Designing your own knit and crochet patterns is a fun way to express creativity through unique original objects. The idea of being a designer can seem daunting, but anyone with a basic grasp of the craft can do it.
Where to Start
Before a knitter or crocheter can design their own patterns, they need to have a basic knowledge of the craft and how to follow a pattern. This does not mean they need to know every stitch pattern available. However, they do need to know the basic stitches (knit and purl, single and double crochet, etc.), how to increase and decrease, and craft-specific abbreviations for patterns.
To get some designing practice, beginner knit and crochet designers can do one of two things. They can use a project "recipe," which gives multiple ways to make each piece of an object (for example, toes, gussets, heels, and cuffs for a sock). They can choose which method to use for each piece.
The other way to practice designing is to take a pattern and modify it by adding stitches or rows to make it bigger, adding seed stitch stripes to a stockinette bag, and so on. Just keep in mind that if you base something on an existing recipe or pattern, you cannot sell it as your own.
Creating The Design
The first step to creating an original design is to think about what to make in general. Anything can be used for inspiration, like a flower or a yarn in a knitter or crocheter's stash.
Once the basic idea is in place, an online search should be performed to make sure no one else has already designed the same thing. This protects the designer from being accused of copying.
Once the idea is determined to be unique, the designing can start. It may be helpful, particularly for a designer's first few designs, to write out notes and make a few sketches to cement the idea.
After the rough design is made, the physical object can be created. It is a good idea to use plenty of stitch markers and lifelines, because chances are that something may change, or an element may not work and may have to be ripped out.
Notes for every row are very important. Something that seems obvious and easy to remember now may be forgotten later. Everything should be written down, because a designer can always choose not to use a note in the pattern, but something that is forgotten and not written may become a key factor.
Writing The Pattern
Once the object is done, the notes can be used to write out the pattern. At this stage, the designer should recreate the object directly from the pattern, or ask someone else to make it from the pattern. This makes sure the pattern makes sense and is easy to follow. Once this is done, the designer can start thinking about publication, and possibly sales.
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