☞ Question of the Week: How long does it take to work from or design a pattern?

Dear users, dear authors,
how long does it take you to work from a pattern?

@Authors
how long does it take to draft and write up a pattern, all the way to uploading it?

Well, all in all, it takes me up to 6 weeks for a design to be ready to go online.

First of all, I have to knit or crochet it. Depending on how often I have to rip it out because something doesn’t work out, and depending on the size, that can take up to 14 days.

Then I work out the pattern. I create knitting or crochet charts, make photo tutorials of individual steps, write out the pattern row by row, and take photos of the finished project.
That takes about a week.

Then the pattern has to be tested. I usually have 2 or 3 testers for this. The duration depends on the availability and speed of my testers. Errors are corrected as they’re found. I have to set aside another 2–3 weeks for testing.
On top of that, there’s the translation into English and having the translation proofread. So there’s a lot of work and time that goes into a pattern like this. But also a lot of passion and fun. :-)
I hold myself to the standard of offering perfect patterns that are error-free and easy to understand.

But that’s not all. I make sure my customers can get help at any time. That means I’m always available to answer questions—even on vacation and on weekends.
That’s my idea of service, because I want my customers to have a wonderful knitting or crocheting experience. 

Hi!

That’s a question I, for one, can’t answer in general terms for my patterns.
I’ve actually finished some patterns completely within a week and then posted them online a week later, after they were quickly tested.
Other patterns take much longer because I have to experiment back and forth, my testers take longer to work them out, and because they may simply be much larger, requiring much more time to complete the crochet project. Or because they’re made with fine yarn.

Sometimes the pattern itself has actually been finished for quite a while, but I still don’t have decent product photos because, for example, I need to take outdoor shots but the weather just isn’t cooperating, etc.

Best regards, Nina

Hello everyone 

Sometimes it takes me weeks to go from the idea to the final plan.
Once the mental plan is fully developed and I pick up my crochet hook, it naturally depends on what I’ve planned. The little hand was made within two days. The new blanket, on the other hand, took about 2 weeks. But that’s only logical. After all, it makes a difference whether 200 m of yarn or 2000 m are being used. 
Then, of course, it also depends on how simple or complex something is. 
Of course, things don’t always work out right away. Then you have to frog back a bit and work it differently again. 
Michaela has already nicely described the general process. 
All in all, a pattern takes me between one week (very simple patterns that are not tested by others for me) and one month (when a lot of tinkering is needed). 

Best regards, Birgit 

It really varies....With my 3-D blanket, it took me over a year to get the hang of the technique.....Other patterns come together in just a few days 

Of course, crafting is naturally much quicker than other handicraft techniques, but even a craft pattern takes days: First, I make a rough sketch, then I create a mock-up using thin paper, correct the sketch, and—depending on how extensive the corrections were—make another mock-up (and sometimes I repeat the whole process several times until everything is just right). Then I print out the final templates, assemble the finished object from photo cardstock, and—ever since I started creating illustrated patterns—take photos after each step. Then I write everything up, edit the photos, and write the product description. So for the simplest projects, I need about 3 workdays.
For customers, of course, recreating the project goes much faster. I still remember when I uploaded the decorative Easter egg—I was really glad to have finally finished it, because I’d definitely been struggling with it for a week. And then a customer wrote that she had already made several eggs herself, just a few hours after buying the pattern. That’s how big the time difference between developing a project and recreating it can sometimes be!

It’s similar for me—sometimes I get a spontaneous idea, and if it’s a small project (like a hairband) and there are no interruptions (as is often the case with kids ;o) ), then it goes pretty quickly and the pattern is ready in about two weeks.
When I’m working on a pattern for shoes and want to offer many sizes (kids–adults), like with my crocheted clogs, it can take two to three months until the model itself—and then all the sizes—are worked out and tested.
And sometimes I carry an idea around with me for a long time—trying it out, taking a break, tinkering some more… then the whole process takes quite a while. But the result is well thought out.
Best regards,
Karin

The shortest it takes me is about 1 day when I’m designing a keychain, and for Fluffy it took 3 months. Otherwise, it always varies a lot. It always depends on how detailed I want something to be.

Working from a purchased, ready-made pattern is of course faster, since I don’t have to think about how I want it to turn out in the end.

Hello,
for me it usually takes 1–2 weeks, depending on the design.
After the draft, I do the construction on the computer with special sewing pattern construction software. After printing it out, I have to model the sewing pattern on the dress form. Transfer the changes to the pattern. Once the pattern is right, it’s time for the sewing instructions. Many hundreds of photos are then taken, sorted, and the sewing instructions, with everything that goes with them, are completed. Fitting, etc.

I actually have twice the work: sewing pattern + pattern. A complicated program that took me several years of work to master... Well, the long and expensive training/studies are part of it too.
Every implementation takes a great deal of time, and that’s why it really annoys me when some people think: “oh, you can get that for free on the internet!” ... (I once had to listen to that)
But: they still want to have it!!!


Best regards

Well, the individual steps have already been described above...

On average, though, it takes between four and six weeks.
More complicated projects can certainly take longer.

Best regards, Marion

As mentioned before, there’s no one-size-fits-all answer to this. For me, writing and designing on the computer often takes longer than crocheting the piece itself. From the initial idea to the online pattern, it can take as long as 4–5 weeks, since you have to factor in time for testing. So it’s not a matter of quickly throwing something together and posting it online right away. It should be something done right, not just “slapped together.” :-)

I always believe it’s better to let a new pattern sit in testing for an extra week than to have errors creep in or have something be unclear.
As a general rule for me: All patterns are tested and reviewed multiple times.
I hold myself to very high standards in this regard. 

For me, it takes about 3–4 weeks before a pattern can go online. That depends on many factors. Sometimes I have a specific idea that’s easy to bring to life, like with my mesh bags. Other times, I only have a rough idea—something along the lines of, “I’d like to make this and that.” That’s how it was, for example, with the meerkat. Then sometimes I have to rip out my work and think things through for a long time. Large projects, like the ones I’m working on now for Christmas, naturally take longer. I’ve definitely discarded ideas before, too. I also set projects aside if I realize it’s not working out today, and a few days later, the execution goes more smoothly.

And of course, everything goes a bit slower because I take several photos of each crochet step. That can easily add up to a hundred photos. The same goes for the product photos, where I experiment with different exposures and angles. In the process, I’m always learning something new, and my goal is to offer my customers a pattern that I’ve created to the best of my knowledge and ability.

For me, the development process (i.e., coming up with an idea, testing it out, crocheting it, and having it reworked if necessary) usually takes longer than actually creating the pattern. Typing it up on the computer and adding photos takes me about 1–2 days. Sometimes I edit the background of the product photos, but that goes pretty quickly, as does the product description. I think that’s because I spend a lot of time working on the computer and am used to writing.

If customers run into problems while following the instructions or happen to find a small mistake, I’m always available via email and do my best to respond within a few hours and resolve the issue :) Here, too, I want to offer what I myself would want as a customer.

As you’ve also mentioned, the entire process takes a lot of time, effort, perseverance, and attention to detail. But it also takes at least just as much love and passion. We mustn’t forget that! Well-thought-out ideas like the ones offered here simply don’t come “for free.”

Kind regards, Steffi