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Hands Occupied

Contemporary yarn crafts by Heidi Gustad. Knitting, crochet, latch hook and macrame.

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Inside the Design Process

March 5, 2015 Leave a Comment

Inside the Knitting Pattern Design Process

This is my swatch board. Like many pattern designers, my design process begins with knitting (or crocheting) swatches. I’m currently designing a knit lace scarf pattern featuring a few different motifs. Since I’m designing this in conjunction with a publisher, my editor and I have been emailing back and forth to decide which motifs are working for us both. Lucky for me, my editor is great and is proving to have a similar design aesthetic as myself. A big help in the design process has been my new HP Sprout.

Inside the Design Process: Using the new HP Sprout to design a knitting pattern collaboratively

Like I said, the first step in my design process is selecting yarn and swatching with it to determine gauge and to see what different motifs look like. As you can see in the image at the top of this post, I did a lot of swatching to figure out what motifs would work with the thicker yarn as well as a lace pattern. My editor and I decided on three motifs for the scarf. Since my studio is at home (and almost always a disaster!), I need to send my editor images of the swatches I’ve made for her feedback.

Inside the Design Process: Using the new HP Sprout to design a knitting pattern collaboratively

The HP Sprout is amazing – it has the ability to scan 3D objects into the computer in a way that’s true to life. Before the Sprout, I had to send cell phone pics of my designs, which weren’t always very color accurate. And since I can scan in multiple swatches at once, I can send in scans that are true to scale as well! The scale is important, by the way, so you can see how big motifs are in relation to each other.

It’s also really easy to make layouts with the Sprout software, so I can replicate each swatch and easily play with repeats to determine how I might want to sequence the lace motifs in my scarf. This is obviously way faster than knitting and tearing out half a scarf if the design isn’t working! Especially as a knitter & crocheter who struggles with tendonitis, this is an amazing design tool for me.

Inside the Design Process: Using the new HP Sprout to design a knitting pattern collaboratively

I can also make scribbly notes with a stylus as I play with the design to determine the best number to stitches to work with, how to elegantly bind off, and how long to repeat a motif.

Inside the Design Process: Using the new HP Sprout to design a knitting pattern collaboratively While this design isn’t quite finished yet, I hope this post gives you a little window into what it’s like to design patterns collaboratively. When this scarf is ready, I’ll definitely post about how you can get your hands on it!

This post is sponsored by HP, who provided compensation and a Sprout in exchange for blog posts highlighting its innovative new technology. All opinions are my own. 

Filed Under: Giveaways, Reviews & Sponsored, Knitting Tagged With: ciy, collaborative design, collaborative knitting design, crochet, design technology, hp sprout, knit, knitting design, swatching

About Heidi

Heidi Gustad is an artist, author and crafts designer specializing in knitting, crochet, latch hook and macrame. In addition to running the Hands Occupied Blog and Pattern Shop, you can find her making videos & co-hosting the Very Serious Crafts podcast.

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Heidi Gustad from Hands Occupied / Craft Book Author and Knitting, Crochet, Latch Hook and Macrame Designer

Hi! I’m Heidi, an author, yarn craft designer and content creator specializing in knitting, crochet, latch hook & macrame. My work unapologetically features primary colors and vintage-meets-modern style. My first book, Latch Hook: 12 Projects for the Modern Maker, is now available!

Professionally I’m most known for: advanced intarsia knitting design & modern latch hook design.

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Craft book author & content creator in love with primary colors & vintage vibes. / #latchhookbook out now!
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knitting, crochet, latch hook & macramé

Heidi Gustad 🧶✂️
There’s an update on the blog today, & it’s ab There’s an update on the blog today, & it’s about how I’m going to take the next 2 weeks off to rest & recharge. ☺️🧶 No new content for y’all means I can also take a moment to zoom out & plan what’s next. Link is in bio. 
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A note on Very Serious Crafts: In the post I discuss stepping away from the @seriouscrafts podcast to give myself more time to devote to some minor medical issues. Don’t you worry - my health will be fine, & @molliejohanson @redhandledscissors and I are still pals, and after a short break of their own, the podcast will be back! Just sans moi. 💁🏼‍♀️😆 
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See you in a couple weeks! ✌🏻#handsoccupied #knitdesign #craftdesign #sofadedsweater
Been a little quiet this holiday week, as it shoul Been a little quiet this holiday week, as it should be. ☺️🎄The past few days have been filled with a lot of catching up on festive zoom calls & raising toasts to the camera. 🥂 Connecting with people has been a welcome change of pace! Now I’m feeling ready to meet my inevitable end-of-year deadlines. 😆
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Warmest wishes for the season, my friends! ❤️💛💙
Hi, I’m Heidi, the craft book author & maker beh Hi, I’m Heidi, the craft book author & maker behind Hands Occupied! 👋🏻 I’ve been enjoying making Reels a lot lately, but I wanted to bop in to share a regular photo & say hello. 🤓 
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rather than giving you my bio right now, I have a question. I just got this new sweater & I can’t stop imaging how funny it would be to wear this to a knitting class ... is that bad? 🤣🤣🤣
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Pictured: a blond woman with glasses wearing a sweater that reads “all your sweaters are ugly” standing in front of a Christmas tree.
Wet blocking, also called immersive blocking, is o Wet blocking, also called immersive blocking, is one of the most common methods for finishing a knitting project and helping ensure its final size and shape. Learn basic blocking for absolute beginners in an easy-to-follow (non-Reel!) video tutorial! Catch the tutorial on YouTube or the Hands Occupied Blog, link is in bio. 🧶 #handsoccupied #stopswatchandblockit #KPAmbassadorsDec20 #sponsored
Had to share this perfect capture of one of my fav Had to share this perfect capture of one of my favorite weird homemade Christmas ornaments: a simple macramé Santa face with beads for the eyes and nose! My Great-Grandma made it too. 🎄
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Might have to try making a quickie Reel tutorial for this guy - I think it’s the perfect project for it, don’t you? 🎅🏼 #handsoccupied #macrame
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