Pattern Submission for Defarge Books HAVE CHANGED

Deadlines:

• Submission deadlines are pushed back to 30 September 2013 for Defarge goes Medieval.*
• Pattern/Essay deadlines are 15 January 2014 for Defarge goes Medieval.
• FO deadlines are 15 March 2014 for Defarge goes Medieval.
• Submission deadline for both the Sherlock Holmes and volume 3 is 31 March 2014.
• Further deadlines and WWMDfK? vol 3 are later and listed below.

*working title

What’s This All About, Then

We are seeking pattern submissions from designers of all experience levels for inclusions in the WWMDfK? series—patterns inspired by classic characters from Shakespeare, Chaucer, Sherlock Holmes, and other great characters (for Defarge 3). These books will be published in multiple formats, both print and digital.

In the spirit of Cooperative Press’ overall operating philosophy (designers share directly in the proceeds of the books in which their patterns appear), all book contributors will be awarded a share in the total earnings of the title after costs, payable every two months instead of the usual twice per year.

Designers of all experience levels are invited to submit. Creativity is encouraged and celebrated for the design concepts; however, patterns will need to be tested and formatting your pattern according to the provided style sheet must be done as instructed. Part of the finished pattern will include an essay on your inspiration and/or design process. More information on the “how” of the essay will accompany your acceptance email (don’t let a fear of writing stop you).

Designers will be responsible for producing and delivering finished samples for photography. Cooperative Press will handle the final technical editing, schematics, and charts as needed. Designers will get to keep the finished items (though we may ask to borrow them for initial promotion and trunkshows and samples knit with yarn provided by indie dyers may also need to spend time with the dyers themselves at trade shows).

Designers outside the United States are welcome to submit; please keep in mind that finished pieces must be mailed to the United States for photography and the costs and time required will vary by location.

DESIGNS
One of the hallmarks of the Defarge series is clever construction. However, the inspiration behind the piece is also important to the editorial board as that will comprise much of the partnered essay. If you are a new designer, please don’t hesitate to email with an idea to see if you’re on the right track. We are happy to help you through the rest of the submission process.

SUBMISSION GUIDELINES
Please fill out this form for your initial submission. Submissions must be designs that have not been previously shown in public (this includes online, e.g. Ravelry, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Flickr “view by all”).

A written description and a sketch are all you need to submit a design proposal. The written description and drawing do not need to be great works of art; we just need a clear idea of what you have in mind and the overall size/shape of the piece. Photos of swatches are very helpful for lace patterns and textured patterns, but are not required. MK, another Cooperative Press editor, has blogged several tips for submitters, including an acceptable sample submission (list of posts here).

Designers may submit multiple design proposals; please complete a new form for each pattern.

Shakespeare:
All submission dates have passed.

Defarge goes Medieval:
Defarge is reading not only Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales but she’s also his contemporaries: Sir Lewis Clifford, Sir Richard Stury and Sir John Montagu. He was also friendly with other contemporary writers, including Thomas Hoccleve, Henry Scogan, Ralph Strode and John Gower. The Decameron, also called Prince Galehaut (Italian: Il Decameron, cognominato Prencipe Galeotto) is a 14th-century medieval allegory by Giovanni Boccaccio, and even Dante’s Inferno (and thus, Paradisio and Purgatorio).

• Submission date deadline: 30 September 2013, midnight EST.
• An email confirming that your submission(s) are/have been received for consideration will be sent within five working days of your submission. If that form letter does not appear in your inbox within that time, please check your junk/spam mail folder before inquiring.
• Acceptance notification deadline: 15 October 2013.
• Pattern/Essay deadlines are 15 January 2014, finished written pattern submission to be made via online submission
• finished project to be received by or before 15 March 2014.

Sherlock Holmes and Defarge 3:

• Submission date deadline: 31 March 2014, midnight EST.
• An email confirming that your submission(s) are/have been received for consideration will be sent within five working days of your submission. If that form letter does not appear in your inbox within that time, please check your junk/spam mail folder before inquiring.
• Acceptance notification deadline: 15 April 2014.
• Pattern/Essay deadlines 15 July 2014, finished written pattern submission to be made via online submission
• finished project to be received by or before 15 September 2014.

ABOUT COOPERATIVE PRESS
Cooperative Press has been in operation since 2007. Owned and managed by Shannon Okey, the former editor of Yarn Forward magazine, we have published books by Jonelle Raffino of South West Trading Company Yarns, Hunter Hammersen, Alasdair Post-Quinn, Anna Dalvi, Stephannie Tallent, and of course the Knitgrrl Book of Professional Knitwear Design. We currently have many titles by other independent authors underway as well, and we are always looking for more good designers-partners.

Our philosophy is different from the standard publishing company — we are pro-digital as well as print-friendly, we believe in designers’ rights and in treating our authors and contributors as we ourselves would want to be treated, and in fairness and honesty above all else. Cooperative Press prides itself on being designer-owned and operated.

QUESTIONS?
If you have any questions that have not been answered, please contact Heather at heather at crafting-a-life dot com.

If you’re interested in being a sample or test-knitter for WWMDfK? patterns:

• email or use the contact form so we know who you are;
• include what you strengths are (knit, crochet, lace, etc);
• include your address information;
• let us know the best way to contact you;
• you will receive a copy of the eBook when it is released, but please understand that at this time there is no guarantee of payment beyond the eBook. We are holding space in the book, however, for bios and that includes the bios of our sample test knitters. Be sure to send your bio with links to blogs, Etsy or Ravelry stores—or anything else of yours you’d like to share with the readers. Your bio will also appear (with links) on the website.

 

As we seem to be one of the first books to pay our designers this way, we thought it might be helpful to have this stated here:

Compensation for the Defarge Books: We do not pay you a one-time fee, the end. Defarge designers will be paid out of royalties from the book and from the sales of their individual patterns as long as there are sales from which to pay you. There will be no advances or flat fees. Each pattern/essay set is a share (1) of the royalties

Individual patterns will be released on a rolling basis after the publication of the book as part of an on-going publicity effort with scheduled Knit-a-Longs. These will be paid out as “digital” copies as per the written contract.

Crafting-a-Life, Inc., the Defarge parent company, will send royalties and a statement to designers every two months after book publication. You will also have the option of participating in an affiliate program, whereby you’ll get a percentage of any book you sell through your website. You will receive statement and payment within one month of Crafting-a-Life’s receipt of same from the publisher.

Other Considerations: Before you submit, be certain that you are willing to help promote the book—it’s not required, but since everyone is paid with royalties, the better it sells, the better for all of the designers!

What (else) Would Madame Defarge Knit? is available for purchase.