Why I make intuitive patterns & how to follow my patterns

…read a more in-depth article about how to follow my patterns here.

5 important steps to remember:

take your first measurement
crochet until you have that measurement
measure the crochet on your body and stretch it
crochet more or less stitches or rows if needed
measure on your body along the way

Intuitive patterns are not for everyone.

Some people prefer to be told exactly how many stitches and rows to make, in what stitch to do the increase and when to break off the yarn. But I myself have not liked this method in creating, and so when I started making patterns I started making them for myself.

Intuitive patterns stray away from regular patterns in that they are made to make you create and work more freely and independently and rely less on instructions.

It is also to teach you that there is no right way to create (or no right way to make patterns) – and especially when it comes to crochet as the hook gives us so much freedom. So why be forced to work in a box?

An important reminder when you follow my intuitive patterns:

The calculations given to you in the section “Your measurements” is a guide and not a must.

Your yarn type, hook, tension and body shape will affect the outcome.

What are intuitive patterns?

simplicity
less instructions
using measurements
sometimes no or few process photos
no gauge or stitch markers
example: “make 5 increases randomly on every 3rd row” or “repeat this row until you have this measurement”
most times you can use the yarn and hook you’d like
not giving you all the answers or too many explanations

Some of my most intuitive patterns:

PDF: Carrie Dress (ENG)

PDF: Ayala Top (ENG/DA)

PDF: Aurelia Top + VIDEO TUTORIAL (ENG/DA)

PDF: Beth Sweater (ENG/DA)

Why intuitive patterns?

to be more free of the pattern (so you don’t have to look down every other minute)
take the crochet with you on a walk, watching Netflix etc. (live your life while crocheting)
to use your imagination, logic sense and think for yourself
be more aware, present and focused on this moment, your senses, how the crochet feels, how it drapes, how it stretches etc.
to activate your brain to think of your own solution
to help you see the whole product instead of just the details
to teach you that no creation has to be made in a specific way
to inspire you to make your own garment
to give you opportunity to freestyle and not follow the pattern to a T
to teach you about garment construction and using what you have already crocheted as a guide
to encourage you to try it on as you go and make adjustments to your liking
to be more size inclusive – as with intuitive patterns you can make the garment in the size you want