How to Design Patterns: Step 15 - Why Interactive Patterns Are the Future

Hunter Mae
Aug 12
2 min read

The fiber arts world has been running on the same type of written patterns for decades. They work, sure, but with technology growing in every other area of life, why shouldn’t it grow in crochet and knitting, too? Interactive patterns are here to shake things up, and they’re not just a fun extra… they’re a game-changer.

🌟 What Makes Interactive Patterns Different?

Traditional Patterns	Interactive Patterns
Come in fixed sizes, assuming you fit average measurements	Adjust to your exact measurements
Require extra math if you want to adjust anything	Do all the math for you
Have an exact yarn weight needed to meet the gauge	Allow for any yarn weight, which means you can use more stash yarn

For makers, that means:

Perfect fit every time 🧵
No math headaches
One pattern that can work for multiple people

For designers, that means:

More size inclusivity
Fewer “it didn’t fit” complaints
Patterns that are future-proof and flexible

💗 Size Inclusivity That Actually Works

Offering 10–15 sizes in a pattern sounds inclusive, but those sizes are still based on average measurements. And let’s be honest: most of us don’t perfectly fit the averages.

Interactive patterns change the game by:

Customizing for any body type (shorter torso, longer arms, non-standard bust-to-waist ratio, etc.)
Letting you make garments for yourself, your kids, your partner, and more, all from the same file
Eliminating the need to guess which size is best for your body in a pattern

One of my favorite examples? Sleeve length and torso length adjustments. Or, in my case, a larger chest circumference with a smaller ribcage. Interactive patterns adapt instantly, so you get the exact fit you want and need.

🧶 What You Can Do With an Interactive Pattern

With one file, you can:

Make a garment in your exact size
Change the yarn weight, and the pattern adapts automatically
Resize for anyone in your life
Adjust length, ease, or style (cropped, tunic, oversized, fitted)
Reuse the same pattern for infinite projects

💡 Why Makers Love Mae to Measure

An example of an interactive pattern is my Mae to Measure patterns. They take all the benefits above and make them easy to use:

Perfect Fit: Input your measurements for a custom garment every time
Any Yarn Weight: Use what’s in your stash, no need to buy specific yarn
One File, No Spreadsheets: All the math is in a single interactive PDF
Flexible Designs: From sweaters and cardigans to my Universal Patterns that let you choose the stitch, size, and ease while I handle construction and math
Simple Tech: Just open the PDF in Chrome (desktop) or Adobe Reader (phone), both free