Time for another tech editor interview! Recently I interviewed Cherie Mellick of https://sweetbirdcrochet.com/. Cherie is a designer and editor that cares deeply about helping to create great crochet patterns that amplify the designer's voice and confidence. She empowers designers by educating them through the design process, not just telling them what is wrong in their patterns, but guiding them like a mama bird would her chick. Click below to watch the interview on YouTube or scroll down to read an excerpt from the blog transcript.
Let's just get it out of the way. Tell us about your business name!
My entire business is branded from my parrot. Her name is Kalani. She is a violet Indian ringneck, and I call her Sweet Bird, but she's more of like a Sour Patch bird. She can be sweet, but then during mating season she is very mean. It is that season and so she has just been real screaming very loud.
So, Sassy Bird Crochet! Tell us, what were you doing before you became a crochet technical editor?
I was working with special needs kids in the school system as an educator for 14 years. That's why I love the educating aspect of my business, because truly at heart, that's who I am. I'm a teacher. But the administration was very difficult to deal with, and I wanted to resign and stay home. Over 18 months, I paid off $35,000 in debt and I put in my resignation. I wanted to find something that I could do from home, so I started designing and selling patterns. But as we all know, you can't make a sustainable income off of just designing and selling patterns unless you went viral or something like that. But for the rest of us, we have to work at it.
I knew that I needed to add in that extra stream of income. I think I had seen a post from Melissa Metzbower talking about crochet tech editors, and I'm like, okay, I'm a total pattern nerd. I love this kind of stuff. Why not? And so, I took the course, and I have not looked back. I absolutely love tech editing.
What made you decide to become a technical editor? Like, there's other ways to work in the yarn industry besides design. You could create pieces to sell, or you could teach crochet. Why technical editing?
25 or 30 years ago, my friend tried to teach me to crochet, and I had no idea what she was talking about, so I put the yarn and hook away for a year. Later I was cleaning out my closet and I found them. I was like, okay, let me just print out a pattern and see if I could do this thing. And I did! I don't know what it was, but something in my brain clicked, and I knew how to crochet.
Looking at the pattern, it was just so familiar with the. The terms and the abbreviations and all that, and I had never learned them. I just became this pattern nerd, always finding errors and different things in patterns. And then when I had seen that this is a thing I could get paid for. I already loved finding those different errors in books and magazines. I'm like, hey, why not?
What references and tools do you find yourself always reaching for in your work?
Well, for one, The Tech Editor Hub has been my biggest resource. It has been such a game changer for me because if I am ever stuck anywhere or I can't figure something out or maybe I just need to vent or connect with someone, it's all right there. And I have people that will validate my frustration.
The other thing is I'm a really an older generation. Like, I'm an old soul, even though, you know, I'm almost 50, which I guess to some people would be an old soul, but I'm a paper and pencil kind of girl. I have notebooks upon notebooks of stitch diagrams because in my head, I can't visualize it when a designer might send me a shawl or something. I may see the picture, but I have to visually try to decipher what shape and then I have to draw it out to understand it. Because I just mentally cannot visualize things in my head. Even if they have the visuals in the pattern, like, a diagram or whatever, I still at some point will have to draw it out myself.
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Yes, tech editors can have a brand!
Hollie Arnett is a graphic designer turned Total Brand Geek, and she is coming to the Community for an exclusive workshop on brand building for tech editors on 12/12. Learn how to build a brand that you and your audience love by clicking below.
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Grateful for all of you,
Sarah
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I am a knitting technical editor, author, and sweater nerd. I like coffee, puzzles, many books (all at once), and a good sniff of yarn fumes. This Hub is all about helping *you* find success as a technical editor from any direction that works.
When you are ready:
- Learn to tech edit knitting patterns or crochet patterns. Get training and real pattern practice before you take on clients.
- Schedule a strategy session with me. Go deep and get unstuck.
- Join the editor-only community for collaboration, 24-7 support and more skills, including building that business.
- Or just book a virtual cuppa with me. How can I help you?
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