How to Self Publish Patterns
If you have designed a knitting, crochet or sewing pattern and you want to distribute it, you do not need to publish it with a book company or magazine. You can self-publish your work instead. Self publishing allows you to distribute your craft patterns directly to customers and allows you to maintain control over every aspect of the publishing process. It is an excellent way for emerging and established designers to distribute their patterns and build more recognition. If you want to self-publish your patterns, it requires little more than creativity and some desktop publishing know-how.
Instructions
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Write your pattern in a manner that adheres to industry standards. Self publishing patterns does not mean you should not try to create professional-grade patterns. If you are self publishing knitting or crochet patterns, for example, follow the Craft Yarn Council of America, or similar governing council, standards and guidelines when writing patterns. Use standard sizing, language and abbreviations.
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Photograph the finished product. The most successful and popular self-published patterns feature high-quality photographs of the finished piece. Photograph your work from all angles to provide your audience with a clear idea of what they will end up with if they follow your pattern. You may also want to photograph different steps of the production process to illustrate complicated steps and techniques.
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Design your pattern layout. Use desktop publishing software, such as PageMaker, InDesign or Quark Xpress to create a professional-looking pattern layout. Experiment with placement of photographs and text, fonts and title pages.
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Convert your pattern into a PDF. You can either export your design document as a PDF file or save it as one.
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Post your pattern online. You can use several online outlets to distribute your pattern. If you are giving away your pattern for free, try posting it on your blog. If you are a member of the knitting and crochet social networking site, Ravelry, and you've created a knit or crochet pattern, you can upload it and offer it for sale or for free. You may also consider selling it on the Etsy website, an online marketplace for handmade goods and supplies.
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