Growing Your Craft Etsy SEO Guides

Best Keywords & Tags for crochet patterns

Getting found on Etsy can feel like a challenge, but mastering Etsy Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) is your best chance of getting traffic on Etsy. SEO is about using the right keywords to tell Etsy (and your target customers) exactly what you sell so you appear in the right Etsy search results.

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Let me walk you through everything you need to know in this SEO guide, including:

Understand your ideal target customer
Discover high-impact broad and long-tail keywords for your listings
Analyse what successful crochet patterns sellers are doing right
Learn how to use keywords to optimise your titles, tags, and description
6 ways to find more keywords for your listings

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How to Optimise Listings

Ways to Find Keywords

Understanding Your Ideal Target Customer

Before you dive into keywords, you need to understand who your target customer, including their needs, desires, and the language they use. Because when you know what they are looking for, you can target them with the same keywords that they would use in Etsy search. Here’s a closer look at your typical customer in the crochet patterns niche:

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The typical customer for Crochet Patterns is a DIY enthusiast or hobbyist crafter, ranging from beginners to advanced stitchers, who is looking for clear instructions to create handmade items for themselves, for sale at markets, or as sentimental gifts.

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What problems are they trying to solve or desires are they trying to fulfill when searching for crochet patterns?

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They are looking for a creative outlet and a relaxing activity, often seeking a project that matches their skill level and yields a gratifying, tangible result without the frustration of confusing instructions.

This can lead them to search for terms like: easy beginner amigurumi tutorial

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They need to create a specific, heartfelt, and cost-effective gift for a special occasion, such as a baby shower or holiday, and want a pattern that ensures the final product looks professional.

This can lead them to search for terms like: gender neutral baby blanket pattern c2c

crochet patterns is a pretty competitive niche with high demand and high competition, so it's important to use long-tail keywords to niche down and have a better chance of ranking on Etsy.

Top 10 Broad Keywords for crochet patterns Sellers

Core keywords (also known as short-tail keywords) are the broad, popular terms that describe your main products. While they often have very high search volume and competition, they are the starting points for you to build your long-tail keywords for the next steps.

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Here are 10 popular broad keywords for the crochet patterns market:

Crochet Patterns

The broadest definition of the niche. This keyword is high-volume but competitive; it usually requires additional modifiers (like what is being made) to convert well.

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Amigurumi

A massive sub-niche referring to the Japanese art of knitting or crocheting small, stuffed yarn creatures. This is a highly searchable term for toy patterns.

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PDF Pattern

This keyword describes the format of the product. Buyers use this to filter out physical finished items, ensuring they find a digital instructional file.

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Baby Crochet Pattern

Baby items are a primary driver in the crochet market. This keyword captures the huge audience looking to make gifts for newborns, baby showers, and toddlers.

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Easy Crochet Pattern

This targets the large demographic of beginners or those wanting a "mindless" relaxing project. It signals that the instructions are accessible and not overly complex.

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Crochet Hat Pattern

One of the most popular wearable projects due to the speed of completion. This is a staple keyword for autumn and winter seasonal searches.

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Instant Download

This term appeals to the "buy now, make now" impulse. It assures the customer they will receive their file immediately upon payment, which is a key selling point.

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Crochet Blanket

Blankets (and afghans) are classic crochet projects. This keyword attracts makers looking for longer-term projects or home decor items.

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Crochet Tutorial

This implies a higher level of guidance than just a "pattern," often suggesting that the listing includes step-by-step photos or video links, which adds value.

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Toy

While broad, within the crochet category, this targets parents and gift-givers. It is often paired with "stuffed animal" or "plush" to describe the final outcome.

Top Long-Tail Keywords for crochet patterns

While core keywords are important, long-tail keywords are how you can really get found on Etsy. These are longer, more specific phrases (usually 2-5 words) that buyers use when they have a clearer idea of what they want or are closer to making a purchase. They often have lower search volume than broad keywords but higher conversion rates because they target a more specific need.

How to Brainstorm Your Long-Tail Keywords

A systematic way to build long-tail keywords is by adding descriptive modifiers to your broad keywords. Here are the modifiers I recommend:

Style/Aesthetic Long-Tail Keywords

modern minimalist crochet decor
vintage style lace doily pattern
cottagecore mushroom bag pattern
boho granny square cardigan
kawaii food amigurumi

Occasion/Use Long-Tail Keywords

quick christmas market filler ideas
handmade baby shower gift set
crochet photography prop for newborn
st patricks day shamrock coaster
wedding ring bearer pillow pattern

Target Customer Long-Tail Keywords

beginner friendly crochet project
pattern for left handed crocheter
size inclusive sweater pattern
crochet gifts for teen girls
stash buster project for yarn hoarders

Materials & Finishes Long-Tail Keywords

File Type/Platform Long-Tail Keywords

printable PDF with video tutorial
US and UK crochet terms included
printer friendly low ink version
mobile friendly digital pattern
step by step photo guide pdf

Technique/Production Method Long-Tail Keywords

no sew amigurumi pattern
corner to corner c2c graphgan
mosaic crochet overlay technique
tapestry crochet tote bag chart
ragdoll style 2d amigurumi

Feature/Benefit Long-Tail Keywords

one skein crochet project
seamless top down sweater pattern
quick 1 hour crochet beanie
scrap yarn project ideas
adjustable size bucket hat

Theme/Subject Matter Long-Tail Keywords

highland cow stuffed animal pattern
sunflower granny square bag
axolotl plushie crochet pattern
dinosaur snuggler lovey
potted plant succulent decor

Size/Shape/Fit Long-Tail Keywords

oversized chunky cardigan pattern
messy bun beanie with hole
preemie to toddler hat sizes
extra large bulky yarn blanket
fitted crop top festival top

Problem Solved Long-Tail Keywords

stress relief fidget toy pattern
easy last minute crochet gift
warm winter scarf for men
yarn eater blanket for scraps
clear instructions for dyslexia

To speed up the process and get even more relevant long-tail keyword ideas, consider using SEO research tools like Alura which you can get a big similar keyword list with information like estimated search volume and demand. Their free plan is pretty generous and you can sign up for free here.

Analysing Best Selling Listing Titles

One of the best ways to improve your Etsy SEO strategy is to see what's working for other successful sellers. By analysing best selling listings, you can gain valuable insights into what effective keywords they use, and how they structure the titles, so that you can apply to your own listings as well.

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Let's look at the listing titles from two crochet patterns bestsellers to see what we can learn from them:

Bestseller Listing Title Analysis 01:

Custom Embroidered Baby Name Sweater: Personalized Knit Crochet Gift, Baby Name Sweater, Knit Sweater,Personalized Gift, Easter sweater by TinyBarns

Although this listing is for a physical finished good rather than a digital pattern, the title SEO strategy is sound and can be adapted. It leads with the most desirable feature ("Custom Embroidered Baby Name") and "stacks" related keywords like "Personalized Gift" and "Easter sweater." For a pattern seller, this demonstrates the power of targeting specific occasions (Easter) and clearly defining the end result (Baby Name Sweater) to capture high-intent traffic.

Bestseller Listing Title Analysis 02

Beaded Fidget Hedgehog Crochet Pattern: Beginner Friendly, No Sew, Sensory Toy Amigurumi (PDF Pattern) by WillowAndWildCA

This title is an excellent example of niche SEO for digital products. It specifically identifies the subject ("Hedgehog") and a functional niche ("Fidget," "Sensory Toy"). It immediately addresses common buyer pain points by adding "Beginner Friendly" and "No Sew" (a highly desired feature in amigurumi). Finally, it clarifies the format ("PDF Pattern") at the end to manage customer expectations and reduce confusion with finished physical items.

Click here to see more Etsy bestseller title inspirations

How to Use Keywords to Optimise Your Etsy Listings

Now that you have a list of descriptive long-tail keywords for your crochet patterns, let's see how we can use them to optimise your Etsy listings.

How to Craft Highly Descriptive, Keyword-Rich Titles

Your listing title can make-or-break your Etsy SEO. Write your long-tail keywords to be highly descriptive. For example, compare these two:

Okay Title: Crochet Cat Pattern

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Better Title: Low Sew Crochet Cat Pattern, Cute Amigurumi Kitten PDF, Beginner Friendly Animal Toy Tutorial, Instant Download

Then put your strongest, most descriptive keyword in the front. Separate each long-tail keyword with symbols like commas or dashes so that the title is easy to read.

Use All 13 Tags with Specific, Long-Tail Keywords

Tags are another important place to tell the Etsy algorithm what your product is about. Use all 13 tags for your listings.

Focus on specific, long-tail keyword phrases
Tags have a 20-character limit
While it's ok for some broad keywords to appear in multiple tags, try to use a wide variety of descriptive terms across your 13 tags

Find Accurate Attributes & Categories

When you list a product on Etsy, you'll select a category and then be prompted to fill out attributes specific to that category (e.g., colour, material, size, occasion). These are just as important for SEO and helping buyers find your items through Etsy's filters.

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Be thorough and fill out as many relevant attributes as possible and be accurate for your product category.

Write Description for Shoppers & Etsy search algorithm

Etsy now uses keywords in your listing description for SEO. What I recommend to Etsy seller is to write compelling short paragraph (1-3 sentences) at the very beginning of your listing description that naturally include 3-5 relavant long-tail keywords for the product. Clearly communicate what the product is, its key features, and the benefits it offers the customer.

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Let's look at some listing description examples for crochet patterns:

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Listing Description Example 01

Create your own adorable companion with this beginner-friendly amigurumi dinosaur pattern. This easy-to-follow PDF guide includes detailed step-by-step photos and clear instructions, making it perfect for those new to crocheting toys. The finished plushie makes a wonderful handmade gift for baby showers, birthdays, or any dino-loving child in your life.

Listing Description Example 02

Wrap yourself in comfort with this modern granny square cardigan pattern, designed for a relaxed, boho-chic fit. This size-inclusive tutorial covers sizes XS to 5XL and features a seamless construction method to minimize weaving in ends. Whether you are using up scrap yarn or choosing a curated palette, this pattern helps you create a stunning, wearable piece of art.

Listing Description Example 03

Add a touch of handmade charm to your home with this textured farmhouse blanket pattern. Written in standard US terms, this relaxing project uses simple stitches to create a sophisticated, cozy throw perfect for beginners. The pattern is easily adjustable, allowing you to create anything from a small baby security blanket to a full-sized king bedspread.

6 Ways to Find More Keywords for crochet patterns

Keyword research is an ongoing process. I recommend these 6 ways to find effective long-tail keywords for your listings:

Etsy Search Bar

Start typing your core keywords into Etsy's search bar and pay close attention to the auto-suggestions that appear (guide here). These are real searches from actual Etsy shoppers.

Competitor Research

Look at the titles of listings that rank on page 1 (especially those with "Bestseller" badges). Don't copy directly, but use their keyword choices as inspiration for terms you might have missed.

Your Own Shop Stats

Your shop stats show you the exact search terms shoppers used to find your listings. Pay special attention to those that you are not directly targeting, and consider targeting them in listing titles.

Alura

One of my favourite Etsy keyword research tools. Alura speeds up the process of giving you a list of related popular keywords, and analyse which ones are the best for you.

eRank

Another popular tool among Etsy sellers, eRank offers robust keyword tools, trend analysis, grading your current listings, and checking keyword strength.

Everbee

Another great keyword research tool. I especially love Everbee's Chrome extension that shows you the estimated search volume directly on Etsy.

Your crochet patterns Etsy SEO Checklist

Phew, that's a lot of information. Let's do a little recap:

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Understand My Customer: Do I understand my target customer and their primary search motivations?
Core Keyword Research: Have I identified the top core keywords for the crochet patterns niche?
Long-Tail Keywords: Have I brainstormed a diverse list of long-tail keywords using various modifiers?
Ongoing Etsy SEO: Am I using at least 2-3 methods (from Section 7) to regularly find new keyword opportunities for crochet patterns?
Optimised Titles: Are my listing titles highly descriptive, front-loaded with strong keywords?
Maximised Tags: Am I using all 13 tags with specific, long-tail phrases?
Compelling Descriptions: Does the opening paragraph of my listing descriptions naturally include 3-5 important keywords and clearly state benefits/features?
Analyse & Improve: Am I reviewing my Etsy stats and competitor listings in the crochet patterns niche regularly to improve my SEO strategy?

Get More Etsy SEO Resources Here:

GYC Etsy SEO Checklist

A handy checklist for you to print out and make progress.

GYC Etsy SEO Guide

Our free SEO guide walking through everything you need to know.

Full Etsy SEO Course

A step-by-step comprehensive course in GYC Etsy Academy 2.0

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Growing Your Craft is supported by Etsy sellers. When you purchase/subscribe through affiliate links in this guide, I'll earn some coffee money at no extra cost to you. Blog illustrations by Freepik Stories.