The slightly annoying answer is that it depends.

It’s actually really hard for me to give you an exact amount because the amount of yarn you use is individual to you. Your tension, your hook size, how tightly or loosely you crochet, and even little differences in how you work can all change how much yarn you need.

That is why I was so excited when Michele Costa, founder of GoSadi, showed me her yarn calculating technique.

Michele is the person I collaborate with to help me write out the patterns for my designs, and she has an amazing way of calculating how much yarn you will need for a project. It is much more useful than me simply telling you, “I used three skeins,” because your three skeins might not go quite as far as mine did.

Michele put together an incredibly helpful guide explaining exactly how she does it, and I am including it as a PDF below so you can use the technique for your own projects.

This is a dedicated space where I’ll be sharing my crochet projects, favorite yarns, color combinations, and all the little tips and resources I’ve never really had a place to share before.

My goal is simple: to make stitching feel modern, creative, and fun while building a community of people who love making beautiful things together.

If you’d like even more, you’ll also have the option to upgrade to a paid membership, where you’ll get free patterns, exclusive discounts, and access to a community where we can connect, ask questions, learn from one another, and inspire each other.

Let’s get started!

Introducing Your Project of the Month:
The Duster Square

This pattern by Anastasia Asanova, which I helped her translate to English, has been incredibly popular, and many of you have already started to make it.

Our collaboration was such a success that she generously gave me permission to share the chart for the individual square for free, exclusively with my membership community.

Below, I’ve included a graphic of the square pattern for paid members. If you choose to purchase the full pattern, paid members also receive a discount code (see below).

I’ve also included photos of all of my projects using this square, including the exact yarns I used, hook size, edging styles, and joining methods. I did each one a little differently, so there are lots of nice options.

All my love,
Vanessa

P.S. I’m hosting a virtual stitch dedicated to this project. Come with your project updates and questions! RSVP here.

Upgrade to a paid membership to get access to discounts, free patterns, a community forum, and the juicy details of all of my projects.

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Read more

Crochet has been one of the most grounding, joyful practices in my life. There is something about having your hands busy that gives your mind permission to slow down. I learned to crochet when I was younger, put it down for decades, and picked it back up a few years ago, and I haven’t looked back since.

This guide will take you from zero to your first finished project, step by step. Think of it as a starting point, not an exhaustive manual. The best way to learn is simply to begin.

How To Learn

I visited Venice with my family two years ago, and on an afternoon when all my children were exhausted and resting, I googled yarn stores in Venice. I came upon a store that wasn’t too far away.

My amazing husband agreed to venture out to the yarn store with me (that’s how much he loves me, and knows me).

I discovered some wonderful yarns I had never seen anywhere else before, including hanks of very thin Loro Piana cashmere with mohair-like cashmere/silk yarn in matching colors. I HAD to have them and bought a few color combinations.

Note: If you ever find yourself wandering Venice, this is worth the detour. Here’s the store’s website.

This is the kind of yarn you don’t want to waste any of, so I set about trying to figure out what to make. As I experimented, I came up with this shawl pattern. When my mom saw it and fell in love with it, I decided to gift it to her. It’s now her favorite, so I’ve named it (The Lucy) after her.

About The Shawl

This shawl can be made with any type of yarn, but I suggest fingering weight if you want it to be lacy and easy to wrap around your neck.

The shawl is worked from a magic circle, increasing in each row, so it ends up being a very tall and narrow triangle (think ice cream cone shaped). When you wrap it around your neck, it’s somewhat asymmetrical. I love the look — but if you prefer everything very symmetrical, I’d recommend Lucy’s Shawl Variation, further down.

I’ve made this shawl with a couple of different yarns. I’ve made a relatively large one with about 750 yards of yarn, but you could make a smaller one with less. If you’re using leftover yarn, just work the rows until you run out! It’s the perfect project for a couple of balls of yarn left over from another project.

Here’s a video where I show her in all the colors I’ve made her in (minus the ones I’ve given away!).

Get The Free Pattern

What started as simply sharing my passion for crochet (and not being sure if anyone would really care or take note) has evolved into a full-blown community.

For months, I've been asking what you all want and gathering that information. Vanessa's Stitch Club is an answer to your desire for more, and I'm so excited to share it with you.

Be The First To Know

Stitch Club officially launches September 1, but you don’t have to wait until then to claim your spot. Subscribe now, and you’ll be first in line to receive patterns, projects, community access, and all the details you won’t want to miss.

So What Is Stitch Club?

I’m enamored with the idea of building a full wardrobe that feels chic and high-fashion, made entirely with my own two hands. I obsessively search for the perfect yarn, color, and pattern combinations to make every project wow-worthy, and I love making crochet feel modern and cool.

But honestly? The only thing I love more than making beautiful things slowly is sharing every detail of that journey with you.

Stitch Club is where I’ll be sharing my hacks, my patterns, my ideas, and the projects I’m working on in real time. It’s the place I wanted to create because there’s nothing more fun than sitting around the table at your local yarn store, swapping tips and talking shop, and I wanted to recreate that feeling, for anyone, anywhere.

All are welcome here. Experts and beginners. Crocheters and knitters. Needlepointers, felters, cross stitchers, and the generally craft-obsessed. If you love making things with your hands, you belong.

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What You’ll Get

My goal for this space is simple: have a ton of fun creating beautiful things, while building community and friendships around our shared love of stitching.

Free subscribers will receive emails with my favorite patterns, bonus content, and a preview of the projects I’m working on.

Paid members get the full experience:

• Free patterns and exclusive discounts

• Behind-the-scenes details on the yarns and materials I use

• A members-only forum to share projects, ask questions, and talk yarn, patterns, styling, and joining methods with fellow stitch-obsessed friends

• My goal is to deliver tons of amazing content while saving you money through free patterns and discounts

Subscribe now

I can’t wait to share this new offering with you!

All my love,
Vanessa