Learning to crochet used to require sitting next to someone who knew how. Today, you can start with your cell phone, a ball of yarn, and a hook. Crochet Genius - Learn crochet It's one of the most used apps for this: it brings together patterns with step-by-step instructions, videos of the stitches, and a row counter that works by voice command — a detail that makes a difference when both hands are occupied.
In this text you will find out what the app really offers, where it falls short, and what you need to have at home to get started. We'll say one thing upfront: the app is free to install, but it displays ads and has in-app purchases. And, as you'll see later, its rating in the app store is average—it's worth knowing this before deciding.
Does learning to crochet on your cell phone really work?
It works, with one caveat. The basic crochet stitches — chain stitch, single crochet, double crochet, slip stitch — are movements that are learned through repetition, and a video at a controlled pace teaches this very well: you pause, rewind, watch again, try again. In this aspect, the cell phone is even better than an in-person class, because you can repeat as many times as you want without embarrassment.
The caveat is that no one can correct your yarn tension remotely. Working too tight or too loosely is the most common mistake for beginners, and it only becomes apparent when the finished piece is crooked or the wrong size. If you have someone nearby who crochets, show them your first few rows; if not, compare your samples with the photos in the app and redo them until the fabric is even.
The Crochet Genius app
Developed by AnnapurnApp Technologies, the Crochet Genius It is available in both Brazilian stores — with slightly different names in each. On Google Play it is... “Crochet Genius - Learn crochet”, with a rating of 3.7, approximately 933 reviews and over 100,000 downloads; in the Brazilian App Store it is “Crochet Genius – Crocheting”, also free and published by the same AnnapurnApp Technologies. Installation is free, but the app displays ads and has in-app purchases — both warnings appear on the Google Play listing.
Crochet Genius - Learn crochet
Android and iPhoneUpon opening the app, the user finds the patterns separated by category: amigurumi (crocheted animals), accessories, decorative items, and everyday items. According to the description in the store, all patterns available in the app can be accessed for free, with the corresponding video tutorial just a tap away.
Main features
Patterns with step-by-step instructions and video.
Each project includes written instructions and a video of the stitch used in that step. You can follow along at your own pace, pausing and repeating as needed. This is the app's most valuable feature for beginners because it eliminates the classic question of "the instructions say this, but how do I actually do it?".
Career counter with voice control.
The app has line counters so you can track where you are in the pattern. The unique feature, as described by the developer in the app store, is that you can advance the step. talking With the app, you don't have to put down your needle and thread. Anyone who's ever lost count mid-row knows how much this helps.
Size adjustment and converters
Do you want to make the piece larger or smaller than the pattern? The app adjusts the pattern to the chosen size. It also includes a gauge adapter, a unit converter, and a yarn converter, useful when the pattern was written in another country and uses different measurements or needle sizes than ours.
Importing external standards
If you already have patterns in PDF format or saved on a web page—including those from Ravelry, the world's largest library of crochet and knitting patterns—you can import them and use the app's counters and markers on them. This way, projects from any source will have the same tools available.
Points to consider before installing
The 3.7 rating in the store is not accidental, and it's fair to point out what usually bothers users.
The first issue is the language. A large part of the app is automatically translated, and the result in Portuguese is inconsistent—even the description on Google Play has broken sentences. Technical crochet terms appear mixed between Portuguese and English, which requires extra attention from beginners who haven't yet mastered the vocabulary.
The second issue is advertising. The app is supported by ads, and they appear during use—including while working, which is annoying when your hands are full. There are in-app purchases to enhance this experience.
The third issue is the variable quality of the videos: some are well-filmed, while others have poor lighting or bad framing. Nothing that prevents learning, but at certain points it's worthwhile to supplement with a YouTube video.
If these points are important to you, it's also worth checking out... Pocket Crochet, which has a different approach: it doesn't teach, but it organizes projects very well and doesn't display advertisements.
What you need to get started
No app can replace the material. For the first samples, the minimum setup is inexpensive:
- A ball of medium-weight, light-colored yarn. Dark yarn hides the stitches and makes it difficult to see where the needle goes in. Number 6 yarn or regular cotton thread works well.
- A needle compatible with the thread. The yarn size is printed on the yarn label. To start, needles between 3 mm and 5 mm are the most comfortable.
- Scissors and tapestry needle to finish off the ends at the end of the piece.
- Point markers — or, as a makeshift solution, paper clips and pieces of string of a different color.
A phone stand also helps a lot: keeping the device upright, at eye level, avoids interrupting your work with every instruction.
A roadmap for the first few weeks
An order that works well for those who have never held a needle:
- Starting node and current. Make a long chain, unravel it, and reassemble it until all the links are the same length. This is the most important and most ignored exercise.
- Single crochet stitch in straight rows. Draw a square that is ten by ten points. If it turns out to be trapezoidal, you are either losing or gaining points on the edges—redo it counting.
- High point. Same exercise, different point. Compare the height and texture.
- Working in a circle. Magic ring or closed chain, and increases. It's the basis of all amigurumi.
- First small project. A coaster, a flower, or a keychain. Small items are quickly used up and keep you motivated.
Twenty minutes a day yields more than three hours on the weekend. Crocheting is a motor skill: frequent repetition consolidates it better.
Is it possible to make money with crochet?
Many people sell crocheted items, and that's a fact. But it's worth being honest about the process: crocheting is manual and slow work. A small amigurumi can take several hours, and the price needs to cover materials, time, and finishing. Those who manage to turn this into income usually take months to master the technique, find a niche, and build a clientele.
In other words, no app will make you a salesperson in a week. What it does—and does well—is shorten the initial learning curve. The rest is practice.
Conclusion
Crochet Genius is a good entry point for those who want to learn crochet on their cell phone: it has free patterns, stitch videos, a voice counter, and size adjustment tools. In return, you have to deal with ads and a Portuguese translation that leaves something to be desired — which explains the average rating in the store.
Install it, make your first chains, and see if the shape suits you. If it does, the next step is to choose a small project and finish it to the end: the first completed piece is what usually transforms curiosity into a hobby.
