Writing my first pattern
I am getting ready to begin the process of writing out my first crochet pattern. I’m going to figure this out from scratch. Come along with me. Let’s figure this out together!
As I was creating the Babylon Blanket, I wrote out every step in my notebook. Now I am ready to proofread my pattern and type it out. The blanket was initially made in a mango color and now I will redo it in a bone color. While I type this up, I am going to be taking pictures and video of the step by step process to include in the pattern. I haven’t made my mind up yet on how to include tutorial videos, but I figure I’ll see how it starts to make sense as I put this all together.
I decided to use Power Point to write out the Babylon Blanket pattern. Well, actually I’ll be using Keynote, the Apple equivalent to Power Point. I also am going to use Canva for some graphics I want to insert along the way.
Confession time.
I did not write this blog post at the same time while trying to proofread and type out the pattern. I am writing this a 4 months after I started this blog post with so many good intentions. While I may not have done the step by step process I intended to, I still think I can share some of the tips and tricks I learned along the way.
It is okay to step back from your project for a day, week, or even a month if you need to. I found myself many evenings just not feeling it and pushing through it until I finally reminded myself that I wanted to create from a place of passion, not a place of obligation. No one wants to feel like they are just pushing through the things that are supposed to bring them the most joy. Right?
Whatever you do, do not quit. Take your breaks, but do not quit. If you have your mind set on finishing your design, do it. There’s nothing more fulfilling than pressing the save button for the last time knowing you did it!
Pivot if you have to and be ok with that. I had some thoughts and ideas that I wound up not being able to pull off so I made some changes and am honestly so happy with how things turned out that I don’t regret not being able to make those ideas happen.
Do not forget to have someone review your work, but don’t just pick anyone. Pick someone who can give you good and honest feedback and not just the good kind. Pick someone who understands what you’re doing. The people you select to proofread or test your patterns have a fresh set of eyes that will allow them to see your work in a way you will not be able to no matter how many times you read over it.
Be open to any and all feedback. Feedback is soooooo good! If someone is telling you your work is flawless, I would find someone else’s opinion too. While your work might be grammatically correct and have all the technical terms written perfectly, there should always be a person with a different perspective than yours reviewing your work. They will represent your audience who is not you. Let them show you all the ways that your work is seen by others. Let them show you the perspectives you are not able to see on your own.
Be ok with things not being perfect. I promise you that at this point I have read over my pattern at least a gagillion times. Yep. Gagillion. Each time I find another period missing or comma out of place or extra space where none was needed. It’s so annoying, but I really had to tell myself that at this point, I have done the best I can and I need to let go of the pattern so others can enjoy it. Besides, there’s nothing that says you can’t re-release your pattern later with corrections or update them on your posts.
So although I did not take you through a real time pattern writing adventure, I hope my take aways help you not just in pattern writing, but in all the things you choose to create!
xo,
B.