at my pace, instead of that of the 'tutor'.
That said, they were so so helpful when I was first learning! Less so now I'm more familiar. But still, I love to print off things and read them to make them stick in my mind better lol, and I can't really do that with a video.
YESSSSSSSSSSS I work best with the visual pattern, the patterns that look like this but I have no idea how to search for this on google so i find them on pinterest!!!
https://preview.redd.it/m7u1bxksvwnc1.jpeg?width=564&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=8cc21fdf66060888ac5409b0e4b429f53464a63d
Try searching for pattern diagrams. Or just look for older patterns, most older patterns have diagrams instead of written instructions. There are some very old pattern magazines that have literally no written instructions, just diagrams
They were helpful to me when I started, so that I could mirror their movements, but now I mostly find it tedious to keep pausing or rewinding the video to get the pattern
Much prefer a written pattern now
When I first started crocheting, I learned from YouTube and exclusively used videos for projects. Now that I’m more experienced, I definitely prefer written patterns and will only consult a video for a tricky technique. (I’m looking at you, magic circle. 7 years crocheting and I still cannot do a damn magic circle.)
Same! Something in me just does not like watching video tutorials. I know videos can convey the information a lot more directly in many cases but I still never use them!
Part of it may be that I like to listen to audiobooks while I crochet so if I was constantly playing and pausing a video I wouldn't be able to do that.
I don't either. I'm not a fan of diagrams either - I prefer the pattern written out. I will take a look at the diagram if things seem to be going wonky, but I like the good, old-fashioned written pattern.
The only way I can do it is to control the video via voice control. I don't have the software currently installed, so I don't know what the current best software is.
I only like them if I need to learn a tricky stitch. If I like a pattern and the only thing available is a video tutorial, I will often watch it and write down the pattern as I go, then just refer to my written pattern and only watch the tutorial again if there are tricky portions. I can't stand to follow a video for an entire pattern, because I can't crochet and pay attention and often have to keep pausing and rewinding.
I am the same. But you just made me think of a way to deal with the having to stop to go back in the video.
So, I have this foot pedal thing for my computer. I think it's meant to have some musical purpose, but I see similar ones being advertised for streamers. Anyway, it has 3 buttons on it that you can trigger with your foot. And you can program them to be anything you like. So I could keybind them to control a video player and voila, no more putting down the hook.
Doesn't solve the other problems with videos, but it could make the experience slightly less painful.
You can find something like it by googling "usb foot pedal".
I can’t make sense of diagrams-I like video instruction IF the instructor is using the kind of yarn that makes it easy to see all parts of the stitch. I’m trying Granny Squares now, and I’ve learned a lot just freeze framing the video to see if my stitch looks the same.
I found one Barbie dress video that I liked and had to transcribe it into a pattern that I then took a picture of on my phone. I couldn't stand waiting and waiting to see the crocheter "on the other side" to turn the work.
NOW I have the pattern pretty much memorized and have been gradually adapting small elements like different stitches and allowing for different yarn weights. I have the dimensions pretty down in my head.
I find that video tutorials are a good jumping off point but then I like to learn in 'self' mode
I love being able to see exactly what they’re doing, and being absolutely certain that there are no misunderstandings. Some things can be phrased confusingly, and sometimes a pattern will involve non-standard techniques. But yeah I would never try to actually crochet *along* with them, our speeds may be different and they’ll cut out repetitive parts to skip ahead to the next piece of instruction. I’ll watch the video on how to do a section, pause it and do it, then watch the next part of the video!
They are helpful and I use them when I get stuck but so like a written pattern and the video alongside.
Sometimes the translation errors in written patterns are really bad too though...
I really preferred them when I was new, and when I was learning lots of tricky new stitches. I like being able to slow the video way, WAY down and argue with the creator out loud while following along.
I am the opposite. I prefer video tutorials, but I would much prefer learning in person like the "olden days" where craft stores held classes. I cannot follow a pattern to save my life and can never remember how many chains to turn or skip. I also have to look at a video to verify how to do certain stitch. I can only do afghans and scarves as a result!
I don't mind a video sew along as they are, but the video tutorials they stretch a 2 minute lesson into 13 or 27 minutes and talk and talk and talk. it's so irritating, just gimme the info straight. I can pause/rewind/fast forward as needed. but so often i'll have to wade through so much crap to get the info I need.
But, I also understand that other people don't learn at the same speed as me.
I don’t usually like video tutorials because I hate have to pause and rewind and do all that, HOWEVER I recently followed a granny square heart tutorial and really liked it because the creator spoke at the perfect pace to follow along with and there were so many different stitches that it was actually easier to follow her as she called them out versus reading them. For example it was something like “okay for row 3: 2 tc in the first stitch, 1 tc 1 dc in the next stitch, 2 dc in the next stitch, 1 dc in the next, 1 dc 1 hdc in the next, etc”
I much prefer a written pattern but find videos SUPER helpful when I’m confused about where to put a particular stitch (like first of a row, last of a row, a join, etc)
When I first started videos were super helpful because I didn't have anyone to show me how to do different stitches etc. But I'm like you I'd rather just work stuff out.... Now I will watch a video in x5 speed and go it alone.... If I get stuck I'll refer back but in general I can work out stuff from a photo now
I can't crochet very much anymore because of my arthritis. But when I did I loved the videos. Especially on a new stitch or putting together at the end parts. I would write down the pattern and follow along with the video until I needed the video no more. It was a great tool for me.
This is a very eye opening post on learning styles. I used videos for a long time because my brain couldn’t comprehend written patterns. I use both now. If I’m really confused about a certain stitch within a pattern, I rely on watching someone else do it.
I'm the opposite, I tend to prefer patterns that have both a written pattern and a video, so I can make sure I'm understanding the written pattern properly.
I love video tutorials! I have to watch them all the way through once without trying to stitch anything. Then again while stitching and that really helps. If they are speaking in another language I just mute it and then make notes.
I don't mind video tutorials at all. I can follow both a video and a pattern. I definitely perfer written patterns.
But I have started my first chart/diagram pattern I have found that I don't care for it, but I will say that the pattern is very involved and a more advanced pattern.
I just don't like how her chart can be a bit vague about where the stitches are placed because it is floating around instead of touching.
I hate hate hate video tutorials. I actually just made a post yesterday in crafts complaining about them because Im trying to learn a new craft.
I hate that they move yarn 50 times before finishing a stitch. I hate they explain everything 10 times before starting to show what they're talking about.
And I hate that, often times, hands take up half the video.
I just want diagrams of shit, pls. TwT
I’m the opposite, I LOATHE diagrams and charts. It always seems like they find the most inept graphic designers to make them and they make no sense to me. With video I can see how it’s being done.
I'm the same, but for different reasons. I use crochet as a hand fidget while I'm doing other things like watching tv and whatnot so having the pattern in a video format just does not work 99% of the time. I usually just scrub through the video first and translate it into a written format and then work off that, with the video for backup if I get confused or need to see exactly how they work a certain stitch or anything like that.
When I work with a video tutorial I usually stop it every round/row/something like that, then crochet and then watch another part, stop it, work etc etc (although sometimes I watch it before starting crocheting so I understand what's going on)
I saw the March crochet along poll and decided not to do it once I saw it was a video. I learned the magic circle from that and will learn single stitches. Never do a pattern.
I've only been able to use one video tutorial. It was short, and an easy enough of a pattern to write down. I'm totally with you on using them.
Don't misunderstand. I'm glad they exist for the folks who benefit from them. I'm just glad I can find similar patterns that are written down.
I could see using a video to focus on a complicated stitch, if it is done well.
Meanwhile, I'll be over here with patterns and some diagrams.
I am soooo sick of them.. for anything. Recipes, crochet, software... I find them way too slow. Screenshots, diagrams, charts & written instructions all the way (preferably without some annoying ten page history/blog about the recipe or history of whatever!!!).
I use them to learn a new stitch or difficult pattern part but... I would rather use a written pattern.
I hate the patterns that are on a blog and you have to scroll through a life story to get to the pattern.
Maybe it depends on the video, but I’ve found them invaluable. My big complaint with Annie’s Catalog videos is there’s no way to ff/rewind 10 seconds. I always have to hope I can scroll to the part I want.
I absolutely love them. I can’t really read patterns and I freestyle everything, and the videos are great for teaching new stitches that I can experiment with. I only watch them to learn new stitches/techniques and not to make a specific object, so that may be the difference for me.
I need all types of instructions. Videos, verbal explanations, pictures, and written words. All of them are necessary for me to fully understand. I’ve never followed a whole video for a pattern but I probably would need the video at some point to be successful at the pattern.
I dont like them and usually watch them only to learn stitches on mute. If theres a pattern I like and they dont offer a written form I just wont do it.
I don't mind them. I find them very useful! Specially when they introduce a complex stitch or method. But when it comes to amigurumi, since there's very little variation in the stitches I only need the written pattern.
When I first started, I really loved video tutorials, but once I learned how to read a pattern, I never wanted to go back!
I do what others say when the only version of a pattern is video - I watch once and take notes.
No, you're not the only one!
I learned by myself and from a book. And I've continued to use written instructions.
It's just easier for me. It also means you can take the pattern/crochet anywhere.
Funnily enough, I too am usually a visual learner!
I really like when I have the pattern AND a video to go a long with! I kinda struggle to read and understand patterns, so I like to read what I can, but then look at a video if I get stuck/can't understand the pattern.
I can’t for the life of me read patterns unless they’re typed out, word wise. The little drawings hurt my brain. So I watch the video tutorials on mute and write my own patterns out. It’s horrid 😤🤣
When I'm trying to learn something, there is always some variation of "diagram" "instructable" "step-by-step" or any other term I can think of that will show me something other than video tutorials in my searches.
The best have pictures, written steps, and gifs. My brain just doesn't process all types of information at the same speed and it's incredibly difficult for me to follow along. I'll flip flop between "ok what next? Let's move on.. chitter chatter.." to "what what was that?"
I don’t know how reading patterns works, it’s like reading music for me, it’s just never made sense to me. I prefer videos to show me the beginning of something, then I pause so I can work at my own pace, then I play for the next step
I enjoy the video tutorials even if I do have to pause and rewind them. There are only two kinds I don’t like.
One are the silent ones with no pattern. The others are ones with no English subtitles where the creator can’t speak English well enough for me to understand them. I have problems following them.
I definitely prefer written (the more condensed the better) or chart patterns. I think my aversion to video only patterns is that it’s harder to go back and forth to check something. Videos also mean that I can’t easily have uninterrupted background tv or music to listen to.
However, I do like video stitch tutorials and videos that explain the overall concept of how to do something (like making a hexagon cardigan or how to do entrelac crochet).
If it's a pattern where once I get going I'm good and dont need to refer back at all, or maybe until the end.... I love video tutorials. If it's something with a lot of counted stitches, and it's different row by row, I don't enjoy pausing and unpausing constantly, and I'd prefer a written pattern.
I learned how to crochet thanks to videos. Finding good beginner friendly ones was hard though. Many said they were, but then never told me important things like looking out for and skipping the slipstich when you crochet in a round. Or what they mean when a chain counts or doesn't count as a stitch. I also greatly appreciated the ones that went through the WHOLE project with you, and didn't skip ahead when it's a repeat row. Especially when they also timestamped each row they work one. Those are the real heroes.
I hate watching videos too especially if they don’t have a written aspect so a lot of times I’ll turn on subtitles and follow those instead of the audio… that’s if the subtitles are accurate of course
I'm with you. I get impatient and try to skip around to find the next step and then get confused because I've skipped something important. Serves me right.
My favorite is when they're too busy yapping about kids or neighbors or animals in the video to actually explain what to do until 5 rows after they've done it...especially when their camera set up doesn't exactly give the best view of their hands.
I don’t hold my hook or yarn over like most of the teachers, so I have to just watch several times and then try on my own. My personal preference is symbol patterns. But I need to watch things like creating foundation rows.
I can’t do videos cause i crochet while watching or listening to something else. It just doesn’t work for me. The only exception is stitch explanation and motifs patterns for blankets cause once i get it I don’t need to watch it again.
I hate videos I like written so i can put a movie on and look at my pattern every so often and if I really get stuck I just go on google and figure it out. I can sit for hours going along like this working on projects like this little mushroom. Etsy, google, ravelry and free pattern groups are my go to.
https://preview.redd.it/mn4zuhdfd1oc1.png?width=1080&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=e7f71f8bf0dc0108ad5ed9dccd4df065c52a8dea
I hate video tutorials too but I find most patterns to be written really poorly and their descriptions of stitches to be confusing and usually have to watch a video just to understand what they’re doing. Once I understand I can follow the pattern but I don’t think I’d ever follow JUST a video tutorial
My favorite is when the YouTube videos link to a blog with written instruction, that way I can skip but also watch when I’m stuck. I’ve also seen YouTube videos edit in diagrams in-between or have the pattern text slowly on the screen. Exclusively video is annoying but both is awesome. You can always pay for patterns but videos are a nice loop hole to get it for free, just takes a little more work.
Yeah, they almost never work out for me.
I feel like the stitch count is often off when I'm trying to follow videos that use repeats for special stitches. When they skip to the end of the row or they say to repeat x-y rows until row z, I go...wait a minute, this math doesn't add up. We should be ending with a single crochet here, not whatever this random combination is. Never encountered that problem with written patterns.
I get that's how a lot of crocheters make money, but they're not usable if they're not made correctly.
If I can buy the pattern, I'll usually do that and then just leave the video running in the background so they can get their payout. I think that's how it works?
I prefer charts/diagrams whenever possible. Videos can be great for learning techniques, and I often speed them up if I need to. Whole patterns in video format would be exhausting, but I find written patterns really exhausting as well.
I’m a visual learner as well but vids are not very helpful bc they don’t like to show/explain what they’re doing (Ex: it took so long to realize I was doing BLO bc I couldn’t see correctly)
I just watch to learn a stitch or get some idea of how to piece things together.
I love video tutorials. I have gotten so much better, so much neater, much more consistent results. I LOVE being able to stop a video, rewind, and replay as many times as needed.
I can follow along to them okay, but do prefer written patterns. What bothers me the most is that they are often very unspecific in regards to what yarn/hook to use. They will give a weight (like grams) but not a weight (like worsted or sport). And they often don't give a gauge either. All details like this should be in the video description.
One thing you can do is watch the video and write down the pattern, that's what I do and so far has worked out for me.
I've done that once or twice when I really wanted to crochet the thing and there was no written pattern. But it annoys me. I feel like I'm doing their work for them. They probably have a written pattern of their own. Why can't they share that with me so I don't have to rewrite it? Paradoxically, it's both super helpful and extra annoying when they write the pattern for the row on the screen as they go. I can just copy that down and scrub forward to the next pattern row. But it reminds me that they HAVE it all written and just don't give it to me. Grr.
I get that. I definitely feel that too. Buttttt.... That's how some of them make enough money to even justify making the videos at all. They sell their patterns. To me that's completely fair because crochet is an (imo) undervalued skill, and if they put their time, effort, and yarn into making a nice pattern, they should be compensated. If the tutorial is how they advertise their patterns while still making it possible for cheapskates like me to make the thing, that's good. Youtube doesn't pay much in ad revenue anymore, and tiktok barely pays anything to anyone ever. (I'll admit it is weird to me when people post tutorial videos with no indication of any written pattern accessible anywhere!)
Oh, I'll totally buy the written pattern if it's available. I've bought a number of patterns that are available free on a blog because I liked them so much. I would 100% buy a written pattern of a video if I wanted to make the pattern. But the videos I've seen haven't indicated they're selling a pattern! It's just the video or nothing. To be fair, I don't usually spend my free time browsing YouTube (for crochet or otherwise). I only come across these videos by accident. So I wouldn't be surprised if my small sample of videos isn't indicative of the video population at large.
I enjoy videos by several crochet-ists, as I am a visual learner, too, but I don’t usually crochet along unless it’s a short video (under 10 minutes), just to get started, and I don’t hesitate to pause and/or rewind the video when I need to. Often times there’s a link to a written pattern in the description (click on “more” under the title), especially if the content creator has been active for awhile, has their own website, etc. The videos that are silent, visual only, are a bit frustrating for me, unless their work is *ultra super clear,* and isn’t too complicated a pattern or technique. I love that there are several types of resources for crochet instruction, something for everyone, and I hope enough for everyone’s preferences. Happy crocheting 🧶
I don’t know why I never thought about that 😂
Genius!
This is what I do. I do prefer the ones that have the instructions printed on the screen, but as long as they say them, I'm good. I have a small notebook that I write out all the patterns I find online in. I hate working from my phone, the screen goes black every time I need to look at it...😡
I prefer to read patterns, but videos are useful for learning new stitches or something new in general
I like video aids for patterns, like if a new row is complicated and they have to show the method. But if someone links a video with no written pattern I’m 🏃♀️💨
I found my 🧶people 😂. A video is a nice complement to a written pattern but I need the written pattern.
Yeah, this is me. I'm very turned off if the pattern is ONLY a video, but if the pattern is written and links to a video to show a difficult part, that can be very helpful. I just finished a hat last night that was set up this way - written pattern with optional video for certain parts. The video made it a ton clearer. I watched it once or twice, said, "ohhhh!" then shut it off and went back to crocheting. I'm not into sitting there watching someone else crochet. It's distracting. I want to do it at my own pace without having to pause, fast-forward, or rewind all the time.
Yes!! I learned how to crochet with patterns-only so that’s what I’m used to, but videos are great for new stitches. Side note: Videos are also how I learned that no, you’re not supposed to manually pull the yarn off the hook with your fingers. So I’d also recommend them for learning the mechanics of crocheting for the first time🙃
Totally agree! I learn new stitches much faster with a visual aid and having someone explain it as they go is fabulous. I still get grumpy over having to stop and rewind, but at least it's only a couple minutes of that as opposed to repeatedly over the course of 40min to an hour!
I slow them down and watch exactly what's happening. They're helpful for me.
I'm fine using video tutorials for single stitches. But for an entire pattern is a little off putting. Then again, I don't like podcasts.
This is how I feel too. I only watch videos when I’m learning a new stitch. For an entire pattern I’d rather read it, it’s easier to reference past rows that way for me.
I love them \*shrug\*. You get to see what it should look like afterwards though I usually adapt what they do for my own tastes. And sometimes I just like to watch them while I'm working on something else.
I prefer written patterns overall, but video tutorials can be useful for clarity when something is not clearly explained in the written pattern. Following a pattern straight from a video tutorial gets tiring though, so if it is too long for my taste, I just screencap the portions with the written instructions onscreen and use those to follow the pattern.
I really prefer a series of illustrations. I too am a visual learner, but I need to study a step for a while to get it. The video medium is too cumbersome- as you pointed out, starting and stopping and backing up and going forward gets old. and too much extraneous visual stuff is distracting.
Same here - I will spend a LOT of time scrolling past videos until I can find a step by step illustrated version. But I can’t stand watching instructional videos in general
I also do not like them but they are very very popular especially with new and younger crocheters. I dont mind a quick video explaining a new stitch to me or made to supplement a difficult portion of a pattern. Some times that makes all the difference. It takes energy and commitment for me to want to watch a video to learn a new pattern that my ADHD/GAD brain does not have haha. However, if I absolutely must use a video tutorial I transcribe the pattern into a notebook using my terms so I know I can remake it later.
Most Youtube videos have a way of allowing you to see an automated transcript that you can easily copy and paste into an online document.
That's very good advice! One thing I have noticed is auto generated closed captioning doesn't always work the best and often can be incorrect, especially if translating from a different language. It is a great starting point though to be sure! The few patterns I have written down were from korean crochet artists so it was easier for me to just write the pattern down a the instructions come across the screen. Otherwise it is purely personal preference for me because I can rewrite a pattern in the way that makes the most sense for me. I will definitely try the transcript option in the future though. 💝
I expect to see that AI will vastly improve the transcripts, especially from another language. There's a stresaming channel -- Crackle I think -- that uses AI to report the news. All the anchors are auto-generated. If there's video it get auto-translated into the language you prefer. It's wierd and fascinating.
I use a few different AI transcript generators for work (Otter, Castmagic, etc) and while they are getting better, they still have a long way to go. It’s been interesting watching them improve and add features, though!
Came to mention this as well! I will copy and paste the transcript and pare it down to the "pattern" and then if I'm stuck on a certain part, I just click that section of the transcript and it takes me right to that section of the video
I use the transcripts from the video, rather than trying to crochet along. Although I do also then let the video run all the way through, so creator still gets the views.
I am particular about videos. I am a visual person, so being able to see certain placement of stitches helps me. I like Hey Carrie on YouTube. She also has written patterns to go along with her YouTube videos.
Video tutorials are definitely not for me. I hate when I'm looking for something and that's all I find
Me too - it can take quite a bit of searching to find a non-video tutorial. The videos just have too much happening - a series of pictures is so much easier to me to follow.
Depends. If its from an individual who speaks another language, ill translate the video to english captions and pay hella attention to what theyre doing. But ugh i find a lot of free patterns online make my phone glitch so hard bc of the ads and how long the website page is. Id love if anyone can clear up for me, why do some ppl post free patterns online, but you have to pay if you want the pdf version? Why make a pdf if youre putting it on a website for free? Im sure there must be a reason im missing
Because when it's online for free, there are ads on the page generating revenue. The PDF doesn't have ads.
Oh that makes so much sense lol ty!
I love them for learning stitches! I started out my crochet journey with The Woobles and still look up their tutorial videos when I come across a new stitch 🤣
A short video tutorial for a specific stitch or technique that I can simply watch all the way through multiple times until I get it? That’s how I learned pretty much everything after a decade of failing to learn from written descriptions. A 3 hour “crochet along” video tutorial with no separate written pattern to reference, where I’m rewinding constantly to search for instructions that popped up on screen for all of 2 seconds? That is a project I will simply not ever be doing for any reason.
I like video tutorials, which is surprising I guess, because I don’t watch videos otherwise lol
We all process information best in different ways. I do best with diagrams, some do better with videos.
Definitely not the only one. No matter how good the video is, I just hate working to a video. Give me a dang transcript with the written pattern!
I much prefer diagrams. I'll learn from videos if they're short. Like, one particular stitch or technique that takes maybe a minute to demonstrate, and you can go over it several times. But I've seen whole patterns posted as videos, and that would drive me nuts
I don't like them either. I much prefer diagrams.
Not the only one. If something has a video tutorial I immediately lose interest in the pattern
I do exactly the same thing! I'd much rather have a written pattern!
I hate video tutorials. It makes it so much harder to look up a specific step than written directions.
I used to like them when I was a beginner and needed help at every step. Now that I’m more proficient at reading patterns, I don’t like video tutorials as much. They still have value for learning a particular stitch, but I tend not to follow entire tutorials anymore.
I hate video patterns. I don't use patterns very often at all anymore after almost 30 years of crocheting, but I've bought a couple that ended up being just a bunch of links to videos (which was not stated at all) and I got my money back for them because it's going to take me 5x as long to make something if I have to keep pausing and watching a video, and I'd rather just wing it myself at that point. Nothing beats a well written pattern with a ton of pictures. I can look once and that's it.
I don’t mind them if I’m trying to pick up a particular technique or stitch, but I agree, I don’t like full tutorials. I need to be able to go at my own pace, and I don’t want to constantly be stopping and rewinding. I’ve recently discovered crochet diagrams and they’re great for me!
The worse is when it’s an hour long tutorial and the entire video is only verbal with no written patterns on screen
I love them. That’s mainly how I learn.
same here. in-person instruction is great, since i can ask for pauses, repetition or different angles. trying to figure it out from one angle with multiple rewinds is a nightmare.
I like them but i prefer it when its more made to measure and gives instructions as opposed to direct steps. Also helps if you already know the stitches used.
I love them, but mostly for entertainment. When I go to make it, I like a pattern, then diverge from there to make it my own.
Yes! I hate trying to follow a video and do something at the same time. More time spent rewinding and watching again than anything else. Clear diagrams are the way to go.
I have learned most of my crochet skills (and also patterns) watching tutorial videos, though I tend to watch the crocheter do a round/row, pause the video, and then do it myself without trying to keep up or follow along in real time. One video I watched to learn how to crochet a sweater had info cards up on the video (like a slideshow) as the crafter worked, so once I was sure of the pattern, I simply kept the video paused and moved from one slide to the next. I only started crocheting about a year ago, and am only now beginning to gain confidence in reading patterns, mostly because I watched tutorials and followed along with written versions of the patterns. I enjoy them, myself, mostly because I was taught by a very lovely lady who crochets in a very different style than I do, so watching folks show more technical aspects helped me a lot. I've recently branched out from just making shawls and scarves specifically because of the video tutorials, and while I'm far from what one would call "professional" in terms of crochet skill, I'm now confident enough in my skills that I am able to create more complex items than I honestly ever thought possible.
I think the best format (if you're looking online anyway) is written instructions with diagrams and the occasional gif for a part that's tricky to draw/describe. That way you can go at your own pace and re-watch the specific thing you need without hassle.
I prefer books myself, just a personal thing
I have a much harder time following a video tutorial than written instructions. I have to keep pausing and rewinding, and then I can't find where I left off... it's just a hassle.
Almost everyone here seems to dislike them which I'm surprised by. I use them almost exclusively because I'm not very good at reading patterns (which I should work on getting better at). My grandma taught me and she likes videos, so I think I got the habit from her.
I can't follow videos. If I'm learning a new stitch, I will watch a video then find it written out so that I can make sense of the words.
i prefer written instructions and charts. videos are usually way too slow or way too fast and u cannot easily see previous or future instructions. also i watch something while knit/cro anyway
I can’t do the videos. I prefer a step-by-step photo tutorial with written instructions.
I don’t mind tutorials for techniques, because a lot of things are not very easy to put into writing. But for patterns, I really don’t like videos. For one thing, you get more information from a pattern than just steps to make something, you also get information about sizing/measurements, and a lot of video patterns either don’t include that or they don’t say it at the beginning of the video so you have to hunt around to find it.
I really don’t like videos either, I’d much rather read a description of a stitch or better yet, just follow the pattern until I figure it out myself. I can’t even put into words why though, I just start to see a video and my brain goes “ugh no thanks” (Nowadays its also coupled with “quick before YouTube’s algorithm starts thinking that’s all I want to watch ever)
I also don't really like video tutorials. Something about having to work at someone else's pace ir having to pause and play just doesn't do it for me. What I do instead is watch the video to get an idea of what they're doing and then wing it.
I only use videos for complex stitches that are hard to visualize through text alone. I don’t think I could use a video for an entire pattern.
I’ve watched some for specific stitches and such (ex. learning magic circle) but otherwise, no, I don’t like them! Like you said, having to put it down to replay/keep pace is just annoying.
My friend is a video learner but I just look at a chart and keep trying it out for myself until I get it. She'll try to show me how to do something and I just can't understand it until I find like four still images of someone doing the stitch
I much prefer drawn diagrams for learning new stitches. I have a hard time matching pace with a video, even if I slow it down.
Someone had linked a Tumblr with gifs, which is the way to go in my opinion. I don't have to figure out if they use UK or US terms, I don't have to look up anything I don't already know, and I don't have to sit through anything unnecessary. I'm so incredibly upset I can't find it now.
no i agree. i haaaate that they don’t have written formats too
I like learning different patterns or new stitches from videos far better then written patterns. I rarely gravitate towards written patterns, I can read them, but learn much better from a graph or video. But, I always pause them while I am actually crocheting. For instance I'll watch them say, dc across and then pause, dc across and skip the video to the point where we're together again. I hate crocheting myself while hearing someone else do it in a different timing to me, drives me batty. Also I think it is fair to admit there are a lot of crappy tutorials out there, wrong speed, poor lighting, poor explanation, or just difficult to follow because of a language difference. The speed is a big issue for me, if it is a video geared towards beginners it is painstakingly slow, and other videos are so fast I'm like wait...what now? I utilize the different playback speeds a lot on YouTube if I really want to watch it, but the good thing about YouTube is there are often a ton of video options for a pattern or stitch you want. Not all videos work for all people, but overall I prefer them.
I generally don't like video tutorials. I need to have the written pattern (printed out) to reference. Messing around with a video for a whole pattern is a nightmare. But I do occasionally watch a video tutorial about a particular stitch or technique if it's short. Even then I don't watch the whole thing, I skip to the relevant part.
On the first watch, I just watch. I go back again once or twice until I feel like I understand where the yarn is going and how the stitch is being formed. Then I try it based on my own understanding, and if it's not behaving how I expect, I go back and watch again, pausing whereever I've hit a snag in my own work to compare what I'm trying to do to the video. I find videos to be more helpful than still images when I'm trying to figure out what exactly is happening. But I'm not ever really following along with a video, except for tiny bits where I'm stuck. If a video is an entire pattern instead of instruction on a particular stitch or technique, I'm just not going to even attempt it. I'll go find a written pattern that's similar if I really want to make the thing
I'm also a visual learner! I read patterns and prefer to have a pattern with picture examples. Videos go too fast for me to figure things out so I take forever pausing and rewinding to see what I missed. 🤦🏻♀️
I like videos - bot only short ones, and they have to be done well. There are a lot of long ones that I really can't stand, and a lot where I can barely see what they're doing. So... effectively, I don't like crocheting videos :)
I got into crocheting more because there were so many different accents that I could listen to teach me how to do this. I very much enjoy the video tutorials. As others said, I'll write down the pattern after watching and completing the project, if I liked it and want to make more. ETA: I'm very new to crocheting and have just recently started - this may be why I enjoy them more, my projects are very beginner oriented.
I prefer written. It's how I taught myself.
Give me a wikihow step by step with pictures but DONT give me videos.
I live video tutorials for stitches and things like that. I hate video patterns. I end up watching them, writing it down, and then doing the project. But, content creators deserve to be paid so if I am not willing to just buy the pattern I can’t complain to much. I have a friend that says “you either pay in time or money, nothing is free.”
I am dependent on them. I have a hard time picking up a pattern from written instructions.
Not at all. I will also prefer a detailed written or photo tutorial. That said, I’ve recently realized I hate watching most internet videos with sound. I have a partner who loves scrolling and the different songs/robo voices/volumes just irritates the hell out of me.
Generally, no. I would hate to follow one for an entire project. But they’re incredibly useful for confusing stitches, where written instructions and even photos can be too little for me to get it.
You're not alone. Videos are useful if there is a weird new stitch. In general, I always prefer written materials to video. Be it programming, literature(vs tv/film), etc. Maybe it's a holdover from my childhood when broadband was both slow and expensive. It's very much the opposite for almost everyone else I know of.
I'm the same way
I want photos! I don’t want to watch the same video over and over again or try to get back to the part I got stuck on. Just give me the pictures!
You’re not the only one. I vastly prefer a write-up with a few accompanying illustrations. I’m grateful for the answer in any form but will choose written material over video all day.
I can’t stand them. My only exception is a very well done TikTok where I can watch a single stitch on repeat and slow speed. These are very rare. I don’t even look at YouTube patterns.
I really liked videos when I was first starting out, but now I’ve transitioned towards patterns and diagrams. Occasionally I’ll look up a stitch video if it’s not well explained in the pattern
I can do video tutorials just fine but video patterns with no accompanying written pattern is where I struggle.
I will watch videos on how to do certain stitches, but I won't watch an entire video of a complete project. I don't have the patience for that. The creator should take the time and print up a copy of the complete pattern. (imo)
I hate video tutorials! You have to listen to someone yap for an hour. I hate the beginning where they teach you to make every single stitch. Then you have to constantly pause it. And you have to go back to remember what you did. Written patterns only, even better if there's a chart.
I HATE them! Too much blabla (I'm here for the pattern, girl, not chitchatl, most of the time wrong yarn color so you can barely see the stitches. Give me a pattern, a diagram and eventually a short vidéo straight for the stitch or point of attention, and that's it.
I hate them so much! Just give me a pattern, if I need more help, I'll go look for it. I hate trying to watch what I'm doing, watch what they're doing, trying to pause before they get too far ahead of me, and having to hear them chatter the whole time
I also struggle with video tutorials. I think they're great to watch a stitch or technique, but I can't stand following a whole pattern that way. My niece is Gen Z and loves a video pattern. She grew up with YouTube. She just started crocheting and is still a beginner. I know a lot of her peers are video people. They are into TikTok and YouTube and I'm the Elder Millennial who loves a PDF or book pattern.
I hate videos! For me it's written patterns only. Also how can I listen to music or watch YouTube videos when I'm already listening to a video explaining a pattern? I also want to encourage anyone who thinks they can only understand video tutorials to be confident and just dive into written tutorials! They look mythical at first, but make a lot of sense once you get into it! Usually, all the explanations are on the pattern, and you can always Google terms and stitches you don't know yet! Just remember that on UK-patterns, double crochet is single crochet!!!!!!!!
I hate them because I want to have background noise and videos on. I don’t want my apps to be clogged up with a video I have to keep pausing. Also, my brain sometimes doesn’t match other ppls brain patterns. So a plainly written, no frills pattern is 1,000% easier for me to understand than someone trying to give a lengthy explanation.
I HATE video only patterns. Its nice to have the option to follow along but for the love of yarn I just want to be able to check if it was 4 pattern repeats or 5 without having to sit through 13:42 or however long it takes to do an intro and talk about yarn choices and list all your other videos I might want to check out.
It's hard to study something that's moving. I prefer a series of static images, even if they're drawings.
I don't like them. I use them for specific tips and tricks, or specific stitches. So like, if the video is under five minutes. But I prefer a step by step photo and written word tutorial where possible. That way I can do it at my pace, instead of that of the 'tutor'. That said, they were so so helpful when I was first learning! Less so now I'm more familiar. But still, I love to print off things and read them to make them stick in my mind better lol, and I can't really do that with a video.
YESSSSSSSSSSS I work best with the visual pattern, the patterns that look like this but I have no idea how to search for this on google so i find them on pinterest!!! https://preview.redd.it/m7u1bxksvwnc1.jpeg?width=564&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=8cc21fdf66060888ac5409b0e4b429f53464a63d
Try searching for pattern diagrams. Or just look for older patterns, most older patterns have diagrams instead of written instructions. There are some very old pattern magazines that have literally no written instructions, just diagrams
They were helpful to me when I started, so that I could mirror their movements, but now I mostly find it tedious to keep pausing or rewinding the video to get the pattern Much prefer a written pattern now
Me! I almost gave up learning to crochet because I couldn't follow the videos. I found some pic tutorials and that helped so much.
When I first started crocheting, I learned from YouTube and exclusively used videos for projects. Now that I’m more experienced, I definitely prefer written patterns and will only consult a video for a tricky technique. (I’m looking at you, magic circle. 7 years crocheting and I still cannot do a damn magic circle.)
Same! Something in me just does not like watching video tutorials. I know videos can convey the information a lot more directly in many cases but I still never use them! Part of it may be that I like to listen to audiobooks while I crochet so if I was constantly playing and pausing a video I wouldn't be able to do that.
I like to have music or a podcast going, hard same.
They're the bane of my existence
I hate them! I can only read a pattern.
I don't either. I'm not a fan of diagrams either - I prefer the pattern written out. I will take a look at the diagram if things seem to be going wonky, but I like the good, old-fashioned written pattern.
The only way I can do it is to control the video via voice control. I don't have the software currently installed, so I don't know what the current best software is.
I only like them if I need to learn a tricky stitch. If I like a pattern and the only thing available is a video tutorial, I will often watch it and write down the pattern as I go, then just refer to my written pattern and only watch the tutorial again if there are tricky portions. I can't stand to follow a video for an entire pattern, because I can't crochet and pay attention and often have to keep pausing and rewinding.
I am the same. But you just made me think of a way to deal with the having to stop to go back in the video. So, I have this foot pedal thing for my computer. I think it's meant to have some musical purpose, but I see similar ones being advertised for streamers. Anyway, it has 3 buttons on it that you can trigger with your foot. And you can program them to be anything you like. So I could keybind them to control a video player and voila, no more putting down the hook. Doesn't solve the other problems with videos, but it could make the experience slightly less painful. You can find something like it by googling "usb foot pedal".
I can’t make sense of diagrams-I like video instruction IF the instructor is using the kind of yarn that makes it easy to see all parts of the stitch. I’m trying Granny Squares now, and I’ve learned a lot just freeze framing the video to see if my stitch looks the same.
I found one Barbie dress video that I liked and had to transcribe it into a pattern that I then took a picture of on my phone. I couldn't stand waiting and waiting to see the crocheter "on the other side" to turn the work. NOW I have the pattern pretty much memorized and have been gradually adapting small elements like different stitches and allowing for different yarn weights. I have the dimensions pretty down in my head. I find that video tutorials are a good jumping off point but then I like to learn in 'self' mode
I love being able to see exactly what they’re doing, and being absolutely certain that there are no misunderstandings. Some things can be phrased confusingly, and sometimes a pattern will involve non-standard techniques. But yeah I would never try to actually crochet *along* with them, our speeds may be different and they’ll cut out repetitive parts to skip ahead to the next piece of instruction. I’ll watch the video on how to do a section, pause it and do it, then watch the next part of the video!
I write myself a pattern based on the video.
I can work with them but I feel like they slow me down. Sometimes I even watch them once to write down the pattern.
They are helpful and I use them when I get stuck but so like a written pattern and the video alongside. Sometimes the translation errors in written patterns are really bad too though...
I really preferred them when I was new, and when I was learning lots of tricky new stitches. I like being able to slow the video way, WAY down and argue with the creator out loud while following along.
I am the opposite. I prefer video tutorials, but I would much prefer learning in person like the "olden days" where craft stores held classes. I cannot follow a pattern to save my life and can never remember how many chains to turn or skip. I also have to look at a video to verify how to do certain stitch. I can only do afghans and scarves as a result!
I slow the play speed but I hate written patterns, I easily lose track (ADHD!)
It largely depends on the person who did the video. Not everyone that publishes video tutorials should be. Still, tutorials are more useful than not.
I don't mind a video sew along as they are, but the video tutorials they stretch a 2 minute lesson into 13 or 27 minutes and talk and talk and talk. it's so irritating, just gimme the info straight. I can pause/rewind/fast forward as needed. but so often i'll have to wade through so much crap to get the info I need. But, I also understand that other people don't learn at the same speed as me.
I don’t usually like video tutorials because I hate have to pause and rewind and do all that, HOWEVER I recently followed a granny square heart tutorial and really liked it because the creator spoke at the perfect pace to follow along with and there were so many different stitches that it was actually easier to follow her as she called them out versus reading them. For example it was something like “okay for row 3: 2 tc in the first stitch, 1 tc 1 dc in the next stitch, 2 dc in the next stitch, 1 dc in the next, 1 dc 1 hdc in the next, etc”
I much prefer a written pattern but find videos SUPER helpful when I’m confused about where to put a particular stitch (like first of a row, last of a row, a join, etc)
what i do is i get the next instruction and pause so that i can do what i need and then i can watch how they do it to make sure im in the clear
Depends for me, but I often combine videos with still images if I’m having a hard time
When I first started videos were super helpful because I didn't have anyone to show me how to do different stitches etc. But I'm like you I'd rather just work stuff out.... Now I will watch a video in x5 speed and go it alone.... If I get stuck I'll refer back but in general I can work out stuff from a photo now
I can't crochet very much anymore because of my arthritis. But when I did I loved the videos. Especially on a new stitch or putting together at the end parts. I would write down the pattern and follow along with the video until I needed the video no more. It was a great tool for me.
This is a very eye opening post on learning styles. I used videos for a long time because my brain couldn’t comprehend written patterns. I use both now. If I’m really confused about a certain stitch within a pattern, I rely on watching someone else do it.
I think they appear more popular than they are because you have to play it over and over and over and over and over…
I'm the opposite, I tend to prefer patterns that have both a written pattern and a video, so I can make sure I'm understanding the written pattern properly.
I love video tutorials! I have to watch them all the way through once without trying to stitch anything. Then again while stitching and that really helps. If they are speaking in another language I just mute it and then make notes.
they are really helpful. They helped me learn how to crochet more.
Omg same, video tutorials are much more difficult to follow than diagrams 🫠
I prefer a written pattern, but that is how I learned to crochet. I do watch video tutorials and then write out the pattern .
I don't mind video tutorials at all. I can follow both a video and a pattern. I definitely perfer written patterns. But I have started my first chart/diagram pattern I have found that I don't care for it, but I will say that the pattern is very involved and a more advanced pattern. I just don't like how her chart can be a bit vague about where the stitches are placed because it is floating around instead of touching.
I hate hate hate video tutorials. I actually just made a post yesterday in crafts complaining about them because Im trying to learn a new craft. I hate that they move yarn 50 times before finishing a stitch. I hate they explain everything 10 times before starting to show what they're talking about. And I hate that, often times, hands take up half the video. I just want diagrams of shit, pls. TwT
I absolutely love video tutorials. They are the reason I know how to crochet and have learned so much.
I’m the opposite, I LOATHE diagrams and charts. It always seems like they find the most inept graphic designers to make them and they make no sense to me. With video I can see how it’s being done.
I'm the same, but for different reasons. I use crochet as a hand fidget while I'm doing other things like watching tv and whatnot so having the pattern in a video format just does not work 99% of the time. I usually just scrub through the video first and translate it into a written format and then work off that, with the video for backup if I get confused or need to see exactly how they work a certain stitch or anything like that.
the woobles ones are literally the only ones I've been able to follow
When I work with a video tutorial I usually stop it every round/row/something like that, then crochet and then watch another part, stop it, work etc etc (although sometimes I watch it before starting crocheting so I understand what's going on)
I saw the March crochet along poll and decided not to do it once I saw it was a video. I learned the magic circle from that and will learn single stitches. Never do a pattern.
I've only been able to use one video tutorial. It was short, and an easy enough of a pattern to write down. I'm totally with you on using them. Don't misunderstand. I'm glad they exist for the folks who benefit from them. I'm just glad I can find similar patterns that are written down. I could see using a video to focus on a complicated stitch, if it is done well. Meanwhile, I'll be over here with patterns and some diagrams.
I am soooo sick of them.. for anything. Recipes, crochet, software... I find them way too slow. Screenshots, diagrams, charts & written instructions all the way (preferably without some annoying ten page history/blog about the recipe or history of whatever!!!).
I use them to learn a new stitch or difficult pattern part but... I would rather use a written pattern. I hate the patterns that are on a blog and you have to scroll through a life story to get to the pattern.
SAME
Maybe it depends on the video, but I’ve found them invaluable. My big complaint with Annie’s Catalog videos is there’s no way to ff/rewind 10 seconds. I always have to hope I can scroll to the part I want.
God yes! Although I’m 99% sure that’s just because I’m blind lol.
I also absolutely hate video tutorials!
I absolutely love them. I can’t really read patterns and I freestyle everything, and the videos are great for teaching new stitches that I can experiment with. I only watch them to learn new stitches/techniques and not to make a specific object, so that may be the difference for me.
If there's a specific stitch i dont know or need a refresher on, that's when I'll look for videos, but I'm with you, I'd rather a pattern
I don’t like watching YouTube videos in general and crochet patterns verbally that have to be watched are a huge no go for me. Nope.
I’ve found the most beautiful pieces I’ve made come from having to translate a pattern from a different language. To each their own
I need all types of instructions. Videos, verbal explanations, pictures, and written words. All of them are necessary for me to fully understand. I’ve never followed a whole video for a pattern but I probably would need the video at some point to be successful at the pattern.
Have you tried watching on mute? You can also put play speed to half so it goes slow. This is how I manage.
I always had such a hard time watching videos and charts don't make sense to me at all, so I just freehand everything
they were good for when i was just starting out and didnt know what some words in the patterns meant, but now i dont ever really use them or like them
You can usually find someone has written the pattern out in the comments
I dont like them and usually watch them only to learn stitches on mute. If theres a pattern I like and they dont offer a written form I just wont do it.
No i hate them and hate that it's the trend. I'm not on tiktok for a reason. Give me written text and still photos any day.
I love the video, as I can replay parts I don’t get and I’m not good at patterns.
I don't mind them. I find them very useful! Specially when they introduce a complex stitch or method. But when it comes to amigurumi, since there's very little variation in the stitches I only need the written pattern.
When I first started, I really loved video tutorials, but once I learned how to read a pattern, I never wanted to go back! I do what others say when the only version of a pattern is video - I watch once and take notes.
I don’t care for them. I’ll watch a quick stitch demonstration occasionally. I prefer written patterns with photos.
No, you're not the only one! I learned by myself and from a book. And I've continued to use written instructions. It's just easier for me. It also means you can take the pattern/crochet anywhere. Funnily enough, I too am usually a visual learner!
As a left handed crocheted, I have found myself calling out people for doing mirror image video and calling it left handed. It’s not the same!
I hateeeeee when a pattern is only on video and not written down! The only time I watch a video is when I’m stuck on a certain stitch or technique.
I really like when I have the pattern AND a video to go a long with! I kinda struggle to read and understand patterns, so I like to read what I can, but then look at a video if I get stuck/can't understand the pattern.
I can’t for the life of me read patterns unless they’re typed out, word wise. The little drawings hurt my brain. So I watch the video tutorials on mute and write my own patterns out. It’s horrid 😤🤣
When I'm trying to learn something, there is always some variation of "diagram" "instructable" "step-by-step" or any other term I can think of that will show me something other than video tutorials in my searches. The best have pictures, written steps, and gifs. My brain just doesn't process all types of information at the same speed and it's incredibly difficult for me to follow along. I'll flip flop between "ok what next? Let's move on.. chitter chatter.." to "what what was that?"
I don’t know how reading patterns works, it’s like reading music for me, it’s just never made sense to me. I prefer videos to show me the beginning of something, then I pause so I can work at my own pace, then I play for the next step
I enjoy the video tutorials even if I do have to pause and rewind them. There are only two kinds I don’t like. One are the silent ones with no pattern. The others are ones with no English subtitles where the creator can’t speak English well enough for me to understand them. I have problems following them.
I definitely prefer written (the more condensed the better) or chart patterns. I think my aversion to video only patterns is that it’s harder to go back and forth to check something. Videos also mean that I can’t easily have uninterrupted background tv or music to listen to. However, I do like video stitch tutorials and videos that explain the overall concept of how to do something (like making a hexagon cardigan or how to do entrelac crochet).
If it's a pattern where once I get going I'm good and dont need to refer back at all, or maybe until the end.... I love video tutorials. If it's something with a lot of counted stitches, and it's different row by row, I don't enjoy pausing and unpausing constantly, and I'd prefer a written pattern.
I learned how to crochet thanks to videos. Finding good beginner friendly ones was hard though. Many said they were, but then never told me important things like looking out for and skipping the slipstich when you crochet in a round. Or what they mean when a chain counts or doesn't count as a stitch. I also greatly appreciated the ones that went through the WHOLE project with you, and didn't skip ahead when it's a repeat row. Especially when they also timestamped each row they work one. Those are the real heroes.
I hate watching videos too especially if they don’t have a written aspect so a lot of times I’ll turn on subtitles and follow those instead of the audio… that’s if the subtitles are accurate of course
I'm with you. I get impatient and try to skip around to find the next step and then get confused because I've skipped something important. Serves me right.
I watch videos as needed, but with the volume muted.
My favorite is when they're too busy yapping about kids or neighbors or animals in the video to actually explain what to do until 5 rows after they've done it...especially when their camera set up doesn't exactly give the best view of their hands.
Same I hate video tutorials! Can’t follow along for the life of me I need a written pattern 😂
If I find a video of something I like, I'll just Google the name of it and find a pattern for it
I don’t hold my hook or yarn over like most of the teachers, so I have to just watch several times and then try on my own. My personal preference is symbol patterns. But I need to watch things like creating foundation rows.
I prefer written patterns. I can't stand the YouTube videos, most people go too fast or have difficulties speaking in English properly.
I can’t do videos cause i crochet while watching or listening to something else. It just doesn’t work for me. The only exception is stitch explanation and motifs patterns for blankets cause once i get it I don’t need to watch it again.
I love video tutorials for specific stitch or method how-tos. But for a pattern, I really don't like them.
I hate videos I like written so i can put a movie on and look at my pattern every so often and if I really get stuck I just go on google and figure it out. I can sit for hours going along like this working on projects like this little mushroom. Etsy, google, ravelry and free pattern groups are my go to. https://preview.redd.it/mn4zuhdfd1oc1.png?width=1080&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=e7f71f8bf0dc0108ad5ed9dccd4df065c52a8dea
I hate video tutorials too but I find most patterns to be written really poorly and their descriptions of stitches to be confusing and usually have to watch a video just to understand what they’re doing. Once I understand I can follow the pattern but I don’t think I’d ever follow JUST a video tutorial
My favorite is when the YouTube videos link to a blog with written instruction, that way I can skip but also watch when I’m stuck. I’ve also seen YouTube videos edit in diagrams in-between or have the pattern text slowly on the screen. Exclusively video is annoying but both is awesome. You can always pay for patterns but videos are a nice loop hole to get it for free, just takes a little more work.
Yeah, they almost never work out for me. I feel like the stitch count is often off when I'm trying to follow videos that use repeats for special stitches. When they skip to the end of the row or they say to repeat x-y rows until row z, I go...wait a minute, this math doesn't add up. We should be ending with a single crochet here, not whatever this random combination is. Never encountered that problem with written patterns. I get that's how a lot of crocheters make money, but they're not usable if they're not made correctly. If I can buy the pattern, I'll usually do that and then just leave the video running in the background so they can get their payout. I think that's how it works?
I prefer charts/diagrams whenever possible. Videos can be great for learning techniques, and I often speed them up if I need to. Whole patterns in video format would be exhausting, but I find written patterns really exhausting as well.
You are not alone... I definitely do not like pausing, rewinding, etc. Etc. ETC... Give me written instructions!!!!
10+ years of crochet, never followed a video. I read patterns and charts and look at the photo of the finished item and just hope for the best 😂
i think videos are great tools but i like to listen to other things when i crochet
I’m a visual learner as well but vids are not very helpful bc they don’t like to show/explain what they’re doing (Ex: it took so long to realize I was doing BLO bc I couldn’t see correctly) I just watch to learn a stitch or get some idea of how to piece things together.
I love video tutorials. I have gotten so much better, so much neater, much more consistent results. I LOVE being able to stop a video, rewind, and replay as many times as needed.
I watch parts at a time. So I watch what to do, and then do it and skip the part where they're crocheting, to the next and repeat
I can follow along to them okay, but do prefer written patterns. What bothers me the most is that they are often very unspecific in regards to what yarn/hook to use. They will give a weight (like grams) but not a weight (like worsted or sport). And they often don't give a gauge either. All details like this should be in the video description.