Re-charting familiar territory (crochet symbolcraft charts)

February 1, 2009

I've been thinking, for years now, about how to make crochet patterns easier for me to present visually. I tend to think in pictures, not words, and turning text into something visual is kind of annoying for me. Symbolcraft charts help, but I still find myself hunched over charts, trying to figure out where I am in the chart and having to flip the image around in my head. Plus there is the matter of space. The publications I'm familiar with that use charts will run a chart, but as an entire motif or piece, not as a line-by-line representation. Space is definitely an issue for books and magazines! It's also an issue for PDF patterns - the size of the file, for starters, and then how users will use the pattern - some will read it off the screen, others will want to print it out, and those who are printing often have concerns about how much ink and paper the pattern will use.

A few years back, I started to acknowledge that my strongest designs are the ones that happen because I want to make something for myself or for a gift. Why has it taken me this long to figure that I can also apply that to how I format the patterns I self-publish? Not everyone will like the format, but that's always true; I can't please everyone - and in this case, I might as well please myself. Even though I have good eyesight, I don't like squinting, so the symbolcraft charts will be relatively large, with line-by-line instructions in at least 14-point font. To acommodate those who do not wish to print out the entire pattern, I am trying out ways to fit the entire written pattern on the final page with the completed chart, so that there's an option to print out just one or two pages. This new format that I'm playing with turned the 2-page (including pattern info [description, yarns, hook sizes, etc.], photos and chart) Anne Crochet Lace Scarf pattern into 4 pages for just the charted instructions.

I couldn't have done this back when I first started thinking about it, really. The phenomenon of Ravelry.com, for starters, has made selling PDF patterns to a larger audience even easier. There are many niches available to designers; I can opt to do PDF-only, which means not having to worry about how much it will cost to print and ship a pattern. Vector Designer, a drawing application for Macs, has meant not having to invest a large sum of money and time into acquiring and learning Adobe Illustrator (which may be fantastic, but much too powerful for my needs, as well as harder for me to learn than Vector Designer). I've also switched from MS Office to iWork, and the iWork Pages application has a layout option that is making pattern formatting a lot easier for me. My school schedule has gotten lighter, so that I can choose to spend more time messing around with the program and thinking about how I want things to look, and the ulnar nerve impingement issues in my right arm have eased up enough so that I can work at the computer without pain.

Two upcoming patterns in the new format have gone through pattern testing (again, I've got Ravelry to thank for the ease of finding and communicating with experienced pattern testers) and the responses have been almost entirely in favor of the new format, with a couple of concerns about the
number of pages. Feedback has included the observation that it's much easier for beginners to understand, even if they aren't familiar with how to read a symbolcraft chart - because the chart is being built as the instructions go on, and is oriented to look like what is in the crocheter's hands at that point, the extra translation step of trying to turn text into an image in your head can be skipped over.
What you see is what you get.

Yesterday, I completed the 4-page symbolcraft chart add-on for the Anne Crochet Lace Scarf pattern. Ravelers, if you purchased the pattern through Ravelry, the new PDF files are included in the pattern library and you should be able to download the update through your personal library page for PDFs. If you purchased through my blog or through Etsy, and you'd like to get the additional charts, email me (carroll[dot]mk[at]gmail[dot]com) and I'll send it to you. I do not plan to offer this as a pre-printed pattern at this time.

I hope that this is going to help make crocheting even more pleasurable for some people; it's giving me a lovely sense of satisfaction as a designer.

Anne and the New Orleans Alt Media Expo

February 26, 2008

Pattern: Anne Crochet Lace Scarf
Yarn: Elann Seta Lana, 2 skeins
Hook: US L/8.0 mm

When the New Orleans Craft Mafia put out a request for swag bag contributions for the New Orleans Alt Media Expo, I did a little reformatting of the Anne pattern and sent them 30 printed patterns. The new print shop I switched to did a great job! Unfortunately, when I reformatted the pattern, a line of text disappeared. Aren't I awesome? Without that line, the first row doesn't make much sense. Super awesome! *sigh*

Under foundation:
Chain 6. Join with sl st to form ring. Ch 3 (counts as 1 dc), work 13 dc into ring.

Anne: Pattern Update

February 18, 2008

If you purchased the Anne Crochet Lace Scarf pattern between February 08, 2008, and February 18, 2008, you received a version with an error in it. The pattern had been reformatted for a print run, and in the process, a line of text was accidentally deleted. My apologies for any difficulties this may have created in your crocheting! An email with a corrected PDF was sent out; if you did not receive the email, please contact me and I will send you the corrected PDF.

Again, this is only for those who purchased the pattern between February 08, 2008, and February 18, 2008. If you purchased the pattern before February 08, 2008, or after February 18, 2008, you do not need the corrected version.

Anne: Yarn Costs

February 8, 2008

Anne Crochet Lace Scarf Pattern
Elann.com Seta Lana, 50% silk/50% wool, 2 skeins
Hook: L/8.0mm

One of my goals with the Anne scarf pattern was to take something basic and show how different yarn and hook choices can change the look. I'm sure it's no surprise to you that it can change the cost rather dramatically too. Prices will vary depending on the vendor, cost of shipping if ordered online, etc., and are of course subject to change without notice, so take this list with that in mind. Prices given are for the total number of skeins, not yardage (for example, with the Cascade 109 Chunky it is assumed that you will purchase 2 skeins even if you only use 1.5 skeins). Yarn weight is given as general terms (laceweight, worsted, etc.) and CYCA Yarn Standards (1, 4, etc.).

Blue Sky Alpacas Dyed Cotton
1 skein = 150 yds, worsted weight/4, G/4.0mm hook: $8.50 - $10

Blue Sky Alpacas Dyed Suri
1 skein = 142 yds, fingering/1, K/6.5mm hook: $11.00 - $12.00

Elann Super Kydd
1 skein = 259 yds, laceweight/0, K hook/6.5mm: $2.25 (can make 2 scarves from one skein)

Elann Silken Kydd
1 skein = 232 yds, laceweight/0, K hook/6,5mm: $3.25 (can make 2 scarves from one skein)

Elann Seta Lana
2 skeins, 76 yds each = 152 yds total, bulky/5, K - L hook: $8.96

Cascade 109 Chunky
2 skeins = 109 yds each, 160 - 218 yds total, bulky/ 5, K - L hook, $13.00 - $14.00

Malabrigo Chunky
2 skeins, 104 yds each = 208 yds total, bulky/5, K - L hook: $24.00 - $27.00

Lion Brand Wool-Ease Chunky
2 skeins = 153 yds each, 230 - 306 yds total, bulky/5, L/8.0mm hook: $10.00 - $12.00

Brown Sheep Lamb's Pride Chunky
2 skeins, 125 yds each, bulky/5, K - L hook = 250 yds total, $15.00 - $17.00

I wanted the pattern to be possible as a one-skein project, and if you use the Blue Sky Alpacas Dyed Cotton called for in the pattern, it is. Turns out it can even be a less-than-one-skein project with the Elann Super Kydd.

The crochet pattern (with full written instructions and a symbol chart) can be purchased as an instant PDF download for $5.50 (USD) through Ravelry with a PayPal account, credit card, or debit card (please note that eCheck payments take 3 - 7 days to clear, and the download will not be sent until payment clears). If you'd prefer, the PDF downloads are also available through my Etsy shop (mkcarroll.etsy.com) - download link will be emailed within 24 hours of payment clearing. If you'd prefer a finished item, check the Sample Sale section of my Etsy shop.