I have been designing crochet items since 2015, I started by crochet business in 2020 and with that I needed to learn how to write down patterns, how to make them easy to understand and follow. I sure have made a lot of mistakes a long the way and created patterns that I wanted to be intuitive but ended up being a little more difficult to understand for someone who wasn’t inside my own head.

My own thoughts about making your own crochet patterns, though, is that it is important that it makes sense to you first and foremost. Nothing is more frustrating than trying to explain something you don’t understand yourself.

But if you are interested in designing crochet clothes or other things or want to learn how to make a crochet pattern, then read on.

Crochet the item for your crochet pattern

First you must actually have a finish crochet top, sweater or something else, that you want to write down the pattern for. Maybe you have already made in and it is just waiting for you to write down the steps?

Write down the process (for yourself)

So you understand it. Make it very simple, from start to finish, what did you do?
When it comes to writing a pattern in the conventional way, writing rows, steps etc, choose the technique that works for you. You can write steps or dots or row numbers, whatever works for you. Just make sure you write it down in specifics what you did.

Things to remember are: where did you start? on the middle, side, bottom of the project? Did you crochet in rows or rounds? When did the increase start etc.

Write large titles to make it more digestible

To make it easier to read for you and others make sections for each area of the crochet project. Write down a title and maybe a subtitle where you write shortly what this section is about, or if something changes in the pattern in this section. Maybe you are changing yarn colors or something else.

Write down the “obvious” things

This is a mistake I made many times, stuff like not writing down what hook I was using, how much yarn or what size the yarn I was using was. I didn’t write down where to start or when to break off the yarn. It is actually quite crucial, I have discovered, to write down the things that might seem obvious – starting and finishing, so the reader knows where they are and what the next step is.

This is what I think is important to write down:

• Specify the materials you are using
  Yarn, hook and what not
• Specify the stitches you are using
  Is it UK or US terms? if you are using shell stitch then remember to write: How to crochet shell stitch, followed by the explanation. Write the abbreviation for the stitch, like: double crochet = dc)
• Where you start
  At the bottom of the project, the side, are you working in rows or rounds?
• How to end the row or round and start a new one…
  “Chain 1, turn over” or “chain 2, continue in the same direction”. Let people know wheter or not the chains are used as a stitch and crocheted into or if it is just a turning chain.
• Write the words: “Break off the yarn”
  Write this anything the crocheter needs to end that section and start somewhere else, otherwise it can get confusing.
• Write an overview.
  Make a section before the actual crocheting of the pattern where you give an overview (text, images, drawing in paint or what you like) of the whole process, to give an idea of what is going to happen.
• What the item measures
  Read below for more about sizes. If you are making just one size, specifiy what it measures/what size it is, so people can determine if it is the right size for them.

…. But keep it simple

Yes, it’s a good idea to write everything down, even the smallest things, but also remember to keep it simple and light, not paragraphs of text that is too overwhelming to read. Make space between the lines, some text in bold or cursive etc.

What about sizing?

First of all – all sizes (even the same sizes) are different from brand to brand, so it is totally okay to make your own size chart or you can steal one from H&M’s website. Determine what the bust, waist and hip measurement of each size is. Maybe just start with three sizes, being inclusive is good but it is even better to not have to feel like you are drowning with 15 different size options.

This is how I have done it:

• Write down my own measurements (that are relevant to the pattern)
  If it’s a top it might be: bust, waist, armhole
• Count how many stitches I start with, how many rows I have in total, how many rows/stitches are in the armhole of my top.
• Measure how many stitches = 2 cm.
• Measure how many rows = 2 cm
• Determine how many cm (in circumference and length) there is between each size (approximately)
  

Now that I have that information I can calculate how many stitches and how many rows I need to add or remove from the original top, so that I get a top in a larger or smaller size.

One size crochet patterns are totally acceptable

But also, I think it’s important to state that making a pattern only in your size is totally doable and not a bad idea at all. When you are first starting out, just cut yourself some slack and take it one step at a time, don’t expect yourself to know what you are doing, allow yourself to learn while doing. I have multiple crochet patterns that are only 1 size, and that works and I still get sales from those products.

Give your crochet pattern a name

Another mistake that I have learned from, sort of, is to name your crochet patterns and crochet designs. Not everyone does it, not even big crochet and knit designers. But I think it’s a great idea for a number of reasons.

• Taking ownership of the design. This is yours, you named it, you own it.
• Marketing. If you are going to promote the product it will easily disappear between all the other items called “crochet tops” but if you name it something unique, people are more likely to find it. Also you invite people to # the name and therefore help spread it around and
• If you are going to create a crochet webshop or something like that, it is a good way to distinguise your different items from each other.

Look at others crochet patterns

See how other crocheters pattern layout looks like and ask yourself what you like or don’t like about the pattern. You can even check out some of my free patterns, and see if you can be inspired on how to construct a pattern.

If you find that some things are too difficult to explain in writing use photos or a little video to show that part, you dont need a complete tutorial, but just to visualize it and make it simpler.

There is not one right way to make a pattern

I have tried following youtube tutorials, simple and advanced patterns and you know what? There is not ONE correct way to go about it. Some make intutiive patterns where it is “put the row around your waist and make more stitches if needed”. Others have “row 1, row 2, row 3” and one is not better than the other. Out crochet patterns can’t please everyone, so it is better to do what works for you. Ask yourself, what I used to ask myself: how would I want to read a pattern? What would I want to see?

The same goes for adding photos of the crochet process or making a video – you do you! If it works for you, great, if not, then you can still have success with your crochet pattern!

Keep it intuitive

This might not be for you, but I need this as a section in this article. Intuitive crochet designs, I think, are best. Because they are easily adjustabe in terms of sizing, what yarn and hook you use and it enables you to be more free of the structure of a pattern. So this is me speaking on behalf of the intuitive crochet patterns, asking you to consider trying to make on. It is not that different from a regular pattern, it helps the crocheter actually think twice, physically take the clothes up to their body and measure along, get a sense of the stretch factors in their crochet project and generally be more aware in the process and less chained to blindly follow along a written pattern, that might not work for their creative brains.

I hope you liked this post, I wish you all the best on your crochet journey!

For more resources about crocheting, crochet as a business, designing and constructing clothes and more, check out my crochet video courses and crochet e-books:

1. Follow the pattern for Jolene top
2. Use a 4,5 mm hook and superfine cotton: 50 g = 160 m. I used 46 g for my size S/M incl. bra cups.
3. Use Ternion stitch and make them ON TOP of each other if you want it like my version.
4. Increase 2 per row: Increase by making 1 ternion stitch in the same stitch: *dc, sc, ch*
5. If you want you can make an edge on each side with approx. 2-3 sc around every row.
6. Bra cups: If you don’t want to use nipple covers make a small version of a bra cup (try it on as you go). It just needs to be big enough to cover a little bit more than the nipple area.
7. Put on the top and secure the bra cups with a safety pin where you want them.
8. Then sew them in place through the stitches.
9. For the cowl you can simple tie a piece of yarn around the rows and weave them in.