As a new knit or crochet designer, the creative journey ahead of you is both exciting and complex. With so many hats to wear, from photographer to pattern writer and market researcher, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. By creating a process and checklist of action steps you can start to look at each manageable piece of the puzzle that’s ahead of you one by one.
The key to success lies in establishing a well-defined daily process that helps prevent you from feeling overwhelmed and keeps you on track while allowing your creativity to flourish.
1. start with a clear plan:
It’s always best to start at the beginning. Take a moment to outline your goals and tasks for the project and what you need in order to achieve the final goal. Clearly list out what patterns you are working on, get an overview of where each pattern is in your process and any actions that you need to take to move those patterns to the next step.
Then take those steps and break them down into a daily task list for your week. A to-do list for your patterns – but bite sized.
Having a clear roadmap of the next steps sets the tone for the project ahead.
2. master market research:
Staying ahead of trends is crucial and checking in with your audience is an important step to making sure that you’re creating patterns that will sell. Spend time researching the knit and crochet market.
Ask yourself the following questions…what are customers looking for? What colors and styles are in demand? Understanding what’s currently on the market helps you tailor your designs to meet your customer preferences.
Adapting to Changing Trends: Staying Relevant as a Knit or Crochet Designer
3. dedicate time to pattern writing:
We know this sounds like an obvious one but that’s why it needs to be said! Don’t rush the writing. Writing clear, concise, and engaging patterns is an art in and of itself. And art takes time!
Make sure that you’re describing your creations step by step, providing valuable insights and tips. This part of the process can sometimes get overlooked by the more creative minds. You can have the best ideas in the world but if they don’t translate to paper then no one can make them come to life.
Allow yourself time to gather your thoughts. Edit the language to convey the details of your design and create clear concise instructions for making it.
Well-written patterns not only delight customers but also build your reputation.
4. prioritize tech editing:
Tech editing is an essential step in pattern writing. As you lay out your steps, roadmap, and task list, make sure to include time to work with your tech editor and review any flags that may come up.
You will want to budget in time to not only send the pattern off for edit with clear notes, but also allot time for review of feedback and changes and a possible second round of edit. Blocking off time in your day to focus on this step will make all the difference and lead to a quality pattern for your customers.
5. put pattern testing first:
Pattern testing is the secret sauce to creating quality designs. It’s important to allow time in your pattern routine for testing. Make it a part of your process to review and refine your pattern testing feedback. Remember, Pattern testing is NOT marketing. It is a chance to get quality feedback from your target market of makers. Budget time to review the feedback and incorporate what works for your design.
If you are in the midst of your testing process then you want to allot time in your day or week to engage with your community of testers to ensure your designs are error-free and user-friendly. See how they are doing and check in for questions. Scheduling this in your process means you won’t have to worry about trying to remember later.
6. a picture is worth a 1000 words…and stitches:
Take time to plan out the overall look of your pattern in photos. Take the time to conceptualize how you want the shoot to look. Make sure you allow yourself time for any necessary step-outs. Leave time for reviewing photos and any editing you may need. Schedule time to curate posts and create content with your images.
Photography is a process in and of itself and scheduling it out into small steps will help it become part of your overall process.
7. create a process for pattern releases and updates
Create a single checklist for your pattern release steps. Does it go on all of your social accounts? Which Selling Channels do you want to publish it on? How are you planning to promote it?
All the details and steps in pattern release should be laid out and broken down into a task list.
Download our pattern checklist HERE!
8. nurture your creativity:
Don’t forget to nurture your creativity in the middle of all of this. Set aside time for inspiration, exploration, and experimenting with new techniques. Creativity thrives when given room to breathe. Designing should be FUN!
As a knit or crochet designer, wearing multiple hats is part of the job. But remember that this is not a one-size-fits-all all list. It’s important to allow yourself time to find a process that works for you.
The goal of a process is to keep you productive AND inspired. But know that mistakes will happen along the way. You will learn from each pattern release that you put out. Let those lessons inform the next one.
Creating a process that encompasses everything you need to check off of your list in manageable steps can help you find balance and success as a designer.
