What's the best way to write a pattern?

How should I write my patterns better and make them easier to understand? And what are things that you like to see in patterns? (I find it helpful when they say what abbreviations mean what and how to do the stitch personally!)

I want to write more patterns but I also don’t know how to properly test them or make them, so any and all advice is appreciated :3!

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so what i do is first draw out a sketch. this helps to see how the body parts should be made / the shaping of them. it also helps plan out your pattern a bit easier (such as what body parts should be made first → aka base parts)

next i pick up my hook and try to freehand the base parts. it usually helps to know how crocheting works- that’s not the best way to say it but basically how to make simple shapes (ball, oblong sphere, flat pieces, etc).

after getting the first few base parts made i’ll roughly put everything together using sewing pins. this helps visualize how the body will look. usually during this step i’ll adjust everything a bit to make it look more like the picture and more cohesive, then sew it all together to make the main base (usually the body + head + arms / legs)

after that i freehand the more complicated details. those usually take more tries to get just right but are what add that :sparkles:liveliness​:sparkles:to ur pattern. after i get them how i like / as close to the sketch as possible, i’ll play around with some positions of where they’ll go. once i also get that right i’ll sew them on as neatly as possible.

throughout this whole process i write down my steps as detailed as possible in a notebook. you can always strain out the unnecessary stuff while typing it into ribbuild. i also try to take plenty of pictures while making it for any confusing parts. sometimes i will forget or just simply won’t but later realize i should’ve - that’s when i’ll make a second and take more detailed pictures / notes and refine the pattern more.

after completing everything i will type it all into ribbuild, trying to keep it as simple - yet understandable - as possible. i’ll also take some high quality pictures outside if weather allows.

once i get through that i’ll edit the pictures to add my watermark and crop them to fit better. then i go through the pattern one last time to fixanything else i see before i publish the tester call :]


some things that i personally find helpful in patterns are: lots of detailed pictures for more confusing steps, taking time out to explain special stitches / patterns going on, specifying wether you’re starting from the top or the bottom, and what color to start in (based off the pattern picture - ie. if i make a dino pattern that could be made in any color but have a pink dino as the picture for the pattern cover i’d say “starting in pink”.)

hopefully this all helps! i’m excited to see some patterns ;>

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