Creating Patterns: What Skills Do You Need?

Dear users, dear authors,
I’m sure there are some of you who would like to know what it takes to create patterns or how authors got started.
This is the right thread to discuss that. Of course,
legal advice cannot be provided here. This thread is solely about design, software for creating patterns, the basic skills needed for writing patterns, and so on.
Let me know your thoughts.

Hello Josefa and everyone interested,

in addition to the legal framework, as a pattern author you naturally need ideas.

Of course, no one can reinvent the wheel, but you should have your own ways of making a wheel and “new” ideas about what a wheel can look like.

Just mixing a little of this with a little of that and adding some decoration here and there won’t last long.

And just as important is the ability to explain something without being physically present.

Many of us have watched a video and still didn’t understand a thing. Explaining things in writing is even harder.

And even photos in the pattern are by no means a guarantee of a successful pattern.

Anyone who has good, original ideas and can then explain how to carry them out well in writing is already pretty well equipped for a start as a pattern author.

But even after getting started, an author should remain eager to learn. After all, no one is born a master, and unless you’ve trained as an advertising photographer or copywriter, you’ll likely be learning for a long time to come.

New patterns and different types of crafts shouldn’t be overlooked either. Who wants to eat green beans every week? In the same way, an author always needs something new.

As in any profession, there are tasks you don’t particularly enjoy doing, but they still have to be done. That’s why a good dose of discipline is essential.

I’ll admit, I’d love to have a boss who’d give me a kick in the butt when I’m once again in absolutely no mood to write or take photos.

Well, as the saying goes, “self-employed means working all the time.”

Oh, and “all the time” is another matter entirely. I think everyone understands when an author isn’t always constantly available, but you should still check your messages at least once a day and answer any questions that come up.

When I write it out like this, it all seems like a lot. But with a little talent and a lot of determination, you can do it.

Best regards, Birgit

The most important skill is probably: creativity! You always need new (and above all: your own! ;)) ideas. 

You should also have a certain ability to express yourself.
Of course, you don’t have to be Shakespeare or Goethe, but customers should understand what you write in the pattern. 

And something many people underestimate: patience! 
Often, online you only see the classics, the bestsellers... patterns with thousands of sales. However, that’s not the norm, and very few people go from rags to riches by writing patterns. 
If you want to make a living from this business, you have to really put in a loooot of effort, deal with marketing topics, with photography...

What equipment you need:
-A computer (/laptop/possibly tablet/...) with a word processing program like Microsoft Word or Open Office.
-A decent camera (Good pictures are very important)
-An image editing program and the willingness to learn how to use it (There are free ones and ones you can buy; you have to try out which one suits you)
-Possibly photo equipment like photo boxes, dress forms,... (But you can also take great pictures without a lot of bells and whistles) 

And, very very important: Enjoy what you’re doing! If the topic already bores you after a month, you should consider whether you’re doing the right thing! :)

I don’t regret my decision :) 

I can only agree with what’s been written here so far. Above all, enjoying the process is key—otherwise, you’ll give up very quickly or lose your passion for it. And customers notice that right away.

Proper spelling is also important. Of course, a typo can happen from time to time—it happens to everyone and will surely be forgiven. But the patterns and the sales copy should definitely be written correctly. That also affects sales figures and your own image.

I also think a clear layout with enough spacing and short paragraphs is important. Bullet points or tables are helpful to make it as easy as possible for the customer.

I’ll probably never forget my early days as a knitting pattern author: It all started for me many, many years ago at a publisher of craft magazines. Back then, I actually went into it completely naive and thought to myself: I can knit, I can do math, and I’m reasonably confident in my spelling, so I can write patterns. I was thrown right into the deep end back then and immediately entrusted with an entire issue. When the first corrections came in, all I saw was RED, and I thought to myself—once and never again, this is never going to work! But I stuck with it and powered through—and had to learn a lot!
Today I’d say—above all, you need perseverance, a lot of love and time for what you do, a high tolerance for frustration (which I absolutely lack at times), because even though this job is a lot of fun, it’s still—just like any other job—not always fun; plenty of (your own) creativity, PATIENCE, a great deal of experience in the relevant type of handicraft, plenty of idealism, the willingness to endure long dry spells, a constant desire to learn new things, a certain degree of perfectionism, discipline, a spirit of discovery—and THE RULE OF THREE! ;-)