How are the designs created?

I really enjoy browsing CP, and as I admire all the wonderful patterns, I wonder where the ideas come from and how one learns to design them. Do you usually start with a specific type of yarn, or does an idea come first? I’d love to learn more about this.
A curious ChristinaE

Hello Christina,

for me, it’s a combination of the idea and the yarn. Sometimes I see something and think I could create something similar, and sometimes it’s the yarn telling me what it wants to become. 
There’s no rule of thumb for me.

Best wishes 
Michaela 

Hi Christina,

I agree with Michaela on this.
Sometimes an idea comes first, sometimes the material does.

I don’t think you can really “learn” how to do this.
Bringing a creative thought to life (which, after all, doesn’t come from something you’ve learned, but “from somewhere deep inside”) is something you’re either able to do or you’re not.
Sure, as the number of patterns grows, you naturally develop a routine for creating and writing them, but I think the basic prerequisite is that it comes from within you and that you just somehow have this “talent” for developing patterns.

Just give it a try, and you’ll see if it’s your thing.

Best regards

For me, first comes the wish and the idea.
Oh, that’s really pretty; I’d like to crochet/knit that.
That looks interesting.
Or a beautiful pattern that I’d like to try out.
When I know what I want to make and can see it finished in my head, then I look for the right yarn for it.

Enjoy the rest of the holiday
PeTra

Hi Christina,
that’s really a good question. I ask myself that every now and then too. ;)
So I’m more in the amigurumi crocheter category, and in my case I can tell you - my ideas come almost entirely from my children, especially my 4-year-old.
I started designing my own patterns when my little one was at the crawling stage. I only need to watch him and the ideas come to me. Then I quickly write them down or sketch them out, and then I look for the right yarn and color. Then I just try it out and something new is born.
Why not give it a try? It’s not that hard at all!!!!

Best regards, Susann

For me, it’s often a very peculiar process. It starts with a vague idea—I could make this or that: a shawl, a scarf, socks, a hat—just a rough idea of the direction I want to go in. Then I check what yarn I have on hand. Something catches my eye, and I think, “This yarn might work for that.”
Next, I experiment with different patterns to see how they look with this yarn. And often enough, I’ll find myself holding a swatch of a particular pattern in this yarn and thinking, “Well, this is absolutely not suitable for a hat; it would look much better as a shawl.” And then the planned hat turns into a shawl. Once I’ve started knitting, there’s no turning back anyway—it just develops on its own and can’t turn out any other way. Most of the time, the yarn tells me which direction to go.
Sometimes, though, I really do have a very specific idea in mind, and I stick with it.

First, I buy the yarn that I like.
Then an idea starts to take shape in my head—

just the rough outline at first, meaning what it’s supposed to be.
After that, I decide whether to knit or crochet.
Once that’s settled, I gradually test whether the idea in my head can actually be brought to life.

Some things are practically already finished in my mind, while
others take shape as I work on them.

Well, I usually get my ideas from my grandchildren. They picture something specific, and I try to bring it to life. Or an idea will pop into my head spontaneously for a loved one I want to make happy. Then I sketch out the idea, first look through my yarn stash, and if I don’t find anything there, I buy the yarn. And then it’s a matter of trial and error and taking notes until something new has been created. Often, the final result ends up looking different from what I originally imagined. I’ve also tried following a trend before—that usually backfired. Those patterns don’t usually go over well. People can probably tell somehow that my heart isn’t really in it. I haven’t dared to try my hand at designing clothes (yet). But who knows? Maybe?

I’ve done a lot of knitting, crocheting, and spinning, but I’m a newbie when it comes to patterns.
It all started because people were always asking me which pattern I used to make this or that.
And I’ve never worked from a pattern—I always just wing it.

When dyeing, I’m inspired by walks; when spinning, by colors or the texture of the raw wool. When knitting and crocheting, I’ll take the general shape from one thing, the color from another, and the pattern from something else entirely. It’s always a mix of different things. And then I just start, and while knitting, the idea comes to me to add this or that detail to the piece. I go with the flow, and it rarely ends up the way it started. I’ve only recently started writing things down :-)

Best regards, Caro 

Dear ChristinaE,

thanks for asking ;-)

I have to admit... I usually just dream about it *hihi*
Then it takes a few more days for the colors and the cut to come together, and then I’m off!

All the best, Kathrin

Well, ideas usually pop into my head while I’m playing with my kids. Then I have to write them down first, brainstorm a bit, and then sketch them out.
I almost always use the same yarn, so that question doesn’t really come up for me.
And as I sketch, more and more ideas come to mind.

Just give it a try—it’ll work out.

Best wishes, Kathrin

Hello,

that’s a really good question for once ;-)

Some things come about because the children or friends have a wish, and then there are also those spontaneous ideas.

Or: I’ve wanted to make a cat for a long time.

But then it always turns into something else—don’t ask me why. Then a bunny or something like that comes out of it.
Maybe the cat doesn’t have time for me yet, or she isn’t satisfied with my idea of her yet ;-)
But most of the time, I keep glancing over at my yarn shelf on the side, and then I get the feeling that this one color is longing to be crocheted into this or that project.


Best wishes, Sabine

Thank you so much for your answers. For now, my creativity is limited to combining different patterns or tweaking a detail here and there—I hope that’s okay!
Right now, I’m totally hooked on shawls—unfortunately, I don’t have nearly as many people to give them to as I’d like to knit or crochet!

It’s wonderful that you’re customizing the patterns for yourself. That’s probably how it started for most of us, too. And the more you make, the more ideas will come—color changes, pattern changes, combining different patterns and colors—and eventually, a whole new design!

Hi Christina,

thanks for your great question! :-)
Your shawls are sure to find someone who’ll be absolutely thrilled with them. Why not try giving them to friends and family or as gifts for special occasions?

Until March of this year, I didn’t even know I had the talent to design my own knitted and crocheted pieces. It just happened naturally when I couldn’t find what I had in mind. That’s when I got the idea to try it myself, and it worked right away.

For me, my creations come from a need. Sometimes I’ll sketch out a rough idea beforehand. But while I’m knitting or crocheting, changes suddenly creep in. It surprises even me. And it’s so much fun to see what ultimately comes of it.

I hope you have lots of fun bringing all your ideas to life!

Warm regards,
Monika

Hi there,

I found a great video on this topic that I thought was very interesting.
I’d only recently read an article about it in a magazine, but I couldn’t fully and accurately repeat what I’d read.
The video offers a scientific explanation, but I can really relate to it myself. Up until now, whenever someone asked me about it, I’d always stammer my way through it and didn’t know how to put into words what it feels like.

Here’s the video link for anyone who’s interested:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XSOGyTrT9Kw

Best regards and lots of “Eureka!”, “Aha!” moments, flashes of inspiration, and creative ideas
Birgit

Thanks, Birgit! That’s an interesting post.

I wish everyone here happy sweaty knitting and crocheting. ;-)

Warm regards from Monika