preliminary sketch ideas
Since I have been learning to design my own patterns I have found that I work in a few different ways. In the case of my tawashi, I have been mostly working with the same circular base and then making new designs that incorporate that as the beginning. I do this because the circular part is the useful part of the design, the portion that will do the real work of the tawashi. Then I do the add ons that make it look like a cute shape that turns into some type of animal or bug.
I realized I had a fish and a seastar, so I wanted to add one more sea creature before moving on to another theme. This way I can have a set of three patterns available at some point. In addition, my mother in law likes seahorses, so she would probably like a set of seahorses for her kitchen. She might just hang them for decoration, but hopefully she will use them. (Maybe I should make a special set for her that have a center circle big enough to use as a coaster….)
some bits and pieces of my chicken scratch
As I create my idea I sit with a notepad and pen next to me, stopping every few stitches to write down what I have done. Of course, this also results in lots of scratching things out as I frog ideas that are just not working. In addition, I have my own little shorthand that would make very little sense if I handed it off to someone else to try to make something.
Seehorse in progress
Once I make one of the item I generally make it a second time following my chicken scratch, making notes as I go. Then, I type it all up, add some photos to make it more clear and prettier and have it tested again. Usually I test it at least one more time based upon the typed version and then ask someone else to test it for me. Since my testers work for free (and a free pattern) it sometimes takes a while for my patterns to make it into my shop. I am trying to figure out a way to keep track of several patterns being out with testers at once, but have not gotten that organized as of yet.
Cool, I find I work similar way. Sometimes I’ll have all these notes scratched out and my husband wonders how I get a typed up pattern from them.
It’s fun to make something, write it up, and then to actually have it work out once it’s in its final testing stages.
Cute scrubbie.
What exactly is a tester and how would I become one? I absolutely love to crochet. I’m 46 and have been doing it since I was probably 10.