The beginning of a new year is often a time of reflection and making resolutions. This encompasses almost every area of life, and do not let your crochet be over looked.

Regardless if you are a professional in the industry of crochet, a hobbyist, or simply an enthusiast, there are simple goals to improve your stitches.

Before you set a resolution, first you need to reflect what you have done and the skills you already have. This can be as simple as reviewing all the things you have created in the last year. As a professional you can take stock of how many patterns you’ve written, how many samples you’ve stitched, how many patterns you’ve edited, how many blog posts you’ve written, how many designs you’ve submitted, how many classes have you taught, how many students have you instructed, whatever resembles your business. As a hobbyist or enthusiast you take stock of the techniques and stitches you are most comfortable with, the projects you have completed, and how you felt about the ones you have finished, and the reasons why you did not finish others.

After the reflection, you are able to set some goals for the next month, the next season, the next year, or even the next five years. Where do you want your business to be? Where do you want your skill levels to be? What kinds of projects do you want to work on? Do you want to expand your experiences into new fibers? Do you want to attempt a new skill? Determine what you want to accomplish and set goals to attain it. Plan on taking classes, plan on putting your-self out there more, plan on taking chances, and plan on challenging yourself.

With simple reflection and goal setting you can take your crochet to places far beyond your dreams.

Importance of Crocheting Networks

There is one simple trick that can greatly improve your crochet and your crochet experience, networking.

Networking can greatly help in a professional manner for those interested in following a career in crochet, but in its simplest form it can help you improve your crochet skills. Sharing our passion with ours is an opportunity to learn and grow, finding other crocheters allows you to gain new insights to methods and approaches that you have not thought of before. 

Finding networking opportunities vary dependent upon where you live, you can seek out local crochet guilds (from CGOA), or even local get-togethers(from Ravely), or even gatherings at local coffee shops, community or senior centers, libraries, and local yarn shops. Even finding a few “crochet friends” can improve your skills and bring new joy to your work. 

If you are a crochet professional or aspire to be, then networking with follow professionals can greatly assist you in your profession. You can never be a expert at all the skills you need to make your business grow, but by networking you can find the people and the tools that can help you. 

For 2014 there is one event in  the United States that can aide both professionals and non-professionals in obtaining networking opportunities, the CGOA 20thAnniversary Chain Link at the Knit & Crochet Show, in Manchester, NH July23-27. There are opportunities for all to get together and make the connections that can last a life time. Pre-Registration ends June 30, so if you haven’t already, make your plans to attend, it could just change your life (This I speak to as a personal experience).

The Technical Editor, an Important Link to a Good Pattern

In the world of pattern writing, many people have a hand in getting a good pattern out and into the world. One person that the average crocheter never hears of, but that designers rely on is the Technical Editor. A Tech Editor usually works in a freelance capacity, working for publishers and yarn companies, as well as small independent designers. The job that they do is critical to ensuring that a pattern actually works and makes what it says it will. 

Many that work in this professional area, began after working in other areas of the crochet industry. Some were and are Designers, some Contract Stitchers, and some Teachers, but all have a long understanding and love affair with crochet, as well as some understanding of how the crochet industry works. 

The average day as a Tech Editor varies by the individual. Some work this career part time, still keeping their hand in other areas of work, others delve in full time. All however do understand their own work styles and limitations. As they have to utilize much math skills, they usually know what time of day they are sharpest for that kind of work, and niche out that time as their work hours. Even though all approach their work a little differently, dependent upon what works for them, they all have the same outcome. They must ensure that the pattern is formatted in the manner requested by the employer, meaning that if the publisher’s pattern style is to have the beginning chain stitches for each row at the end of the prior row or the beginning of the working row, the pattern should be set up that way, as well as all abbreviations matching. They also make sure the font is correct, the spacing, everything that goes into the finished pattern to ensure that it is consistent with the rest of the patterns in the publication. 

Then they go on to the pattern itself. They go over the gauge, and ensure that the measurements provided will actually work out with the row and stitch count and give the desired end product. Then read over every row to ensure that the stitch counts and repeats are all correct, they review increases and decreases, and they pull out yarn and work confusing steps out to see if there may be a simpler way of explaining them, they attempt to make the pattern as clean and orderly as possible. They may create graphs or charts to make the pattern simpler, if requested from the employer. They are a second set of eyes for a designer and a quality control for the publisher. Every designer has a different way of writing and expressing their design, a Tech Editor helps to bring that voice in unison of how others “speak” crochet, so that the pattern user can readily enjoy the design. 

Dependent upon the employer, they may even provide the pattern support long after the pattern is published. Meaning, if you have ever had a question in that magazine or book and contact the publisher, they are the ones to address the question and help you find the answer. 

Most are paid on an hourly wage; however some receive a flat rate for service, while work is often found from word of mouth, as well as through a network of connections throughout the industry. Some may utilize the skills needed in this career in a few other arenas, such as other fields of editing and writing. Attention to detail is a very desirable skill in this profession, as well as patience to work through complex problems.  Being able to communicate with many different styles of personalities can also be an added benefit. While be adaptive to various computer software programs, and being able to focus and concentrate on the unique requests of each employer are a must. But the most important skill needed it a strong understanding of math, and the ability to decipher it in patterns. 

To begin a career as a Tech editor, engaging in networking opportunities with the crochet industry, such as the CGOA annual Chain Link Conference (the Knit & Crochet Show) is a great benefit. Investigating employment opportunities with publishers and yarn manufactures is also a starting point. While applying to become an Associate Professional with CGOA is an additional benefit.

A Day in the Life of a Contract Crocheter...

Sometimes the least recognized crochet profession is the Contract Crocheter. They often do not have their names listed in magazines, they are not highlighting their work on websites, or doing podcasts, but they are silently working behind the scenes creating samples that are photographed in book, that are displayed in store fronts, and are walking on runways. Some might think that this less highlighted profession is an easier one, but they would be greatly mistaken. 

Contract crocheters often work as a part time position, usually holding full time jobs in other career fields. Contracted jobs creating samples are “feast or famine” as jobs are usually more available when new yarns and books are being created to enter the market, this is because many patterns that will need to be completed at once, but then as deadlines pass there can be a lull in work options. 

Some of the prerequisites to doing this kind of work in the field of publishing include the ability to communicate effectively. Often contractors need to ask questions and give feed back to those requesting the work, even offer information about the performance of the yarn and the pattern. There are even times when designers are in the process of working out the pattern yet the contractor is working up the sample, so in effect contractors are creating a sample without having completed patterns and are working from rough descriptions. They also should have to have the ability to keep work private from friends, family and general community; most of the work that they do is scheduled for release at a particular time and speaking of it in a public forum, or posting photos of their work on Facebook, could end their career in this field. 

Another skill needed is neat, even and consistent crochet ability, which must meet gauge, of all projects they work on. Knowing the basics is a must and knowing special stitches and techniques are a great addition to the resume. However in addition, one of the most critical things necessary, they must meet very strict and tight deadlines. Often they receive short deadlines to complete a project, and there is often no wiggle room on getting things done on time. (This includes shipping times; they often have to account for how long it will take for a package to arrive, and adjust their working timeline to ensure that it arrives on time).

Those that provided contract services to local yarn shops or private consumers, have a little more flexibility. Yarn shops owners understand that more yarn is sold when consumers can see and touch a piece completed in particular yarn. Work in these settings may not be as frequent or steady as that in publishing, as shops do not need samples in every yarn for every season. Private consumers sometimes hire contractors to create personalized crochet projects and gifts. There are even some contractors working with clothing manufactures. While this conjures up images of sweat shops, many work from their homes for small boutique designers making edgings, lapels or embellishments. These options give some contractors the ability to create a little more control in their business lives. 

Payment to contractors is almost as varied as the contractors themselves. Some are paid a set flat rate for the work, determined by the size and difficulty of the work, some are paid a percentage of the pattern designer’s contract, others are paid by the yardage crocheted. 

As this profession is looked at more as a support to other professions, it can be more difficult to break into. Many, if not all, contractors have received most of their work by networking and meeting people that might be in need of service. A lot of the work is regional, to reduce shipping costs and time, many professionals find it easier to work with those that live in a close area to themselves. Many contractors have found work from local guild meetings, from conversations with other yarn enthusiasts, national conferences, and some have even had success from following various designers and answering there call for stitchers. 

Many assume that contractors are the same as pattern testers, however there is a subtle difference between the two; more is expected from a contractor. Testers often supply the yarn and keep the samples, offering feed back to the pattern writer about their experienced with the pattern; while contractors are sent the yarn to complete the project, having to return the samples, all remaining yarn, and all yarn labels. Testers may be paid in some instances, but contractors are definitely to be paid. 

The next time you see a beautifully stitches pattern, be it that sweater, afghan, baby layette, have appreciation not only for the design, but for the workmanship that went into creating the sample. There are many unsung heroes of contractors that help ensure deadlines get met and that new inspirations are shared with the crochet world. 

If you are interested in becoming a Contract Crocheter, you may want to have your work evaluated through the CGOA Master’s of AdvancedStitch and Technique Program, and begin networking in the fields that you might want to work in. You may also consider applying for status as an Associate Professional with CGOA. This is a profession that you can create your own unique niche market, but it is not for the faint of heart.