Working with me
I can help you produce and polish your knitting patterns for your specific audience.
Much of my work is with publishers and yarn companies for magazines, books and design collections, making sure patterns conform to house style, match size grading requirements and read well.
This involves meeting tight deadlines, liaising with commissioned designers and artists and providing a consistent experience for readers. Sometimes I help streamline processes, assess submissions, reply to queries and rework style guides.
I also get to work with fantastic independent designers, and I enjoy working with budding designers to help make sure even your first patterns are clear and professional.
One amazing advantage of working as a freelancer is that while I’m based in the UK, I work with clients around the world. Although I only work in English, I can adapt your pattern to either UK or US terminology and spelling.
I often work with designers for whom English isn’t their first language. If you want to produce multiple language versions of your pattern, I can complete the pattern in English and help coordinate with external translators to ensure the pattern is ready for an international market.
How does it work?
Once you send an enquiry and we’ve established what you need, I will let you know my current availability and rates for the work. It’s often as simple as you sending me the files via email, then I complete the work and give you comments back in the same file format. (See more details on the Tech Editing page.)
For larger projects or more regular working, we can share files via a cloud-sharing service such as Dropbox – it’s really up to how you prefer to work.
Of course, I consider everything I work on as commercially sensitive. This means I won’t share anything about your work on social media or elsewhere without your permission, and not until the pattern has been published and you are ready to invite the world to enjoy your designs.
What software do I use?
I work on a PC and use the following programs daily:
- Microsoft Office – Word & Excel
- Stitchmastery (knitting charts)
- Inkscape or Adobe Illustrator (vector-based for schematics & diagrams)
- Adobe InDesign (layout and editing)
- Adobe Professional, PDF-XChange Editor or Foxit Reader (for PDFs)
- Google Documents & Sheets
- Adobe Photoshop
- Dropbox (file sharing)
This is just a basic selection as an idea for general compatibility. Most of these programs can open and produce a variety of file formats.
What do you need to send?
When working together, it’s important to work to your timeline, so do let me know your publishing or testing schedule.
For a tech edit, once we have agreed on the work, you’ll need to send me the completed file with the text of the pattern, and any style guide or sizing charts you are working with.
Make sure to include your tension/gauge and yarn information, as well as any charts, schematics or diagrams mentioned in the text, or instructions for me to create these as needed. I usually don’t need your grading spreadsheet, unless otherwise agreed.
If you can, it’s useful to have photos of the item, both modelled and laid flat, with close ups of each different stitch pattern and unusual details.
For pattern writing or grading, we’ll need to discuss your full requirements. You’ll need to send full specifications, including construction, stitch patterns, size range and ease allowances.
Don’t forget full tension/gauge (blocked and unblocked) for each different stitch pattern, sizing chart, pictures of any sample both modelled and laid flat, with close ups of each different stitch pattern and unusual details.
I may require you to physically send a swatch of the chosen yarn for each stitch pattern, as well as additional yarn to confirm tension/gauge and fabric attributes.
How long does it take?
My turnaround time for a single pattern tech edit is currently about a week or so, depending on my current workload and other deadlines.
It’s helpful if you can give me an approximate date when you expect to send the files. Once I receive them, I can give clearer guidance on my current schedule and when I expect to return the edited file. If I run into major questions as I’m working through the file, I may send you queries before I can proceed.
If you have specific deadlines you’re working to, let me know so we can work together to meet them.
How much does it cost?
For tech editing, I usually charge an hourly rate, and work in increments of a quarter-hour (so you aren’t billed for a full hour if something goes a bit over).
Once I get a pattern to start on, I can give you an estimate of what I time think it will take. For example:
Typical tech editing rates
These times are all highly dependent on size range and construction, techniques, word count and number of charts. Note that these estimates are for tech editing only and as a guide only – pattern writing and grading are much more involved and usually charged by the project.
- Scarf, cowl, cushion, one-row blanket: ½ to 1 hour
- Motif blanket, simple toy or accessory: 1 to 1½ hours
- Single-size shawl, complex toy, socks: 1 to 2 hours
- Multi-size shawl, baby garment, drop-shoulder sweater: 1½ to 2½ hours
- Other garments: 1½ to 3+ hours
If you have a collection or book, I can work to a flat rate for a particular project. If you have a limited budget, we can discuss what options are available.
Contact me to discuss your specific design and requirements.
What about payments?
UK clients will usually pay through direct bank transfer. I can provide an IBAN for international clients to do an international transfer. US clients can pay through Wise, Paypal or another service as agreed.
My terms are Net 30, after which late payment fees may be charged.
Are you ready?
I aim to be flexible, friendly and professional, and I’m passionate about getting things right.
Don’t just take it from me, my clients have some blush-worthy things to say about our work together.
I’d love to help you get your patterns ready for publication. Contact me if you have any questions, or if you’re ready to discuss the details!