Where do you want to go in your knitting and crocheting?

Summer time quickie... It's summer, y'all!


The kids are out of school and you don’t have time to do your thing – knitting, crocheting, teaching, etc. You're busy! I get it. I am right there with you. So for the next few weeks I will keep these weekly updates short, sweet, to the point, and hopefully still with a swift kick to get you going.

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So, how are you doing? What’s new with you? Me? Well, I have a new knit shawl pattern coming out in a few days. Sorry I can’t say too much about it just yet. I should be able to share more next week. But between you and me, *in a low whisper* it’s gorgeous!

The photography is superb. No, I didn’t take the photos. Those were done by a professional photographer for the publication. Don’t tell anyone, but when I saw the promotional images come through on email, I wondered where I could buy that pattern, then I realized it was my design. Is that weird that was my first thought? Hope you will love it too when it comes out.

Anyway, the publication sent an email yesterday asking more about beginnings as a knitter and my experience as a designer to include as extra tidbits for the collection. You know, the usual stuff like how I got started, where I get my inspirations, etc., - ugh, I hate writing about myself.

So, going through the questions really got me thinking about how I got to here.

“Would you tell me, please, which way I ought to go from here?"
"That depends a good deal on where you want to get to."
"I don't much care where –"
"Then it doesn't matter which way you go.”

                                                                                  ~ Lewis Carroll, Alice in Wonderland.

We all get to this knitting and crocheting thing one way or the other, whether it’s with intention or by accident. Where we end up from here matters, if we know where that is.

When I started on this designing journey, I didn't know where it would lead. I was just going wherever the wind too me. It was only after I looked at where I was at the time, and really considered where I wanted the journey to take me, was I able to create a plan (and a backup plan) for how to get there.

Find your drive. Find your direction.

The truth is, if you want direction you have to know where you want to get to.

So, where do you want to go? What skill(s) or obstacle(s) do you need to learn or overcome to get there? Leave a comment (or email me) to share.


Until next time...Stitch on!
Tian

A rising tide lift many boats

OTHER PATTERNS YOU MIGHT LIKE!

Go, check out KnitDesigns by Tian Pattern Page to get your copy here:

      

{Freeport Cardigan}

{Harwinton Easy Lace Boomerang}

Want a 20% OFF COUPON to my Ravelry Shop 

and subscriber-exclusives?  

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Why does it matter?

Whenever I hear someone says they aren’t where they want to be, whether it’s with their day job, relationships, or creative pursuits, my very first question is always why? Why does it matter? The place where you want to be? Why do you want to be there? This is a simple question with endless answer possibilities. I have found that simple question (why?) leads me to the root of my heart’s desire and the path and means to get there when I drill way down into that why? 

Keora Shawl

If you’ve taken my Pattern Writing 101 e-course, then you know that I ask this question a lot and help you drill down to understand your why starting in the very first lesson. I am sure my students got really sick of me asking this, but the truth is, we all have within us the stuff we need to get to where we want to get to. We possess the answers. We just need to ask the right question.

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So, you want to knit or crochet that pattern on Ravelry’s Hot Right Now list. Why? You want to design, write, and publish your own pattern. Why? You are already a designer but is not getting on the Hot Right Now list. Why does it matter? Drill down into it. Really understand why any of it matters. Is what you want to do in line with your purpose? Or, are you doing it because everyone else is doing it?

It doesn’t get much tougher than that. Let’s get real, the answer you come up with might not be what you want to hear OR it might lead you to a place you never even imagined. But it is now that you need to trust your gut. It’s never lied to you.

It’s not about following what everyone else is doing on Ravelry. Keep asking why, over and over. Why does it matter? Keep picking at it to the real source and all will reveal itself. It’s about knowing deep in your soul your purpose, your why.

Until next time...Stitch on!

Tian
*A rising tide lifts all boats*

OTHER PATTERNS YOU MIGHT LIKE!

Go, check out KnitDesigns by Tian Pattern Page to get your copy here:

      

{Freeport Cardigan}

{Harwinton Easy Lace Boomerang}

Want a 20% OFF COUPON to my Ravelry Shop 
and subscriber-exclusives?  

Subscribe to

{The Weekly Yarn} from KnitDesigns by Tian

* indicates required

Email Address *

First Name

I am interested in Crochet and Knit...

• Patterns
• Designing
• Both

Email Format

• html
• text

How to decide what knit and crochet projects to take on vacation

In a few days, school will be out for summer break – yay? My family, your family, and many families across the US and abroad will be heading on vacation, adventures to the beach, campsites, and other fun places.

Summer is a time to watch out children grow a whole foot taller in just 2 short months, to reap the fruits of our labor and our gardens, no matter the size. While we flip those burgers and sip on tart lemonade, let’s look towards our successes and all that we’ve learned from the things that did not go as expected.

As I write this, my family is preparing for our first camping trip of the year – my second ever camping trip. Last year was my first time camping. Good thing my boys are a bit more experienced at this than I am. Side note: before this, roughing it for me was a hotel without room service. I’d say I’ve come a long way. Parenting has helped.

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Alongside the list of what we need to prepare for the trip is an equally long list of patterns and yarns I want to bring. Like any good knitter and crocheters it’s better to be overly prepared than not. You get it! I see you nodding. We’re not going for very long, but you never know. I could be stuck in traffic due to a moose crossing or something. Right?! Well, you never know. What if I end up like Gillian on his island, expecting a 3-day trip but end up stranded in New Hampshire for years? What will I knit and crochet while I wait to be rescued? Well, I’m not taking that chance.  

So, I am making a list and trying to figure out what to bring.

Sweaters? Nah. How about a sock… or two? One knit and one crochet? Something garter stitch and mindless to work on while sitting around the campfire. Something complex for when my boys are off biking and it’s just me and my dog, Charlie, in the quiet. So many items to go on the list. And so many to remove.

I haven’t even thought of what I’ll bring to wear on the trip, but that is less important than what I will knit and crochet.

Leave a comment. When you plan a trip, how do you decide what knit and crochet projects to take? I need to narrow down my options here, so help!

Until next time...Stitch on!
Tian

A rising tide lift many boats

OTHER PATTERNS YOU MIGHT LIKE!

Go, check out KnitDesigns by Tian Pattern Page to get your copy here:

      

{Freeport Cardigan}

{Harwinton Easy Lace Boomerang}

Want a 20% OFF COUPON to my Ravelry Shop 
and subscriber-exclusives?  

Subscribe to

{The Weekly Yarn} from KnitDesigns by Tian

* indicates required

Email Address *

First Name

I am interested in Crochet and Knit...

• Patterns
• Designing
• Both

Email Format

• html
• text

Dealing with failures in your knit and crochet

I don't write about failures and negatives much because I don't think there is one way to success. Success comes in many forms and I encourage knitters, crocheters, designer to find their own way. To discover their why and how.

Failure hurts, A LOT. No matter how long you've been at a thing, it still stings. It leaves a bad taste in your mouth and crushes your spirit. But it's how you recover and cope with the failure, turning it into a learning experience, that really matters… and having a strategy before setting out.

I hate telling knitters, crocheters, designers that they will fail. That something they pursue might not turn out as expected. But I feel I must here because I care about you very much. 

Maybe you're ready to dive into knit and/or crochet pattern designing. Maybe you are ready to tackle that next pattern you've been putting off. Do you know where to begin? Maybe not. 

You might not know where you will end up or how you will get there. 

Many people talk about passion. But passion will not get you where you want to go. Or at least, not alone. You will need a strong desire for success and a strategic plan of action.

When we tackle a new pattern that is beyond our skill level, when we take the plunge to write our first pattern, we go at it with our whole heart and with passion. But beyond just that passion, we create a plan of action, seeking help on Youtube to learn the technique. We ask questions of fellow knitters and crocheters. We make a plan to get to where we want to go. Because without a plan, the road is so much harder.

Leave a comment and share your experience of a time you took a chance and was successful.

Until next time...Stitch on!

Tian
*A rising tide lifts all boats*

OTHER PATTERNS YOU MIGHT LIKE!

Go, check out KnitDesigns by Tian Pattern Page to get your copy here:

      

{Freeport Cardigan}

{Harwinton Easy Lace Boomerang}

Want a 20% OFF COUPON to my Ravelry Shop 
and subscriber-exclusives?  

Subscribe to

{The Weekly Yarn} from KnitDesigns by Tian

* indicates required

Email Address *

First Name

I am interested in Crochet and Knit...

• Patterns
• Designing
• Both

Email Format

• html
• text

How to get your pattern noticed on Ravelry

E-Course starting June 19 - How to get your pattern noticed on Ravelry

Are you a knit and crochet designer who hears crickets when you launch a new design on Ravelry? Maybe you get a bump on the first day when your design is at the top of Ravelry's recently added patterns. 

As a designer of over 100 patterns, I've tried many different techniques and have had great results. In this course I share with you some easy techniques you can use on your next pattern release.

How to get your pattern noticed on Ravelry will help you with marketing your pattern. At the end of the course, you will have a formula and system that you make and evolve over time.

Registration will run from June 8-12, or when the course is full. Space is limited.

In this course you will learn:

• When to launch your pattern
• How to share in forums and groups
• How to create a promotion strategy

With this course you will get:

• One lesson, One Q+A session, email support
• Template to use as a guide
• Tips on how to create a marketing calendar

This course is for you if:

• You are a knit and/or crochet designer wanting to create a promotional schedule
• Want to learn strategies to get your patterns noticed beyond the first day of release
• You are feeling stuck and want to try something different
  

This course is NOT for you if:

• You don't care about promoting your pattern
• You are okay with your current strategies 

How to get your pattern noticed on Ravelry course will teach you how to create a marketing strategy that will get you noticed beyond the recently added pattern page on Ravelry.

Just know this: enrollment is now open but will close on June 12, at 11:59pm (eastern) or when space fill up.

This is a beta class being offered for the first time at a starter price of $19. When the course re-open in the Fall 2016, price will double.

Space is limited, so sign up today!

Want to be notified when this course go live again in the Fall, join the waiting list here.

How to grade a knit and crochet pattern using MS Excel

How to grade a pattern using MS Excel

Are you a knit and crochet designer looking for a simple and consistent way to size your next pattern? As a designer and tech editor, I help knit and crochet designers grade their patterns. In this course, I will show you how to use MS Excel to grade your next pattern in multiple sizes using a simple hat pattern as a guide.

How to grade a pattern using MS Excel will make pattern grading easier and faster. No more pencil and pen! Plus, you will save time.

In this course you will learn:

• How to set-up your spreadsheet to get started
• Simplified calculations
• How to create and use formulas in MS Excel
• Step-by-step calculations for grading using a gauge swatch

With this course you will get:

• One lesson, One Q+A session, email support.
• Excel template to use as a guide
• Step-by-step tutorial on how to use the MS Excel template
• Get answers to your specific questions with a Q+A session

This course is for you if:

• You are a knit or crochet designer wanting to create multiple sizes of a pattern
• Have a working knowledge of MS Excel
• Have a working knowledge of grading techniques

This course is NOT for you if:

• You do not have a working knowledge of MS Excel. This course will not teach you how to use MS Excel
• You do not know how to grade a pattern. This course will not teach you how to size patterns 

How to grade a pattern using MS Excel course will teach you how to use MS Excel to grade patterns in order to publish your next pattern with confidence, knowing every part of your pattern is sized accurately.



CLICK HERE TO JOIN THE WAITING LIST TO BE NOTIFIED WHEN E-COURSE BECOME AVAILABLE

Look up from your knitting and crochet

Look up from your knitting and crochet project every now and then and take stock of you progress. This might be you too, but for me, sometimes as knitters and crocheters we are in such denial about our project. We put out heads in the sand and ignore the things that are right in front of our faces because we don't want to acknowledge the elephant in the room.

We ignore the things we need to notice that are right in front of our faces. When we choose the wrong yarn and needles or hook for a project or when we make a mistake. We try to justify it by saying "it will block out". Yeah, does that sound familiar. But we know the truth. Why do we do that? Why do we try to ignore the problem that is a small mistake 1 row below? We know it will bothers us in the finished project, yet we try to ignore it. Now it's 6" and 2-hours of knitting later, it's more difficult to fix, and a lot harder to ignore.

Sign up here

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We know the truth, yet we try so hard to force the yarn to so something it doesn't want to. We gloss over the missed stitch. We ignore the density of the fabric because the hook/needles are too small for the stitch pattern, chanting along the way, "it will block out" when if we would just go back, take a few minutes and fix the mistake when we first discover the problem, instead of working on, knitting another 6", you would be so much more happier with the project.

The longer you wait, the harder it's going to be to fix. Even worst, you might finish that epic sweater, deciding not to fix the mistake and then end up never wearing the sweater because it can stand up all by itself because your fabric is so stiff! Now you don't have the heart to even try to make the sweater again because the taste of disappointment is so raw and still so close to the surface you just can't go there again.

I don't know what it is. Is it fear? I know it's denial, but why? Gah! it's just yarn! So why does it have this affect on us? We are not saving the world here. It's just knitting and crochet! But there is so much emotional baggage that we put on it. All our insecurities and fears. But the truth is, yarn doesn't care if we are good or bad at this craft. It's not a metaphor for life. Or is it? I don't even know anymore. Maybe I am overthinking this. What do you think?

Check you gut. Don't be complacent. Do your thing!

PATTERN WRITING 101 course
So, over on the Pattern Writing 101 e-course we're on Week Three of the 4-week course (yay!) and we are having so much fun and learning a ton. If you not familiar, the course is about learning the fundamentals of how to write your first (or next) knit and crochet patterns where students are building their confidence to hit publish.

The thing I love most about the course are the fantastic questions coming through. After designing for almost 10 years, I forgot about some of the places where I got stuck when I was first starting out and the mindset changes I had to make for myself in order to build my confidence to put myself out there and hit publish. If you are interested in designing your own knit and crochet pattern, check out the Pattern Writing 101 blog post and join the waiting list to be notified when registration open again in the Fall.

Announcing 2 New Lessons: Current students of Pattern Writing 101 will receive 2 bonus lessons which I am offering as separate, stand along lessons to you.

Maybe you are already a designer and want a bit more support to get you to the next level. Check out these lessons: How to grade a pattern using MS Excel & How to get your pattern noticed on Ravelry. Each will include 1 lesson straight to your emailed on Sunday, Q+A emailed out on Wednesday/Thursday, and plenty of email support to get your specific questions answered.

Interested? Registration will open for only a few days from June 5-8. If you are interested in one or both of these lessons, click on the course below to join the wait list in order to be notified when registration is open. Space is limited. Stay tuned for more information.

Please Note: Current students of Pattern Writing 101 get these 2 lessons as bonuses.

June 12 - How to grade a pattern using MS Excel
June 19 - How to get your pattern noticed on Ravelry


Until next time...Stitch on!

Tian
*A rising tide lifts all boats*

OTHER PATTERNS YOU MIGHT LIKE!

Go, check out KnitDesigns by Tian Pattern Page to get your copy here:

      

{Freeport Cardigan}

{Harwinton Easy Lace Boomerang}

Want a 20% OFF COUPON to my Ravelry Shop 
and subscriber-exclusives?  

Subscribe to

{The Weekly Yarn} from KnitDesigns by Tian

* indicates required

Email Address *

First Name

I am interested in Crochet and Knit...

• Patterns
• Designing
• Both

Email Format

• html
• text