Knitters, your advice please!

[DollyBarton]

I am starting a handknit babywear company as I absolutely love the handknit items my 3 babies have received over the last few years and feel really strongly that there is a market for this. I am in the process of designing and creating the pattern for a unique baby item based on my experience of dressing little ones (3 in the last 4 years) but as a novice knitter, my lack of practical knowledge is making this a complicated process. I have gotten fairly far with it but am not happy about the fine details of the item and need it tidied up to a more professional level. Do you know if it is possible to get someone to create, test and finalise a pattern based on my instructions (of yarn, stitch, intarsia, size, sleeve type etc)?

I know exactly what I want but am struggling to get someone to build the pattern based on that for me. Any advice? Are there skilled knitters out there that I could work with on this and how do I find them? Does anyone here offer that sort of professional service?

As a secondary question. I have been looking into manufacturing and my ideal is to use local/regional skilled knitters to create all the products. The logistics are a bit mindboggling but I have found a successful case study of this (Eribe knitwear). But do you have any advice on how I can find individual knitters who might be happy to work for me freelance? I was wondering about local craft groups etc. but don't think I will get enough people. But maybe in knitting circles this is not such an unusual proposition?

[DollyBarton]

Any advice is greatly appreciated.

[kinloss]

As someone who runs a small business, I'd say you are at the beginning of a long and difficult road - if it's one you want to go down.

I'd want a great deal more technical knowledge if I was in your shoes. You'd get it via this sort of qualification. www.ntu.ac.uk/study-and-courses/courses/find-your-course/art-design/ug/2016-17/fashion-knitwear-design-and-knitted-textiles

[DollyBarton]

Thanks kinloss, it's not an option right now to study except in a private, spare-time capacity. I also think that ideally I could knit new designs from scratch myself but most people don't know how to make most products they sell from scratch. Hopefully my sales, marketing, interactive and project management skills will make my business a success if I can just get over the hurdle of perfecting my patterns by outsourcing to professionals and people with the right skills that I don't have.

[DollyBarton]

Course looks amazing though! Really interesting.

[DollyBarton]

And to avoid drip feeding, I have owned and run my own business for the last 5 years successfully but adore hand knit clothes and think I have a good business plan for it.

[kinloss]

Even if the design was perfected, I could only imagine this working with the absolute luxury end of the market. Because of what such a product would cost. As PolterGoose says.

[DollyBarton]

Yes, I am aiming for luxury end.