Recently, I’ve been helping some newer students work through their knitting projects, and I’ve noticed something: they keep getting stuck in similar places. It’s not because the knitting is hard, but because the patterns aren’t as clear as they could be. There’s a teaching in Pirkei Avot¹ that asks, ‘Who is wise? One who learns from every person.’ My students are my best teachers.

Watching where knitters (and crocheters) stumble has been a useful reminder. It’s made me look at my own pattern writing with fresh (and somewhat critical) eyes. I’ve been doing a bit of time travel lately, revisiting my older designs as I prepared for the Fasten Off Yarn Along this year. Getting all my eligible patterns organized across my website, Payhip, and checking Ravelry meant looking at patterns I wrote years ago. Some of them made me cringe a little. I can do better now, and I will. If you purchase any of these designs now, you’ll receive updates when I revise the PDFs, which I hope will be soon.

what makes patterns shine?

First, patterns need to be readable in multiple formats. I used to design patterns specifically for print, with layouts that looked beautiful on paper and were mindful of page count. Today? Even I pull up patterns on my phone mid-project. That changes everything about how information needs to flow.

Page and section headers are essential. Every page should show the design name and page numbers (page x of y style). This seems basic, but you’d be surprised how many patterns skip this. When you’re flipping back and forth or printing selected pages, you need to know where you are.

The first page needs to be clear. It should include a photo that shows the design well, and here’s the thing: it needs to look good in black and white too, because not everyone prints in color. All your key information (yarn and yardage, needles or hook, gauge, finished measurements) should be right there.

Tips and reminders are twice as nice. A section at the beginning with your tips, notes, and abbreviations is standard practice. But here’s what I’ve learned watching my students work: when they reach a tricky section on row 47, it’s frustrating to flip back to page 1 for the abbreviation and then to page 9 for the tutorial. I’m still figuring out the best layout for this, but something like including a quick reminder inline with the instruction helps. For example:

For this next row, you’ll be working BPhdc (back post half double crochet).
Row 47: Hdc 3, BPhdc twice…

Schematics save lives. Simple cowls? Probably don’t need one. But any item that’s pieced together, like a garment (especially cardigans with lefts and rights), absolutely benefits from a schematic. I’m about to redo a finishing project because even I got it wrong and the design is put together in a way I didn’t expect. I’ve included schematics for one-piece items when the shaping might behave differently than a maker expects. A good schematic answers questions before they’re asked.

Think about printing. Avoid orphan lines (a single line of text stranded at the top or bottom of a page). Put your image gallery at the end so makers can skip it if they’re trying to save ink. Make the pattern flexible enough to work well both on screen and on paper.

Of course, what works beautifully for one individual might not click for another. We all read and process instructions differently, and that’s okay. But these foundations help most people find their way through a project with less frustration and more joy.

This week, I’m thankful for my students. They remind me that we become wise by learning from everyone around us. Every question they ask, every place they get confused, teaches me how to communicate more clearly. We might not get it right on the first or even third try. It’s ok to ask questions and for help!

After some time away, I’m grateful to be back in the rhythm of private teaching. Additionally, if you’re writing patterns and could use a second set of eyes, I also offer pattern editing services.

1. Pirkei Avot 4:1
   Ben Zoma said: Who is wise? He who learns from every man, as it is said: “From all who taught me have I gained understanding”.
   בן זומא אומר, איזהו חכם, הלומד מכל אדם, שנאמר (תהלים קיט) מכל מלמדי השכלתי כי עדותיך שיחה לי.
   ↩︎