What I Wish I Knew Before My First Pattern Release
- midnightmamaknits
- Aug 13
- 4 min read
Spoiler Alert! It’s not all cozy stitches and cups of tea.
Let’s go back to the beginning - If you haven't read the post 'How I Accidentally Became a Knitwear Designer' - I'll wait here for you to do a quick read through... You'll want to before moving on.
I had an idea. A good one, I thought. I had knit it up, worn it around, had friends ask about it. And at some point I thought, this might actually be something that someone else would want to knit. What followed was part adrenaline rush, part deep-dive into unknown waters, and part what was I thinking?
If you’ve ever considered publishing a pattern (or already have), then maybe this post will either make you feel very seen... or very prepared. Because here’s the truth: there’s a lot I wish I’d known before clicking publish on that first design.
5 Realities of Knit Design No One Tells You (But Should)
1. You’re not going to make a million dollars.
So yes, some designers go viral. Yes, you can make money selling patterns. But if you're just starting out, it’s important to set realistic expectations. This isn’t a get-rich-quick industry — it’s a long game built on consistency, community, and a lot of behind-the-scenes effort. Most designers start small, selling a few patterns at a time while gradually building a catalog and an audience. It takes time to earn trust and even longer to earn steady income. The truth? Passion and persistence pay off more than any promise of overnight success.
2. There’s a lot of behind-the-scenes work.
I knew writing a pattern would take effort. What I didn’t realize was just how many hats I’d be wearing: designer, editor, layout artist, marketer, photographer, social media manager, customer service rep... and sometimes, unofficial therapist (mainly for myself).
It's not just about getting the math right or making something cute. There’s formatting, instruction clarity, testing coordination, file naming conventions (why is that always something I mess up?!), and trying to remember where you saved the final-final-final-v3.docx version. Behind every polished pattern listing is a designer who stayed up too late asking Google “how to center text in Canva” and wondering why the download link isn't working.
3. If you don’t like computers... don’t design.
Here’s the brutal truth: pattern design is just as much about digital work as it is about the actual knitting. You’ll be working with spreadsheets, writing in Word or Google Docs, wrangling PDFs, navigating layout tools, uploading to Ravelry or your website, and answering emails, messages, or DMs. If that sounds like a nightmare, you may want to rethink pattern design or find a good friend with those skillsets who is willing to help out. I learned early that just being a knitter wasn’t enough. Luckily, I am at least tech-capable enough to figure it out. It's not my favorite part, but I’ve accepted it. Mostly.
4. Not all testers are equal.
Ah, the test knit. Sounds wholesome and supportive, right? Don't get me wrong... most of the time, it is. Other times... it’s a lesson in expectations, boundaries, and letting go. Some testers will blow you away — they’ll be thoughtful, detailed, communicative, and encouraging. Others will go completely silent. A few might ignore your timeline, make sweeping changes without telling you, or make the test chat a little tense with strong opinions. It can be a mixed bag. I’ve learned that communication up front is everything. Be clear on deadlines. Ask questions. Check in. And above all — don’t take it personally. (Easier said than done, I know.) Testing can be a beautiful process. But it can also be stressful and unpredictable. Just know you’re not alone if it doesn’t go exactly how you hoped.
5. You Will Redo Things. A Lot.
That beautiful chart? You'll tweak it five times. The instructions you thought were clear? Someone will misread them. Your “final” draft? It’s probably not. Designing is a cycle of testing, reworking, clarifying, and sometimes throwing it all out and starting again. If you don’t love the process (or at least learn to laugh at it), it’ll wear you down fast. But if you do love it? The final pattern is that much sweeter.
Would I do it all again? Absolutely.
Despite the stress, the tech headaches, and the existential dread of pricing your work fairly... releasing that first pattern was still one of the coolest things I’ve ever done.
It pushed me out of my comfort zone. It made me grow. And it connected me to people who love this craft as much as I do. So if you’re thinking about designing your first pattern, consider this your pep talk and remember you don't need to know everything upfront. You’ll figure it out. You’ll learn as you go. And somewhere in the chaos of swatches and spreadsheets, you may realize — this is exactly where you’re meant to be.
Crafting through chaos,
Stacie
