You would want your patterns to be as clean, consistent, and recognizable as possible, right? To help you achieve this goal, I’ve gathered here guidelines for complying a style guide or style sheet for yourself. A style guide or style sheet – dear child has many names – is a document that includes detailed instructions for writing your knitting patterns.

What makes up the style of a knitting pattern?

Knitting patterns in magazines or other pattern publications usually follow a set, uniform style characteristic for that particular publication. The aforementioned style of pattern writing contains technical details like terminology, abbreviations, fonts and font sizes, structure of the pattern, style of schematics and photos, how things are phrased etc. In other words, all these details make up the style of a pattern and set a standard of what to expect in the eyes of a pattern buyer.

The importance of a uniform style of patterns

When it comes to magazines and other pattern collections, a situation where the style of presenting technical details and writing patterns would vary drastically from one pattern to another, is almost impossible. At least, a nonuniform style would make the publication look very unprofessional. Do you already have a favorite publication in which all information is presented in a very user-friendly way, written instructions are exceptionally clear, or you love the styling of the knits?

Does an indie designer need a style guide or style sheet?

A uniform style of pattern writing is achieved and retained by the use of a style guide that includes all relevant instructions for writing the patterns for the brand in question. Therefore, pattern publishers usually create very detailed style guides for themselves and ask the designers to follow the given instructions. In the end, it is a job of a tech editor to make sure this will happen.

However, one doesn’t have to be a big, shiny brand to have a style guide. That is to say, any self-publishing designer will benefit from complying guidelines for their patterns. You as a designer can achieve this by determining your style, making choices, and gathering all details in one document. Here you can find some advantages a style guide could give you:

How to comply a Style Guide?

Next up, I’m phrasing some guidelines on how to to comply a style guide for yourself. Your personalized style guide could be as general or as detailed as you like, the style is free. However, it should include everything you think is relevant for how you want your patterns to be. To help you start making a style guide, I’ve gathered here a list of things to consider while making one, and you can make up more details as you go. So, go through these elements step by step and define, how you want everything to be.

General remarks

• Fonts & font sizes
• Page numbering
• Placement of the pattern elements
• Which systems of measurements you want to use.
• Use of terminology

Structure of the pattern

• Define which sections you want to have in your patterns.
• Order of sections
• Placement of schematics, charts, and photos
• Instructions for reading the charts

Yarn requirements

• Number of balls/skeins/hanks
• Yarn weights
• Fibre contents
• Information on shades used
• Yardages of each used yarn in relevant systems

Needles

• Needle sizes
• Needle types

Other tools

• List all other tools

Sizing information

• Define which system(s) of measurements you want to include.

Naming of the sizes

• How many sizes you want to have for each knitwear category?
• Define which measurements are given in each knitwear category
• Give instructions on how to round the measurements.
• Define the method of converting, if more than one system of measurements is used.

Gauge

• Stitch and row counts per 10 cm and/or 4 inches for each relevant stitch pattern.
• If there are cables or other stitch patterns which makes it hard to count stitches, you can give the width of a relevant section and the stitch count for that.
• Instructions for making a swatch and using it for measuring gauges.

List of abbreviations

• Make a comprehensive list of abbreviations in alphabetical order & corresponding explanations.

Charts

• List of symbols & corresponding explanations
• Instructions for reading the charts

Instructions for phrasing things

• Here you can list examples of phrases you want to use in different situations and actions of the pattern.

Instructions for finishing the work

• Instructions for joining parts (if relevant), blocking, washing etc.

Your contact details

• Give at least your email address and your website info, if you gave one
• Social media handles

Copyright info

• Display your copyright for the pattern by adding something like this: year + (c) + your name/your designer name.
• Copyright laws differ from one country to another, so you might want to get familiar with those relevant to you.
• Here’s a useful article on copyright from Knitty.

Summary

To sum up, there are no set rules for making a style guide as long as it is accurate enough for your needs, up to date, and works for you. In addition, the layout can be anything you like. Here’s a pretty neat example by Kephren Knitting Studio.

In conclusion, I do recommend considering a style guide as an ever-evolving collection of instructions for yourself and your tech editor. Therefore, keep updating it whenever you come up with improvements or additions for your patterns. Moreover, if you come up any further details to include in a style guide, loved to hear in the comments!

Happy designing!

Further reading: Is technical editing worth investing?

If you need support in creating a style guide or style sheet, I’m more than happy to help!

Are you looking for a tech editor? Don’t hesitate to contact me!