How to use the Advanced Search Feature on Ravelry

My friend Karen has a really stellar collection of tutorial videos on how to use Ravelry, so if you're new to the site or if you'd simply like to learn how to use it more efficiently, I highly recommend checking out the entire playlist.

Today, though, I want to focus on the feature that I use the most: the Advanced Search option.

It's at the very top of the page in the navigation bar on the left side. When you click on it (the little magnifying glass) it's going to take you to a massive results page that shows you the literally over one million designs you can choose from.

On the left side, though, you're going to find filter options. LOTS of them.

You can filter by craft: crochet. Down to 462k

You can filter by whether or not it has a photo: yes (why are there even patterns with NO photos??) 433k

You can filter by category: accessory and then neck/torso and then cowl. 12k

You can filter by yarn weight: worsted. 2k

You can filter by yardage: 450-600 yds. 277 results

You can filter by (the number of) colors used: 2 colors. 13 results.

Isn't that amazing!? Apparently I need to design some 2 color cowls in worsted weight yarn...

Here's the video tutorial from Karen to walk you through the steps:

Ravelry has had an update or two since she filmed this so it looks a little different, but you should be able to get the idea.

Another great way to use the advanced search feature is to find project ideas for a specific yarn that you have in your stash.

You can get really specific and look for project ideas based on the specific yarn you have, or you can begin with the yarn weight and yardage and then narrow down by category.

So, for example, I have two skeins of sock yarn from Hedgehog Fibres that I've been hoarding for a couple years now. They're two different colors so, again, I'm going to look for something that uses two colors.

Back to the search page (just click the magnifying glass up top again) and we begin with crochet and photo, of course. 433k again.

Now we'll filter by yarn weight: finger