The pattern for my Leaf Collector's Mitts is finished - as much as anything unpublished is ever finished, as I can't resist tinkering with the wording and layout - and will be released next week. I'm already planning on making myself a long version with 5 repeats of the leaf pattern in a neutral colour (maybe off white or grey)... but first I have a completely different sample to finish.
In the meantime, I've made a new rule for myself: Don't knit any more samples in purples! As if the autumn light wasn't bad enough, this lovely shade of pinky-purple (it's Scheepjes Stone Washed in Corundum Ruby) has been really hard to capture. None of my photos do it justice.
I'm not sure when the transition from 'blogger' to 'designer' began, but more time is spent on the latter at the moment, which is exciting, challenging and a little nerve-wracking*, for each time one of my 'pattern babies' is sent out into the world (to another knitter for testing or on general release) I feel like I'll be found out as a fraud - that it won't make any sense at all to anyone else. Thankfully that's not the case, but it's still a recurring doubt. Talking to other people who create for work or pleasure (including my very talented husband whose credentials are not in any doubt), I think this must be a common experience. Can you relate to it too?
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*The flip-side to this is realising the person you're talking to is WEARING one of your designs! Do you remember my friend and model Charlotte? She loved Little Bear's Porridge so much when we were photographing it, she's made her own!
Utterly relate! Imposter syndrome is always with me sadly.
ReplyDeleteWell if YOU feel like it, there's no hope for any of us!!!!!! :D xxx
DeleteYep, totally normal. I blogged about it when I started submitting to magazines (http://happymakingdesigns.com/blog/2011/8/23/youre-not-a-designer-what-do-you-think-you-are-doing.html).
ReplyDeleteI get it for teaching too. I woke up in a cold sweat at 2am the night before running a new 10 week sewing class. I dreamed that all the students pointed at me & accused me of not knowing anything! You can imagine the relief when they were all lovely & I did know stuff!
That's really good to know Jacqui! Not that I'm happy about you having cold sweats, you understand!!!! :)
DeleteI still feel like an imposter when I BLOG, never mind designing stuff! You're awesome, maybe you should get a sticker or something to remind you :D
ReplyDeleteHahahahaha! Thanks! That reminds me, I told one of the knitting club kids that he was doing great the other day, and he asked if I had a sticker!!!!! Must get some :)
DeleteLovely mitts!
ReplyDeleteI know exactly what you mean - I have a few free patterns out and am currently at the testing stage for my first to be paid pattern - I feel such a fraud too. I love your mitts and am looking forward to the pattern release as I really want some longer ones for these cold days we are having at the moment. Thank you
ReplyDeleteLove the mitts! Looking forward to the pattern release.
ReplyDeleteLovely mitts!
ReplyDeleteI always worry if the gifted recipient will like what I've designed. I'd probably worry too publishing my first pattern. We knitters cam be a finicky lot. But I've assured myself that reach of us has her own style and easy of doing things. By all means can others tweak to their own preferences.
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ReplyDeleteThese look really nice! I've saved this page and will try, although I am a poor knitter ;-)
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