Hi guys! In the hopes of sharing more and not taking myself so seriously, I am challenging myself to publish a blog post every day for 365 days. Today is Day 2 (January 8, 2022).
It is only Day 2, and I can already feel the pressure that I am putting on myself to make these posts enjoyable, funny, and PERFECT. It’s getting in the way of the fun, so goodbye worries, let’s just talk.
Read and explore more topics in the 365 Day Blog Post Challenge here.
My Best Selling Pattern: For the Love of Texture Afghan
I want to talk about something that has been on my mind for a while, and that is bestselling patterns. I have a best selling pattern that I almost didn’t share. If you know me, you are probably not surprised because this is typical Dayna behavior. Here is how things normally play out for me: I love the pattern when I am working on it, but when I finish it, I second guess myself, and add it to the stack of projects “to come back to” when I can make a rational decision.
When I started this blanket, I had no idea how to design a pattern. I just had fun playing around with a few stitches that I knew (half double crochet, single crochet, puff stitch, and the crossed half double), and after some trial and error and lots of frogging, I came up with this design. My goal was to use yarn from my stash, and although I had to replenish my stash of Vanna’s Choice in the colour Honey, I stuck to my goal. I ran out of yarn when the blanket was a lapghan size, and since everything was shut down in 2020, I decided to end my blanket there.
Don’t worry guys! The pattern has instructions for customizing the size of your blanket, so if you want to make a throw or a queen sized blanket, I have you covered. I can’t expect everyone to be happy with a lapghan haha.
Sharing this Pattern with the World
Part of the reason why I didn’t share this blanket pattern right away is because I couldn’t get a decent picture of it. I’m not kidding, it took me two weeks, trying multiple different angles and backgrounds to get these pictures. Once I got the pictures though, I thought, this blanket looks nice enough that someone else might like to make it.
I was not expecting the overwhelming response that I got when I shared this blanket in the “Crochet Pattern Free” group on Facebook. Even though I love this blanket, I can see my mistakes (in the blanket, not the pattern), and I was surprised that so many people liked it. Thank you to everyone who has taken the time to reach out to me, send me pictures of your blankets, and share the pattern with fellow crocheters. It makes me so happy to see your blankets and to hear how much you enjoy the process and the finished result. I love hearing about all of the baby arrivals, weddings, anniversaries, and birthdays.
Here are a few versions of the blanket from this amazing community. The different colour combinations make every blanket so unique!
Measuring Growth Instead of Popularity
I did a quick calculation comparing my all-time pattern sales to the Texture Afghan sales, and 62.54% of my pattern sales on Etsy come from this blanket. It’s amazing, but sometimes I worry that this is it for me. Will I ever design a pattern that outsells the Texture Afghan? Will people like my evolving style of crochet? I don’t have the answers to these questions, which makes it hard to stop thinking about.
There is quote by Amy Morin that says, “The only person you can compare yourself to is the person you were yesterday.” It’s a reminder that each day is a chance for us to grow, learn, and be a better version of ourselves. If we apply this saying to crochet, then each day is an opportunity for us to become better in our craft. Better designers, better crocheters, and better at weaving in those pesky ends.
If I look at my designs in this way, then I believe that I have grown as a crocheter. Popularity is subjective, but growth can be measured. I will continue to remind myself that I am only getting better, and if my newest design isn’t as popular as the Texture Afghan, then I can try again on the next design. I am going to keep trying and keep designing!
This wraps up Day 2 of the 365 Day Challenge. Thank you so much for reading and following along with me. I hope that you enjoy this series that doesn’t take itself too seriously. Have a wonderful day, and happy crocheting!
Read and explore more topics in the 365 Day Blog Post Challenge here.
Love, Dayna
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