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Hello and welcome to the Crochet Business
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School podcast, where you can use your crochet
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to build a business that will give you the lifestyle
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you've been dreaming of.
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How do I start writing crochet patterns?
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Well, as long as once you have a design in mind
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and you know what the standard terms are, then
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you just start writing.
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There are no qualifications or certifications to
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start writing crochet patterns.
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It's just all about making sure that you write
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something that your customers can follow and
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they can recreate your design as they see it.
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There are certain information that you have to
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include in every crochet pattern.
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You have to remember things like your hook size,
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what type, weight and brand of yarn you're
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using, what the gauge is, which terms you're
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using and what the abbreviations that you're
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using are.
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If you're using UK or US terms and any of the
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materials that they need to make your pattern.
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You need to have good clear photos of the
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finished item, plus any special steps that might
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need a bit of extra instruction, but otherwise
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that's it.
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When you're reading a crochet pattern, you're
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following the instructions step by step.
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So writing a crochet pattern is just doing it
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backwards.
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You need to write down the instructions so that
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it can be followed step by step to recreate your
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design exactly as shown in the photos.
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Writing a crochet pattern is much like following a
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recipe.
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You just have to follow the steps and make sure
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you get everything in there.
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And as long as you do that, that's it.
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Nobody is going to tell you that you're a crochet
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pattern writer, you just have to do it.
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And yes, there are various things involved, but
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it's easy enough once you get into it.
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But like any new thing that you start, it takes
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time to learn, it takes time to get comfortable
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with it and perfect your process, but after a while
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it becomes second nature and then it's really
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about choosing the right designs that will suit
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your audience.
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Then it's about how to sell it so that everyone
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can be sure that they know what they're getting,
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that gaining that reputation so that your
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customers know that your patterns are good,
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well written and can be followed easily.
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It takes time to build that reputation, it takes
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time to build that following.
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Much like selling what you make, you have to
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gain a reputation and grow your brand.
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But writing and selling crochet patterns is much
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easier and far more profitable than selling what
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you make.
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Because the best thing about them is that you
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just sell them over and over again.
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You do the work once and you're just selling it
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the same thing.
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It's all automated, you don't even have to send
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anything out.
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Every time you make a sale, the platforms that
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you sell your patterns on make it so that it's all
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automatic.
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There's nothing else for you to do.
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Once you've loaded it into your selling site, all
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you got to do is market it.
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Once you sold it, job done.
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It's all about the marketing and gaining that
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reputation for having a well written pattern.
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So what resources are there out there to help
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you get started?
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Well, I have one for you.
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I've got a checklist of all the essential elements
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that you need to include in a crochet pattern.
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I'm going to put a link to that download below
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this episode.
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It's completely free.
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Just click download and it'll be straight into your
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inbox.
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Another great place to go is the Yarn Craft
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Council.
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On their website they have a huge number of
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resources such as standard abbreviations for
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terms.
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They've also got the standard sizes for all kinds
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of different things.
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And the measurements for clothing is a fantastic
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resource for any pattern writer and I would
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highly encourage you to go take a look.
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I'd also encourage you to go take a look at
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Ravelry.
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This is the number one pattern selling site and
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it's got a great community forum and you can go
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and explore there and make connections with
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other patent writers and you can ask them about
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their experiences as well.
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So it's a great place to find out how other people
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have experienced it and get tips to selling
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patterns.
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And that's really it.
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Getting started, it can feel like a massive leap,
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but it's also a fantastic business decision because
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the more you build your patent library, the more
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money you will make from it.
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And it is far easier than selling what you make.
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And you can make money on your days off.
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You can actually take a break knowing that there
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is still money coming in.
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So writing your own crochet pans is something I
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would definitely recommend if you're in this for
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the long term.
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Thank you for joining me today and listening to
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this episode.
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If you have any questions about this subject or
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would like to carry on the conversation, then why
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not come and join our Facebook group for
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crochet sellers?
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Whether you're selling what you make, writing
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patterns or making money from crochet another
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way, the support group is the place for you.
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You can also cheque out our newsletter.
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Just sign up using the link in the show notes and
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have tips and advice sent straight to your inbox
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every week.
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So thanks joining me and I shall see you next
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time for the next episode.
