How to Design Knitwear Course
In my journey from knitter to full-time professional knitwear designer, it took a long time to learn all of the things needed to be a good designer. Information is freely available - some of it good - some not.
The time it took to look up every little thing was frustrating at times. I had already earned my TKGA certification as a Master Hand Knitter, so I was confident in my knitting abilities. Designing, however, is a whole new level.
I started designing in 2015 for publications and this provided insight into the world of publishing but also expanded my perspective and taught me different ways to present information in patterns. You can learn a lot from a good tech editor and publisher's style guide! My designs have been published in Vogue Knitting, Interweave, Knit Picks, Knit Now, Wool Studio and more. I have self-published patterns as well. To read more about my background, please see the About section on my website.
One of the goals in putting together this course to become a knitwear designer, was to include the necessary information in one place. If I could fast-track the trial-and-error phase, and just provide the information to get it done, it would allow new designers to advance quicker.
The second goal was to empower new designers to start with their ideas, and design from their heart and mind instead of replicating what is already out there. I'd rather new designers not take someone else's yoke pullover, change the motif, and call it their own design. Instead look in your closet and decide what is missing. What would you like to wear? The goal is to start with the creativity that is inside of you, and develop the idea into a good, wearable design with a well-written, easy to understand knitting pattern.
The "Professional Knitwear Designer Certification Program" is broken into three modules:
Module 1) Formulating an Idea covers the selection process of stitch patterns, yarn, color, graphics, sketching, creating schematics, finding design calls, and preparing submissions.
Module 2) Building a Design gets into the nitty gritty details like gauge, grading calculating yardages, spreadsheets, laying out the design, fit allowances, charting, writing patterns for publishers and more.
Module 3) The Business of Design prepares you for running a small business including working with tech editors and publishers, yarn support, pattern layout, pricing, running test knits, setting up a business, third-party sellers, registering a domain, accounting, sales tax and VAT, contracts, rights, terms, policies, copyright and more.
Work at your own pace, one-on-one with me, and submit materials when you're ready. You can either work by having the materials emailed to you, or online. Take advantage of the Resource Guide to build your designer library or find handy links to make your job easier.
The course is being run through TKGA - The Knitting Guild Association, which is a 501c3 nonprofit dedicated to providing education and resources to knitters to advance their mastery of the craft of knitting. If you're not a member yet, you'll need to join first in order to enroll in the course, but you can do that easily online at their website TKGA.org
For more information, to read reviews from other designers who have taken the course, and to enroll, please visit: https://tkga.org/knitwear-designer-certification/
Designing knitwear is something that I am absolutely passionate about and I would love to work with you!
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