Stitcher's Market - October 2007

As someone who writes knitting patterns, I was always looking for new places to submit them. My list was pretty short, so I put out a call for suggestions and was immediately overwhelmed by the response.

Here it is, a mega-list of places to submit knitting and crochet patterns and articles. Thank you to everyone who helped make the list possible! This list is still learning to walk, so go ahead and let me know if there are any errors or exclusions.

About: A site where “expert guides steer content - sharing their passions, expertise and how-to information with visitors every day”. Seems to have big knitting and crochet sections, and you can submit patterns, reviews and tips in exchange for exposure and credit.
Link: http://knitting.about.com/od/knittingpatterns/l/blsubmitpattern.htm

Anticraft: A diy site with fresh issues arriving four times a year. They have lots of different craft projects, including knitting and crochet. What do you get in return? In their words, “Glory, baby. Glory.”
Link: http://theanticraft.com/submit.htm

Black Purl Magazine: An online magazine for needlecrafters featuring ethnic-inspired stitches and stories. They are looking for patterns as well as articles, and they do pay for published designs.
Link: http://www.black-purl-magazine.com/submissions.htm

Cherry Tree Hill: A yarn company that seeks sock patterns using their yarns, and right now specifically for a new line called Sockittome. They will pay you if they take your pattern and replace the yarn you used.
Link: http://www.cherryyarn.com/

Chiagu: (from their site) “Chiagu is the place for unusual designs from independent designers, where those designers can show their work and get paid for their creativity! We're adding patterns as quickly as we can get them edited, photographed, and coded, so stop by often, or join the mailing list!” NOTE: Not accepting submissions at this time.
Link: http://www.chiagu.com/guidelines.htm

Craftster: A beloved crafting forum with large knitting, spinning and crochet communities. You can post patterns in the appropriate sections, as you wish. There is no pay, but there is a lot of traffic. They do not let you put a link to your blog to get to the pattern, you have to post the pattern on their boards directly.
Link: http://www.craftster.org/

Crochet Pattern Central: (from their site) “an often updated online directory featuring thousands of links to free crochet patterns.” It looks like you can submit a link here if you have a free crochet pattern on the web already.
Link: http://www.crochetpatterncentral.com/

The Daily Knitter: Free patterns, information on knitting yarn, knitting articles and tips, a yarn shop directory, knitting book reviews, yarn reviews, local knitting clubs, knitting charities, knitting events, and more. They do not pay, but they will get your pattern seen by thousands of people.
Link: http://www.dailyknitter.com/submissions.html

Elann: An online yarn shop with lots of patterns. I couldn’t find the information about submitting patterns and I suspect they offer patterns through yarn companies, but see for yourself.
Link: http://www.elann.com

For the Love of Yarn: A relatively new online magazine that accepts knitting and crochet pattern submissions and articles. New issues are published quarterly, and since they are new, they don’t yet pay or arrange for yarn support. However, it’s a great place to start getting published.
Link: http://www.fortheloveofyarn.com/Issues/Common/submissions.shtml

The Garter Belt: A site with free patterns and patterns for sale. They have an already set team of designers, but it's probably worth seeing if they're interested in taking on anyone new.
Link: http://www.thegarterbelt.com

Hill Country Yarns: A yarn company with a sock designing contest. You buy a skein of yarn and send in an original design. You get to keep the socks, but the winning patterns are released to their sock club. Three winners receive free yarn as prizes.
Link: http://www.hillcountryyarnssockpatterncontest.blogspot.com/

INKnitters: A print magazine for hand and machine knitters that publishes quarterly. They are currently seeking “challenging patterns” and educational articles and they do arrange yarn support and payments.
Link: http://www.inknitters.com/art_guidelines.htm

Island of Misfit Patterns: (From their site) “Let me guess. You created something fabulous, wrote up a pattern, and submitted it to all the online magazines. But sadly, no one wanted it. Or maybe you wrote a great essay, but again, no one took it. Or, maybe you were just too lazy to try and get your great pattern and essay in the exact correct format for publication. We know how you feel. But, don’t worry, your pattern or essay has a home here! This site is designed to host all the lost and homeless patterns out there.” In short, they’ll post anything, and they get more hits than the average hobby knitting blog.
Link: http://www.islandofmisfitpatterns.com/

Jimmy Beans Wool: A yarn store and site with a monthly pattern competition. You have to use yarn they sell in a color they currently offer. The winner gets a gift certificate and a prize package, and your pattern is offered for free on their site.
Link: http://www.jimmybeanswool.com/freePatternContest.asp

Knit Net: An online shop and magazine published six times a year. You register your contact information with them, and they keep you updated on what they are looking for.
Link: http://www.knitnet.com/sampler/current/design.htm

Knitlist: A worldwide non-commercial yahoo mega-group with pattern sharing for subscribers.
Link: http://knitlist.com/

Knitpicks: An online yarn and more shop containing lots of patterns that use their yarns. Contact them directly to learn about submissions.
Link: http://www.knitpicks.com/help/index.php/cat/terms-of-use/submissions/

Knitting Pattern-a-Day Calendar: An annual calendar with over 300 designs. If your pattern is chosen, you receive a free calendar. Cash prizes are awarded to the top designs.
Link: http://www.knittingpatternaday.com

Knitting Pattern Central: An online directory featuring thousands of links to free knitting patterns. If you have a free pattern on your blog, Knitting Pattern Central can post a link.
Link: http://www.knittingpatterncentral.com/

The Knitting Vault: A site with knitting patterns for sale. They offer designers a free marketplace to sell their patterns. This is a good source if you’re looking to sell a pattern but don’t want the hassle of building the pdf file and creating a merchant account.
Link: http://www.theknittingvault.com/submissionguidelines.asp

Knitty: THE quarterly online magazine with free knitting patterns. With 30,000 hits a day, you’ll get a lot of attention in addition to payment.
Link: http://www.knitty.com/subguide.html

The Loopy Ewe: A site for sock knitters with yarn and patterns. I’m not sure how you arrange for them to sell your patterns (contact them?), but they do have a quarterly contest (“challenge”) listed on Sheri’s blog, with a gift certificate going to the winner.
Link: http://www.theloopyewe.com

Magknits: A popular monthly free pattern knitting site with an average of 5000 hits a day. If published, you will get a lot of attention, in addition to your choice of money, yarn support, or free advertising.
Link: http://www.magknits.com/submissions.htm

Purlescence: An online knitting store that developed an ongoing design challenge. (From the site) “create a project for a given fictional character, and tell us the story behind it… All submissions get posted here; our favourites might get spot prizes, or even get published as patterns.”
Link: http://purlescence-storytellers.blogspot.com/

Ravelry: A new knitting and crochet site still in Beta but going public soon. If you’re not a member, get yourself on the waiting list and sign up when you get the email. Then, if you have a pattern on your blog, make sure it is listed on Ravelry, THE place to organize your yarn, patterns, and connect with others.
Link: http://www.ravelry.com/

Robyn’s Nest: A Canadian yarn shop that accepts patterns (for pay) for socks. They have a sock club called Robyn's Nest Sock Club and with the handdyed sock yarn that goes out in the mail, a pattern and stitch markers go out with it. Also - they do sell other patterns, so it is worth checking out.
Link: http://www.robynsnest.ca

Spindle and Wheel: A source for spinning yarn, tutorials, and patterns. They have somewhat strict submission guidelines in terms of modesty of dress, but definitely manageable.
Link: http://www.spindleandwheel.com/content/view/45/64/

Spindlicity: An INACTIVE online magazine for handspinners. The site hasn't been updated for a while, but if ever it comes back to life, it is a good place to submit patterns using handspun yarn.
Link: http://www.spindlicity.com/

Spun Magazine: A quarterly online Toronto based magazine featuring free knitting patterns, fiber-related goodness, feature articles, personal essays, music, DVD, book reviews and other crafty fun. They welcome submissions, and pay an honorarium or will negotiate free advertising.
Link: http://spunmag.com/about/submissions

Tejemanejes: A Spanish language knitting magazine, with English versions of some patterns. NOTE: It hasn't been updated since the first issue, which came out a few months ago, and it is unknown if they will continue.
Link: http://www.tejemanejes.com/

Whip up: A handcraft site that is accepting submissions, but not for knitting or crochet patterns. They are looking for articles, reviews, tutorials, techniques, etc. that fit into each month’s theme. They do not pay, but have a large readership.
Link: http://whipup.net/about/submission-guidelines/

Yarnival: A blog carnival for knitters. You submit a blog entry of yours to the site and a host pulls together different blog posts that go together to share with a bigger audience. The submission page has a lot of ads, but if you can bear it, check it out.
Link: http://blogcarnival.com/bc/submit_417.html