Writing a crochet pattern that truly represents your personal style can feel like a challenging and daunting task. But there’s no need to fret! I’m here to lend a helping hand. In this article, you’ll discover three key elements that will guide you toward finding your own unique voice when it comes to writing your crocheting patterns.
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Did you know that crochet patterns are actually a type of technical writing? Technical writing is all about giving detailed information about a product, service, or process. You can find this kind of writing in manuals, brochures, product descriptions, and, of course, crochet patterns. Pretty interesting, huh?
When it comes to technical writing, it’s all about being clear, concise, and organized. Some designers worry that this style will take away from their creativity, but I’m here to tell you that’s not necessarily the case! Even when writing crochet patterns, you can still let your unique voice shine through.
When it comes to creating crochet designs and writing patterns, it’s important to have a unique and creative voice. However, it’s just as important to make sure that the information in the pattern is communicated clearly. This might be different from what most designers are used to since, in school, we usually learn about descriptive, expository, narrative, and persuasive writing styles, with only a little bit of focus on technical writing.
So, how can crochet designers develop their voice when writing such technical copy?
If you want to create a crochet pattern that people will love, it’s essential to know your audience. Sadly, some designers forget this crucial step. By understanding who you’re designing for, you can create a pattern that suits their needs and skill level.
For those who are new to crochet, it’s best to keep things simple and avoid patterns that are too technical. You don’t want to overwhelm them or discourage them from the craft. However, you can still create a pattern that follows the industry standards while educating your audience at the same time.
If you’re targeting experienced crocheters with years of experience, you want to make sure your pattern is challenging enough to keep them engaged. Aim for a moderate level of difficulty that will provide them with a fun and rewarding challenge.
Once you know who you’re creating your crochet pattern for, it’s important to figure out what you want it to accomplish. Of course, your main goal is to give people the instructions they need to make a specific design, but some patterns also aim to teach new skills and techniques, which can be really helpful. Or you might decide to use pictures to show the steps in an infographic style. Whatever you choose, the key is to make your pattern clear and easy to follow!
Let’s talk a little bit about active and passive voice. They refer to how a sentence shows who does an action. In active voice, the subject does the action. Like in the sentence “Cherie crocheted the scarf,” where Cherie is the subject, and she did the action of crocheting the scarf. Active voice is great for showing who or what does an action.
On the other hand, in passive voice, the subject doesn’t do the action. The action is done to the subject instead. For example, in the sentence “The scarf was crocheted by Cherie,” the scarf is the subject, but it doesn’t do the action of being crocheted. Instead, the action is done to the scarf.
Using an active voice in writing is oftentimes more straightforward and easier to understand. However, using a passive voice brings attention to the object or receiver of the action. Using a passive voice is almost always used when it comes to technical writing, especially crochet patterns. As a crochet designer, the focus should always be on the crochet pattern rather than ourselves. The design itself should be the main attraction. Here are a few examples of crochet instructions using an active and passive voice:
Active: I took the tapestry needle and used the main color of yarn to attach the head of the bear to the body. I used a mattress stitch, but you can use a basic stitch.
Passive: Using a tapestry needle and main color of yarn, attach the head of the bear to the body using a mattress stitch.
Do you see the difference? The active voice focuses on the designer, whereas the passive voice focuses on the design.
Crafting a crochet pattern that stands out from the rest requires a lot of thought and effort. It’s crucial to keep your target audience in mind, understand the level of technicality required for the pattern, and adopt a passive writing voice to create clear and concise instructions. These are just a few of the many factors that contribute to the success of a crochet pattern.
As a technical editor with over 15 years of experience in the crochet industry, I can help you find your unique voice and writing style. Through my technical editing services, I’ll help guide you through the process like a mama bird guides her chicks! Ready to start the process? Click HERE to fill out the contact form. Not sure what a technical editor does? Read about what I do as a Technical Editor HERE.
