Tip : The concept board
    Here is a little idea that I picked up in art school that I find works really well for designing knitting projects. The traditional purpose of a concept board is to present your idea to a third party, but don’t underestimate it as a tool to take your idea a step beyond your sketch book. Start with a board – maybe a half or a quarter sheet of Bristol board. Looking at your sketch book, try to focus in on the most important aspects or your idea. You can do a more final drawing of what your want your garment to look like, and paste it on the board. Consider colour – what colour ways do you want to use? Paint chips are a handy way to indicate this. If you have a yarn in mind that you’d like to use, put a picture of it, or a sample if you have it, on the board. But don’t limit yourself only to the particulars; this is the perfect place to share your inspiration – a photograph, a magazine picture, a texture; all this is fair game. Because you are using the concept board as a design tool, don’t worry to much about limiting yourself.
    This is a really fun part of the designing process, and one I’m sure you will find useful, whether your are designing a garment from scratch, or trying to be creative in your approach to a pattern. I feel it also gives you a more profound experience of knitting. By making a concept board, you are taking yourself seriously, taking your ideas seriously, taking your inspiration seriously – and you will be rewarded!