Announcement: 2021 and Beyond

As we enter the home stretch of the tumultuous year that is 2020, I want to take a moment to share some important (?) news: I will be taking a step back from pattern design at the year’s end.

I have worked hard to build my business over the last 5 years, but unfortunately never found that magic combination of innovation, collaboration, skill and luck that would boost my visibility enough within the fiber arts community to truly earn a living from pattern design.

Over these years I have earned some very dedicated fans and customers who have supported MediaPeruana Designs, and I am so grateful for their encouragement and patronage. But sadly, it is just about time to move on and dedicate my time to other endeavors.

So, what will things look like moving forward?

First, let me assure you that MPD will be going out with a bang. I have 3 brand new indie sweater patterns to be published before the year’s end, as well as a couple more accessories, and a handful of designs you’ll be seeing in some of your favorite knitting magazines, even into 2021. So don’t disappear just yet—more good stuff is on the way!

Beyond 2020, MediaPeruana Designs patterns will remain available on Ravelry, LoveKnitting, and Payhip and pattern support will continue to be provided. I will continue to work to upgrade all of my existing garment patterns to include sizes up to 5X and will also make previously exclusive designs published by third parties in 2020 available as indie patterns through those 3 platforms as rights revert to me in 2021.

My two e-courses, Swatch Master and Sweater Siren (and their corresponding free challenges, Swatch Scholar and Sweater Jumpstart), will continue to be offered “live” at least once a year, with abbreviated self-study options available for purchase at any time, beginning in 2021 (more details on the difference between the 2 options next year!). I plan to develop a 3rd e-course in 2021 as well and hope you will keep your eyes peeled for more info on that. I will also continue to pursue live teaching opportunities in the mid-Atlantic region (when we’re allowed to have contact with other humans again).

The Hilo & Stitch podcast will continue (for as long as I enjoy making it, I suppose), and free knitting tutorials will remain available on my YouTube channel, with new tutorials added regularly. My Patreon will remain active as a way to support the podcast, tutorials, blog and other non-pattern content I may offer for free, and the rewards and perks will be revamped accordingly in the new year.

All content in the MediaPeruana Designs Ravelry group will be archived and it will no longer be active or moderated beginning in January. I will maintain and regularly update this website, including the blog, which I have been working to revive—if you want all the hot takes about the fiber arts industry, stay tuned! (I will also use my site to sell off some samples that I no longer have a use for—look for that in the new year as well.)

The MediaPeruana Designs newsletter will remain active in the new year but will be delivered less frequently and focus primarily on sharing information about new tutorials, e-courses, podcast episodes and other mostly non-pattern-related updates. (If you find those things aren’t of interest to you, you can find an unsubscribe link at the bottom of every newsletter.)

Of course, I will continue knitting. In fact, I’m looking forward to having so much more personal knitting time, and hope to help other designers out as time permits with test knitting. You’ll find my photos on Instagram as always—hopefully with more spinning, and maybe even some sewing.

In terms of career, I am embarking on a somewhat new endeavor. I’ll be focusing on translation as my full-time job—with the addition of pattern translation. If you’d like more information about that, you can find it here.

Thank you all for the love and support shown over these last few years—I’ll see you at Maryland Sheep and Wool!