How I Write Crochet Patterns

 I'm working on a new crochet pattern right now, and it's really striking me that I have a very specific (read: obsessive compulsive) method for pattern writing. It's always amazing to me the way the mind works in regards to creative projects, so I thought other people might find the inside of my brain interesting. So I'm going to share!

I learned how to draft sewing patterns once, and the process was mind boggling. Perhaps because I am more used to working directly into a 3D form, as opposed to working first on a flat form (the paper) for sewing patterns making. Or perhaps it was just because I have been working with crochet patterns longer than with sewing pattern. Whatever the reason, I am much more comfortable designing my own crochet projects.

It has gotten to the point, in fact, that I can't handle reading other people's patterns. I love designing patterns so much, that even when I'm using someone else's pattern, I'm writing my own notes and alterations. It's a problem. I can't help it.

If you are a designer and have your own process, I'd love to hear about it. Like I said, I am very intrigued by the creative process, ya know? So, without further ado, here's how I hammer out my crochet patterns:

Step 1: Inspiration & Sketching

Pretty much just like the title says: I get inspired and do some sketches. I plan out how the item will

be constructed, right down to the location of the starting round for each component. I will sometime do an image search to find real-life references for costumes, shapes, and anatomy. This usually takes about 20 minutes, but I've spent as long as 7 hours on this step.

Step 2: Making the First Version

This is by far the most time consuming step. I cannot write down part of a pattern without actually stitching it out as I write. I know there are some people out there who can actually draft a pattern without actually crocheting as they go. I enjoy crocheting it as I write. It gives me a chance to experience what the readers of my pattern will experience, and a chance to see if any section is ridiculous or annoying or hard.

As I am crocheting, I make charts for each part of the project: head, legs, body etc. Each chart has three columns in this order: Round or Row Number (rnd), Number of Stitches (sts), and Notes. The notes section is where I jot a short hand version of the stitch sequence for that round. As you can see in the picture below, it usually looks something like, * inc, sc 4 *. That little blurb translates as, *inc, sc in next 4 sts* around. Handy, huh?

Though I write down each row as I am crocheting it, there is still a bit of going back and revising. In fact, in this last pattern, I got entirely done with the head and neck (making them one continuous piece by some tricky shaping methods) and decided it was not at all the look I wanted. I ripped back ten or fifteen rounds and started again from about the eight round of the head. I crossed that omitted section out lightly so I could still read it if I wanted to. That's the nice thing about writing as you go, you can always know exactly the patterning you tried last time but disliked. It's fun to see the pattern evolve on paper!!

Step 3: Cleaning Up & Typing

This is the step I am currently at with my newest pattern. I finish off the project, assemble it, and take some nice pictures of it. I edit the pictures and prep a word document for the pattern. I have a template saved that I use as the bare bones for all my patterns, but I need to go in and add specific material lists, stitch glossaries, and "about this pattern" sections for each new pattern I write. Once all that is done, I set to work translating my chicken scratch on paper into lovely typed words.

  Step 4: Read Through & PDF

After the pattern is typed, I do a read through. I go line by line to make absolutely sure everything adds up, is spelled right, and makes sense. Then I save the .doc as a .pdf and get ready to put it up on Etsy.

Step 5: Testing

I will admit, I do not always send my patterns away for testing. If it's a small plush or something simple, I just upload the edited PDF and call it a day. So far, nobody has contacted me about one of my untested patterns containing an error, so that's a good sign. If the project is very intricate or gi-huge-ic, I send it off for testing. I use two testers, and give them a few weeks. Once I've heard back from them and made and changes, it's off to Etsy the pattern goes!!

 So, there you have it. My writing and editing process for crochet patterns. What's your pattern-writing style? Are you able to write it all up first and THEN crochet it to test it? I'd love to hear your process.

Happy Tuesday!!   

5th Annual Knitting and Crochet Blog Week

 

I just heard about this exciting crafty blogging event, thanks to Cyprienne over at Big Knitting Trouble, and I cannot wait to participate!! Maybe I'm a bit behind the times, as this is the Fifth Annual Knitting and Crochet Blog Week, but better late than never, eh?

For those of you who have not heard of this spiffy event (don't worry, you are in good company; like I said, I only JUST found out about this deal) it's pretty nifty. There is a topic to write about for each of the seven days during this week (May 12-May 18). There are also special tags to use for each day to make your post pop up amid Google searches for the event. Knitting and Crochet Blog Week is all about meeting other crafty bloggers, as well as being involved in a community-wide event.

It's going to be a fun, new, interesting way to blog for a week, all while celebrating what makes fiber bloggers special. The topics are creative and enticing. I seriously can't WAIT to get writing, or to see how other people interpret the writing prompts. I'm a big fan of writing exercises, and this is exactly the sort of brain-juicing, bloggy, creative thang I can't wait to sink my teeth into.

SUPER EXCITED.

It's like creative writing class. But for bloggers. Bloggers who crochet and knit and junk. So glad I found this before it started!! Wanna join in? It's pretty much a free for all. You can read more info on Eskimimimakes's blog. She's the genius behind this fun!!

Super Stash

I've been doing a bit of yarn sorting lately. Kind of like a Spring Cleaning for crafty people, but more like an excuse to pile all my yarn on the table and gaze at it lovingly.

Despite what you may assume from the pictures, my stash is a lot smaller than I thought it was. I got rid of a lot of stuff before we moved, so I'm really just down to the "good stuff." The wools. The pretties. There's not too much junk acrylic to be seen.

It's kind of a thrill to have all my yarn out in the open. I feel like I should just start at one end of the table and knit/crochet my way to the other end. Like a glorious fiber buffet.

In my sorting, I even updated my Ravelry Stash for super easy viewing. It makes planning projects a breeze, since I get almost all my patterns from Ravelry anyways. All my info is right there! Weight, yardage, dyelot...all ready to be paired up with patterns, hooks, and needles and whisked off into Projectland.

How do you tame your stash?

Crochet Scrap Blanket: Fourteen Years in the Making

My grandmothers both impressed upon me a desire to save any useful thing. As a result, I've been saving my scraps of yarn since I was eight years old. I wound them into a big ball with plans that when, someday far off in the future, I was pregnant, I would make a scrappy rainbow blanket.

Many people have seen my ridiculously huge yarn ball and have heard my plans for it. At long last, the day has come. I'm expecting my first child and that means it's time to work on a huge blanket made of little pieces of past projects.

It's a bit emotional for me, and no, that's not just the pregnancy hormones talking. I've been saving this yarn since two years after I learned to crochet. That's essentially my whole crocheting life wrapped up on this ball. It's just kind of supernatural to think "Wow, I planned this project when I was a little kid...and now I'm doing it because I'm going to have a kid." All the years of wondering who I will marry, what my life will be like, and how it will really feel to know that I am going to soon be a mother, and now it's happening. To say that all this is "exciting" is a bit of an understatement.

Before adding all my scraps I had on hand

 I had a pretty substantial ball before I added all the other scraps I had on hand, so you can imagine that I was excited to see how beastly the ball would become when I finished adding all the yarn. It weighed in at about six pounds!! The pictures do not do it justice. This thing is massive.

After adding all the scraps I had around

I had decided on what type of blanket to make long ago: a ripple afghan. Every winter, my Grandma who taught me to crochet makes a "mountain" blanket. Of course, since this whole project is all about the past and the future being meshed together, I needed to do a similar blanket.

However, I did change a few things. She always crochets hers in single crochet. SINGLE CROCHET. I tell you, she is a mad woman. I went with double crochet for mine because not only will it go a bit faster, I decided that if I don't finish it before the weather gets warm, it will be a more bearable blanket to work on in the summer.

Humble beginnings

So, before we moved down here, I started on the blanket. I kind of got a little obsessed with working on it. I mean, come on. I've been waiting 14 years to make this! And each scrap of yarn is a memory of a project. It's such fun seeing the colors work with each other in such unexpected ways. I could not have asked for a better outcome so far!

Here you are seeing pictures from what the blanket looked like about a month ago. It's grown a bit since then. Heh. In fact (to my horror) I ran out of yarn. I guess I've been spoiled by knitting and forgot how much yarn is required for double crochet. Oops. But, never fear. This blanket will go on. I have been hounding scraps from my mom, sister, aunt, and close friends. I will have plenty of yarn to finish this beast up. Plus, it kind of gives the project even more sappy sentimental value: just like me, it is made up of pieces from the people who love me. Awwwwwwww.

Come on, you know you like the sap.

Currently, the Scrapghan is about 6 feet wide and 4 feet long. This monster is going to be the ultimate cuddle blanket, I swear. I am already picturing blanket forts made of it. It will be glorious.

-Swoon- Family, history, scraps, and memories all in one project? I don't know if I'll be able to top this one for "amount of feels in a craft project".

Have you ever made a scrap blanket? How did it go? (Crochet, knit, quilted or whatever it is you do.)
Linkin' up at these fine sites!