Design for Crochet Now magazine! Submission call for Winter/Spring 2025

by JenCon

Send your submissions to us before 12th August 2024!

This in an open call for designs for the Winter 2025 issues of Crochet Now. I want to hear from designers new and experienced, young and old, near and far, eclectic and traditional!

I’m looking for a collection of patterns for all levels, with the majority of patterns aimed for the advanced beginner/intermediate crocheter. Advanced/complex patterns and beginner friendly are also considered! I want to see your submissions for:

  • blankets and throws
  • shawls
  • scarves and cowls
  • toys
  • hats
  • garments (including ponchos, cardigans, pullovers – graded XS-5X Women according to Craft Yarn Council standards, unless otherwise agreed with the editor)
  • Tunisian crochet
  • children/baby clothes
  • children/baby accessories
  • cushions and other home décor
  • novelties
  • quick-makes and stitch patterns
  • seasonal makes

I have prepared some mood boards for inspiration, but please don’t let these limit you – if you have a great idea for a design which you think would fit in well to a winter issue of Crochet Now, I’d love to see it!

Submission requirements

Your submission should include a sketch and accompanying paragraph describing the item, a photograph or scan of your swatch and ideas for yarn choices. The submission should be presented in a PDF document, with your name and email address on every page. All information should be included in the submission document, including pictures. Please also tell us where we can find other examples of your work – a link to your Ravelry designer page or Instagram profile is ideal. You will be commissioned to write a full pattern (including any alternative sizes) and crochet a sample. We will take care of photography.

IMPORTANT
Please create a separate PDF for each idea and name the file in the following format:

YourName_PatternName_CNWINTER25.pdf

115 WINTER FLORALS

Neutral, calm tones with sprays of colour to brighten up the palette is going to ease us out of the post-Christmas slump. We're still snuggling up and keeping cosy, but imagine flower buds popping out of the snow or frost, with colour where you might not expect to see it! Floral blocks, patterns, and inspired toys will be the order of the issue.

116 LAYERS OF COLOUR

Forget the dark nights and grey wintry sky, we're layering up happy, bright, clashing colours to bring a smile to our wardrobes, our home, and everyone around us! Neon, bright, patterns - have fun putting your splash of colour on your wintry submissions.

117 SAKURA BLOSSOM

This issue we're celebrating that magical time of blossoming Sakura (cherry blossom). Shades of pinks will brighten the pages of crochet now, on backgrounds of yellow and blue - perhaps a cute amigurumi bento box, sushi roll, and Shiba Inu puupies? Picnics andd flavoured coffeesa are a large part of the modern celebration of this sign of spring, so lets see a crochet spin put on all this.

118 CROCHET WITH THE TON

Dearest, gentle reader... yes, we're unashamedly massive Bridgerton fans here at Crochet Now and it was only a matter of time before we commissiong this issue! Perhaps a little early in the year for the start of the season, I want to see your modern, Crochet Now take on this popular franchise - taking inspiration from other period novels and classic fairytales to help. We're right into spring with this one too so let's see those cute bee's, hoppy frogs and other signs of Spring-life!

Deadline

The deadline for submissions will be 8am UK time on Monday 12th August 2024. You will be notified if you are successful. You may not receive an email confirming receipt of your submission, due to print deadline constraints. Deadlines for final patterns and samples will be 4th October 2024 for 115, and within 2 weeks of this date for remaining issues.

Send to/contact

Please send your submissions to Jenny by email: jenny.conduit@practicalpublishing.co.uk

Compensation/Support

Compensation is on a sliding scale, depending on the size and complexity of the project, taking into account the amount of labour required (that means you can earn anywhere between £60 – £300). Payment is made around 30 days after the work is published

Yarn support is offered to all designers and payment is made by Paypal for international designers.

The exact fee will depend on a number of factors including the complexity of the design.

4 months after publication, rights will revert to you and you will then be able to use the final tech-edited version of the pattern (including charts/schematics) as you wish. We arrange yarn support for all designers. Your sample remains your property, but we will hold onto it for a while in case we get pattern queries, or for display at shows. We will return your sample to you at the same time as your publication rights.

About Crochet Now

Crochet Now is a monthly newsstand title, widely available in supermarkets, newsagents and craft stores across the UK as well as select retailers worldwide. We also publish digitally. For an idea of our style check out our Instagram page.

Hints and tips for submissions

Swatches and sketches: There is no need to submit a photo of a finished item, but your submission will need nice swatches, in a representative yarn, photographed in bright conditions. If you’re having trouble getting the photo to focus, either switch to the macro setting on your camera (the one with the little flower) or consider scanning your swatch rather than photographing it.

Formatting: Of course our main focus is on the quality of the idea, but it’s much easier for me to see that when the submission is cleanly formatted. Remember, the submission must be a PDF document sent as a single attachment, not an email with photos attached.

Yarn choice: Be flexible with your choices. I will be wanting to use the new season’s yarns, some of which won’t be publicly available yet. Talk about the qualities your project requires, don’t just say what you used. This is an opportunity for you to demonstrate that you know what you’re talking about!

FAQs

Tech editing: We do have tech editors, but they will only be polishing your patterns – they won’t be doing any grading for you. You MUST ensure your completed pattern adheres to our style guide, or this will be returned to you for resubmission.

Return of samples: We’re happy to return samples to you. Any unwanted samples are donated to Knit for Peace.

International Designers: You are very welcome to submit, but remember that Crochet Now is a UK magazine so we’ll be using British terminology and you will need to use yarns which are available in the UK (which we will arrange to be sent to you).

Photography: We will be taking care of all the photography for patterns, but the rights to photos will remain with us, so if you don’t want your sample back, consider taking photos before you send it in.

Knitting/sewing/other non-crochet elements: We’re open to any and all good quality patterns, and if it needs a little sewing or embroidery, that won’t rule it out. If it’s 100% knitting, contact the editor of our sister mag Knit Now, Emma on emma.cant@practicalpublishing.co.uk