Jun 6, 2015
This Week’s Episode
I’m continuing my Crochet & Knitting Design & Self-Publishing Mini Series by talking about polishing your pattern through editing and formatting.
If you’re new to self-publishing, or your current approach to editing isn’t working as you hoped…
You may want to listen to these two earlier episodes.
- Episode 3: 8 Tips for Organizing Your First Pattern Test, and
- Episode 25: 8 Tips for Contracting with Your First Tech Editor.
Each of these episodes outlines strategics, tactics, advantages, and pitfalls of using testers and/or tech editors to edit your patterns.
4 Approaches to Editing
In this episode, I share 4 different approaches to editing your self-published patterns. Each has advantages and challenges.
Self-editing
Many self-published designers edit their own patterns. The obvious advantage is that this method is free (although you may be surprised by how much of your own time is used for editing). You may also be able to edit more quickly since you aren’t reliant on anyone else’s schedule.
If you are not particularly detail oriented, if you have a lot of distractions in your work area, or if math is not your strength, you may find self-editing particularly difficult.
Some tips (borrowed from writers) that may help you remain objective while editing are:
- Review the pattern from the final row/round to the first row/round. This will help you look at the structure of each part of the pattern in isolation.
- Give yourself a break. Try not to edit the pattern just after writing it or making the sample.
- Find a workspace that is distraction-free.
Using pattern testers as editors
In a previous episode about pattern testing, I talk about the challenges of using testers as editors. Many, many wonderful testers have no specific talent for editing. They may not be very detail oriented, or they may not be articulate enough to describe pattern problems and suggest alternatives.
If you do use testers for editing, seek out testers who are very detail oriented and willing to share feedback. I recommend soliciting online testers through Ravelry’s The Testing Pool group and hosting online tests in your own Ravelry group.
I also respond to questions about other challenges of working with testers, including how to address copyright/piracy concerns, how to turn down or reject a tester, and how to deal with problem testers. Thank you to @HookedbyAngel from Hooked by Angel and to @hookabeeCrochet from Hookabee for sharing your questions!
I also challenge designers to think about their expectations for testers in relationship to what they are offering to their testers. While an individual pattern is worth a lot of money to you as a designer (because of both the passive income potential over your lifetime as well as the time and expenses you have invested in the pattern), an actual pattern is worth about $5 to a consumer. Are your expectations for pattern testers in alignment with the value of your pattern to an individual consumer?
Skill sharing
Some designers trade editing services with other designers. The advantage of this approach is that it is free. There are quite a few (potential) disadvantages, including the possibility that this designer will claim your pattern as his/her own. The other disadvantages are the same as those for self-editing, with the addition of potential delays in turnaround time. And, of course, you have to do more work, too, since you’ll need to edit your colleague’s pattern.
Tech editing
I’ve found that tech editing works best for me as an approach for editing patterns. The benefits are that you have an objective and skilled set of eyes looking over your pattern. The primary disadvantage is cost – you will need to pay a tech editor before you’ve earned any income from your pattern.
With that being said, there are challenges to using tech editing. It is critical for a designer to work with a tech editor that you can trust and who has tech editing skills. Chemistry/personality fit is also important. I share more details about my approach to working with a tech editor in Episode 8.
Formatting your pattern
When I talked about having a style sheet in the first episode in this series, we didn’t explicitly discuss the formatting of your pattern from a graphic design standpoint.
I suggest choosing the software that you are the most comfortable with and that you can manipulate easily. I know designers who use word processing software (most commonly, Microsoft Word or Google Docs), PowerPoint, and InDesign. If you are thinking about how to visually brand your patterns to match other elements of your business, you may find Episode 6: Free and Low Cost (Visual) Branding Resources helpful.
I also recommend that you allow other people – perhaps your pattern testers – look over your format before distributing patterns. You may get valuable feedback about readability and visual appeal.
If you enjoyed this episode
The Creative Yarn Entrepreneur Show is no longer broadcasting. Episodes are available as a service to the yarn community. This episode originally aired in June, 2015. Be aware that content may be outdated.
If you'd like to chat with other yarn-related business owners, join the Creative Yarn Entrepreneurs Facebook group. Support Marie's work by buying one of her books, Make Money Teaching Crochet: Launch Your Business, Increase Your Side Income, Reach More Students (Amazon | Gumroad) or Design It, Promote It, Sell It: Online Marketing for Your Crochet and Knit Patterns (Amazon | Gumroad).