Submission Guidelines: Knitty

Interested in contributing patterns or articles to Knitty?

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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 December 5, 2011 --
Deadline dates AND Style Guide template HAVE CHANGED]

Q1. What types of patterns/articles are you looking for?
A1. We are now soliciting patterns for our Spring+Summer issue which goes live in March 2012.

Spring+Summer can be challenging as a designer...what do knitters really want? Well, we've found that they love the same thing they love year round: layers. In this case, though, light layers. Openwork, lace, super-light fabrics and absolutely no warm fibers like alpaca, mohair or angora. Think cotton, linen and lightweight wools, and blends of any of these.

Short-sleeved pullovers have a big place in our Spring+Summer issue, and well-designed ones work well for later seasons, over a light long-sleeved shirt. Think versatility, and think sweaters.

Accessories, of course, are easy. We always love shawls and socks, and love even more to be surprised by something you've created that we've never even thought of. Surprise us. Don't forget: we're the online knitting magazine with a sense of humor, and we love patterns that create joy, whether they're weird, strange, fun or all three. After all, we are the magazine that published this and this.

We don't do novelty yarn, and we rarely publish children's garments or accessories, unless they're exceptionally clever or unique. For the best chance of being published, submit your designs for men's or women's sweaters.

Remember, as you design for Knitty, ask yourself this: what makes your design unique? Tell us about it when you write your e-mail to us.

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 work is published in Knitty, you may include a picture 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 After the issue has been archived [3 months later], you may do whatever you wish with your work, including self publishing or submitting it to other publications. The copyright for your work always remains with you.

We cannot accept submissions of crocheted items. Knitted items with a small amount of crochet, such as edging or 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, and often see a spike in their pattern sales as a result. 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 [our Library] will remain available online indefinitely.

Once the current issue that showcases your pattern or article has moved to the Library [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 editors choose what they like and/or what they think 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 or has ever been 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. Please take careful note of our new deadlines, as our publication schedule has changed, and the new focus of each issue is 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 2012	Warm-to-hot-weather garments + accessories	Jan 2, 2012	Mar 2012
First Fall + Holiday Headstart 2012	Transitional cool-weather layers + things to knit early for holiday gifting...no mohair or angora!	Apr 2, 2012	June 2012
Deep Fall 2012	Super-cozy cool-weather garments + accessories	June 1, 2012	Sept 2012
Winter 2012	Cold-weather garments + accessories, quick last-minute gift knits	Sept 1, 2012	Dec 2012

Q8. When does each issue go live?
A8. See the schedule below

Spring+Summer 2012: March 2012

First Fall + Holiday Headstart 2012: June 2012

Deep Fall 2012: Sept 2012

Winter 2012: December 2012

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 January 2, 2012, 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. Also please remember that people have heads, and your photos should, too.
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: "Knitty 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 January 2, 2012. 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: "Knitty Spring+Summer sub: *yourarticlenamehere*"

spindle

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 you to submit patterns for garments, especially garments that combine handspun and commercial yarn.

Knittyspin follows the same guidelines as our big sister, Knitty, but we have our own style guide. Please download this MSWord document or the text-only version and follow the conventions exactly when creating your submission. The Knitty pattern guidelines apply for the rest of your submission.

Please send all submissions to this address. Deadline for Spring+Summer is January 2, 2012. Kindly title your e-mail: "Knittyspin Spring+Summer sub: *yourpatternnamehere*"

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:
Ply:
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 Spring+Summer is January 2, 2012. Kindly title your e-mail: "Knittyspin Spring+Summer article sub: *yourarticlenamehere*"

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