Why I am updating one of our most popular patterns after 12 years

I have been spending some time revisiting one of our popular kits recently. It all started when we needed to make another kit example, unfortunately our Night Owl Bracelet example went missing. Sadly we believe it was pinched, one day it was there the next it wasn’t. It’s very frustrating when these things happen, however sometimes these things happen for a reason. I decided, as I was remaking the example to make a few tweaks to the pattern. Those few tweaks ended up with me pretty much re-writing the whole pattern. So I thought I’d share with you why I am updating one of our most popular patterns after 12 years.

Always Learning

I’m sure you’d all agree that we’re always learning and developing when you’re doing something over and over. Like finding little techniques that simplify things. Or discovering a different way of explaining things. And that’s exactly what I found when re-creating this design using a pattern I wrote back in 2011. Don’t be alarmed, the original pattern still works. The amount of finished kit examples we’ve seen over the years are proof of that. However there were some things that I just thought, with an extra 12 years experience I could explain in a better way. So I have decided to not only revamp our Night Owl kit, but to create a new version of this kit as well.

New & revamped Kits

This is the original Night Owl Bracelet Kit with the new Great Grey Owl Bracelet Kit. 

I thought I’d also let you know how the original pattern came to be. I will always have a soft spot for The Night Owl kit as it was the very first kit I ever designed. As soon as I started working at The Bead Shop, fresh out of Uni back in 2006 I was drawn in to beading and the vast amount of different stitches and techniques there were. At the time we stocked all the popular beading magazines including (the sadly now discontinued) Bead & Button. I used their very handy glossary of stitches you’d find in the back of the magazines to teach myself new techniques. I’d spend my evenings, after working in the shop, playing with beads. I just saw so much potential in them.

Despite being many years ago now, I remember the thrill of finishing my first design. I’d sketched it out on paper and made it myself. I’d seen some beads in a magazine that were made of tubes of peyote stitch sewn together and I used that idea to form a ‘built in’ clasp in my bracelet too. I love owls and have always had a fondness for 60’s and 70’s design and colour so I used some slightly wild purple, blue, red and turquoise to create my original owl bracelet. Now at this point I’d just made it for myself, but I couldn’t wait to show it off at work (obviously). When I did Hana suggested I made it into a kit for the shop, we chatted colours and the Night Owl Bracelet Kit was created.

Why am I updating the pattern

My original pattern had numbered beads (as many patterns of the time did). However this is something I have discovered, through many years of teaching and following other patterns, that can cause confusion. I have developed my own style of pattern writing over the years. This has been heavily influenced by the real time feedback you get when teaching workshops. It’s the best kind of feedback, if everyone askes a questions or gets stuck at the same point, I know I need to work of that elements of the pattern. Equally, if everyone is merrily beading along with the pattern asking no questions you know you’d explained things well. 

I am also well aware that everyone learns in a different way. I am dyslexic, and I believe my dyslexic thinking helps me visualise beadwork, patterns and diagrams. But I also learn in a very visual way too. If I’m learning something new and I’m faced with a block of solid text I’ll get in a pickle. However give me some clear diagrams and I’m sorted. I love videos too. I have also taught people over the years who don’t find diagrams useful at all, they learn best following written directions. So Just reading the text and maybe look at the finished photo for reference is enough for them. The same is true when I demonstrate something. Some people will watch once and they’ve got it, some will watch, try it, watch again, ask questions and get there at a slower pace. ALL are completely valid ways of learning and will end up with the same results. I have considered all these things in the update.

How have I updated the pattern

I started off by making the diagrams clearer and simpler. New beads added in each step are in a different colour along with the thread path highlighted (which is now my go to style). There are still comprehensive written directions for beaders who prefer them. I have added in additional tips and information about the stitch so that it’s more accessible for new beaders. I have also filmed several videos to help with the different stages and helpful techniques throughout the pattern. 

Just like this explanation about odd count peyote stitch turns. Once you’ve done it a few times it’s easy, and it’s much easier to understand when you’ve seen it done. 

Although dyslexia helps with my visualising and problem solving my written work always need some polishing. Hana is my go-to editor. My dyslexia means I jumble words and Hana is now tuned in to my usual traits. These include missing plurals, getting similar words the wrong way around; My and by, now and not, our and out…. there’s many more, which spellcheck can’t pick up. I always appreciate anyone pointing out typos or errors which we inevitable miss (we’re only human). Please never feel awkward about letting us know about any you spot. 

I hope the additions and changes make this an easier pattern to follow for more people. If you have any feedback I’d love to hear it.

Thanks for reading, Steph.