How to create and design your amigurumi pattern is a question that I often hear about from amigurumi makers. And why not? Selling patterns is a great way to make some supplemental income.

When I started my journey, I would spend hours crocheting patterns from various designers. This was a great way to learn the multiple styles designers use. How they wrote their designs, and how they created the different shapes. I found that crocheting patterns from various designers helped grow my amigurumi skills.

Once I understood the craft of amigurumi making, I thought It would be fun to try creating patterns to share with my readers. And with my daughter off at college, designing and selling crochet patterns for supplemental income sound pretty good.

But don’t think that designing a pattern is a piece of cake. Creating a design takes a lot of time and patience. I’m sure every crochet designer has their creative process when making a crochet item. But I’ll walk you through the seven steps I use in designing and creating my amigurumi patterns.

Step 1: Sketching Out Your Idea

Whenever I get a crochet idea, I like to draw it out. I recommend having a sketchbook or drawing tablet handy. Sketching out your piece is a great road map to how you’ll create your amigurumi. What shapes you’ll need to crochet each piece? What color yarn you’ll plan on using?

Drawing your idea will make your vision fresh when you create your amigurumi toy.

Step 2: Plan Out Your Materials

Planning out what materials I will use for the project is my next step in creating and designing an amigurumi toy.

This step is where I decide what kind of yarn I want to use, cotton, acrylic, or a chenille yarn. Next, the crochet hook size I may want to use for the pattern. Finally, I choose if I will use safety eyes or embroider the eyes on the toy.

Step 3: Write As You Go

A pad of paper and a pencil is essential when designing a pattern. As you begin to crochet your piece, write down each step that you do. Make sure to include the number of rounds for each step.

When I create a pattern, I write as I crochet each step. I then like to go back and recreate it using my written steps. I then wait a day or two and recreate it again to ensure I’ve written all the steps needed to create the piece.

Step 4: Take Lots Of Photos

Photos are critical to a good crochet pattern. Showing an image for specific steps in your crochet pattern can be very helpful to the crocheters making your design.

When I design patterns, I like to take nice and clear photos of the steps in the pattern that may be confusing for crocheters. I highly recommend investing in a lightbox for a more professional-quality picture.

You’ll also want to take lots of cute pictures of the finished product when you post it on social media. Again, a lightbox or natural lighting works great for this.

Step 5: Typing Out Your Pattern

If you’ve crocheted other designers’ patterns, you probably know the formula for typing the design. Start with the pattern’s name, picture, and a summary of the item that will be crocheted. Next, include the materials needed, the abbreviations, and notes of any special stitches or things the crocheter needs to know.

Begin to type out the step-by-step instructions and add any step-by-step photos to help clarify what you are telling the crocheter to do.

And lastly, add a brief copyright statement on what is and isn’t prohibited with your pattern and photos.

Step 6: Have Your Pattern Tested

Before selling your design, you may want to consider having it tested. No one wants to pay good money for a pattern that doesn’t make sense.

What and how to test a pattern?

Pattern testing is when you share your written design with other crocheters and have them try out the pattern to see if it all makes sense to them. There is no cost to you to have a pattern tested. The designer will usually give the tester the final copy of the pattern for free as a thank-you for testing. It’s a great win-win for the designer and tester.

So, where do I find pattern testers? You can find pattern testers on Facebook or Instagram groups. If you are part of a crochet or knitting group, you can also ask if any members would be interested in testing your design.

Step 7: Selling Your Pattern

There are tons of sites out there to sell your patterns. Many sell their patterns on Etsy, Ravelry, and other crocheting sites.

Just beware that most sites will charge you a small fee to upload your PDF pattern. But once you have, you can start making money!

And there you have it! These are the seven steps to how I create and design my patterns. If you are new to designing or looking to see how others create a pattern, I hope this blog helps you.

Happy Crocheting Journey!