Turning a sketch into a pattern

April 20, 2026 · 6 min read · By Wanessa Oliveira

Every Velifay pattern starts as a scribble on a page. Here is what happens between that scribble and the PDF in your inbox.

People often ask me how a pattern is made, and the honest answer is: slowly, and with a lot of unravelling. A design is never finished the first time. It goes through a handful of steps, and each one catches something the step before it missed.

Step 1: The sketch

It always begins with a quick drawing, usually while I'm drinking tea and not paying attention to anything else. The shape of a bag, the curve of a bunny's ear, the way a flower might sit on a corner. It doesn't have to be pretty. It only has to remind me of the idea.

Step 2: The swatch

Next I make a small test square with the yarn I want to use. It tells me how the fabric will look and feel, and how many stitches fit in ten centimeters. That number, called the gauge, is what lets you get the same size as me.

A pattern isn't just stitches. It's a promise that you'll end up with what you see in the photo.

Step 3: The first draft

Now I crochet the whole piece, writing down every single round as I go. I note each stitch, each increase and each color change. This version is usually messy, full of crossed-out lines and notes to myself like "wait, this is too tight".

Step 4: Testing

This is the step I would never skip. I rewrite the instructions in clear, simple language, then follow them exactly as written, as if I had never seen the design before. Every time I find something confusing, I fix the sentence. Then a friend tries it too, because a fresh pair of eyes catches what mine can't.

Step 5: Photos and the PDF

Finally I take step-by-step photos in natural light, add the materials list, stitch abbreviations and finishing tips, and put everything into a clean PDF. It's the part that looks easiest and takes the longest.

Why I do it this way

Because I remember how it feels to be stuck on row six with a pattern that doesn't make sense. I want every pattern to feel like a friend sitting next to you, explaining it gently. If you ever find something unclear in one of mine, tell me. I'll fix it.

With love, Wanessa