My Design Process - Part 2

To continue from yesterday's post, I am going to tell you about the next steps in my design process. Once I am happy with my pattern pieces and how they print out, I use them to make an example of my design. Whilst I am doing this, I try to take as many photographs of the making process as possible because I use them in my step by step instructions. I think photographs are a crucial part of any set of instructions because not everybody finds it easy to follow a written guide, I know I am more visual and always have more success when following pictures, diagrams or photographs. I also love following video tutorials which is why I offer those too, because sometimes just seeing exactly what somebody does can demystify a technique. A lot of effort goes into my photograph and videos. The lighting has to be bright, natural light, but not direct sunlight otherwise shadows can cause problems. Using a flash is a big no as it alters colours and makes things look artificial. The background needs to be simple so that the subject stands out. I am lucky enough to have a DSLR camera to use and this has taken my photography to another level although I still have a lot to learn. Gone are the days of shining lamps with daylight bulbs onto my items (this is what I used to do about 10 years ago when selling my handmade items on Etsy, Folksy and eventually my own website) as now we have a range of excellent photo editing apps available to us. I love Photoshop Fix with is a free, paired down version of Photoshop available on IPad and it is a brilliant app for anybody starting out in photo editing.

I tend to lighten photos, crop them and that's all. It just makes them bright and appealing and above all, easy to see.
Whilst I am making the product, I jot down my process and use this to write the set of written instructions, adding in my photographs as I go. When this is complete, I have the pattern checked by two proof readers, one who a beginner sewer who checks it is easy to understand for people​ just starting out, and the other who is an experienced sewer and can check for errors. I then take more photographs of the finished item and write a blog post and an Instagram post about it to let people know what is available. I also design my own packaging for my kits. I don't want to give too much away but when you receive a kit in the post, it will be wrapped like a pretty gift for you to open.

​So a lot goes into each pattern and kit release. I pay a lot of attention to detail as I feel this is very important and I want to create products people love. I want people to know they will have success making their kit because the instructions are very clear and well thought out. Although it is hard work, I love creating these kits and I am just bursting with more ideas, there just aren't enough hours in a day to get them out quick enough!