WIP Wednesday – Patterns galore
This week, I took two big steps in my design career – I started pattern testing and I started my own group on Ravelry. Let me backtrack a bit here first. Since I started formally writing up my designs last year, I’ve had several patterns published in print magazines.
Stocking caps, in Crochet World's December, 2010 issue. Photo (c) House of White Birches
Snowball hat and keyhole scarf set, also in the December, 2010 issue of Crochet World. Photo (c) House of White Birches
The Sunshine blanket and pillow in Issue 20 (August, 2011) of Inside Crochet. Photo (c) Inside Crochet
Today marks the first day that I’ve had a pattern published in an online magazine. I can finally share that my broomstick lace shawl, Quadrilateral, is included in the Fall, 2011 issue of Knitcircus. This is the top secret project I mentioned in these posts (#1, #2, #3) and which I can finally show you.
(c) KnitCircus
(c) KnitCircus
I love the way the outdoor photographs look. The pictures really highlight the beauty of the yarn, Heather by the Schaefer Yarn Company in the Subtly Solid Botanicals Thistle colorway. Working on Quadrilateral was my first opportunity to work with Schaefer Yarn, and I’m so glad Jaala Spiro (the editor of KnitCircus) recommended it! The yarn is so lovely to work with and the colorway really highlights all of my favorite things about purple 
. The issue goes live today and I have the opportunity to give away PDFs of several issues. But more about that later…
So my work in progress for this week is getting some patterns “up to snuff” for self-publication. When you work with a publisher, they hire people to tech edit your designs, photograph your work, and layout the pattern. (Often they also arrange for yarn support and handle the questions that readers have about your pattern, too!) On the other hand, when you self-publish a pattern, you have two options. You can just write up a pattern and publish it without testing, editing, or considering layout, or you can try to replicate all of the functions of the publishing company in addition to your own design work.
I’ve been teaching crochet since 2007, and I decided that I didn’t want to be one of the designers who just presents their work to the public, warts and all. I didn’t want to be one of the designers that have people convinced they don’t know how to read patterns (when actually the pattern is full of errors). So I hired a tech editor and when the patterns were returned to me, I started pattern testing.
I was lucky to find a great group on Ravelry called the Testing Pool. Through this group I have found thirteen very nice crocheters who are each working on one or two of the three patterns I’m testing right now for a fall release. Two of these patterns are in the Crochet: 100+ Patterns Throughout the Year: 2012 Day-to-Day Calendar
Managing all these tests on email has been a bit challenging, since I’m trying to link up (in my mind) people to their Ravelry IDs. So I decided I would also start an Underground Crafter group on Ravelry. This could be used for pattern testing, crochet a longs, info on upcoming classes, and other cool stuff that I have yet to imagine.
What are you working on this week? Check out the other WIP Wednesday posts at Tami’s Amis!
The Giveaway
Here’s your chance to win a PDF of the patterns in the Fall, 2011 issue of KnitCircus! This issue includes 27 crochet and knit patterns, as well as all of the other goodies KnitCircus is known for like recipes, articles, and reviews. If you’re not familiar with KnitCircus, you should check it out. Much of the content is available for free, and you can see awesome photos of each pattern before you make a choice about whether or not to buy an issue. You can also buy individual patterns through their pattern shop.
You will have one week to enter this giveaway. To enter,
- Leave a comment on this post by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on Wednesday, August 31, 2011. Be sure to include your email address (which won’t be displayed) so I can contact you if you win. (Please note that my comments are moderated, so if you are a new visitor, it will not appear immediately.)
- For another chance to win, like the Underground Crafter Facebook page. Then you can either post a comment on Facebook or here again so I will give you another entry. (If you already like my Facebook page, you should post a comment for another chance to win.) If my Facebook page has 100 fans by the deadline, I will give away a second PDF of the Fall, 2011 issue of KnitCircus, so feel free to share the link!
- For another chance to win, share the link to this giveaway via Twitter, Facebook, or your blog. Then post a comment here with the link to your Tweet or blog post, or leave a comment on my Facebook page so I will give you another entry.
- To get my fledgling Ravelry group off the ground, I will also host a separate giveaway there for members.
Good luck!
Congratulations on being published online. What a lovely pattern indeed.
I look forward to many more designs coming from you in the future.
@ Nat and Rose – Thanks for your compliments and well wishes.
That pattern is beautiful, love the colour too
And thank you (as a pattern reader) for taking the time to get everything tested, I get so frustrated when I think I’m doing something wrong and it turns out to be the pattern itself!
So many beautiful patterns, so little time
The plan was to start the testing of your scarf pattern today, but found that I didn’t have enough yarn. So I’m off to the LYS tomorrow (not that I’m sad about that lol).
Welcome FruDart, and thanks for being involved with my pattern test! Agreed, a trip to the LYS is never a bad thing.
I wholeheartedly endorse your approach to pattern preparation. And wish everyone else luck in the competition!
Welcome Deborah, and thanks.
Your shawl looks so beautiful! I started thinking “holiday present for my step mother” immediately– which is a big deal, because she’s one of the ones for whom I never, ever know what will be well liked and what will be merely tolerated.
As a relatively newer knitter, I really appreciate all the care designers take in their process before publishing; I generally do assume it’s me, not the pattern, if I can’t make sense of things, and it’s really nice to know you’re thinking of your customers before they reach that point of utter frustration and despair!
Welcome Ms. B, and I’m honored that you would consider one of my patterns for such an important gift! One of the things I love about Ravelry is that people can find the designer and contact them with any questions – hopefully it will prevent despair.
WOW you are awesome. I am so joining your group.
Not here to enter the contest, just to say…”Bravo!” I love all the designs you’ve had published, but I have to say this one in Knitcircus is so lovely! I love Schaefer Heather, too. So gorgeous! Big pat on the back to you!
Thanks RugbyMad! I’m looking forward to getting some members up there
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Jen, thanks for the kind words and the pat on the back! I was so in love with that yarn, which I never saw in my LYS. And it is even made right here in my home state of NY.
Congratulations on being published! The shawl is beautiful…and just the project for me to start! Thanks!
I’m a knitter who dabbles in crochet. Congratulations on your growing fame!
Welcome Suzan and Featherknits, and thanks for your kind words.
Your crochet makes me wish I was bi-crafty!
Lynn P, it can always happen
. After about 25 years of fearing knitting after some bad trapezoidal swatches in childhood, I picked up knitting again and it has been really fun.
Congratulations on getting your pattern published.
The shawl looks lovely.Thanks!
Congratulations on getting your pattern published in Knitcircus. I bought the broomstick needle quite sometime ago and would love to make Quadrilateral if i win a copy
)
Welcome Akshata. Broomstick lace takes a bit of getting used to, but once you do, it is pretty fun and moves along quickly.
Your new shawl looks greats. Congratulations on being published.
Thanks Knittingdancer! The photography really highlighted the shawl in amazing ways.
I just joined the group!
Thanks Kacy!
I already like you on FB.
Congratulations on being published in KnitCircus! Love the wrap…it’s gorgeous in the purple.
Thanks Renee. The yarn is really just beautiful.
yay! congrats on your pattern being in knitcircus..i think the patterns in an emag are always far more gorgeous then the ones in printed mags..i always wanted to try broomstick lace and your pattern is just lovely!
Lorraine, it does seem that many emags do a better job with photography and are more “artsy” looking than print mags. Perhaps because they aren’t as worried about page counts and print stock and so forth…
i already like your fb page!
Wow, the broomstick lace pattern is indeed lovely. And the photos are wonderful. What a great way that light comes in!
Good luck with it, I am sure there will be more patterns in the future!
Ciao, Fleur (—-> Fleurtje Eliza on Ravelry)
Welcome Fleur! I wish I could take credit for the photos too
. Thanks for the kind words.
It seems that broomstick lace is making a comeback. It doesn’t upset me since I love doing it. Congratulations on being published.
Thanks Donna! It definitely does seem to be making a comeback.
Wow those are awesome. I am a lace knitter and the Broomstick is awesome. QTWIQ on twitter and RAV and I will retweet and follow you:)
Welcome Yvette – it is nice to put a Rav face to an online face
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Great to see broomstick lace back! I actually have 2 really old magazines with broomstick patterns in them.
Well you know what they say Sandra, everything old is new again
. Welcome and thanks for stopping by.
Congrats on your new projects! You are doing wonderfully!
Congratulations on your big steps forward! Thank you for holding this giveaway! I love broomstick lace – such a great effect but actually quite simple to do.
Thanks Emily and Patriciaelizabeth! I agree, Emily. Once you actually get the mechanics down, broomstick lace is really simple to make and has a beautiful look to it.
You are so talented. I can’t even think of writing my own pattern. It’s like letting go of your training wheels. I’m just not ready yet…
Welcome Adri! I was crocheting for a long time before I started writing my own patterns. I say keep the training wheels on for as long as you need them, and once you have the confidence to take them off, it will be great.
Congratulations on your published shawl pattern. It is beautiful and I can see making it for a Christmas present this year. I love broomstick lace!
Thanks Connie! I’m thinking about my holiday gift patterns already, too!
The shawl is beautiful!
Thanks Just-in!
Glad to have found you on Ravelry!
Welcome Julie, and thanks for entering!