By: Kristen Moore

Published on 03/01/2024

Welcome to the very first post of my newest blog series all about crochet pattern designing. In this series I plan on sharing ALL of the things I’ve learned in my own pattern design journey…from discovering originality, to the formats I use for writing up my patterns, to the entire editing and testing process. I have spent the last couple of months gathering information from our crochet community on things YOU wanted to know more about when it came to pattern designing and listening to the things you have mentioned that make a great crochet pattern. I’m taking all of the struggles and comments to mind, and simply sharing my own processes and what I’ve learned from it all!

I figured what better way to use my blog than to share the information with you that I wished I had had when I was wanting to design my first pattern. I hope it’s helpful, so let’s jump in!

Discovering your own originality.

Are you an aspiring crochet designer struggling with originality? You may be wanting to design with originality, but aren’t sure how to start and how to design without copying someone else (yikes!).

I like to compare crochet pattern designing with the same idea behind other creative processes. For example, musicians are still coming out with new and original songs with original lyrics. Fashion designers are still coming out with new dresses and outfits. Writers are still coming out with original novels. Artists are still coming up with original art. This may be my own opinion, but I do really believe there will never be a time where originality is absent.

Maybe the base idea of the dress, song, artwork, or book is the same. But the person behind the idea is different with different experiences and feelings like no one else.

As an aspiring crochet pattern designer, your first step is to find those things that make you unique. What colors are you drawn to? What feelings would you best want your designs to invoke? Do you like mysterious, whimsical, bright, funny, colorful, muted, cozy, pretty, masculine, feminine, simple, or complex projects?

Make a list of all the descriptive words that most match your personality and interests. Then when you think of something you’d like to design, follow this list of descriptors and invest them into your design.

If you like cozy, feminine vibes, then pick out some yarn that matches this to go with the idea you have flowing through your head.

Maybe you had a love of aquatic animals when you were young with a complete collection of figurines. Head to that shelf or picture in your head to draw out your inspiration.

If you prefer complex crochet projects, then designing complex crochet projects might be the niche for you.

Maybe you love ALL the crochet projects and aren’t sure where to start. This was exactly the area I was stuck in for a while. Over time, I learned the most enjoyable projects for me to create are amigurumi and crocheted home decor. They don’t really go hand in hand, but by using a cohesive color palette I feel like I’ve been able to stay true to myself and still design what I love without feeling like I’m boxing myself in. I hope that makes sense!

And keep in mind, this process of discovering what kind of designer you are takes a lot of TIME. You won’t become an amazing crochet pattern designer overnight. It may even take trial and error to find your unique style, but if it’s meant for you then it is out there and it is possible.

2. How NOT to copy someone else’s work.

This aspect of designing is probably the biggest struggle for most crochet pattern designers or aspiring designers. Let’s be honest, most of us truly do NOT want to unintentionally copy someone else. It’s a huge fear…and I understand, because I have been and still am in the same boat at times.

As a designer it would be so disheartening to find out that someone else had copied one of my patterns, so I know I want to take all the steps I can to make sure I’m not doing this unintentionally for someone else.

Here are a few steps I like to take when I’ve thought of a new design and want to make sure the same thing isn’t already available.

Do your research!

A few places I always check first before working on a new idea are Pinterest, Google, Etsy, and Ravelry. I know it seems overwhelming and scary because you really don’t want to find something already out there that you had in mind.

But for me personally, I would rather know for sure that this idea hasn’t been formed yet so I don’t unknowingly copy someone else exactly.

There have been several ideas of mine that I had to put aside because there was something pretty much exactly like it already out there and I couldn’t make mine unique enough.

On the other hand, to my excitmenet there have been many times I couldn’t find the idea I had available so I was able to go for it!

There will always be slight similarities because there are only so many crochet stitches and techniques to form crochet products. Try not to let that discourage you. When your pattern is genuinely formed after your own original idea and style, it will stand out and be unique.

As long as you are not blatantly copying someone else or basing your designs off the photos of other patterns/pulling your inspiration from those, aaand you’ve done your research…then I would say you’re good to go.

This is the huge difference between designing and modifying. You never want to think a pattern is yours if only one or two things are changed. That process is called modification. Even if you adjust the ears to someone else’s bunny pattern, they still need to be credited as the designer.

It wouldn’t be honest to take a book you like, change up a chapter or two and then call it your own. And I try to say all of this with so much grace because we’re all still learning. Up until a few years ago, I had been taught that you can actually take an existing crochet pattern, change 3 or more things from the pattern and then it becomes your own (yikes, again!).

I quickly learned (before I started designing for myself, thankfully), that this was completely untrue. Now that I am on the designer end, I know what it takes to put your heart and mind into a new design. It takes hours upon hours sometimes, and I never want to discredit someone else’s work like that.

On the other hand, I also don’t want to design in fear…and I don’t think you should either. Sometimes we just need to have some extra grace for each other. And as you build your own customer base, people will enjoy buying patterns from you because they love the style you write it in or the format and photos you use.

All of this leads me right into my next point.

Stay true to yourself!

Once this step is taken, creativity will breed creativity. You’ll sit down with your hook and yarn, paper and pencil or note taking app, and get to work! As you work, new ideas WILL form! You’ll try different increases and decreases, frog your work a hundred times, and probably even have to switch hook sizes a few times to see what looks the best.

It may seem like many designers are pumping out designs seamlessly and easily, but that really isn’t the case for the majority of us.

I have spent HOURS on many of my designs until I got them just right. When you sit down without someone else’s work inspiring you, knowing you did your research on what you’re creating, then it can really only lead you to one result: designing your own original crochet pattern!

And remember, sometimes you do need a break if the design is beginning to frustrate you. Sometimes it’s necessary to set it aside and come back to it a few days (or months) later with a clear mind. This has happened to me so many times, so don’t let it allow the negative thoughts that you aren’t a good designer creep in. Our design journeys are not a race. There is still room for you!

For some, designing will come naturally. For others, you may have to put a little more time into practicing and learning but you CAN do it as long as you are staying true to yourself.

Try putting Instagram and Facebook aside if you’re leaning on it too heavily for inspiration.

In my own personal opinion, scrolling Instagram will only leave you more frustrated and continue to foster the fear of potentially copying someone else. It’s been true for me on several occasions.

This may mean you need to put away Instagram for a little while so you can focus on your own originality and what that means for your designs. Try to find things in your environment that will stir inspiration, instead of other crochet patterns. Take your own personal knowledge of crochet and use it to design something you want.

This brings me to my last point on designing with originality…

3. Focus on your environment for inspiration.

I hope you’re more encouraged now that you know you do have a lot to offer as a crochet pattern designer!

When you’re trying to find inspiration, don’t forget about the huge world right outside your door.

There is plenty of inspiration in your circumstances, environment, place you live, family dynamics, cultural background, faith background, community, and your own interests and personality.

Allow all of that to reflect in your designs.

Now let’s dive into the first challenge I want to leave you with…

I want you to make a full list of all the things that make you, YOU. From your family history to your favorite drink…seriously, write it all down! Then, make another list with all of your crochet preferences.

I’ll give you a little example of mine:

I live in Alaska (currently)

I have been fully immersed in the military lifestyle from the time I was a child

I love purples and pinks

My personal style is feminine, cozy & modern

I love coffee and pretty flowers

I’m a stay at home mom to two littles

I’m a follower of Jesus

I love taking care of my home

I love animals (specifically dogs, cats, and cows)

___________________

I don’t enjoy using safety eyes on amigurumi (I LOVE embroidering them!)

I don’t love projects with a lot of color changes

I enjoy clever techniques

I don’t mind sewing parts on amigurumi

I love worsted cotton yarn

I also love working with cozy blanket yarns

I like to experiment with different stitch combinations

Now, let’s take these two lists and merge them together. Most likely, by using these lists as inspiration I'll be able to come up with something that speaks to me as an individual.

Even just naming these things about myself again right here helps me realize even more the kinds of designs I want to add to the world. They will mostly likely be feminine, cozy, revolve around shades of pinks, purples, and yellows. It might be home decor or blankets because I love taking care of my home, but I also have a huge love of amigurumi with embroidered eyes and enjoy making items for little hands to explore.

Keep in mind…this took over a year for me to truly discover about myself so don’t lose heart! If you’re just in the beginning phases of design - experiment with all different types of projects to find the ones you really love!

Now go and get started on that list of yours! Write out all the things that make you unique and all of the things that interest you the most. Let your personal life and surroundings be what inspires your next design.

And just remember, be kind to yourself through the process. Celebrate with yourself when you find something you love and be sure to show grace to yourself when you need to leave something behind.

*“Celebrate with yourself when you find something you love, and be sure to show grace to yourself when you need to leave something behind.*”

I hope you stick around for the rest of this Crochet Pattern Design blog series! I’ll be sharing all of my tips from how to get started, helpful tools and resources I use, navigating the testing process and extra tips for writing a GREAT crochet pattern.

One of the main reasons I wanted to do this is to share all of the things lumped together that I wish I knew when I first started out.

I haven’t designed as many pattern as some have yet, but if the things I have learned can help at least one or two of you then I’m excited about it!

Thank you again for reading, fellow maker! I hope you feel a little more encouraged to dive in and design your own crochet pattern.

And if you haven’t signed up for it already, I do have a monthly newsletter called The Junebug News! It’s where I send out all the recent news and blog posts I’ve worked on, news on new pattern releases, fun and motivational stories, and even a little freebie or coupon code here and there. You can find the signup right here on my site!

And as always, feel free to reach out to me with any questions or comments you have. I love discussing anything crochet related, but especially when it comes to crochet pattern design!