by inspiresuccess » Sun Jun 05, 2016 3:14 pm
Yes! I'm designing again!
I used to be a freelance knitwear designer for a short time in the 90s. I designed patterns for craft magazines, books, and leaflets. I created the sample, which was photographed by the magazine. Plus, I wrote the instructions for people to follow, in order to make the items.
I've been trying to get the photographs of the designs online, when someone Googles my name, but no success yet. I'll keep working on it.
I'm only doing baby aghans this time, but back then I did mens' and womens' sweaters, hat/scarf sets, baby afghans, and Christmas stockings. I worked in knit and crochet, but this time I only want to knit. If after they're published and enough people request it, I'll crochet, but I don't want to. I only did it because the editors and magazine readers wanted it.
Here's what a project looks like:
1. Come up with themes (fun)
2. Sketch ideas (fun)
3. Create swatches (sometimes fun). "Swatches" are small, knit, four-inch squares to test whether the sketch actually translates into a knit piece. Most times they don't. That means multiple tests to find one that actually works. It's time-consuming. The verb is "swatching", as in "I'm currently swatching". Actually I'm not, but it sounds good to say it!
4. Math (not fun at all!) Knitting has a certain number of stitches across and down, and certain repetitions as well. I tried to find someone to pay to do this, but no luck last time, so I had to do it myself. I'll try doing it myself this time. Magazines have tight deadlines, which are a nightmare, but this time I don't have deadlines.
5. Instructions (really not fun at all!) Here's an example of what knitting instructions look like:
Row 3: Slip one as if to knit, K1, PSSO, work across 36 (39-42) stitches, RT, K2, LT, work across to last 2 sts, K2 tog: 80(86-92) sts.
This is an actual line from a sweater design I did for a Leisure Arts leaflet! If you're a knitter and know the abbreviations, it's easy to follow. But if you're the designer and have to write the instructions for 3 sizes, with a tight deadline, it's a nightmare.
6. Knit sample. (Time-consuming, boring, and a waste of a designer's time). I used to pay people to do this because of the tight deadlines with magazines. This time, I may do them myself. I'm not sure. I definitely will do, maybe three, in order to see what things look like with the yarn size I'm using.
7. In the past this involved sending ideas to magazines. This time it involves a huge amount of research. The Internet didn't exist back then! I have no presence on the Internet. I send emails. That's it.
This time, I need to learn about e-books, websites, blogs, twitter, Instagram, and whatever else is out there. I've given myself one year to do everything I want to do. That involves not only the designing but learning the Internet. Then, at the end of the year, if I'm ready, I will launch my business online.
So, that's it, folks! Right now I'm in the themes and ideas stage. I'm getting to the point where I'm going to have to switch over to swatching.
Wish me luck! InspireSuccess