Tuesday, September 10, 2013

So You Want to be a Knitting Designer...

I have very quietly been plugging away at something over the last few months, and it's time for it to see the light of day. Introducing....




So You Want to be a Knitting Designer... 
Tips, tricks and resources for navigating the hand knitting industry. 

The knitting industry can be a confusing place. The career of knitting pattern design has changed drastically over the past decade or so, and there aren't a lot of resources to guide us. This is the book I wish that I had had as a novice designer. From self-publishing vs working with a publisher to marketing and dealing with problem customers, this ebook will give you an up-close-and-personal look at the nitty gritty bits of this wild and wooly career. Everything I know about this industry from working both as a designer and an editor/yarn-support-gatekeeper is packed into this 60+ page tome.

Topics covered include but are not limited to:
Writing your pattern (and naming it well!)
Selling your patterns online
Pattern photography, and how to make it look decidedly un-n00bish
Style sheets
Working with tech editors, test knitters, and sample knitters
The great free pattern debate
Payment structures and rights transfers
Putting together a great submission
Yarn support (and when and how to ask for it!)
Marketing methods
Navigating social media with aplomb
Branding yo' fine self
Wholesaling and working with distributors
Customer service 
Industry etiquette
TNNA!
Copyright, licensing, and knock-offs 
Crisis management
SO MANY RESOURCES

And, bonus: 
Sample style sheet to use and abuse
Form letters for awkward situations!

So You Want to be a Knitting Designer is formatted as a PDF file, which is readable on most devices (but may require you to download a reader program such as Adobe Reader, which is 100% free.) It will be delivered instantly upon purchase, so you can start kicking some knitting design ass RIGHT THE HELL NOW. WOOOO!!!! Rock on, designerlings. Rock. On. 

$19.50
Buy Now


Note: This ebook is written in the same voice as my blog, which is to say, there are goofy made-up words and occasional profanities. You have been warned! Oh, and crocheters- I'm pretty sure at least 95% of this book is relevant to you too, but since I've never been a crochet designer, I didn't want to purport to speak for them ;-) 
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45 comments:

  1. KirstySeptember 11, 2013 at 4:18 AM

    Bought this within 5 minutes of reading this post. This book is exactly what I need right now!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. AlexSeptember 11, 2013 at 10:03 AM

      Thank you! I hope it's helpful!

      Delete
    2. KirstySeptember 11, 2013 at 10:20 AM

      Plowed through the ebook already, and it's great! Accessible to a total noob like me, but seems like it would also be a lot use to someone with a few self published patterns under their belt. A really interesting read as well, was sad to get to the end of it!

      Delete
    3. AlexSeptember 11, 2013 at 10:21 AM

      Yay I'm so glad you liked it! It's always nervewracking putting out a new sort of product, haha.

      Delete
  2. ChristineSeptember 11, 2013 at 7:55 AM

    proud of you, Chelsealing. BOOYAAAA

    Christine

    ReplyDelete
  3. christinethecuriousSeptember 11, 2013 at 8:02 AM

    The oronjo link is not working for me - I think the problem is on the Oronjo link, but just in case, I'm working on off a Mozilla Firefox browser on a cinnamon Mint Linux computer.

    I'll try later!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. AlexSeptember 11, 2013 at 10:00 AM

      I'm so sorry about that, it should be fixed now!

      Delete
  4. StephSeptember 11, 2013 at 8:14 AM

    It is not working for me either. I'll also be back later, it looks like an amazing resource!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. AlexSeptember 11, 2013 at 10:01 AM

      I'm so sorry about that, it should be fixed now! Oronjo worked last night but then bailed on me, apparently :-(

      Delete
    2. StephSeptember 12, 2013 at 8:01 AM

      No problem! It worked fine this time, and it is, in fact, amazing. :)

      Delete
  5. andreaSeptember 11, 2013 at 8:58 AM

    link not working for me either. i'm using google chrome.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. AlexSeptember 11, 2013 at 10:01 AM

      Sorry about that! It has an ejunkie link now instead, which should work.

      Delete
  6. Jennifer KingSeptember 11, 2013 at 9:09 AM

    Not working for me either....I'll check back later.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. elys7September 11, 2013 at 9:26 AM

      Nope, not working for me either, and I am interested!

      Delete
    2. AlexSeptember 11, 2013 at 10:02 AM

      Hi guys, I think it should be fixed now! Oronjo worked for awhile and then poo'ed out so I've replaced it with e-junkie.

      Delete
  7. KristySeptember 11, 2013 at 9:45 AM

    congratulations! you are something else. I have been looking in on you over the past couple of years and it's so fun to watch how you have grown. Wish I could get in on fun but i'm in nursing school and hardly have time to knit a washcloth. keep up the good work!

    ReplyDelete
  8. Sally at Rivendale FarmsSeptember 11, 2013 at 10:00 AM

    I'm not getting the oronjo link either, but am using Firefox on a Mac. I can try later on my pc.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. AlexSeptember 11, 2013 at 10:24 AM

      Sorry about that! Oronjo crapped out after a few sales- I've replaced it with an e-junkie link which should work :-)

      Delete
    2. Sally at Rivendale FarmsSeptember 12, 2013 at 8:28 AM

      Tried again this morning on the pc instead of the mac and it worked fine. Thanks! I'm excited to read it!

      Delete
  9. AlexSeptember 11, 2013 at 10:00 AM

    Hi guys, I'm so sorry about that- the Oronjo link was working fine when I went to sleep last night, and then it crapped out on me! I've replaced it with an ejunkie link on another seller's recommendation so it should be working now. Sorry about that!!!

    ReplyDelete
  10. flossieKNITSSeptember 11, 2013 at 10:21 AM

    Thank you for this! Buying it right. now.

    ReplyDelete
  11. AnonymousSeptember 11, 2013 at 10:31 AM

    Woot! The ejunkie link worked for me. Thanks a billion. It looks great and I can't wait to read through it. You're a star!

    ReplyDelete
  12. UnknownSeptember 11, 2013 at 12:23 PM

    Alexandra, you rock my world! Look at your knowledgable self being all impressive.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. AlexSeptember 11, 2013 at 2:41 PM

      Thank you mysterious stranger! Who might be Vivian based on the diction...

      Delete
    2. AlexSeptember 11, 2013 at 2:41 PM

      Oh snap I clicked through and it's totally Vivian I'm a genius.

      Delete
  13. BrendaSeptember 12, 2013 at 2:00 AM

    Love it. This will be a great resource.

    ReplyDelete
  14. earthchickSeptember 14, 2013 at 11:29 AM

    I am a few days late reading this post, but I bought and downloaded as soon as I did, then devoured the e-book as soon as I got it. I have a few self-published patterns out there but am trying to take things to another level. Your book is super-helpful. Thank you so much!

    ReplyDelete
  15. Mary GSeptember 26, 2013 at 10:34 AM

    Just saw Stacy (FreshStitches) review of this book ... congrats! It sounds like a great addition to my library ...

    ReplyDelete
  16. Dorothy Noreen Hunter-TalbotSeptember 26, 2013 at 11:20 PM

    Just finished reading Stacy of Fresh Stitches review and am really looking forward to reading your book.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. AlexSeptember 26, 2013 at 11:23 PM

      Thank you, I hope you enjoy it!

      Delete
    2. Dorothy Noreen Hunter-TalbotSeptember 27, 2013 at 12:53 AM

      Your book is fantastic - kept reading once I started - thank you for stating everything so clearly and making it easy to follow - so many great tips will be one of my go to books for sure.

      Delete
    3. AlexSeptember 27, 2013 at 12:55 AM

      I'm so glad you like it!

      Delete
  17. BubiknitsOctober 6, 2013 at 5:23 AM

    Interesting reading! Love it!

    ReplyDelete
  18. EssieOctober 13, 2013 at 9:26 AM

    Thorough, interesting, and well-written. I needed this!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. AlexOctober 13, 2013 at 11:13 AM

      Yaaay I'm glad it was useful!!

      I feel like I'm repeating myself a lot in these comments, haha... thank you everyone!!

      Delete
  19. NikJanuary 2, 2014 at 12:33 PM

    I'm glad to have found out about this resource in the Ravelry Budding Designers forum. I'm looking forward to learning new things.

    ReplyDelete
  20. Penelope PrivettJanuary 27, 2015 at 11:08 PM

    I bought this eBook this morning. I've only had a chance to browse through it in my lunch break but I love it already! I love your writing style, your honesty and the really useful information. Thanks for making this available!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. AlexJanuary 28, 2015 at 9:36 AM

      Thank you! I'm glad you're finding it useful :-)

      Delete

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