Currently I am working on six designs, four of which have hard deadlines. How do I keep all these things straight? How do I do what I do? Good software! I’m a nerd at heart, and if I can use technology or software to help me out…I do. I thought I would take some time and explain some of my favorite tools for designing.

The first step for me is the sketch. I have so many ideas bouncing around, it helps to get them out onto paper (or screen). Depending on where I am, I either sketch in a notebook or on my laptop. My notebooks of choice are the Maruman Mnemosyne A4 5mm square ruled. As suggested by the name, these are filled with graph paper. The sheets are perforated and the paper is very smooth. The paper is actually gridded on one side (great for charts) and plain on the other (perfect for sketches). I love this A4 size, but I also have some A5′s which are more portable.

When I sketch on the computer I prefer to use SketchBookPro. This software works well with my Wacom Graphire, is lightweight, and quite affordable. I find it easy to sketch with natural looking tools (pencil, pen, watercolor, etc.) without having to play with a bunch of settings like in Photoshop.

The next phase of my design process is usually charting. I like to layout my stitches with charts whenever possible. As a visual learner, I like being able to see what a stitch pattern looks like as it helps me plan for shaping and grading. For charts I love Illustrator. I use this exclusively for all my charting needs. I have most all of my commonly used symbols created and saved for easy reusability. The program makes it easy to shift whole groups of symbols around, duplicate, reflect, etc. It took a little time to get used to, but now it’s truly a time saver.

After charting, designing becomes a numbers game. What better way to keep track of numbers than with a spreadsheet? I use Excel for everything from keeping track of grading, stitch counts, and gauge calculations. I also use it for making lists – so many many lists. I make lists to :

• organize outstanding submissions
• maintain business expenses
• track sales
• (see what I did there? made a list about making lists)

Once I have my pattern worked out I move it to InDesign (for self-published works) or to Word (for contract works). InDesign is one of those programs that I find incredibly useful even though I only know how to use 5% of the features. I use it to layout my pattern in multiple pages to be exported to PDF.

Other than that, my most valuable knitwear design tool is my computer, which obviously is needed to run all of the helpful software discussed above. I love my MacBookPro and carry it with me almost everywhere.

Tonight I told my bff Jeri that, “I think I will take all of 2013 and just knit for myself.”

She replied, “2013? What about 2012?”

To which I said, “Oh no, I have too much already lined up for 2012.”

Seriously, I already have 2012 packed with planned designs. It’s crazy, but oh so fun! Sometimes I do wish I had more time to knit for myself. So many beautiful patterns and projects I would like to work on. Although I’m always knitting, I usually send my projects away, never to be seen again. My knits drawer is woefully light on knitted objects. Will I keep my word and spend all of 2013 on personal knitting? Probably not. I just have too many ideas waiting to become new patterns!