Thinking about pattern designing? Or have you already started designing, but don’t have it all figured out yet? Pattern Writing for Knit Designers  is an absolute must read if you want to take your patterns to the next level. This book is not going to explain how to grade patterns (grading patterns means figuring out all the math to create multiple sizes for the pattern), so let’s get that part out of the way right off the bat. But there is still a lot of detail that goes into creating a pattern beyond just the sizing, and this book covers ALL of that, including formatting and layout, copyright, selling online, a basic pattern template, and a really great resources section on where to find more detail and instructions (like links to all the submission guidelines for the major knitting magazines, 11 resources for lots of help with pattern grading), and great tips throughout for every single aspect of creating a pattern.

You should know right away that this book is truly an incredible resource. Unless you are a full time professional knitwear designer who has been in the game for years and years; if you design or want to design, you need this book. This is a game changer.  I particularly enjoyed the section on creating a style sheet, to help make pattern writing easier and more consistent for yourself, and the appendix is a rich resource for further detailed reading on all the subjects she addresses, although there is already so much in the book, other than the pattern grading I bet you’ll feel that you have plenty of valuable information to start with.

The format is well laid out and easy to read, with a fun repeating feature of little boxes with bonus tips that pop up throughout the book, entitled “Things you can do to make knitters LOVE you” which is like the extra credit round of pattern awesomeness to include.  There are even little pop quiz sections to talk about how to improve knitting  instructions: it gives you a section of a pattern, and then you have to think about how you would improve it. I didn’t always figure out the answer!

Here’s a sample page from inside, from the photography section:

There is a very clear decision that this book is about making patterns as friendly as possible for beginner knitters, and if you follow Kate on Twitter, then you’ll notice that the book is very true to her sly tweeting style. The book can be a little intimidating- do you really have to do ALL these things to make a really great pattern? But even if you only took a handful of suggestions from this book, your patterns will be improved.  I’m not sure I’d do everything listed (I hate patterns that are so many pages I’m razing a small forest just to print it out) but there are takeaway gems for every level of designer in here.

So- you’re wondering where you can get this book, right? Of course you are! It’s available right now by digital download here, and print copies will be released in the new year. You could also win a copy, right here!

There is only one copy to win, and to enter, please leave a comment here or on the KB Facebook page  letting me know why you think you really, really need this book. Comments close midnight tomorrow (Thursday, December 11th (EST)), and the winner will be announced on Friday. Good luck!