I thought it would be fun to interview myself so you can learn a little bit about my journey into the knitting design process.
Let me start by saying I am not an expert, my designs are not favorited by thousands, and I am not well known in the designer world. But I have loved knitting since I was a child.
I remember my grandmother’s big basket of yarn, needles, and work in progress in her bedroom, plus a “knitting chair” in the kitchen, near the windows, here just for knitting.
I always wanted to own and wear something unique, something I made by myself. Since I’m terrible at sewing, I never try anything else until I dealt with my Hodgkinโs lymphoma in 2012 (you can read the entire story here).
Long story short, when I become a mother for the first time, my daughter got a new knitted wardrobe!
But only when my mom passed away, I returned to knit full time, and I realized that knitting is my passion and joy!
My first pattern was so well received that I decided to write down more of my designs, and this is how it all started.
Now, I knit all the time โ not only my own creations, but I also love test knit for other designers and try popular patterns.
Now let’s talk about the financial possibility to work full-time by just designing and selling patterns.
Since the beginning of my journey into the knitting design process, I want to be financially independent. Building a business takes time, and after two years, I would say that Iโm 50% there.
Last year I started consistently publishing patterns every month, mostly to grow my audience and attain exposure. I slow down this year to catch my breath and let my testers have more time. One of the most important things in the knitting design process is the knitting community. If you listen, you can grow as a better design.
I don’t sell e-books and e-courses because I don’t have time to work on them. I also have three daughters who needs me!
But I ensure my patterns are well-written, make sure my test knitters are successful, and I try my best to write these blog posts! I have the goal of providing value to the knitting community.
Another important thing I learn this year is not being afraid of rejections. Iโve started to submit designs to magazines this summer, and I can tell you, rejection hurts.
But when a design is accepted and published is a great win!
I believe that ANYONE can become a designer. If you have a desire to create you will find your own knitting design process.
Just be authentic to your sense of style and color, make things that you will love, and realize you arenโt going to please everyone.
