In this blog post, we'll explore the importance of in-depth swatching by breaking down its many practical advantages and illustrating how it can help you refine your design skills, one stitch at a time. In doing so, you'll overcome design challenges, gain confidence, and develop a better relationship with your creative vision.
Read MoreHave you ever had a sweater that you loved, but after many years of wear, it finally fell apart? Or did the dreaded moths get to it whilst you were storing it? Whatever the reason, if there's an old sweater out there that you're mourning, don't despair! In this blog post, I will share my top tips for recreating an old sweater you love.
Read MoreWhen you’re just starting out as a knitting pattern designer, stitch dictionaries can be pricey, especially if you want a selection. That’s why I recommend using free, online stitch dictionaries. Here are some of my go-to's…
Read MoreTop-down construction is an essential skill all sweater designers should have. It’s also a bit polarising in the knitting pattern design world. Some people love it, and some absolutely hate it! But whichever camp you fall into, including top-down sweaters in your pattern offerings is a sensible choice. If you are reluctant to learn sweater construction from the top down, it’s actually holding you back as a knitting pattern designer.
Read MoreThere are lots of reasons why knitters struggle with following through on releasing their first knitting pattern, including confusion, frustration, lack of time or accountability. In this blog post, I will share the tips I’ve used to overcome those hurdles and get my knitting pattern designs out there so that you can do that too!
Read MoreTen years ago, I had the pleasure of studying Knitwear Design at university. Whilst the course primarily focused on commercial knitwear design for the fashion industry, there are several things I learned that have impacted who I am as a knitting pattern designer today and in this blog post, I am sharing those lessons with you.
Read MoreThe early stages of designing a knitting pattern can be so much fun, but once you’ve got that design idea visualised, how do you find the perfect yarn to use? In this blog post, I’m going to tell you why your yarn choice matters, what makes a good yarn choice and some factors to consider when choosing a yarn for your knitting pattern designs.
Read MoreThere’s something about designing sweaters that puts the fear in every new knitting pattern designer. So many calculations! So much grading! Am I even ready for this?! It’s understandable that you feel nervous about tackling a sweater design! But that doesn’t necessarily mean that you’re not ready yet. In this blog post, I’m going to share three indicators that suggest you are ready to design your first sweater pattern.
Read MoreThe knitting pattern design process is a long one. It can span several months, so no wonder it feels intimidating! How do you figure out what your next step is? In this blog post, I will show you exactly how I structure my knitting pattern design process, so that you can use it as a template for your own. After this, I guarantee that your next knitting pattern design project is going to feel like a breeze!
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