DesignTutorials

Creating Knitting Patterns, Day 14: Pattern Creation Checklists

Welcome to Day 13 of the Complete Guide to Creating Knitting Patterns series! Today, we are going to talk about how to implement knitting pattern quality control processes into your patterns. For this purpose, we use pattern creation checklists.

Implementing Processes

 In the last posts in this series, I talked about proven processes in the creation, testing and publication stages of knitting pattern creation and the importance to define and follow these processes. The ultimate goal are error-free knitting patterns, and implementing processes helps us achieving it. So what we are going to do is creating a checklist to follow during the creation of knitting patterns as an implementation of these processes.

The check lists are actually two: one general one to implement before you create the first pattern, and one applicable for each single knitting pattern you create.

Checklist I: General Pattern Creation Checklists

  1. Create your own knitting pattern template.
    • Using the post on Knitting Pattern Templates (day 12 of this series) as a basis, implement your own knitting pattern template.
    • You might want to create one template for each item category. A pattern template for a shawl has  different sections than one for a sweater, for instance.
    • Create an empty template with your favorite software and use it for each and every pattern from now on.
    • Don’t limit yourself to a static template: in case your template turns out to be incomplete or otherwise not ideal, improve it as necessary. Listen to your customers and their suggestions.
  2. Create a style guide.
    • Decide which font(s) and font sizes to be used.
    • Define a set of colors (also called a color scheme, or palette) to be used in your patterns. Colored section headers are a good way to a clearly structured pattern, for instance.
    • Agree on abbreviations to be used.
    • Define common knitting pattern elements (e.g., listing of yarns to be used) to include.

 Checklist II: Knitting Pattern Creation

  1. Does the yarn selection match the item? (e.g. no usage of bulky weight warm wool for summer items)
  2. Did you use yarns which are readily available? If not, did you provide alternatives?
  3. Did you knit a swatch?
  4. Does the swatch fabric match the intended use of the pattern?
  5. Do you like the yarn/pattern combination in your swatch?
  6. Did you knit a swatch big enough to make sure you get your math right? (If your swatch is too small, rounding errors might pile up)
  7. Has your pattern been tested exhaustively?
  8. Does your pattern follow your style guide?
  9. Did you use your pattern template?
  10. Are your pattern pictures clear, in focus, and do they show all relevant details?
  11. Is all information needed to knit the item provided in your pattern?
  12. Is your name stated clearly on the pattern?
  13. Are your website/blog and your social network profiles (Twitter, …) stated on the pattern?
  14. Does your pattern provide any information on copyright?
  15. Did you provide a short bio and eventually a picture of yourself?

I’m sure there is more – I always keep forgetting important bits and pieces. Tell me if you find something or have a suggestion by leaving a comment below!

One thought on “Creating Knitting Patterns, Day 14: Pattern Creation Checklists

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.