Behind a knitting pattern 3/3 : Publishing and after…

Last summer, I wrote a small serie of articles on my Patreon page. This summer, I’m reposting them here….

Once the tech editing and the test knit are finished, some might think I can hit “Publish”. It’s true that the biggest part of the work is done, but I still have bits to do before putting my pattern for sale.

First, I read a final time the pattern (in both language) : I check the yardage estimates I calculated match the yardage used by my testers (with some margin) and I make the final small edits. When I think the pattern is ready, I save the files on pdfs.

To present you my pattern, I need pictures so you can see what to expect. So I organise a photoshoot, with models, photographs, make up artists… Kidding ! Usually, I’m behind the camera and a friend or family member is in front wearing my sample. Sometimes, I’m the one wearing it and my husband takes the pictures and other times I do it all by myself, with tripod and remote… I take a lot of pictures, then I sort them, choose the ones I prefer and prep them for my different media.

When the files and pictures are all set, I group them and file them for copyrights. I never had problems before, but it is like a small safety net just in case.

Then, I write the different pages where I’ll introduce my knitting pattern. The most omportant one is the pattern page on Ravelry. I group all the important information : sizes, yardage, gauge, construction, plus a small pitch about the pattern to get your interest… I use the same intel for the pattern page in my portfolio. 

On D Day, I publish the pattern into Ravelry’s pattern database, upload the different files and add it on my Ravelry’s store.

When it finally is on Ravelry, I can create a coupon code for my Patrons (Stockinette and +). After that, I can add the files for download and the coupon code here on Patreon.

But it is not all. If I want my pattern to be known, I need to communicate… It means being active on social media (Instagram and Facebook for me), doing a bit of teasing before publishing and posting about the pattern several times after its publication… Ideally, I’d like to publish a introduction post on my diary, to explain the history of the pattern… I konw I have a lot of work to do in that area !

And then, I go to the next pattern…

Not entirely ! Because there are still emails and questions about the pattern to answer and these can pop months (years) after the publication.

This summer, I’m writing a series of articles about a controversial subject on my Patreon page.

Some knitters swear by them, others utterly abhor them…

Let’s talk swatches !