The Pros & Cons of Designing

Like most other jobs, designing has both positive and negative aspects. Following are some things to consider if you're thinking of entering the world of crochet design.

Learning To Run A Business
If you don't already know how to run a business, you will need to learn. I won't go into it here because there are already a lot of books on the market that can explain the basics. But be aware that you will have to comply with federal, state and local laws. Be sure to check with the appropriate government agencies to see what you need to do to meet the requirements. If you don't know what questions to ask, ask the agencies to tell you what you need to do. A little research now can save you a lot of grief later.

Setting Your Own Schedule
Being your own boss means that you can set your own schedule, taking into consideration your needs and your family's. It is also one of the main reasons I became a designer. As a young mother, I wanted to contribute to the family income while being able to stay at home with my children. There is a lot to be said for being able to arrange your schedule the way that best suits you, but there is a certain amount of responsibility that comes with it, as well.

Earnings
If you're looking for a get-rich-quick job, this isn't it. What you earn is directly tied to the quality and volume of your work and how your designs fit into the needs of your editors. The more you are in tune with your editors, the more you will publish and the more you will earn. Do your homework and find out what the editors need, then do your best to fulfill them.

Flexibility
One great thing about having a job doing what you love to do is being able to express yourself through your work. However, if you wish to publish consistently, you will need to remain flexible and make compromises with your editors. Remember that they always have the last word in accepting–or rejecting!–your work. While your design may be lovely just as you designed it, the editor has the job of making it fit into his or her publication which generally revolves around a theme. If you are not willing to make the changes your editor asks, you may find that he or she has to move on to another designer. Don’t make the mistake of getting so emotionally attached to your designs that you can’t let go of them in order to do as the editor asks or to move on to the next design.

Erratic Pay Checks
Most likely, you won't be under contract to a publisher so you will be paid by the project rather than drawing a regular pay check.

Publishers in general have different points at which they issue checks. Some pay on acceptance, some on publication and others at certain points during the publication process. Keeping as many projects in submission as possible at any given time will help increase your chances for sales and minimize the gaps between checks.

Deadlines
Meeting your deadlines is one of the single, most important responsibilities you will have as a designer. Your editor will assign a deadline for you and if you don't meet it, you place the editor in an uncomfortable position. He or she must fill the space your design was assigned to, and if you don't meet the deadline, the editor has to make a last-minute scramble to find something to fill the space, which is often difficult to do. It may also make your editor think twice about contacting you to work up further designs.

Balance
Learn to balance your work with a healthy dose of play. It is harder to leave your job at the office when your office happens to be in your home. But, not allowing job responsibilities to overlap into family time will help you to be more relaxed and focused during normal working hours.

The First Steps: Getting Started in Crochet Design

People often ask me how I got started in the design business. Although it seems simple to me now, I was overwhelmed at the process in the beginning. There was little information available then, so I began studying the publications I wanted to design for hoping it would give me some insight into how I should proceed.

Today, this is still where I recommend that you start. Every designer's path to success is a little different, but if you have a talent for designing, are able to write clear instructions and have a good understanding of the publication you want to write for, you are well-equipped to begin the submission process.

Target the publication(s) you want to design for. Then, request an editorial calendar and designer guidelines. Study them thoroughly, and be sure to follow the instructions carefully when submitting your designs. Sometimes you can find editorial calendars and/or designer guidelines on the publisher's Web site. If not, ask that they be sent to you. You can usually find the contact information on the Web site or in the publication.

Obtain issues of the target publication. Study the writing style, and do your best to use the same terms and writing style in your own instructions. Also, pay attention to what types of designs the publication contains. Although it's fruitless to submit duplicates, or even near-duplicates, of projects the publication has already printed, get a feel for the type of designs the editor is looking for. Then, come up with your own unique design that fits into the general theme of that publication.

Never submit the same design to more than one editor at a time. Although this is allowed in some writing fields, most crochet editors I know will reject a design if they know that it is in submission to another editor, even if both editors work for the same company. While this may seem harsh, it’s crucial that the editor is able to depend on the availability of a design once it has been selected.

I’ll cover more in future blog entries, but this will give you a place to start.

Flowers From My Yard

I couldn't resist showing you the photos I took yesterday of some of the flowers in my yard.

I have three pink climbing rose bushes in my back yard that are a huge mass of color when in bloom which is generally the first week in June. They cover the back wall of a small building on the north side of my yard which was once used as a summer kitchen. The building is very small, but big enough to use for my craft studio. Because of the profusion of roses that grace the exterior of the building, I've dubbed it "Rose Cottage."

The yellow flower is from the tulip tree, also known as a yellow poplar, that grows just outside my back door. Until I moved to Indiana almost 6 years ago, I'd never seen this type of tulip tree. I'm originally from northwestern Illinois, and they do not grow there. We had a storm last night so my patio now has a carpet of yellow and orange petals, but the tree is still full of blooms.

A Career in Crochet Design: Is It For You?

If you love to crochet and you’re looking for a job that will allow you to work from home, becoming a crochet designer may be the answer you are looking for—or is it?

There are a variety of things that you’ll need to consider. As an experienced crochet designer and editor with more than 20 years of continuous involvement in the craft publishing industry, I’d like to share with you how the process works.

For that purpose, I am launching a series of short articles outlining my experience in the industry. As in any job, there are pros and cons to weigh, rules to follow, and a lot of hard work. But understand this—if you are dedicated to earning the title of crochet designer and willing to do what is required of you to get there, you, too, can attain success!

Planning Your Crochet Projects

Taking the time to carefully plan your project before you begin to crochet can make a big difference in the quality of the finished product.

First, read through your pattern, taking note of any special instructions. Then select quality yarn or thread in the correct weight for the project and time of year in a pleasing color palette. Quality does not necessarily mean expensive but, to be sure of your results, use a product that is known to stand up to daily wear and tear. Beware of the inexpensive, unknown bargain bin yarns that may turn out not to be such a bargain after all. Also, take care when using older yarn or crochet cotton. Outdated colors can cheapen your project, particularly when used for wearing apparel, accessories and home decor.

If you are making a fitted item or need to make sure that you don’t run out of yarn or thread, work a gauge swatch first. Once you’ve done so, launder it as you would the finished project. It will give you an idea of how the fiber will perform.

Embellishments can be the crowning jewels of your crochet project. Don’t omit them if your pattern calls for them. Select ribbon, buttons and other accessories with the same care and thought that you put into selecting your yarn or thread, and make sure that they are complementary to your project. Don’t be afraid to experiment, but avoid cheap, inappropriate or outdated materials which will detract from the finished look.

Always be sure to use good finishing techniques. Weave in all of the ends securely and with care. If there is hand-sewing involved, make sure your stitches are neat if they are meant to be seen. If they are not, make sure they are invisible. Nothing will spoil the look of a project more quickly than puckered seams or misplaced stitches, especially if they are worked in a contrasting color and will not blend into the background.

Go Green With Make-It-Yourself Market Bags!

Lately, there has been a lot of discussion amongst the members of several Internet crochet lists I belong to regarding the making and use of market bags. It seems that some retailers are considering cutting down on the number of bags they distribute when you make a purchase or possibly discontinuing them altogether. Instead, they are encouraging customers to make or purchase their own reusable bags.

Personally, I think this is a fantastic idea! It gives those of us who crochet, knit, weave, sew, etc., the opportunity to express ourselves with our own unique bags. But the biggest bonus is that it keeps the plastic bags out of our landfills and will no longer pose a threat to wildlife.

With today's prices spiraling upwards at an alarming rate, you can be kind to the environment while also being kind to your budget by making your market bags from scrap or recycled materials. One idea that particularly intrigues me is Marlo's market bag at Marlo's Crochet Corner. It is made from the same plastic bags that the retailers want to discontinue, but it can also be made from bread wrappers, trash bags and most other types of plastic bags. Search Marlo's free pattern index to find the bag pattern and a tutorial to show you how to cut the bags and assemble the plastic "yarn."

There are many other patterns available as well, or you can wing it and create your own. You could use leftover scraps of yarn or thread. (I like to make mine from three strands of crochet thread held together with a G crochet hook.) You might also use strips of fabric and a large hook or needles to stitch up an extra-sturdy bag in a jiffy.

But, don't stop there! Help your friends and family go green, too, by making extra bags as gifts. These bags are fun to make and use and work up fairly quickly. And, when you're not shopping, you can use them to carry needlework or your books to the library, or just about anything else you can think of. The possibilities are endless!

What I'm Doing Now

Yikes! I can hardly believe it's been so long since I posted last, but here's what happened.

I did go on the trip I mentioned in my last blog entry. The trip was great. I enjoyed visiting with my family and cuddling my grandbabies. But, there is always time for crochet! As usual, I packed a duffel bag full of yarn to take with me because I never know what fiber I'll want to play with next. It's a good thing I did because one of my publishers emailed and asked me if I could stitch an afghan for them. They wanted me to swatch it in specific colors which I just happened to have with me. Woo hoo! Thanks to also packing my digital camera, I was able to swatch, photograph and get it approved quickly. An overnight yarn order got the yarn to me in time to begin stitching it while I was still on vacation. It's a good thing, too, because the afghan took me a full month to complete, and I was able to finish it just under the deadline.

As soon as I submitted the afghan, the same publisher had two more design projects for me. I've just finished both of them, and now I'm off again to design four more projects from another publisher. So, the transition from being an editor back to being a freelance designer has been a very busy, interesting and fun time for me. I'm happy to be back!