My 2018 Challenge. Writing patterns and making videos.

I love a challenge. I'm always taking on challenges. Crazy, but I love learning new things but I have to have a deadline or reward attached to it. So here's my 2018 challenge; pattern writing. Yes, now that is exciting stuff. 

I can't recall over the past 20 years where I wasn't taking on some kind of challenge. It's been things like  learning to play the guitar, learning tia chi, becoming a cycling instructor, or a pilates instructor. This year was no different. 

So here's my 2018 challenge. I put together and kniitng and a crochet-a-long event.  This event is a monthly stitch pattern with a video to help you along.  So this means a lot of writing and putting videos together.  Both of which I am not very good at. But there is only one way to get better. Just Do It! Now, I feel like a Nike commercial. 

I knew this meant a lot of writing which meant making lots of mistakes. I knew this because I have seen many terrible written patterns.  I've also taken several workshops where designers talked about how hard this type of writing is. They shared how detailed it needed to be. It's one thing to create the item and feel confident you know you can recreate it, but to getting it down on paper, that another beast.

I've been working on my stitch patterns for 7 months now and it's still challenging. Mistakes are still being made and found by those working the pattern, which is humbling and so appreciated.

I have 5 months to go and there is no doubt I will continue to learn and make mistakes. But lets face it, if you don't miss up you don't learn and you don't get better.  I look at this challenge two ways: I'm learning more every time I write a pattern and I'm facing my fears.  Oh, and the videos, well lets just say they are much easier but the editing is work.

My goal is to share with everyone as a free download all the stitch patterns at the end of this year.  I hope to work out all the mistakes but I'm pretty sure a few may be discovered.  Those working on the patterns now have shared with me how much they are looking forward to the patterns each month.  Many let me know the minute they complete the pattern and tell me they are ready for the next one.  Wow, that is exciting to hear.  I've also heard about the late nights into the early morning some have worked on the pattern. I'm hearing about what they want to do with the stitch pattern next. I hear the additional projects they are doing with the stitch patterns.  It really make me happy to hear this. 

Stick with me and see how this journey turns out.  And I would LOVE to know what challenge you are taking on for 2018.  Let me hear from you.