Interested in contributing patterns or articles to
Knitty?
Sign up for periodic updates and
bulletins by using the handy form below.
[We won't use this information for
any other purpose and your e-mail address will only be visible
to Knitty's editor. Promise.]
Knitty
requires all patterns to follow CYC sizing standards.
Charts and full information can be
found on this
page.
Ysolda Teague has provided
a wonderful
sizing resource for designers that follows the
CYC sizing standards and fills in some important gaps. Thank
you, Ysolda!
FAQ for designers and authors [updated
November 2009]
Q1. What types of patterns/articles are you looking
for?
A1. We are now soliciting patterns for our first-ever
Spring+Summer Issue which goes live
in March 2010.
2010 brings the launch of Knitty's new publishing
schedule, and our Spring+Summer Issue
is the kickoff! We're looking for
things to wear as weather changes
from cold to warm, and from warm
to hot. Lacy layers, short-sleeved
sweaters, lightweight wraps and garments
are what knitters want for spring. For
summer: tanks, feather-light sweaters
and other garments and -- of course!
-- beachwear. For both seasons, accessories
like bags and season-appropriate
hats...and we know you've got ideas
we haven't mentioned here. Think
about what you'd like to wear for
warm-to-hot weather and knock our
socks off!
We love unique approaches to construction, techniques we have
never seen before, and fresh, up-to-date style that you want
to wear right now. Keep an eye on what's in
fashion but make it wearable and stylish beyond just one season.
Think about what flatters the body, and what makes the wearer
feel good when the sweater is on. And remember that we are more
likely to publish designs that cover the widest possible range
of sizes, which means careful attention to design and shaping.
Lace is always a favorite at Knitty, whether it's an elaborate
shawl with multiple charts or an ingenious pattern that looks
much harder to knit than it is. Lace in a sweater? We love that.
Overall, as you design for Knitty, ask yourself this: what
makes your design unique?
Please note: Knitty is religion neutral, so
nothing related to any religion will be published.
Submissions must be new -- not previously
shown in any form [even just a
picture] in another mag or on any
website, including Flickr or Ravelry. Once
your pattern is published in Knitty,
you may include a picture of your
design on your website with a link
to the Knitty website. After the
issue has been archived [3 months
later], you may do whatever you
wish with your work, including
self publishing or submitting it
to other publications.
We cannot accept submissions of crocheted items. Knitted items
with a small amount of crochet, such as edging, necklines are
most welcome. :-)
Q2. What do you pay for submissions?
A2. The
honorarium ranges from $75-100 per
published submission. Payment will be by Paypal and
contributors can expect payment by the time the issue's surprise
goes live -- midway between your issue and the next.
In addition to the honorarium, we offer you a highly visible,
professional place to show your work to a large, well-connected
audience, plus a link back to the website of your choice. Our
designers and authors enjoy significant traffic as a result
of their Knitty exposure. If you've dreamed of becoming a professional
published knitwear designer or writer, Knitty could help you
get there. It's also a great way to build an audience and generate
sales for your own pattern line or other knitting-related product.
You [the creator of the work] will
retain all copyrights to your own work. By submitting work
to be published in Knitty and accepting the honorarium, you
are giving your permission for your pattern or article and
all related images to be included in Knitty magazine in its
current format and other electronic or computer-readable distribution
formats. Back issues of Knitty will remain available online
indefinitely.
Once the current issue that showcases your pattern or article
has moved to the archives, you are free to do as you wish with
the pattern or article, which includes submitting it elsewhere
or self publishing.
Q3. May I send you my submission by snail mail?
A3. Knitty is unable to accept snail mail [paper] submissions.
All submissions must be sent via e-mail. If you do not have
a digital camera or scanner, this information may
help you.
Q4. How soon can I expect to hear back about my submission?
A4. Consideration for each issue's designs begins after
the submission deadline has closed.
If we feel your submission is not suitable for publication
in Knitty, we will let you know as soon as possible. If you
do not hear from us, it means your submission is in the queue
for consideration. Congratulations!
Once the submission deadline has passed and all potential designs
are in hand, we begin the selection process. We endeavor to
let every designer know if they will be included in the next
issue as soon as possible. If you have not heard from us by two
weeks before publication, please write the
editor and inquire. Patterns are selected first for each
issue to allow our technical editor time to do her work; articles
are chosen closer to publication.
Q4a. My submission was rejected. Should I resubmit
it in the future?
A4a. Thank you for asking, but no. If a design might
work for Knitty, but just not in the upcoming issue, the editor
will ask permission of the designer to hold their design for
consideration for a future issue. If the editor thinks the design
would work with modifications, she will contact the designer
to discuss this.
Q5. How do you select what gets published?
A5. Our editor chooses what she likes and/or what she
thinks Knitty readers will like. The quality of the knitted
item, written pattern AND the images that accompany the submission
are very important.
No payment is accepted by Knitty
in exchange for publishing a design. If it's in our pages, it's
there because we think people will enjoy knitting it or be inspired
by it.
Q6. Does Knitty arrange yarn support?
A6. Many of our designers have had the materials for
their designs donated and we try to facilitate this when possible.
If you are an established contributor to Knitty, write the
editor with your concept, sketches, swatches and yarn requirements
as far in advance of the issue your work is planned for as you
possibly can.
If you are new to Knitty, please include photographs of previous
work and some information about you and your background when
you write to us with your concept, sketches and swatches.
Q7. What are your deadlines for future issues?
A7. All submissions will be due the first day of the
deadline month, unless that day happens to be a Sunday or a
holiday. In that case, we move to the next day. You'll also
notice that we're shifting our publication schedule. Please
take careful note of our new deadlines and the new focus of
each issue starting with Spring+Summer 2010 in the chart below.
Overall, we'll still want the same sorts of patterns that Knitty
is famous for, but the makeup of each issue as well as its timing
is changing. Still 4 issues per year, just slightly different
timing.
Issue
Theme
Submission
Deadline
Issue live
Spring+Summer
2010
Warm-to-hot-weather
garments + accessories
Dec
15, 2009
Mar 10
First
Fall +
Holiday Headstart
2010
Transitional
cool-weather layers + projects
to knit early for holiday gifting
Mar 1, 2010
mid-July
10
Deep
Fall 2010
Cool-weather
garments + accessories, quick
last-minute gift knits
July 15,
2010
Oct 10
Winter
2011
Cold-weather
garments + accessories
Oct 1, 2010
Jan 11
Spring+Summer
2011
Warm-to-hot-weather
garments + accessories
Jan 2, 2011
Apr 11
Q8. When does each issue
go live?
A8. As close as possible
to the beginning of the month, except
for First Fall.
Winter 2009: December
2009
Spring+Summer 2010: March
2010 [this issue is live for one
extra month so we can make the
issue shift]
First Fall + Holiday Headstart
2010: mid-July 2010
Deep Fall 2010: October
2010
Winter 2011: January
2011
Spring+Summer 2011: April
2011
Q9. My work was published
in Knitty. When will I be paid?
A9. Payment to all contributors
will be complete by the time the
issue's surprise goes live -- midway
between your issue and the next.
Please
read and follow all instructions
precisely.
Knitty
Patterns[see below for
additional Knittyspin pattern guidelines]
All design submissions
for our Spring+Summer Issue must
be received by December 15, 2009, and
include the following, sent as
ATTACHMENTS to your e-mail message:
1. A complete written
knitting pattern that adheres to
the Knitty style guide in an MS Word
or text-only document. Please download this
MSWord document or the text-only
version and follow the conventions
exactly when creating your submission.
Your work will be edited for clarity
and format. Do not include
photos in your pattern document. Attach
them to your e-mail along with the
pattern file.
Take some time to read patterns
we've published and follow our conventions.
A table of Knitty's standard abbreviations
can be found here.
List any unusual abbreviations and
their definitions at the beginning
of your pattern in the Pattern Notes
section.
Patterns must include the following:
brand name, colors and fiber content
of yarn used; yardage per ball or
skein; quantity of yarn required
per size. If the yarn you have used
is discontinued by the time your
pattern is submitted, please list
an alternate that will produce similar
results. Your pattern will be edited
to meet our standards.
You must
include a gauge indicator [4x4" square,
over stockinette stitch, showing
stitch AND row count] for those
knitters who wish to substitute yarns.
Please use current, commercially
available yarns whenever possible. "Commercially
available" means, at minimum,
that the yarn can be ordered from
a website, all over the world, without
difficulty.
Patterns
should be sized from XS
to 3X for women and S
to 2X for men. All designs
published in Knitty must follow
the CYC sizing standards. Please
familiarize yourself with the
sizing charts, which you'll find here.
2. A
clean sketch of the silhouette of
the pattern [see example at right] that
shows all relevant measurements.
If your pattern covers multiple sizes,
please indicate their measurements
as well. The sketch should be provided
as a GIF file, or EPS artwork, if
you are able. Clean, hand-drawn sketches
are acceptable.
3. A
selection of clean digital images [JPG,
best possible quality] of the
finished project at 72dpi, at
least 500 pixels wide. Please
include as many photos as you can
-- pretty shots for atmosphere, and
a variety of clear detail shots.
Please ensure that all relevant
design features are visible in the
photos you send, since this often
helps people follow patterns. The
style and quality of your photos
is very important, so show your work
to its best advantage! Have a photo
shoot, take lots of different shots
from different angles and have fun
with it! Pl
Are you a designer
that's new to Knitty? [as in we
haven't published your work before]: It's
absolutely essential that your
submission photos be clear, in
focus, bright and of the style
that we request above. The quality
of the photos is an essential component
of everyone's submission. We have
had to reject excellent patterns
because the photographs weren't
well-lit, sharp and/or appealing.
So in order to evaluate each submission
properly, every submission MUST
contain photos that are good enough
to publish.
Knitty's
photography tips:
Shoot
the photo in a bright,
naturally lit location.
Outdoor shots are usually
a great choice. Avoid flash
photography unless you're
using professional studio
equipment. example • example • example
The
background and styling
of the photo should be
interesting and enhance
or pleasantly contrast
with the garment/item but
not distract from it. Avoid
the standing-against-a-tree
pose, please. example • example • example
If your
submission is wearable,
please photograph it on
a model in the way you
want to see it worn and
in an appropriate setting. i.e.
if it's a formal item,
make the accessories, associated
clothing and background
formal as well; if it's
a winter item, try to make
the scene feel like winter,
even if the current season
isn't the least bit snowy example • example • example
Items
like scarves, shawls, bags,
and other flattish items
should be shown flat in
a few of the submitted
photos so that all key
knitting details can be
clearly seen. Modelled
shots are also important
to set the mood for your
design. example • example • example
We can't
accept photos of knitted
items on stuffed toys,
dolls or dogs, unless those
items are specifically
meant to be worn by stuffed
toys, dolls or dogs. If
you've knit a baby garment,
please show the garment
on a real baby. :-) example • example • example
Remember:
Knitty is a publication
with a sense of humor and
we're not afraid of different;
we prefer it. example • example • example
Note:
if you do not have a digital camera,
most photo developers are able
to provide you with a photo CD
for each roll of film you have
developed. This gives you a good-quality
JPG file for each photo.
You can also take your developed
photos to a place like Kinko's where
they'll scan them in for you and
give you an electronic file that
you can attach to your e-mail submission.
Print out this page, bring it along
and point them to item 3 above so
that they know what resolution and
file size you require.
4. Contact details
-- please include:
- Your name as you wish it to be
published
- an e-mail address where readers
can send questions or feedback
- your Paypal e-mail address
- the URL to your website or blog,
if you wish us to link to you
- a short bio [100 words max],
written in 3rd person
- a blurb describing the item in
question
- a headshot of you
- the name of any models featured
in photographs you submit
- the photographer's name
5. A signed, dated
statement that the pattern you are
submitting is your own original work.
Please copy the following text, sign
below and include it with your submission:
By submitting
a design to be published in Knitty,
I verify that I am the original
creator of the work, and that I
have not infringed and/or violated
the existing intellectual property
rights of any third person in the
creation of the work I claim as
mine. Further, I agree to hold
Knitty and its editors and publisher
harmless from any and all expenses,
losses, liabilities, damages or
third-party claims that may arise
from any infringement and/or violation
of such intellectual property rights.
The one-time fee paid by Knitty
is my full compensation for all
electronic and/or computer-readable
media distribution rights. This
notice will serve as my written
permission to allow my pattern
and all related images to be published
in Knitty magazine in its current
format and in any future format
in perpetuity.
Please send all submissions
to the
editor.
Kindly title your e-mail: "spring+summer pattern
sub: *yourpatternnamehere*"
Articles [see below for
additional Knittyspin article guidelines]
Tutorials of
unique techniques, or techniques
that have
not yet been covered by other articles
in our archive are most welcome.
Tutorials require clean, detailed
photography and clear step-by-step
instructions. Do you have a unique
skill related to knitting or fiber?
Share what you know!
First-person
stories are welcomed,
but please be aware that we have
published many
of these in the past and do
not wish to publish duplicate themes
or content. If you have a new,
fresh personal story to tell that
other knitters will find interesting
or might relate to, we would love
to see it.
Written
submissions for our Spring+Summer
Issue must be received by December
15, 2009. Submissions
must be from 1000 to 2000 words
in length. Submit files in MS Word
or as text-only documents. If accepted
for publication, your work will
be edited for clarity and format.
Please include the following,
sent as ATTACHMENTS to your e-mail
message: 1. Where appropriate,
supporting graphics or photography
are appreciated by the editor
and bring life to your story.
As an example, see this
article. The photographs
of the process, yarns and color
key were supplied by the author.
This is a very good thing. Important: Note
the name of each image in the
location you feel it belongs
in your article.
Image guidelines:
Clean, well-lit digital images [JPG, best possible
quality], 72dpi, at least
500 pixels wide. You may
include more than one photo -- we
encourage you to! As with patterns,
photo quality is very important.
Note: if you do not have a digital
camera, most photo developers now
offer image scanning to CDs so
that you end up with a good-quality
JPG file for each photo.
2. Contact details
-- please include:
- Your name as you wish it to be
published
- an e-mail address where readers
can send questions or feedback
- your Paypal e-mail address
- the URL to your website or blog,
if you wish us to link to you
- a short bio [100 words max],
written in 3rd person
- a headshot of you
- the name of any models featured
in photographs you submit
- the photographer's name
3. A signed, dated
statement that the pattern you are
submitting is your own original work.
Please copy the following text, sign
below and include it with your submission:
By submitting
an article to be published in Knitty,
I verify that I am the original
creator of the work, and that I
have not infringed and/or violated
the existing intellectual property
rights of any third person in the
creation of the work I claim as
mine. Further, I agree to hold
Knitty and its editors and publisher
harmless from any and all expenses,
losses, liabilities, damages or
third-party claims that may arise
from any infringement and/or violation
of such intellectual property rights.
The one-time fee paid by Knitty
is my full compensation for all
electronic and/or computer-readable
media distribution rights. This
notice will serve as my written
permission to allow my article
and all related images to be published
in Knitty magazine in its current
format and in any future format
in perpetuity.
Please send all submissions
to the
editor.
Kindly title your
e-mail: "spring+summer article
sub: *yourarticlenamehere*"
Knittyspin
Patterns Knittyspin is
for people who want to knit with
handspun yarn, whether they have
spun it themselves or not.
Handspun yarn is used in a lot of
beautiful accessories and we get
many accessories submitted each issue.
We really want to encourage patterns
for garments, especially garments
that combine handspun and commercial
yarn.
Please
send all submissions to this
address. Deadline for Spring+Summer
is December 15, 2009. Kindly title
your e-mail:
"Knittyspin spring+summer pattern
sub: *yourarticlenamehere*"
Knittyspin
Articles Articles about all aspects
of spinning, and all aspects of knitting
with handspun are welcome.
Knittyspin follows the same guidelines
as our big sister, Knitty. Read the
requirements for Articles above.
In addition, please include any of
the following details that are applicable
to your article:
Fiber: (include company, colorway
and where it is available to purchase)
Preparation:
Drafting method:
Wheel system: [double drive, scotch
tension or bobbin drive]
Ratio (singles/plying):
Wraps per inch:
Twist angle:
Yardage used:
Yarn classification: (please include
a commercial substitute)
Yardage used:
Finished size:
All gear used in the spinning
of your yarn, including:
Wheel or spindle
Niddy Noddy
Lazy Kate
Etc.
Please send all submissions
to this
address. Deadline for winter
is September 2, 2009.
Kindly title your
e-mail:
"Knittyspin winter article
sub: *yourarticlenamehere*"