Welcome to Whymsi Row ☾ ⋆*･ﾟ:⋆*･ﾟ
Whymsi Row, purveyor of fantastical costumery, crochet & millinery, can be found nestled in the foothills of the Peak District in Northern England.
Amidst rocky crags and forests of sweet chestnut and sycamore, I look to both the natural world outside my window and the worlds of words in my bookcases to weave together magical visions, which I present to you here.
Here on Whymsi Row, I believe life is short, so let's make believe. I am here for the dreamers, the readers, the cosplayers, the explorers and the adventurers. For everyone who never stopped playing dress up. Whether you are a woodland fae idling under a mushroom's canopy, or a fearless dragon rider soaring through the valley, or a vexatious witch alighting on a gothic castle's balcony- I got you!
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My name is Row (yes, really!) and I am a PhD drop-out turned full-time writer, climber and crochet pattern designer. I grew up reading every book I came across and trying every craft I could get my grubby little mitts on, but I found crochet later on.
I love crochet because of the endless possibilities it presents. Take a varied medium like fibre, add to it the single point of contact that is your hook, and you can quite literally construct anything you can imagine... with enough frogging and swearing, of course!
In my crochet imaginings, I focus on using our most beloved fibre medium to design structural, quirky oddities which capture the imagination and transgress the boundaries of time and tradition. I hope you enjoy transgressing them with me.
"The world of reality has its limits; the world of imagination is boundless."
Jean-Jacques Rousseau
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Please Read my FAQ below if you have any questions, then don't hesitate to get in touch!
Digital Downloads
• All crochet patterns are immediately downloadable as PDFs.
• You will receive an automatic email from Etsy's system (to the email address used at the time of checkout) with links to download your PDF pattern.
• You can also always simply log in to Etsy again with the email address, username or Apple ID used to make the purchase, go to 'Purchases and reviews' in the drop down menu under the Account icon (top right of your screen on a PC), and you can download it directly from there.
• Please note that you cannot download digital files from Etsy's mobile app- it simply does not have the capacity for this. You can access Etsy from your phone or tablet's web browser app, or you must use a PC.
Shipping
• All RTS physical item orders are dispatched within 1-7 business days.
• Always shipped with tracking & expedited services.
• International shipping to some countries is available for most items, but this is country and item dependent. (I ship from the UK.)
• Securely wrapped. All recyclable packaging excl. any bubble wrap. (Please recycle!)
Customs
• I only welcome serious inquiries into custom crochet commissions which resemble my evident style and abilities.
• To express interest, please read the relevant section of the FAQ on my website and use the contact form on that same site.
Contact
• If you have purchased from me here on Etsy (or plan to), please message me here on Etsy.
• Please do not use Instagram for pattern help, time-sensitive questions or serious inquiries.
Pattern FAQ:
What experience level are your patterns for?
• Most of my patterns are written with the intermediate crocheter in mind. However, some are suitable for confident advanced beginners- please pay attention to the recommended skill level each pattern is advertised for and read the listing descriptions in full.
• I believe that an adventurous beginner who likes a creative challenge would fair quite well with many of my intermediate patterns, too, though this is up to your personal discretion as the buyer- you know yourself best!
• Please Note: All of my intermediate pattern listings clearly state that you will need to know basic crochet stitches and concepts such as inc/dec, using magic rings, reading a chart/diagram using a key and working from your own measurements.
• If you prefer more repetitive/meditative patterns, some of mine may not be for you. But if you like to construct, experiment and conjure up magic with yarn- I got you! Check out my advanced beginner patterns for more simple projects.
• I encourage you to always play at crochet, challenge yourself and try those aspirational projects- you can always come back to them in a month or ten as you grow as a crafter!
• But, ultimately, only you know your own capabilities and what you are looking for in your crochet time.
Why do some of your patterns use charts/diagrams?
• Sometimes crochet involves switching back and forth between 1-3 stitches so frequently or irregularly that to write it out in the usual fashion of a pattern would look like an absolute headache waiting to be read!
• In these cases, pattern writers use charts or diagrams (decoded by a key) to clearly visually depict what would otherwise end up being pages upon pages of text which the reader would struggle to keep track of their place amidst!
Why no gauge?
• Most of my patterns do not come with a gauge. (However, my near beginner patterns do!)
• When I design patterns, I do everything to make them work without a gauge because gauge is a bit of an absurd concept to me. I know this is a little sacrilegious in the crochet world, so let me explain:
• One person’s own gauge varies day-to-day or even hour-to-hour depending on their mood, energy levels, etc.
• Between two people a dozen factors can affect ability to meet gauge. Some of these factors include ability to access similar materials (budget, geographic location), skill level and sensory needs (fibre preferences).
• In the interest of keeping my patterns as accessible to and accommodating of everyone’s needs and as applicable to sustainable ventures as possible, forgoing gauge is an easy choice, even if it gives me an additional creative challenge.
• Additionally, going gauge-less gives more freedom to my crafters to use the fibres they love and scrap- bust when possible, which is priceless ♥
Why made-to-measure?
• Because I usually design gauge-less, I instead make my patterns work to be as unique as you.
• Working in as many M2M components into my wearables as possible is the easiest way make them truly inclusive.
• I generally try to focus on designs which work on all body shapes & sizes, no matter how much they are sized down or up, anyway. But if I ever think a design may not work so well at much smaller or bigger sizes, I will always be honest about that up front before purchase.
Do you give specific yarn brand/colour requirements in your patterns?
• Yes, when there is a yarn which I think was intrinsic to the look of the finished sample I made. (For example, the yarn I use to make my ‘bark’ items.)
• No. Sometimes I refer to ‘scrap yarns/amounts’ (<5g). I want to encourage people to use whatever they have in that colour/weight in the interest of sustainability.
• No. Sometimes I give required meterage/weights and suggested yarns, but encourage crafters to get creative in their colour choices!
• No. As often as possible, I focus on the amount of yarn and the advised weight/meterage needed only. I try to get my crafters to focus on the qualities of the yarn they need to use (Stiff? Soft? Fibre content?) rather than specific brand & colourway.
• This is all about accessibility. My crafters come from all over the world. What is easily available to me in the UK is not readily available to everyone. What my budget accommodates may not suit theirs.
