Let's face it. There are a lot of crochet patterns out there and a lot of them look basically the same. Different sizes, different colors, slight variations in stitch patterns, sleeves, neck openings, collars. This is not a bad thing, though. There are lots of basic crochet designs that are absolutely great to make over and over again.

As a crochet designer, I want to be unique so that my crochet designs appear fresh and new to yarn companies, publishers, editors and my customers. I know sometimes it can be hard to decide how to make something that is different from the rest. This is why I always say it is important to find your Crochet Voice. Your Crochet Voice is how your yarn and your hook speak to express your creativity through crochet.

Do you know what you would like to say with yarn? There are times for me when a direction is not clear, and I cannot hear my Crochet Voice. When I am stuck I use these exercises.

Design for Yourself

This is what I like to do personally. I tend to make things that I would wear or that I want to use. One downside of this is that sometimes your vision is not going to match with what publishers want so you may have to deal with rejection, or you may not have as favorable a response from your customers. Just know that every design isn't going to be a hit, and you have to keep on designing. You can always use those designs as learning experiences and maybe take the good parts and turn them into new designs.

Look at Your Wardrobe/Home Décor

Which colors are you drawn to? Which pieces are your favorites? What style of furniture decorates your home? What types of shapes do you wear -- loose and flowing, architectural/structured garments, casual, elaborately embellished, etc.? Do you like natural fibers, or do you go for the shine and bling?

Your Other Secret Persona

What about her? You know, that other part of yourself who you may not get to show on a regular basis. That one who you would love to be on a regular basis if you suddenly hit the big lottery? Why not design for that person? Indulge your fantasies and create some of the wonderful things that you know that secret side would love.

Or you made careful calculations, adjustments and adaptations like you've done before. You did everything you were supposed to do, but your project doesn't look right on you. What has happened?

Many times when we crochet a garment, we believe it will look on our bodies like it looks on the model. Or at least it will look close to that. But that isn't always the case. When considering making a crochet design, you need to evaluate the crochet pattern the same way you would if you were choosing a sewing pattern or choosing a garment off the rack.

Most sewing patterns include appropriate body types in addition to size charts. The basic four body types are labeled as cylinder, cone, reversed cone and hourglass. Other labels that you might see are rectangle, triangle, upside-down triangle and X. Another body-type that you might not see on a sewing pattern is the apple or round body type.

Cylinder/rectangle-shaped bodies have little differentiation in circumference between breasts, waist and hips. Also known as bean pole, this figure is sometimes more athletically-built.

Cone/triangle-shaped bodies are also known as pear-shaped. The figure is narrower through the shoulders and smaller breasted. There is more definition in the hips and thighs.

Reversed Cone/Upside Down Triangle-shaped bodies are often called top-heavy. The shoulders are broader and the breasts are more substantial. The hips are narrow and smaller in circumference than the upper body.

Hourglass/X-shaped bodies have substantial breasts and hips combined with a small, defined waist.

Round/apple-shaped bodies are exceptionally round in the mid-section, with the middle being more prominent than the breasts and hips. This is also known as the diamond shape.

Most crochet garment patterns don't have these labels so you are going to have to look at the example of the finished garment and determine how it is shaped and how that shape would look on your body. Create a swatch, and look at the drape and weight of the fabric the stitches create. Will it flow over your curves? Will your narrow frame look lost in a sea of fabric? Will it be so structured and fitted that the fabric is unforgiving? Be sure you look at the bust, waist and hip measurements, along with the amount of ease included, and compare to your own measurements. You cannot just rely on the bust measurements. Also check the circumference of armholes and sleeves, and compare those against your own measurements. If the crochet pattern has a schematic, you can look at it and use the information to get a better idea which body type is the best fit.

After you've determined that the pattern will or won't fit your figure type, you are going to have to be honest and ask yourself if making alternations to this pattern will cause the final product to become unflattering.

Taking the time to determine if the pattern is figure-flattering for you will save you the angst of crocheting a garment that doesn't look good on you.