I’ve been crocheting for a little less than a year. I’ve learned a whole lotta stuff, made over 25 projects, but what I still don’t know could fill a book. Following patterns created by other designers is wonderful and inspirational, but I’ve been itching design something myself. Here’s what I learned when I designed the Sorbet Baby Blanket.
Designing might be different than you imagine.
I’ve made plenty of variations on other folk’s patterns. Change colors, change size, change any number of things. Generally easy, right? Designing felt different, I had more freedom but also no blueprint to follow. This was most apparent when something wasn’t working and I just needed to figure it out myself. Which I did, but it definitely took more time than I anticipated.
There's math involved.
Once I identified what stitches I wanted to use, I made a rough drawing to work out how many stitches my chain would have to be. I got my swatch down, but when I started my final project, it was turning out weird. Why?! What am I doing wrong? I struggled to see where I made an error, but I reworked my math and d’oh! I forgot to add a stitch.
Draw it out.
I’m a visual person so I make a drawing of most things I create before I start. I plan colors, stripes, maybe decide dimensions I want. I did all that, but I still kept hitting speed bumps. I swatched a few times and still ran into trouble, it wasn’t until I drew up a diagram using crochet symbols that I really saw my design and understood it.
Write it down as you go.
This was so helpful. After my third time swatching, I couldn’t remember what changes I had made just by looking at my swatch. Is this the one with more chains? What row am I on? Fortunately, I had been keeping notes row by row on what I had done and amended my notes based on my changes, so with every new swatch I got better and closer to what I wanted.
Swatch. Swatch. Swatch.
I’m thankful that I swatched. And not just once, I kept swatching until I worked out the kinks and I knew my pattern backwords (it’s a simple pattern, but still!) It was a combination of swatching and drawing that lead to my inspiration of this final pattern. Long story short, I tried not to rush to the final blanket, I really took the time to get things right.
Don't be afraid to go back to basics.
I thought I knew a lot of the essentials, but when I started designing I realized the way I do them might not be the way everyone does them. It wasn’t until I wrote it down and had to recreate something I had done that I saw I could be doing better. I went back and watched a bunch of YouTube videos, replaying parts saying “Wait, how did they get it to look like that!?” I found that by putting my ego aside and taking the time to re-learn something that my project and I are both better for it.
Oh, frog it all.
As I said above, I drew out my blanket and planned the colors, but when I got a few stripes in I saw the colors didn’t have enough contrast between them and I didn’t like it. So, I frogged it back almost to the start. Before that I frogged it when I didn’t have the right chain length…twice. I wasn’t afraid to undo my work because I knew I wouldn’t like the finished project.
It won't be perfect and that's OK.
When I finished weaving in my ends I was so happy and proud. I did it! All by myself! When I laid out my blanket and all I could see were the imperfections and it dampened my enthusiasm. My project isn’t perfect, I’m not perfect. Why would anyone want to buy something from me if I don’t make a flawless item? Ugh. Bleh. Boo.
Um, hold the phone. I just learned so much by making this blanket. I definitely took my crochet skills to the next level and spent hours of my life designing and making this baby blanket. I executed this better now than I would have a week ago. I remembered all that and gave myself permission to be proud, knowing that no one would see these things that I see. I really don’t think any babies will be criticizing me.
Designing takes effort but you'll be better for it.
Taking the plunge to design something myself revealed how much I didn’t know, but it gave me the chance to get better. I’m starting to understand things more, my skills are better, and it’s taken me one step closer to my goal of being a super-amazing crochet designer. It doesn’t matter that there are people better and more experienced than I am, all that matters is that I’m better than I used to be, even just a little bit. To quote another flawed human, Ernest Hemingway:
“There is nothing noble in being superior to your fellow man; true nobility is being superior to your former self.”
What do you think, was this helpful? Are you thinking of designing your first project? I’d love to hear about it!
Find me on Instagram @goldenfleececrochet.com
aprilferry(c)2019
I love this! Trying and making mistakes may just be the only way to go forward and grow! Great job and your design is beautiful.
Thanks, Joni! Like I said your article helped me push through and reminded me that new designers have value
Love the behind-the-scenes look at your process!
Thanks dearest!
This is awesome April! So happy and proud of you! Keep up the good work 😍
Thanks, Mary! Thank you for reading and being my crochet buddy
Ya know I don’t crochet. I decided to read your blog anyhow, yes definitely lessons to be learned, and you covered some wonderfully.
Thank you very much for taking the time to read, I think the idea of pushing through to accomplish something is broadly applicable. Take care!