#offrav

Have you noticed that it's October? That means the Fasten Off Yarnalong 2025 is right around the corner!

This year, the yarnalong will run from Friday, November 21 to Wednesday, December 31.

What is it? We're an annual stitchalong for knitters and crocheters, which includes a 25% discount on selected patterns! The yarnalong happens across multiple online platforms, so that as many people as possible can participate in the place(s) where they feel most comfortable. We aim to promote independent crochet and knitting designers, and create a community of crochet and knitting makers, all in an accessible and inclusive event.

Here's what you can do to get ready:

Sign up for our mailing list so you don't miss a thing

Check out our website for our 2025 schedule

Spread the word to your fellow crafters and your fave designers, because the more the merrier! Our social media hashtag is #FastenOffYAL

If you're interested in volunteering, our volunteer sign-up period is coming up fast: it's scheduled for October 2 to 23 (more info coming to our website very soon)

If you'd like to be a participating designer, that sign-up period will be October 24 to November 9; keep watching our website over the next few weeks for all the info that designers will need

Designer profile

No one we've ever seen does double knitting like @taniarichter. Her patterns are so gorgeous and elaborate, often with a fantasy theme. She's currently focusing on designing large scarves and shawls featuring dragons, phoenixes, and Celtic designs, and her past body of work is very varied. You can see dozens of her patterns at www.fastenoffyal.com/tania-richteraetherfang

What is the Fasten Off Yarnalong?

We're an accessible, inclusive stitchalong event geared to promoting and supporting independent crochet and knitting designers. We also love building community and giving everybody a fun time! To participate in the stitchalong, you just have to start a project using a purchasable pattern from any of our participating designers.

Our event is filled with activities and games, including lots of opportunity for chatting on various social media channels. Makers can get as involved as they feel comfortable with, on the channels they feel comfortable on.

The event kicks off with a two-week discount period; that's when people can use the event's discount code to get 25% off a selection of patterns from our participating designers!

Last year we had 101 designers and 2,365 discounted pattern products, all searchable on our website! This year we're aiming to make our searchable database even bigger and better, with more search features. You can check out our website for databases from past years to see what we had on offer.

Designer profile

Elizabeth Sullivan is co-owner of Sweet Paprika Designs with her sister Debbie. Their yarns are often the inspiration behind Elizabeth's crochet and knitting designs, and she likes to create patterns which are both fun to make and enjoyable to wear. Size inclusivity is very important to her, and most of her adult garments are sized to fit at least a 30 to 60 inch chest range.

We love the simplicity and beauty of her Khione sweater knitting pattern. The lovely texture pattern at neckline, sleeve cuffs, and bottom hem makes this more than just your average stockinette sweater.

Stitchers, start your engines!

We are delighted to announce that the 2022 Fasten Off Yarnalong has begun! This is our biggest year yet, with:

109 designers

3,500 discount-eligible patterns

Over 4,300 patterns in our database altogether

As usual, we kick off the yarnalong with a discount period. Use code FO2022 on any of our participating designers' discounted patterns to get 25% off the regular price! Our website's search feature lets you hunt for patterns you'll love, and lets you see which ones are discount-eligible.

Yep, that's right, this year we're showing all patterns from our participating designers which can be individually purchased off-Ravelry, not just the discounted ones! We hope this gives you a wider variety of yarnalong projects to choose from, and gives you a better idea of the great work that the designers create. We've also added new search features this year, which we hope will help you find exactly what you want.

So go ahead and get started on your yarnalong projects! Use our #FastenOffYAL event hashtag to follow along on social media, and check out our website at www.fastenoffyal.com for more ways to connect with our community, play games, and win prizes.

Have fun!

Photos shown in the collage:

NW quadrant: Tunisian Crochet

"Fluorite capelet" by Andrea Cretu - Yarnandy

"Happy Sack Tote" by Capital Crochet

"Gaoth Casta" by Aoibhe Ni

"Kundali Tunisian Spiral Rug" by KnitterKnotter, Arunima Goel

NE quadrant: Loom Knitting "Fiesta Hats", "Chevron Cowl", "Luxurious Loom-Knit Neckwarmer", and "Striped Sock Puppet" all by Polka Dot Cottage

SW quadrant: Crochet

"For the Love of Tulips Tank" by CrochetHighway

"Cheerful Stripes" by Osswald Design

"Small Ruffle Bowl" by Rachel Beth - RBSCrochet

"Tenzing Vest" by Elizabeth Sullivan

SE quadrant: Knitting

"Blue Spruce" by Spruce Lane Designs

"Four Seasons Scarf" by Duke of Nikko

"My Path is the Forest" by bunnymuff

The yarnalong is coming!

To help get you ready, we've put a bunch of new information up on our website:

Event schedule

Info about event activities

Info about event games

Info about event prizes

You can also follow us on our social media accounts to keep abreast of our preparations:

Instagram

Twitter

Tumblr

And of course you're welcome to join our Discord server anytime. The event channels won't be up and running until the yarnalong starts, but now is a great opportunity - especially if you're unfamiliar with Discord - to join and play around with the platform for a bit, so you can get used to it, and say hello to people as the conversation starts heating up. This year, we've created a #using-discord channel in the 'Start here!' area which you can use to try things out, and find resources for learning how to use Discord.

The more, the merrier!

Why not bring a friend? Or friends, plural? While you're waiting for the yarnalong to start, please feel free to tell people about it - the more makers we have, the more we support our terrific participating designers! Looking forward to seeing you all in the event!

Designer profile

Liz Corke creates patterns for adventurous knitters who are ready to move beyond the basics. Her patterns are relaxing knits for experienced knitters, or a great way to learn new techniques and skilsl for newer knitters, with photo tutorials for new or unusual techniques.