Journal · Yarn Haven
Notes from the yarn shop
Hooks, tension and keeping a project together, written in New York.
Jul 2026Choosing a hook size when the yarn band and the pattern disagreeYarn bands give a recommended hook size and patterns give a different one, and neither is wrong. They are answering different questions, and the only number that settles it is…Read →
Jun 2026Stitch markers, counters and keeping your placeLosing your place in a pattern is the most common reason a project stalls. Markers and counters are cheap, and using them properly is more about habit than about which…Read →
Jun 2026Project bags: what to look for beyond the printA project bag is judged in a shop on how it looks and in use on whether the yarn comes out cleanly and the needles do not escape. Those are…Read →
Jun 2026Yarn holders and why the ball ends up on the floorA working ball of yarn rolls because unwinding pulls it sideways. Everything sold to prevent that is trying to convert a rolling motion into a rotating one, or to stop…Read →
Jun 2026Tension rings and guides: help or hindranceA tension ring sits on a finger and routes the working yarn through a small loop, adding friction so the yarn feeds evenly. They are genuinely useful for some people…Read →
Jun 2026Ergonomic crochet hooks: what the handle is actually doingA crochet hook is held in one of two grips and worked continuously for hours. A thicker handle is not a comfort feature so much as a mechanical one: it…Read →
Notes from the the East Village counter
Practical notes about crochet and knitting tools, written by the people who stock it.