I started designing one day ...

Over the years I have not been able to resist 'tweaking' various patterns to make them more to my own liking. It's just something I did if I liked the style of a pattern but didn't really warm to the stitch or stitches used. Or maybe if I desired that my item be unique to me. I never regarded these changes as being my own designs, because they were basically the designs of others adapted to my own personal preference. As mentioned elsewhere, I worked in the Retail Yarn Industry for many years. I also owned my own store for a little while. I knew how to read patterns and apply the principles needed to substitute yarns and needles if I decided a particular pattern would work really well in a different yarn, thickness of yarn or with a different stitch. Again, this was adapting a pattern, not designing my own.

Having said this, adapting patterns is not something that comes easily to everyone and when customers asked me, as they often did, if a particular pattern could be adapted to a different weight I usually told them that if they were good at mathematics and swatching, also known as knitting a gauge/tension square - then yes, maybe they could 'give it a go.' Most decided against it. There were a few who were game enough and bought patterns with that specific intention.

There were others, who came in to look at patterns but were really just wanting to 'see how many stitches I need' - so they could 'do it themselves', without purchasing 'something I am only going to use once!' I could usually tell who those people were, and quickly realised the ones that wouldn't be told there really was more to it than the number of stitches. I found it best to let them realise in their own good time that patterns are like recipes - in that if you don't follow them to the absolute minutest detail, then you shouldn't expect the finished product to be up to the same standard as the original. People need to realise for themselves that a well written pattern is very much worth investing in, for the smooth construction of a hand crafted item you can be proud of. It really does save a lot of time and angst.

I also understood completely those customers who were reading the patterns through to make sure they could actually understand them before purchasing! That is actually a very wise thing to do! I recently also learned that some people will not buy patterns online because they cannot see what they are buying - and I have been caught there myself, with patterns I have purchased and then been frustrated with. I am now considering how I can help people who will not buy sight unseen, to have confidence in my designs. Ideas are brewing! I had already decided when I began designing my own patterns that although they would need to be appealing to look at, they would also need to be clear and concise, with no room for any doubt whatsoever about any aspect of the design or its construction. I am now, as I said, going to work on how I can better present my designs so everyone will have confidence in purchasing. It is one thing to produce lovely designs, but quite another to be able to put them 'out there' for others to make for themselves. I regard it as a great responsibility of mine to do it properly. Yes, I have sold many patterns already and some would ask, 'why bother to try and reach others?' My desire in this venture, is that above all everything be clear, concise and now, accessible to all. I am always looking for ways to improve on what I do.

Did you know that mathematics is a HUGE part of the design process? I often think of my secondary school maths teacher and to this day remain very thankful to him for the time he invested in me to help me realise the basic principles of maths, that among other things has helped me to get started on this design journey. Who knew, back then - that this is where it would eventually lead?! Mr Telford was a very kind and patient teacher, and if he had not taken the time that he did with his students, then I would probably not be doing this now.

Did you also know that The Three R's are so very important - Reading, (w)Riting and (a)Rithmetic?They have all helped to make me an Independent (Indie) Designer - so I am very thankful for all my school teachers, who way, way back encouraged me to learn! All three subjects, I now realise with a very grateful heart - have been critical in helping me get to the point where I can design and edit my own patterns, and enjoy writing about the process!