Cookie Policy

This Cookie Policy explains what cookies are, how The Crafty Wren uses them, and what choices you have when you browse our collection of crochet patterns, amigurumi guides, and stitch tutorials. We know most of you are here for the free patterns, not the fine print, so we have tried to keep this as clear and short as possible while still covering everything properly. For more on how we handle your personal data generally, please see our Privacy Policy.

What Exactly Are Cookies?

Cookies are small text files that a website stores on your computer, phone, or tablet when you visit. They help the site remember information about your visit, like your preferred language, whether you have seen a pop-up before, or which pages you looked at. Cookies cannot see your files, install anything on your device, or infect you with a virus — they are simply little notes the browser keeps so a site can work more smoothly the next time you stop by.

On a site like ours, where readers often bookmark a stitch tutorial, come back weeks later to finish a blanket pattern, or hop between the Amigurumi and Beginner's Corner sections, cookies play a fairly practical role in keeping the experience consistent.

Types of Cookies We Use

Not all cookies serve the same purpose. Here is a breakdown of the categories you may encounter while browsing The Crafty Wren.

Essential Cookies

These are strictly necessary for the site to function. They allow basic things like page navigation, secure areas of the site, and remembering your cookie consent choices. Without these, the site simply would not work properly, so they cannot be switched off through our own settings.

Preference Cookies

These remember choices you have made, such as display settings or previously visited categories, so that returning to browse crochet techniques or seasonal patterns feels a bit more tailored to how you like to read.

Analytics Cookies

We use analytics tools to understand how visitors use the site — which patterns are popular, how long people spend reading a tutorial, and where visitors tend to drop off. This data is aggregated and anonymized where possible, and it helps us decide what to write next, whether that is more amigurumi projects or additional beginner guides.

Marketing and Affiliate Cookies

Some pages on The Crafty Wren contain links to yarn, hooks, or other supplies sold through affiliate programs. These links may set cookies that track whether a purchase was made after clicking through from our site, which can earn us a small commission at no extra cost to you. You can read more about how this works in our Affiliate Disclaimer and our general Disclosure page. We also work with brands occasionally, and details on those relationships are outlined on our Collaboration page.

Third-Party Cookies

Some cookies on our site are not set by us directly but by third-party services we use, such as analytics providers, embedded video players, social sharing buttons, or affiliate networks. These third parties may collect information about your browsing activity across different websites, not just ours. We do not control these cookies directly, and we encourage you to check the respective privacy policies of those services if you want full details on how they use your data.

If you arrive at our site via a saved Pin or shared image, note that Pinterest and similar platforms may also set their own cookies independent of us; this is covered briefly in our Pinterest Disclaimer.

Consent and Your Choices

When you first visit The Crafty Wren, you should see a cookie notice giving you the option to accept or adjust which non-essential cookies are used. By continuing to browse after that notice, or by adjusting your preferences and confirming them, you are giving consent for the cookie categories you have allowed. You are always free to change your mind later by clearing your cookies or adjusting your browser settings, as described below.

How to Manage or Disable Cookies

Every modern browser lets you view, delete, and block cookies. While steps vary slightly by browser and device, you can generally find these controls under Settings, then Privacy or Security. From there you can usually:

• See which cookies are currently stored and delete some or all of them
• Block cookies from specific sites or from all sites by default
• Set your browser to ask permission before accepting a new cookie
• Browse in a private or incognito window that does not save cookies after you close it

Keep in mind that blocking all cookies, including essential ones, may affect how parts of the site function — for example, saved preferences may not persist between visits. Disabling analytics or marketing cookies, on the other hand, will not affect your ability to read patterns or download tutorials; it simply limits the data collected about your visit.

How Long Cookies Last

Some cookies are session-based and disappear once you close your browser. Others are persistent and remain on your device for a set period — anywhere from a few days to a couple of years — until they expire or you delete them manually. Third-party cookies follow the retention rules of whichever service placed them, which is outside our direct control.

Changes to This Policy

We may update this Cookie Policy occasionally to reflect changes in the tools we use or in relevant regulations. Any updates will be posted on this page, and the date of the most recent revision will be noted where applicable. We encourage you to check back periodically, particularly if you have concerns about how your data is handled. This policy works alongside our other site policies, including our Terms of Use and Disclaimer, so it is worth reviewing those too if you want the full picture.

Questions About This Policy

If anything here is unclear, or if you would like more information about how cookies are used on The Crafty Wren, feel free to reach out through our Contact page or email us directly at [email protected]. You can also learn more about who we are and how we run this site on our About Us page.