tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3440603490259597083.post2425701336604291293..comments2024-03-20T05:17:57.528-04:00Comments on How to become a Professional Knitter - Robin Hunter Designs: How Many Hand Knit Pattern Designers are There?Robin http://www.blogger.com/profile/01240699910272614928noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3440603490259597083.post-1414134629554392842014-08-20T07:53:52.000-04:002014-08-20T07:53:52.000-04:00Ysolda has an interesting post on her blog: http:/...Ysolda has an interesting post on her blog: http://ysolda.com/blog/2014/8/18/new-patterns-an-ebook-completed-and-some-thoughts-on-pricing about pricing of patterns and the challenges we designers face.Robin https://www.blogger.com/profile/01240699910272614928noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3440603490259597083.post-67889872557175677152014-08-20T06:33:19.744-04:002014-08-20T06:33:19.744-04:00I've kind of noticed a similar trend, but the ...I've kind of noticed a similar trend, but the way I viewed it was that the people who have left or are leaving we're just going through a phase. If you look at some of the other designers who were up and coming just a few years back (Ysolda and Jarrod Flood for example), they're now heavy-hitters in our industry.<br /><br />Knitting went through such a massive surge when it was the new, hip thing to do and now that people's tastes are changing (I'm noticing the mega trend toward crochet lately), I can only assume that some designers are having a change of heart as well. Plus, designing knitwear has to be something that you have a high commitment level to because it does take a lot of work to put together a good pattern. Look at some of the interviews that you've done and listen to some designer interviews on podcasts over the last few years and you'll see that a ton of the up-and-coming designers just kind of fell into the role because they were altering every pattern they used anyway or they figured that they would just wright it down the next time they made up their sweater pattern. It's wonderful that things fell into place so nicely, but you have to wonder how much they missed just getting to sit and knit another designer's pattern. Also, with such an influx of new designers over the past couple of years, it's harder to stand out from the crowd. So, you may have an amazing pattern, but it's likely that someone has already designed almost the exact same thing as you and that can be very discouraging (not to mention the possible lack of sales because the customer has options now).<br /><br />I'm not so concerned with designers leaving the industry. There will always be new ones and we will always have our knitting. ^_^Shaina Scotthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00885990496476881462noreply@blogger.com