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How to Make knitting patterns and sell Them Online [Ultimate Guide] -

Jan 19, 2023

 Last updated: January 18, 2023

Are you a knitter hoping to generate some additional income? A good option is selling knit patterns. If you have the right tools and some knowledge of how to advertise your knitting job, you could make your love of knitting into a business. This article provides the steps needed to sell knitting patterns to make money.

This is a short list of things we'll cover:

 What's a knit pattern?

An knitting pattern is an instruction manual for knitting an item. The pattern will explain everything you have to know to create the item: what type of yarn to use and the gauge, as well as any additional materials or equipment required and how to make the size(s) of the final item, and of course the stitches to use.

 How to Create knitting patterns: A Step-by-Step Instruction

Creating your first pattern can be daunting But here are steps to help simplify the process of writing your first pattern simpler.

 1. Identifying Your Target Audience

Before you start making and selling your own patterns, it's important to identify your target audience. You should think about the people who are interested in your patterns. What kind of knitter would you like to attract - beginner knitters or experienced knitters? Being aware of who you're is going to help you design patterns that will appeal to your target audience.

You can also make use of market research in order to identify your target audience. Look at what other knitting patterns are in fashion and who is buying the patterns. This will give you an idea of whom your intended audience might be and the kind of pattern they're looking for.

 2. Choose the Type of Product You Want to Buy

Once you have a better idea of your target audience determine what kind of items you'd like to create knitting patterns for. Some great beginner-friendly patterns include accessories like scarves dishescloths, baby booties socks, tiny blankets. If you're creating knitting patterns for more advanced knitters, you might develop designs for dresses, sweaters as well as other complicated garments and accessories.

 3. Sketch Your Design

At this stage, it's recommended to start making a sketch of what your desired design will appear as. Start thinking about what types of yarn would you recommend to create your idea, as well as which stitching techniques and patterns would be needed to create the design. If you're not sure about the art of sketching Don't fret simply develop an initial concept and an rough silhouette, where you could jot down some information about your intended stitching patterns, yarn weight, and so on.

Remember to keep your target group in mind when you think about the stitching patterns you choose to use. Do you intend for them to create complex knitting products or do you want your knitting pattern to be doable for an easy knit-while-you-Netflix type of knitting?

When you're making wearable clothes Be aware of styles and patterns that can impact the functionality. In particular, cables can result in thicker knitted clothes and are appropriate for winter wear. Here's a good guide to get ideas on diverse knit patterns to help you get your imagination going.

 4. Knit a Sample Swatch

The creation of a swatch can be essential step. Simply, you need to create an swatch of knit in your desired yard in needle size, length, and stitch pattern. This allows you to see your design on a small scale, check that your material appears and behaves way you want it to. Also, it confirms your gauge, which is vital for grading.

You will also be able to gauge your knitting so that you can ensure your pattern is accurate. For this, you need to knit the largest test (at minimum 6" square - though you don't need to be rectangular!) using the needles you've selected to knit your design, making sure to knit in the round if you'll work in the round, and measure how many rows and stitches you've created for each inch. See this article for a more detailed guide for the best way to determine the knit gauge.

 5. Make Your Knitting Pattern Instructions

There are a variety of free editors that can be used to create knitting patterns, such as Google Docs and Sheets. There is also an online graphic design tool like Canva, which provides more options to help your documents look polished and professional. After you've proven yourself to be an expert in knitting, you may want to think about investing in other software such as Adobe InDesign, as you're able to create professional layouts for your documents.

When deciding the layout of your pattern document You'll need to think about how the document will use. Take a look at how you've utilized knitting patterns previously and how you used them: did you use them to read on a computer screen or print them out? Are you able to make notes on the patterns? This will impact your layout design choices.

You may also want to think about accessibility requirements here. There's a vibrant group of visually impaired and blind vision knitters. Think about (for instance) how well your document can be used with a screen reader. There are guidelines for visually accessible knitting patterns, that you can find here.

It's now time to write the knitting directions down. An excellent knitting pattern usually contains the following parts:

  • Written instructions row by row, or round by round, to create the item
  • Abbreviations employed and an explanation of why each means.
  • Charts of any stitch pattern or colorwork, including a key
  • The weight of yarn and how much yarn is needed
  • Size of the needle
  • An overview of additional tools or concepts that are required.
  • Measurements and size of the final product which includes a sketch for any item that is complex, or is a part of a body
  • Images of the final product, both in and out of a body where appropriate
  • Details about you as the designer
  • Terms of use

In writing your first pattern and you'll be faced with numerous choices about the style of writing you prefer to use. Create by creating a Style Guide document and write each choice including font names and size, to whether or not you begin with a capital letter in the beginning of round or row, or not. This Style Guide can be a valuable source for you as well as your technical editors (see the section below) to ensure that your patterns are consistently written and that your clients know what to expect when they purchase from your.

Maintain your knitting pattern draft as an editable document, so that you can make additional modifications as you build a sample of your finished product.

 6. Make a sample of your Finished Product

After you've composed some detailed knitting patterns adhere to your own directions and start knitting a sample of your finished item. You will need to follow your instructions line by line in order to ensure you can spot any errors or information that is not there.

Make sure to snap lots of pictures when you're knitting as you can incorporate those pictures into the knitting pattern's directions. These also make great social media content for building anticipation before the knitting pattern is released! You should also take lots of high-quality pictures of your finished product, showing close-ups of design details and special techniques, as your intended audience will want to view the final item to see whether they'd be interested in purchasing the knitting patterns.

 7. Grade Your Pattern

While some types of products come in a single size, many will need to be graded according to sizes, specifically items that go on a body.

There is a need to reference an appropriate, complete scale chart such as these ones provided by the Craft Yarn Council that we would recommend to read further. This can help you determine what the size of each piece of the finished item will need to be.

There are lots of online courses that will instruct you on how to grade even if you're not certain how to. Alternatively, some tech editors (see below) also offer a grade-giving service.

 8. Get Your Knitting Pattern Ready for the Sale

In this point, you should have written each and every instruction required to create your finished item. Now it's time to have your patterns tech reviewed and checked! The tech editor functions like an editor for copywriting, however it is designed specifically designed for knitting patterns. They will typically check that your stitch counts are accurate and correspond with the instructions you've given, that your charts say similar things to your written instructions, that your grading adds up, and that your instructions are clear. In simple terms, you have to make sure your directions are simple to follow.

In simple terms, they'll ensure that the instructions you provide are accurate and understandable. Editing your tech documents is an essential part of the process - it's almost impossible to edit your own work accurately! The document should be reviewed your document prior to sending it to the editor. you can find a fantastic pre-tech-edit checklist that you can download on this page.

The next step is having your pattern test knit. It is the time to make your first version of your pattern available for no cost to knitters, who will make the knit and then provide feedback. Test knitting is a wonderful way to get real feedback from real knitters regarding everything from the clarity and the accuracy of your instructions, as well as the usefulness of your images.

When you've established the knitting pattern ready for sale, create a final PDF version of your knitting pattern. This is the electronic file you will deliver to customers.

 Selling Knitting Patterns Online for Free

There's an array of choices available from online marketplaces and social media platforms to your own website. Each platform has its advantages and disadvantages, so it's important to consider the best one for your company. Also, you might want to think about listing your designs across multiple platforms. The simplest and most budget-friendly method to market your own patterns online is to create an online store that is free to use .

 1. Create a Free Online Store/Website

Platforms like these let you create a beautiful website where you sell your personal knitting patterns. It is not necessary to think about the cost of other third-party platform or fees as provides a free all-in-one tool that allows you to launch your pattern online store within just a few minutes!

A few benefits to using this method are:

  • A free and forever-green platform. Only charges a 5% fee for each sale you make and, therefore, if you're only getting started with a small number of clients yet, you won't have to pay anything.
  • The instant delivery of digital files to your clients. Your customers can make a payment on your website and get instant access to your knitting pattern without having to be involved. This gives you more time to focus on other areas of your business - yay!
  • If the knitting pattern you are using is changed in the the future, you may make use of's Email Updates feature to send an update download link customers
  • Fully-hosted and free domain. You'll get a free website/online store with the following customizable store name .com/[yourcustomstorenamehere]. However, you are able to connect with a domain that you have created e.g. janesmithknitting.com if you'd like to
  • Simple drag and drop website builder that can be fully customized to match your branding style. No coding skills or design abilities are required
  • Instant payments through Paypal and Stripe
  • Automated collection and payment of UK & EU VAT
  • Advanced marketing features such as referral program, affiliate program, upselling, cross-selling, coupons, email marketing, and more are all accessible on the free plan

The company is recognized for its easy-to-use interface for beginners. Also, it offers many videos that provide guidance to help you ensure you're successful in the process of setting up your business online.

 2. Make a list of your knitting patterns to Sell

After having created your free website/online store with  the right information, you can submit your knitting patterns as product listings.

Whatever way you sell your patterns, you'll have to give plenty of details to the customer so they can decide which pattern is suitable for them. Needles and concepts, proper sizing as well as plenty of pictures are imperative!

One of the most important choices is the price you charge your design. If you set it too low, you'll be undervaluing not only your own work, but that of other designers within the field; too excessive and potential customers could be put off. It's important that your price precisely reflects the amount of details contained in your pattern (as the amount of information varies from designer to designer!). It's likely that you know what other designers are charging for similar patterns However, you should take the time to conduct some research.

After your pattern file and the product description are complete, you're now ready to go on sale!

  1. You can upload your knitting patterns PDF on the product listing
  2. Making your knitting patterns Product title, description, and price
  3. Sending a couple of photos to your images for your product's listing
  4. Publishing your product listing

The whole product upload process will take less than 2 minutes.

 3. Promote and Drive Traffic to Your Knitting Pattern Store

It's now time to begin advertising your store's patterns. This could include using the internet, going to craft fairs , events and festivals, or advertising on other knitting related websites.

It's also an excellent idea to establish a blog where you can publish blog post content relating to knitting. Blog posts can gain organic search traffic through Google Search Results, resulting in more website traffic to your site.

It is also possible to offer promotional discounts for a short period to encourage people to purchase your patterns. This is particularly beneficial during new pattern release.

Try reaching out to knit bloggers or influencers to read your patterns , and then let them know about them. You can also make a mailing list that will ensure that your customers are informed about updates to your patterns and special offers. Additionally, you could create a referral program to encourage customers to refer friends to your patterns.

Be sure to take advantage of the free tools for marketing like coupon codes, referral program and affiliate program mailer list, cross-sell, upgrade discount, and more. It allows you to create efficient marketing campaigns via your social channels and on other sites.

SELL KNITTING PATTERNS ONLINE

Join the more than 130,000 sellers that have created their online business using

 Troubleshooting Common Issues When selling Knitting Patterns

If you are selling knitting patterns there are a few typical issues that you might encounter during the process. They include copyright infringements, receiving negative customer feedback, and bad sales. So here are a few tips to overcome these issues:

  • Make a comprehensive set of terms and conditions for usagewithin the knitting pattern's PDF. It should also include guidelines about the ways your customers interact with the knitting patterns you provide e.g. Is your pattern available just for personal use? Do you grant commercial rights to your customers? Additionally, you can define your rights as property in the terms of use section.
  • Reacting to feedback from customers. One advantage selling knitting patterns through your personal website (as compared to selling on marketplaces like Etsy) is that you are able to enable the ability to review customer reviews only with approval so that you won't get sucked into unfair 1 review ratings. If you do receive negative reviews, you are able to choose not to publish the reviews on your website but make sure to always contact those particular clients to resolve the issue.
  • Offer your knitting patterns for no cost to get the feedback of your customers. Asking test knitters to test the pattern can be a good option to be sure your pattern is optimized to appeal to a variety of audiences. The test knitters you choose to use are likely able to provide useful feedback and notes on the pattern which can help improve your knitting pattern. With a single click, you are able to change your knitting pattern's listing to $0 or to a pay-what-you-want pricing.

 FAQ - Making Your own patterns and selling the Designs online

 Can you create your own knitting patterns?

Yes, creating your own knitting patterns can be a fun and creative adventure. All you have to do for pattern writing is decide what type of knitted item that you'd like to create and then write down your instructions on how to make it, and publish the pattern online to other knit lovers to enjoy.

 Are you able to earn profit selling patterns for knitting?

 Where can you buy knitting patterns online?

 Final Thinking

If you have the proper system, pricing strategy, and marketing plan it is possible to turn your passion into profit. This step-by-step guide will help you begin in the right direction for designing your own knitting.