24,500 Subscribers Later… Thank You

Today my YouTube channel officially crossed 24,500 subscribers, and honestly, I’m still trying to process it.

When I first started sharing crochet videos online, I never imagined that thousands of people from around the world would one day be watching my tutorials, following my crochet journey, supporting my designs, and becoming part of this amazing creative community.

What started as simply sharing something I loved slowly grew into something much bigger than I ever expected.

Over the years, HodgePodge Crochet has become more than just a crochet channel. It has become a space filled with creativity, learning, experimentation, encouragement, late-night crochet sessions, yarn piles taking over the house, cats supervising projects 😂, and people who genuinely appreciate handmade art.

One of the things I love most about this community is how supportive and encouraging everyone has been through every stage of the process — even the messy stages.

And trust me… there have been MANY messy stages.

If you’ve followed me recently over on Patreon, then you’ve probably seen me deep in the process of designing the new Lattice Top. This pattern has gone through more revisions, frogging, measuring, grading, and restructuring than I can even count at this point. Some days I’ve completely reworked entire sections just trying to get the drape, fit, and stitch flow exactly the way I imagined it in my head.

But that’s also the beautiful part of designing.

Sometimes crochet patterns don’t appear perfectly on the first try. Sometimes they evolve slowly through testing, experimentation, mistakes, and learning. And honestly, I think sharing that process openly has become one of my favorite parts of this journey.

Seeing people excited about the Lattice Top while it’s still being developed has been incredibly motivating for me. Knowing that people genuinely care about the work behind the scenes makes all those long design sessions feel worth it.

As my YouTube channel continues growing, I have so many exciting things planned for the future:

• New crochet patterns
• More detailed tutorials
• Behind-the-scenes design content
• Crochet vlogs
• Morocco lifestyle content 🇺🇸🇲🇦
• More pattern testing opportunities
• More creative experiments and projects

I’m genuinely excited about where things are heading.

And to every single person who has supported this channel in any way — whether you subscribed, watched a video, left a comment, purchased a pattern, shared my work, or simply followed quietly from the background — thank you.

Your support means more than you probably realize.

Creative work can sometimes feel very solitary behind the scenes. There are long hours spent designing, filming, editing, writing instructions, troubleshooting mistakes, and doubting whether anyone will even care about what you’re creating.

But moments like this remind me why I started.

24,500 subscribers may just look like a number to some people, but to me it represents years of learning, growth, persistence, creativity, and community.

And honestly?

I feel like we’re just getting started.

Thank you all so much for being part of this journey with me 💛

You can follow along here: https://www.youtube.com/@HodgePodgeCrochet

– HodgePodge Crochet

What Yarn Costs in Morocco vs the U.S. (Real Prices)

Since moving to Morocco, one of the first things I looked into was yarn—where to find it, what the quality is like, and how the prices compare to what I was used to in the United States.

If you crochet regularly, you already know that yarn cost matters. It affects what you make, how often you make it, and even the types of patterns you choose.

Here’s a realistic breakdown based on what I’ve seen.

Yarn Prices in the United States

In the U.S., yarn is widely available and fairly consistent in price.

• Basic acrylic (like Red Heart Super Saver): about $4–$6 per skein (~198g)
• That works out to roughly $2–$3 per 100g
• Mid-range yarns: $6–$12
• Cotton, wool, and specialty yarns: $10–$20+

The biggest advantage in the U.S. is convenience—you can usually find exactly what you need and restock easily.

Yarn Prices in Morocco

In Morocco, yarn is also easy to find, especially in places like Derb Omar in Casablanca, but pricing can vary more depending on where and how you buy.

• Standard pricing often starts around 20–25 MAD per 100g
  👉 roughly $2–$2.50 USD
• Prices can go higher depending on fiber type and thickness
• Bulkier or specialty yarns can get noticeably more expensive

Bulk Pricing (My Experience)

When buying in bulk, prices can drop.

In my case, I paid 20 dirhams (about $2 USD) per 100g skein.

This was a bulk price, and not necessarily what you’ll pay for smaller quantities. Prices per skein can vary starting from about $2.50 USD and can increase depending on the type of yarn, especially for thicker or higher-quality options.

So Which Is Cheaper?

When you compare directly, basic yarn prices in Morocco and the U.S. are actually pretty similar.

The difference isn’t so much the cost—it’s the experience.

The Real Difference

In the U.S., you can:

• Follow patterns exactly
• Use the same yarn brands consistently
• Easily replace yarn if you run out

In Morocco, you may need to:

• Work with what’s available
• Adjust your hook size or pattern
• Be flexible with yarn types and textures

What This Means for Your Crochet

This is where things get interesting.

Crocheting in Morocco encourages you to:

• Think in measurements instead of stitch counts
• Adapt patterns more freely
• Experiment with different yarns

This is one of the reasons I design patterns the way I do—so they work no matter what yarn you have access to.

Final Thoughts

Yarn in Morocco isn’t drastically cheaper than in the U.S., especially for basic options—but it offers a different kind of experience.

You trade convenience for flexibility.

If you’re willing to adapt and work with what’s available, you can still create beautiful pieces without needing the exact same materials every time.

WIP (Work in progress)

Crochet Rabbit (Winnie the Pooh inspired)

Working on this pattern set for my niece. Her baby girl turns 1 next month. I have a feeling Eyeore, Kanga, Roo, Tigger and Hefalump will be a little late.

#crochet
#rabbit
#winniethepooh
#piglet
#crochetpatterns
#originalart

Crochet Dog Pattern @Yarntopia1101 on YT!

#crochet
#freepattern
#fiberarts
#crafts
#yarncrafts
#crochetpatterns

querides crocheteres de mastodon. Estoy buscando algún patrón para hacer unas cortinas para la ventana de mi pasillo que no parezca un tapete de abuelita (no tengo nada en su contra, pero no es mi estilo). Necesito poner cortinas porque se ve todo desde la calle y no es plan y me apetece hacerlas yo. Help me! gracias bonites!!

#crochet #CrochetPatterns

Arella Angel #crochet🧶 Create the Arella Angel for your holiday décor!

This elegant pattern works up quickly and stands 6.5 inches tall.

Yarn: Bernat Super Value Solids (Aran Weight)
Crochet Hook: 4.0 mm (G)

Free crochet pattern link:https://oombawkadesigncrochet.com/arella-crochet-angel-pattern/?utm_campaign=coschedule&utm_source=mastodon&utm_medium=Oombawka%20Design%20Crochet%40mastodon.social
#crochetangel #holidaycrochet #crochetpatterns #crochetdecor

I just updated all the mini animal patterns to change an embarassingly redundant phrase in the pre-pattern notes. No change in the actual pattern, just wording.

Here's a reminder that these patterns exist and you can get each PDF for 1€! I'll be uploading the next one soon: the tiny wiggling snake.

#CrochetPatterns on #Ravelry and #KoFi linked below:

https://www.ravelry.com/designers/alex-haze

https://ko-fi.com/handmadehearts/shop/crochetpattern