How to Write a Crochet Pattern: The Template

This is the final episode in my 'how to read and write a crochet pattern' series. I'm going to help you to make a template document that you can use every time you write a crochet pattern.

Hopefully you've already looked at the other four posts in my mini series. So you should already be fully equipped to create your pattern template. It might seem like an awful lot of work just to write one pattern. It is! But it will make every pattern you write after that so much easier. More importantly it helps to give you an 'in house style'. And it will give you a way of improving your future patterns.
If you've already had a go at 'How to Draw a Crochet Chart', then you've already started to use a desk top publishing program. In 'How to Read a Crochet Pattern', you've already thought about the best way to write crochet instructions. And in 'The Style Guide', you've already thought about your Logo and the crochet language you want to use.

So let's make the pattern template.
When I sat down to write my first pattern I found this post by Lilla Bjorn really helpful. Since then I've also found this really helpful template by Love Crochet . You might like to look at this information by the Craft Yarn Council although it's more about what not to do than what to do!

You're going to create the bones of your pattern. There is certain information that needs to be in every crochet pattern. What you need to do is organise it in a way that feels sensible to you.
This is the information that you need:

• Your name.
• Your contact details.
• Copyright information.
• The pattern's name.
• At least one image of the finished pattern.
• Brag about the pattern! Say why it's so wonderful, where your inspiration came from, why your design is so unique, etc.
• What terminology is used, UK/USA etc.
• Skill level. If you're not sure about this check out the Craft Yarn Council site.
• What yarn did you use? Even if the pattern is suitable for any yarn, it's always nice to know what the designer used; make, name and colours used. What's the break down of the yarn and what weight? i.e. 100% cotton, 100g = 150m, Sportweight.
• Finished size/measurements, or size alternatives, S M L etc.
• A schematic of the item with sizes.
• Materials required and a break down of quantities for different sizes or colours.
• Notions required, zips, buttons, stuffing. Don't forget quantity and sizes.
• Hook sizes and any other tools.
• Abbreviations.
• Special Stitches.
• Gauge/Tension. What is the gauge and what stitch/es where used?
• Any special instructions, the order the pattern is worked, adjustments, variations etc.
• The Actual Pattern!
• Fasten Off, the final instructions for finishing, sewing up, blocking and care.
• Say Goodbye!

Now it's like a jigsaw puzzle.
You arrange everything not only in an order that seems sensible to you, but also in a way which will feel helpful to the pattern user. Will they have to search through the pattern every time they want to check an abbreviation or a special stitch?
Are you trying to save the user paper and printing ink or do you expect them to use it on a tablet? Some designers supply two versions, one with and one without images, others supply video links.
How will you set your pages out? Will you use columns, tables, or text boxes.
Will you use borders, colour, perhaps some kind of patterned borders or an image, or icon?
What about Headings and Page Numbers? Will you have a table of contents?

At the end of this process I hope you will have your template. Now every time you're ready to write a pattern you merely have to insert the information into this document which already includes all the headings and basic information you will need.

Tatsiana Kupryianchyk (Lilla Bjorn), says in her post, that writing a crochet pattern feels a bit like computer coding. All those abbreviations and that punctuation you can't possibly get it right the first time.  
So my big three tips would be;

• make your pattern as simple as you possibly can, 
• after writing it put it away for a while, then when you come back to it, see if it still makes sense!
• never stop questioning yourself about your choices!

I feel as if this series has gone on forever! I desperately need to get back to some actual crochet. So my next post will include lots of fun experimentation and hopefully something that you haven't seen before! See you soon...