In case you missed it yesterday I launched my first pattern of 2020! The Luminosity Sweater pattern, big mama to last year’s first pattern launch, the Little Luminosity Sweater Dress (or just sweater, multiple options are included). As a complement to the launch of a new pattern I’m running a Buy One Get One free (BOGO) pattern sale in my Ravelry shop. There was a mistake in yesterday’s post where I said that you didn’t need a coupon code… you definitely do. Add 2 patterns to your cart, enter coupon code BOGO and one will be free!
Since we’re still early enough in January to be doing recap posts (are we? or did I already miss the boat?) I thought I’d take a little walk down memory lane and revisit the 5 patterns I released last year.
Little Luminosity is a special one for me because it was step 1 in finally turning my Luminosity hat pattern into a sweater and also because I associate it so much with my daughter! She has gotten so much wear out of this sweater dress over the past year and continues to wear it since it’s the perfect grow-we-me shape. It’s colourful and cheerful and adorable just like her and I will always remember knitting it for her as well as her wearing it at this precious young age. I’m so sappy and knitting for babies really brings it out in me!
Last year I released two basic, can’t live without, FREE sock patterns. I’m an avid sock knitter and between these two patterns I have everything I’ll ever need. Of course I still love a pretty cabled, lace or otherwise inventive or fancy sock design from time to time but these tried and true methods are my go-to. I have wanted to publish these patterns for years and I am beyond thrilled that last year I finally did. Since they are the types of patterns that every knitter needs in their arsenal I made them free and I hope that I have perhaps encouraged a few knitters to try socks for the first time with these fail proof patterns.
My Wave Rider shawl is the only shawl I knit last year and is pretty much the only shawl I wore! It features my favourite colours, lots of pretty texture, I was thrilled with how the pattern shots came out and it really is a blast to knit. Despite being one of my favourite designs in a long time it has been, Interestingly enough, one of my least popular patterns. I promise that doesn’t bother me and I only mention it because sometimes that happens! As a designer I can tell you that I have absolutely no idea what makes one pattern popular and another not. I only design things that I love to wear myself and if I’ve accomplished that then I’ve met my goal and whatever happens, happens. Despite how successful or unsuccessful this pattern is, I will always love this shawl with all my heart! What better result could I ask for then that!?
Last, but certainly not least, the design that dominated my fall/winter knitting, Metropolis! I’ve already knit this pattern 3 times. As I was designing it I knew that I wanted to make it a free pattern because I felt that it was so basic, but as the design came together and the simple details started to add personality it kind of took on a life of it’s own. I personally think that it definitely could have been a paid-for pattern in terms of value, but I have no regrets about making it free because I have seen so many amazing modified Metropolis’, and I think that free patterns really lend themselves well to modifying because mentally you don’t have the struggle of having paid for a pattern and then doing loads of work to modify it, y’know? The neckline on this design is customizable, the hems, the sleeve length, the colour(s), it’s been a thrill watching knitters express their creativity on this blank canvas design.
2019 wasn’t my most prolific year in terms of designing, but it has been pretty darn satisfying to revisit my work here today and it has me feeling excited about the designs I’m dreaming up for the coming year. I consider myself a hand dyed yarn business first and designing is something that I do in my spare time and because of that it’s still something that I love. If I put too much pressure on myself or impose too many deadlines I know that I would resent having to design and it’s such a slippery slope when you turn your passion/hobby into your work. You hear stories about people who hate the thing that they used to love so much because all the joy has been sucked out of it by making it “work”. I refuse to let that happen to me! Every time I release a new design I consider it a nice little bonus and I am forever grateful to be able to do this.