Design Your Own Crochet Patterns

10 Basic Steps to Take When Designing Your Own Crochet Pattern

Crocheting has always been a part of my life, but it wasn’t until recently that I actually learned how to design my own patterns. I still have a lot to learn about how the stitches work together to form the pattern but I’m slowly progressing. I’ll post some of my patterns as I finish them.

If you are familiar with crocheting you can design your own patterns as well by following these 10 steps.

1) Start out with very simple projects such as scrubbies and dishcloths, and gradually work your way up.

2) Always take measurements in order to know what size you want the finished product to be.

3) Work with a template. You can buy crochet templates, or you can use sewing patterns and use them as a guide. If you’re an artist you can even design your own.

4) When working with a large project, always do a gauge check, this will help you in shaping the pattern.

5) Always write down your pattern as you go, at every stitch change.

6) After the pattern is completed once, go back and crochet it once more, this time follow your pattern and correct any mistakes that you might have made.

7) If it’s a large project you want a second person to test your pattern for any mistakes that you might have overlooked.

8) When the pattern is finished to your satisfaction you should copyright it.

9) Now you’re ready to share your pattern with the world, either freely or you can sell it.

10) If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again.

It can be frustrating when you learn how to shape the pattern. But once you have the basic understanding as to how the stitches work it’s not hard. Just remember when you want the pattern to be wider you just add more stitches and vice versa if you want to narrow it.

I Designed My First Crochet Pattern…Now What?

There are many different routes to take after you have designed your crochet patterns. You can post it on your blog or you could make money by submitting it to magazines.

Here are a few ideas to get the ball rolling:

1. If you make a lot of gifts, you could keep the pattern to yourself, to ensure that your gifts will always unique.

2. If you want to make some money, you could put your pattern into an e-book and sell it online.

• To create your e-book you’ll need a program that allows you to export your files in PDF format. Open Office is a free software program which allows you to do just that.

• Once the e-book is complete you are ready to list your book on places like eCrater, and Etsy, plus many more.

3. There are many magazines or websites where you can submit your designs, here are a few to get you started.

• http://www.interweavecrochet.com

• http://www.crochetmagazine.com

• http://www.knittingpatternaday.com

• http://www.crochetdesigns.com

If you can't decide what method is right for you, start by posting your patterns on your blog; if you get positive feedback then you know that you're ready to start submitting and earning money from your designs.

Quote: There is no failure in pleasure. If what you're doing is all in fun, no matter what the end results may be, you know you didn't fail.

For more information and ideas on what to do with your finished patterns click here.

If you have a pattern on your blog or website and would like a link back to it, you can submit the link to the site below. When you submit your patterns they will be approved manually, so please be patient as this could take a few days.

The site I'm talking about is freecrochetpatterns.weebly.com.

Doily Dish Cloth

Material: Bernat Handicrafter 100% Cotton

Hook size: 5.00mm

Gauge: Round 1 measures 2.5 inches in diameter across dc, and 3 inches across loop to loop.

Finished Size: 10 inches in diameter at the widest points, & 9 inches in diameter at narrow points.

Basic Stiches: ch, sl st, dc, tr,

Beg Shell: (Ch 3, 2 dc, ch 3, 3) dc in loop.

Shell: (3 dc, ch 3, 3) dc in loop.

Treble crochet (tr) Yo twice, insert hook in loop indicated, yo and pull up a loop (4 loops on hook), (yo and draw through 2 loops on hook) 3 times.

Rnd 1: Ch. 5. Join with sl st. Ch 3, (Counts as first dc) 2 dc in ring, ch 3. (3 dc, ch 3) five times in ring. Join with sl st in top of first ch 3. (18 dc)

Rnd 2: Sl st into next 2 dc, and into next 3 ch loop. Work beg shell in loop. Ch 3. (Shell in next loop, ch 3) 5 times. Join with sl st in top of first ch 3.

Rnd 3: Sl st in next 2 dc and in first loop. Ch 6, (Counts as dc and ch 3) dc in same loop. (Tr, ch 3, tr) in next loop. *(dc, ch 3, dc) in next loop. (tr, ch 3, tr) in next loop.* Repeat from * to * 4 times. Join with sl st in 3rd ch of first 6 ch.

Rnd 4: Sl st into loop. Work beg shell in ch 3 loop. Work shell in each ch 3 loop all around. Join with sl st in top of first ch 3. 12 shells made.

Rnd 5: Sl st in next 2 dc, and in loop. Ch 3, 2 dc in same loop, ch 3, sl st in 3rd ch from hook, 3 dc in same loop. *skip next 3 dc, (dc, ch 3, sl st in 3rd ch from hook, dc) in space between shells made in previous rnd. (3dc, ch 3, sl st in 3rd ch from hook, 3 dc) in loop of next shell.* Repeat from * to * another 10 times. Skip next 3 dc, (dc, ch 3, sl st in 3rd ch from hook, dc) in space between shells made in previous rnd. Join with sl st in top of first ch 3. Fasten off.