How do pattern ideas come about?

Dear users, dear authors,
This thread is a great place to discuss how beautiful patterns come about. Users are, of course, welcome to join in and ask questions, etc.
Have fun.

I often look at sweaters, jackets, and scarves in clothing stores and then have something in mind. I also draw inspiration from other designers and books. Plus, I’m often on Instagram and Pinterest, browsing around. But sometimes I just have a flash of inspiration that I have to get out there :-)
“Cozy Winter,” for example, came about completely spontaneously. I was sitting at the kitchen table one morning and just started knitting without a plan.
When I do plan something, it usually turns into two designs. I set out to do one thing, but while I’m knitting, 90% of the time I decide to go with a different design element or add another color.

I have a rough idea in my head.
Little by little, the finer details fall into place.
I knit or crochet while taking notes at the same time.
Whether I continue this way, make changes, or scrap the idea altogether varies from project to project. 

I get a lot of ideas from my grandchildren. They come to me with their requests and have pretty specific ideas about what the item should look like. I also find inspiration online, for example on Pinterest. Sometimes I see a pretty decoration in a store window and think about how I could recreate it as a crochet project. Since I design a lot of toys, I also remember what I had as a child (my grandma was very creative and made us lots of things out of fabric scraps) or what I would have liked to have.
And some ideas just pop into my head “out of the blue.”

When I have an idea, I make one or more sketches. By then, I usually already have very specific ideas about colors and materials, so I often can’t use my abundant stash of leftover yarn at all—or only partially. (So, unfortunately, the yarn mountain hardly gets any smaller—sigh!)

While I’m working on the project, I take lots of photos—usually far more than end up in the final pattern. At the same time, I take notes and write down what requires special attention. I used to jot these down on random scraps of paper that would end up scattered everywhere and take forever to find. Now I have a dedicated notebook for this.

A lot of things end up looking different after completion than I’d imagined, but if I’m happy with them, that’s fine. If not, I keep tweaking them until they’re just right.

And right at the very end comes writing up the pattern on the computer. That also involves a lot of trial and error until I’m satisfied with everything. Still, every now and then I overlook a mistake. Most of the time these are typos, since I type using the “two-finger method.” I’m always glad when someone points them out to me (preferably before I upload the pattern!).

Oh, this is exactly the right topic for me. ;-) 

I have so many ideas in my head. 
How I get these ideas or inspiration varies a lot. 
Sometimes I see something in a shop window, sometimes it’s an ad that was shown to me. Sometimes customers give me the ideas too. 
But sometimes it’s also the yarn that practically speaks to me. ^^

And when an idea takes shape, I don’t let up until I have the right pattern for it, even if that sometimes takes a few days...

But sometimes I first have to create a crochet or knitting chart on the computer to check whether the idea works the way I imagined it. 

I often adapt knitted or crocheted projects into sewing patterns. I then sew the pieces according to my own measurements. I look at the pieces from all angles—especially when they’re pictured in a way that lets me examine them closely—and then I sit down and draw the pattern with the corresponding measurements. I’ve also converted crochet charts into knitting patterns, especially for stuffed animals, since crocheting causes problems with my hands.

For me, the idea often comes from the “intended use” or my current mood or situation.

I want to make a gift for someone, and the item is then designed the way I’d like it to be for that person... Or to suit my current situation.

I crocheted the Construction Worker Bear when we were building our house.

I crocheted the Heart-to-Heart Shawl for a girl I know.

I made

the Cozy Snowflake Möbius to match all the snow we had last year. I created the Teddy Bear Gang when someone wanted a bear keychain with

a logo for their car...

So there’s a story behind every pattern. None of my creations are made purely for the sake of the pattern, and I never make anything “for nothing” ;) 

I collect ideas wherever I come across them—while shopping, playing with the kittens and kids. Even at work, I see beautiful things that I’d love to recreate.

I often get ideas from my grandchildren, too. The “door guards,” for example, came about because we no longer lock the bathroom door so that no child can lock themselves in. A door hanger like that is both totally useful and cool.

The food for the play kitchen and the little shopping bag were created because my granddaughter asked for them. The same goes for the bag for the Puky.

When it comes to children’s clothing, I get most of my inspiration from my grandchildren’s mother. She always tells me what they might need, and then I come up with something to match.

I still have plenty of ideas in my head. They just pop into my mind, or they arise because there’s a need for something at the moment.

When it comes to our own clothes, I sometimes get inspired by my neighbor and friend who knits. We often sit together and knit, and then come up with great ideas for what might look good.

But even there, there’s always a need for clothes. Sometimes it’s actually the yarn that speaks to me and tells me what it would like to become. ;-)

I’ll share something funny with you on this topic.

Sometimes my ideas come to me in very unusual ways… Like many of you, I wear glasses. And when I’m not wearing them, my vision is blurry. And if I can’t “focus” on an object and my brain can’t recognize it, my imagination just comes up with what it might be. I sometimes find it really fascinating to see what comes out of that. It’s often led to some laughs. And because I find it so amusing when a new idea pops into my head, I run with it—and sometimes it turns into an idea for a new creative project.

Otherwise, I usually just let my ideas flow. I used to want to approach things in a planned and disciplined way. But over time, it’s become clear that I don’t have to choose the projects—they come to me. There are always lots of ideas running parallel in my head, all of which I find equally tempting, but in the end, the order always works itself out on its own.

When I want to take a break from “creative thinking,” I do computer work, which is also part of creative work. That way, I can switch off my “creative brain” and work through things methodically, step by step. Everything has its charm and its time.

I wish everyone reading this thread a wonderful day.
Best regards—Ina

I also design my projects as needed. At first, they were things my daughter wanted, or gifts for loved ones. The little calf and the sloth, for example, were requests from a little boy, and his mother then asked me to make them. I usually make clothing for my own use, though not every piece becomes a pattern. Sometimes I experiment so much that I forget to take notes, and later I can’t piece it all back together. When I write a pattern, I stand behind it completely. Even if it doesn’t always match a customer’s taste, I’d rather do that than desperately try to follow trends and design something I’m not convinced of—or that neither I nor anyone I know would actually use. For example, I think shawls are visually very beautiful, but I wouldn’t wear one myself and don’t know anyone who does, so I won’t be posting a pattern for them. But let’s be honest: There are already so many great shawl designers here on CP that it’s hard enough to choose ;)

It varies a lot. Sometimes ideas just bubble up when I see certain yarn. Other times, I see something in a catalog and think it would look better with a few changes. 

For me, it’s usually my lovely family who asks for something, or I think about what would make them happy for Christmas, their birthday, and so on. Or I think about which animals people generally like. At least I never run out of ideas ;)

Thanks for this great topic—it’s really interesting to read how everyone has their own approach.

For me, it’s usually a walk. I often walk home from work or run errands on foot on my days off. It’s relaxing, and that’s how I often get ideas from my surroundings.

I always carry a small notebook with me for spontaneous ideas and thoughts. Or I take a photo with my phone—the associations usually come back to me later.

Sometimes I just experiment aimlessly with patterns or shapes. Then one experiment leads to another. Eventually, something catches my eye, and I pursue it further by making a mini version to get a feel for it.

For some time now, I’ve been collecting my swatches and sample pieces, and I hope they’ll spark some flashes of inspiration in the future. It’s not always easy for me to visualize the various elements coming together in my mind’s eye. The sample pieces are meant to help me with that.

Since I love things that “do” something, practical objects usually inspire me the most. But I’m also happy to work on something completely pointless every now and then.

Best regards, Caro