1. Self-publish at least 12 patterns (roughly one each month).
I currently have two patterns in testing and one sample on my needles as well as another pattern almost written up. So that's already four patterns to start with, so I feel that I should be able to accomplish this goal.
2. Work on a book idea. Decide if I want to try to find a publisher or self-publish.
This goal may make the first goal a little more difficult as I would need to design and reserve patterns for the book. But I think it is still manageable. Besides, my goal is to work on the book--not have it fully completed and published within the year although I actually would love that to happen.
3. Approach LYSs in the area about stocking my patterns in print.
I keep telling myself that I'll do this as soon as I get "just a few more patterns" in my catalog. But if I keep saying that, then I'll never do it. So I just need to do it. I'm also considering trying to find a distributor (I have two in particular that are my top choices) to help me accomplish this.
4. Approach LYSs (at least one) about setting up a trunk show.
Again, this is one that I keep dragging my feet on because I feel like I need a larger catalog first. But I just need to do it and get something set up. Just because I have a trunk show this year doesn't mean that I can't ever have one again as my catalog grows!
5. Be more active on social media--especially Twitter and Instagram.
I was getting really good about Instagram for the last bit of 2014, but I didn't do as much in the last couple of weeks. I'd love to post at least one picture a day on IG and perhaps one tweet a day. I just want to make sure I have good content and that I'm not just posting to post something.
6. Take new photos of my first patterns.
As I'm learning a little more about photography and getting more experience (although I have a long way to go), I'm looking back at my first attempts and I'm not happy with those pictures. In particular, I want to redo the pictures for Lady Bertilak, Lyonet, and Lyones (and possibly Astolat). I've been wanting to create Ravelry ads for those first three patterns and I'm just not finding the pictures (especially Lady Bertilak) to work very well. I'm also wondering if the yellow samples for Lyones and Lyonet might not be as attractive (I know that I personally am not a big fan of yellow and can't really wear it although my MIL looks fabulous in yellow). So I might also consider redoing those samples in a different color before taking new pictures.
7. Design the boy’s vest pattern I’ve been considering--which means really digging into grading.
I actually have two ideas for a boy's vest pattern, so I need to pick one, sit down and plan it out and figure out sizing. I've watched the Craftsy class on grading and also have other resources available in my personal library so it's just a matter to sitting down and doing it.
8. Consider redesign of pattern template--experiment and see if there’s something I might like better.
Part of the reason for this is that I'm thinking about the print versions of patterns so I'm really mostly looking at that front page. I've also been posting the front page as one of the images on Ravelry and Patternfish, so making it look as attractive as possible is good. I'd already started rounding the corners on the pictures and I felt like I wanted to echo that with boxes around the two columns of text on the front page. I've already been playing around with this, and here is a mock up of what I'm considering:
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| Yes, this is a sneak peek of a pattern -- it's currently in testing. |
9. Redesign business card.
I saw that VistaPrint was doing a pretty good new year's sale so I went ahead and redesigned and reordered. I do like the new ones better (I've taken off a lot of the information such as my Etsy shop link since I won't be doing much with it and my Facebook page link and focused on Twitter, Instagram, and Ravelry). I've added a few more pictures of my designs (removing the handspun yarn), and I made the back the same purple as my logo with the square version of my logo on it. But now that I've been experimenting with my pattern template, I'm wishing that I had waited on the business cards because I'm already seeing an idea in my head about some other options that I can do to make those two things match a bit. So I may work on the redesign but wait to order new ones for a little longer as I don't need hundreds of extra business cards!
10. Create video tutorials for some of the techniques used in my patterns.
For some of the techniques, I've been linking to other videos/websites with tutorials. But I worry that at some point those links might no longer work (which will mean an update to the pattern will be needed). I also think that it would be nice to have tutorials that are relevant specifically to my pattern but could also be applied to other patterns (like the garter tab cast on). I do need to figure out the best way to make the video (should I use my iPhone or my camera?) and how to edit the video. But I won't be able to make those decisions until I experiment, so once again this is just something that I need to sit down and do.
I do have other things I'd like to do with my designing this year, but I think that this is a good list for now. And just because I don't include something on this list today doesn't mean that I can't accomplish it this year!
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