How to Create & Publish Crochet Patterns

Crochet is a big business, and avid crocheters are always looking for something new to inspire their creativity. This is good news, since it means there's a constant market for patterns - if you're a crafter and want to see your ideas published, there's no time like the present to get started.

Before you even get going, take a deep breath and relax. Know now that you will probably stress out at least once, and several times you'll kick yourself believing that your ideas aren't "good enough". Don't let self-doubt stop you. Instead, take it as a sign that you need a break. Go do something completely un-crafty, clear your mind, and come back to your project refreshed.

Anyone with an ounce of creativity can have their crochet patterns published. Want to make a bigger mark than just "anyone"? Good! Everything you need to know to professionally create your crochet pattern and get it published is in this guide.

Writing a Professional Crochet Pattern

Regardless of where you want your pattern to end up, there's no doubt that you want it to look as nice as it possibly can. You want it to be professional, easy to read, and useful.

Not a problem - you just need to follow a few steps.

1. Grab a template - Yes, anyone who has read much of my articles already know that I'm big on templates. Seriously though, if someone has already done the work in a nice-looking way, why spend your valuable time doing the same thing when you can work off of what they've been nice enough to create?

Another reason that templates are great in writing crochet patterns is that they serve to remind you what pieces need to be created. While I could say that you'll need a list of materials, clear steps, and pictures, it's much easier to remember these items and visualize how they'll work when you're looking at a pattern template that they'll plug into.

You can download a free crochet pattern template I have compiled (right-click and choose "Save As", or simply click to preview), or if you're really set on the idea of creating your own look you can create your own template. Just be sure to reference published layouts in magazines, books, or online as you work.