Step by Step Guide to Become a Pattern Designer – Crochet and Knitting

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This post includes affiliate links.

Have you ever looked at other crochet pattern designers and thought “I can do that! Why don’t I just start?” Well, I started my journey in the summer of 2016. And I have not looked back. I love it and live by it daily.

Yes, there are a lot of things one should think about, but if you take it step by step, it will actually be very easy and straight forward. First of all, do you want to create and sell/share your patterns online?

Well, if you answered YES to that questions, then the first thing you should do is create a name that reflects your style which becomes your brand name.

CLICK HERE ON HOW TO START YOUR OWN BLOG WITH STEP BY STEP INSTRUCTIONS

Pin this post for later By Clicking HERE!!

Then you have 2 choices:

• create an Etsy and a Ravelry store and sell your pattern there
• create your own website and publish your patterns there, as well as Etsy and Ravelry, which is what I do

Of course there other websites you can sell/share your patterns with the world. But these 2 are the most popular ones. Furthermore, in order to promote your patterns, be sure to have social media pages, such as Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and Pinterest to name a few.

If you would like to earn FREE listings on Etsy, then click HERE, otherwise you will have to pay $0.20 per listing.

Once you have created your own Etsy store and Ravelry store, as well as have your social media pages all lined up, it is time to create your own patterns.

I have created a PATTERN CREATION TEMPLATE to give you an idea on what is required when creating your own patterns.

Click HERE to get the pdf for this template from my Etsy store!

So, now that you know where you can share your patterns, how do you really get started?

1. 1. You need an idea. When I have an idea on a pattern, I just start creating the actual piece and take notes as I go. And yes, there is lots and lots of frogging. But thats what makes the pattern great in the end. So, write down everything you do as you do it. Use the template above for note taking.
   2. Now that you have a pattern written out, what comes next? Well, you do the same pattern again and follow your own instructions, so you can see whether you made a mistake. You need to make sure you count your stitches over and over again, so it is all correct. Be sure to count your stitches as you go and take pictures at the same time, so you can add them to your pattern instructions later.
   3. It worked. The pattern works. Yay! So, now you need to start typing up the pattern, edit and add the pictures, add your watermark and make it all look good. Be sure to add the gauge of your piece, the size and what stitches you used right upfront. So people know whether they can make it in the moment they look at your pattern. Also people, like me, always add a video to go with the pattern. Either create full tutorials or a certain stitch or part that could be hard for some people to understand and recreate (that what I do).
   4. Then make your pattern either into a pdf, so people cannot change it or copy and paste it, or/and you can publish it for free on your own website/blog. I usually do a combo of both. I have all my patterns free on my website (ads/page views will pay for the patterns then) and I publish some of my patterns on Etsy and Ravelry (always Ravelry actually as they accept both free and paid patterns) for a small fee.
   5. Before you publish though, make sure you test your pattern as often as you can, or have others do it for you, and check for typos.
   6. Now you are ready to publish and make money!

   Would you like to create your own blog and earn money on the side? Be sure to create your own affiliate accounts, get ads on your blog and let the money roll in while you sleep. Check out link below, if you want to start your own blog.

   How to create your own website/blog:

   I use Bluehost as my website/blog hosting server. They are great and I highly recommend them. Super easy fast and cheap. They even have WordPress to use for creating your own website.

   Click HERE on how to start your own blog with step by step instructions

   Just that you know, I do not know coding, and you don’t have to either, because with WordPress everything is there for what you need. No coding needed. For cool additional features: just download a plugin and your problem is solved.
   
   
   

   Once you established yourself well enough, you should check out MEDIAVINE as your ad hosting company. I started with Google Adsense, but when I switched to Mediavine, I suddenly earned so much more! I highly recommend them! If you have any further questions about anything, please let me know and leave a comment below or contact me via my contact up in the menu bar above. Thanks!