Why I Relaunch My Knitting and Crochet Patterns – and What’s Really Behind It

Sometimes it's not the new ideas…

…but the old ones that move us forward.

The ones we've already created.
The ones that worked.
The ones many of you have already knitted or crocheted.

And yet, there comes a moment when I think:

👉 "I would do this differently today."

That's exactly how my relaunches begin.

I don't just do this for you – I also do it for myself

And now comes something I haven't said this clearly before:

I don't relaunch my patterns only for my customers.
I do it for myself as well.

Because my perspective has changed.

Because today I see things that I simply couldn't see five or ten years ago.

And that's not a bad thing.

👉 It means I've grown.

It was right back then – it's just right in a different way today

When I look at my older patterns or photos,
I don't think:

"That was bad."

Instead, I think:

"That's exactly who I was back then."

And that matters.

Because if we didn't evolve, we'd still be carving everything into stone.

Staying the same is comfortable.
But growth is what moves us forward.

📷 From my first photos to finding my own style  

I started working with models very early on.

Not because it was standard –
but because I wanted to.

With friends.
With simple setups.
With a lot of improvisation.

And yes…
when I look at those photos today, I sometimes think:

"That was brave." 😄

But that's exactly where it all started.

What you don't see: learning, practicing, improving

I taught myself most of it.

I:

• experimented
• took courses
• learned editing programs
• tried to understand light (or at least attempted 😄)
• spent countless hours editing

And little by little, something changed:

👉 my perspective.

Today I notice things I would never have seen before.

My little studio (and yes… it's full 😄)  

By the way, I keep all my pieces.

All of them.

My studio is… let's say:
👉 very well filled

But I love that.

I pick up old designs again, look at them with fresh eyes, and start rethinking them.

When work becomes part of life

And sometimes, something really beautiful happens:

Work becomes part of my life.

Vacation?
👉 Yarn and designs come with me.

A weekend with friends?
👉 "Let's quickly take a few photos…"

Many of my shoots happen exactly like that.

Not staged.
Not perfectly planned.

But:
real, spontaneous and that's exactly what makes them special

The moment when everything clicks

Then there's that one moment.

The light is right.
The wind plays along.
The poncho falls perfectly.

And I just know:

👉 "This is it."

And yes – I'm the one squatting somewhere with a camera in my hand, completely in the zone 😄

⏳ The hardest part: patience

And then comes the part no one sees:

Waiting.

Editing.
Reworking.
Doubting.
Looking again.

And then… doing nothing.

Because timing matters.

A summer design in autumn?
It just feels wrong.

So I wait.

Weeks.
Sometimes months.

Between editorial and reality – a thought that stays with me

And yes…
there's something I sometimes ask myself:

👉 "Are my photos maybe too good?"

Too calm.
Too editorial.
Too much like a magazine.

Especially on platforms like CrazyPatterns,
where things often work faster, simpler, more direct.

I've thought about it a lot.

Should I adapt my photos?
Make them simpler?
More… let's say…
👉 "platform-friendly"?

No.

Because this is my style.

Because this is what defines my work.

And because I believe it's not about making yourself smaller –
but about becoming clearer.

Yes – maybe my images are different.

Maybe they stand out.
Maybe they don't fit every platform.

But that's exactly the point.

I don't want to look like everyone else.

I want you to see my work and immediately know:

👉 "That's hers."

Why relaunching is more than just "updating"

Many people think a relaunch is quick.

The truth?

It's often more work than creating something new.

Because I:

• go through everything again
• rethink it
• reshoot it
• rebuild it
• and bring it up to my current standard

Expectations evolve – and I evolve with them

What used to be a highlight is now expected.

And that's a good thing.

Because today you expect:

• clarity
• structure
• high-quality images
• easy-to-follow instructions

👉 And that's exactly what you should get.

Why I put in this effort

I could say:

"It's fine as it is."

But that's not me.

I'm the one who:

• adjusts the lighting again
• reshoots
• reviews everything
• improves details

And yes… sometimes spends way too long on them 😄

But that's what makes the difference for me.

✨ My current relaunch: The Crochet Poncho

And for all these reasons, this update was created.

Not as something completely new.
But as a continuation.

As the result of experience, change, and many small decisions behind the scenes.

A design I've always loved –
but that now finally feels right to me.

👉 and exactly how I wanted to present it.

🚀 My Conclusion

For me, relaunching doesn't mean replacing the old.

It means:

growing – and letting you be part of that journey.

Because in the end, every pattern is a piece of me.

👉 If you'd like to take a look at the newly updated crochet poncho, you can find it here: 

Tropical #6 | GrannyCouture #1 Summer Crochet Poncho Pattern | Granny Squares | stricken-im-trend.com

More behind-the-scenes insights

If you're interested in the topic of relaunching, you'll find more insights here:

#strickenimtrend #crochetlove #handmadewardrobe #crochetponcho

I'm curious:

🧡 Have you ever redone something that was "already finished"?

Tell me – I love hearing those stories. 

All my love,
Kathrin 🌸