Translation of French Knitting & Crochet Patterns
last updated March 2018: yes I still do translations ;-)
** Je traduis aussi les patrons de tricot, crochet et couture anglais en franà§ais !**
Trying to knit using french patterns ? I hope youâll find my article, âKnitting from the frenchâuseful.
Derspite my tendency to use mostly english/american patterns, french IS my native language⊠and I was taught to knit in french.
Iâm a professional translator, specialising in textile crafts. I work for large companies (Among my customers are french book editor âEditions de Saxeâ, french yarn company âBergàšre de Franceâ, french book editor âEditions Eyrollesâ, Canadian Yarn company “KnitCa”âŠ) and independent designers.
Three books I have translated into french for various french book editors :
Â
Thatâs the âLittle black dressâ by Simon Henry, Betty Barndenâs â75 floral blocks to crochetâ and âSewing Machine Secrets: The Insiderâs Guide to Mastering your Machineâ by Nicole Vasbinder.
INDIE DESIGNERS wishing to reach a wider audience, I can translate your patterns either from english to french, OR from french to english, with optional tech-editing. Contact me for details !
Examples of patterns I have translated for indie designers:
- “Picnic” shawl, by Andrà©e Bedooe, translated from english to french
- Lisa Chemeryâs âEntrechatâ and âBaby + toddler tiered coat & jacketâ, translated from english to french.
- Â âWomenâs classic snow bootsâ by CrochetDreamz, translated from english to french.
- Mary Lena Lynxâs âIngridâs beanie and matching mittsâ & âLa capeline de Framboisineâ, translated from french to english â âBaastet cowlâ, translated from english to french.
- “Wingspan” shawl  by maylin Tri’Coterie Designs, translated from english to french
- Elfie Haasâs âForestâ and âBouhâ patterns, translated from french to english.
- Owl sleeping bag and Owl cocoon by Shifios, translated from english to french
- Soudaneâs precious knitting patterns for dolls from french to english
- Heidrun Liegman-Halama âswing-knitting worshop n° 1â: âMitaines en tricot-swingâ, translated from english to french.
- Agnes Dominiqueâs âSalsa sweaterâ, translated from french to english.
- Baby and child gnome hat by Creatiknit, translated from english to french
- and many more…
ALSO:
* If you purchased a pattern from a company/book/designer and would like a translation of this pattern, youâll need the written CONSENT of designer/publisher first (Jared Flood, Ysolda, Veera Valimaki & Kate Davis… have already given me their ok to translate their patterns for private use).
* Then you can send me a scan (or good digital picture) of the pattern (along with copy of consent from designer/publisher) and I will send you a free quote for the translation.
* I usually charge between $15 and $50 per pattern, depending on its length and complexity. (Average patterns would be around $28). Yet some patterns are extra short and Iâll quote only $12, and others are super long and/or complex (esp. with indie designer patterns), and Iâll quote up to $70+ to translate them: Send me the pattern you want translated for a free quote.
* I often translate patterns directly into the size you plan to make. That saves both time and typos. Otherwise, add $2-$8 to the quoted price for all sizes.
* I can only accept Paypal or cheques in Euros. Contact me for more information or a quote.
What customers said :
- “Sylvie, thank you for such great and prompt service. Â I am putting you in my address book for French translation.” Carol S-W
- “Hi Sylvie, Thanks very much.” Kate R.
- “Fantastic Sylvie â will give a quick read”. Gretchen A. C
- “Hi Sylvie, Merci beaucoup (my school girl French). Sincàšres amities (curtesy of Google translate!)” Tina T.
-
“Merci beaucoup pour votre aide. A bientàŽt :)” Nawel E. K.
- “Merci beaucoup et au plaisir de faire appel à vos talents de traductrice pour un prochain ouvrage.” Christine B.
- “Thank you Sylvie, thatâs fantastic!” Yasmin H.
- “Of my goodness, you work quickly! I appreciate this so much!  It seems I often fall in love with French patterns. With the help of your website and and Ravery, I could work through some but I have only been knitting for a year and am not secure enough so I am very thankful to you!” Kim R.
- “Merci Sylvie!!! Â :-)Â Anny F”
- “Thatâs great, thanks so much Sylvie! I will let you know when the shop is up and running so that you can see your work on the site! With the best regards, Yasmin F.”
- ” Thank you so much. Anita E. B.”
- “Bonsoir, Ce fut rapide. Merci beaucoup, je vais pouvoir m’y mettre dàšs ce weekend. Cordialement. Sarah L. “
- “Thank you, got the copy today. Please can you tell me if the pattern is in double knitting or arran or chunky? Fiona H.”x
- “Bonsoir, Merci beaucoup et tràšs bonnes vacances   Cordialement  sandrina V.”
-  âThanks, Sylvie. I’m just hoping for some cool weather now so I can really get going!â Helen A.
-  âBonjour Sylvie, Un grand merci pour votre rapidità© et pour toutes vos explications personnelles que vous avez bien voulu ajouter et qui me permettront de faire ma vesteâŠ(..)Mille mercis pour tout! Cordialement.â Christiane B.
- Â âThanks Sylvie, Just had had a chance to look at my emails today. ( my six grandchildren are visiting). Received the pattern and looking forward to starting it sometime in the near future.â Gloria C.
- Â âThank you, I received it:)â Anna K. R.
- âmerci beaucoup, câest parfait, je vais mây mettre!â JPS
- âAhhh! Merci beaucoup. En fait non, je nâavais rien reà§u du tout. Me voilà rassurà©e et contente (je viens de jeter un coup dâoeil). (âŠ) Merci encore.â Christine B.
- âHi Sylvie, Thank you very much. Now I will go buy Yarn! â Beth W.
- âThank-you sooooo much..Iâve managed to knit a baby cardigan whilst waiting :) so will be able to finish the dress now :) Many thanks again Cheryl xxâ Cheryl M.
- ââ Thank you so much for you wonderful service. It was a breeze working with you. I checked the pattern and everything looks wonderful.â S.A.M.
- âBonjour Sylvie, merci pour les traductions et je vous dit à bientàŽt pour la suite :-)â Bà©atrice S.
- âHi Sylvie, thanks so much for that speedy translation. By good luck the knitting needles I bought online arrived this morning as well, so Iâll get started straight away! Many thanks. Gina T.
- âThank you, Sylvie.â Diane B.
- âHi Sylvie Thank you very much.â Fiona D.
- âMerci beaucoup, Sylvie! I very much appreciate your hard work. The pattern looks great! I will be happy to recommend you to other RavelersâŠ.â Angela W.
- âBonsoir Sylvie, Je vous remercie de votre rapidità©, il ne me reste plus qu ÂŽà me mettre aux aiguilles. Merci et peut- àȘtre à une autre fois je retiens vos coordonnà©s pour les copines.â Hà©làšne L.
- âMany thanks for this! (âŠ) I canât tell you how grateful I am for doing this. I can feel an evening of knitting coming on.â Alison D.
- âGot it! Thank you. I have read through it and it seems easy to understand. Have ordered yarn and will start as soon as it comes. Will let you know if I find anything confusing.â Nancy & Alyssa P.
- “Iâm so sorry! I just realized I never thanked you! How rude if me! Thank you so much for taking the time in this!!â Nicole F.
- âMerci Boucoup Sylvie, Câest bon. Bonne vacances!â Verena H.
- âGreat, thank you so much!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!â Stefanie A.
- âcoucou, Merci je l’ai bien reà§ue, c’est super ! à bientàŽt. bises.â Marlàšne P.
- âDear Sylvie, Thanks very much â I appreciate it. You offer a great service and Iâm glad I found you. (..) I admire your language skills! Kathy S.â
- âOooohhhhhh!! Lightening fast service! Thank you so much! This week seems to be fun with the pattern. You already made my day. Thank you again and keep wonderful creations!!!!!!!!!!!! F.â
- âbonsoir â merci beaucoup je vais pouvoir me mettre au travail. hà©làšne W.â
- âHi Sylvie, That looks like a brilliant help. (..)Many thanks for your help. We do appreciate it. Best wishes, Becky D.â
- âBien reà§u la traduction ! Merci encore Sylvie. Sarah B.â
- âGreat, thanks so much! Mindyâ
- â Merci beaucoup !!! Marielle M.â
- âBonsoir, MERCI pour votre conscience professionnelle. Il reste la laine à trouver et le temps pour se mettre à lâouvrage. Encore MERCI. Cordialement. Annick P.â
- âSylv, Many thanks for the pattern in English â it seems fine (and simple!) Janetâ
- âHI SYLV!! I AM SO EXCITED TO GET STARTED ON THIS!! MANY MANY THANKS AND I SHALL SEND YOU MORE OF MY BUSINESS!!! I ALSO WILL VISIT YOUR SITES!! MERCI !!! (âŠ) JUST READ YOUR WRITTEN PATTERN FOR MOI! PERFECT PERFECT AND MERCI MERCI!!! IT IS SUPER AND WHAT I WANTED!! I ALSO WENT TO THE PHILDAR FB COMMUNITY AND PLACED A POST THAT I HAD FOUND SOMEONE TO TRANSLATE FRENCH TO ENGLISHN PATTERNS AND MENTIONED YOUR CHEZPLUM SITE!!! I ALSO DID THE SAME AT RAVERLY! HOPE YOU GET ALOT OF WORK!!! MANY MANY THANKS AND KIND REGARDS. MYRNAâ
- âmerci beaucoup sylvie ! à bientàŽt pour d’autres ! bises Marlàšneâ
- âThank you Sylvie! So is the afghan name is called Lacy Plaid? Do you know where I can purchase the yarn online? I looked at La Droguerie but it doesnât appear they do an online business. I know I can get a substitute but I love La Droguerie. Thank you for translating for me. Lucindaâ
- âhello, merci pour votre diligence, je regarde tout à§à et vous en envoie dâautresâŠ. bonne journà©e Agnàšs D.â
- âThanks, that was fast! Iâll keep you in mind for future translations!â Liz C.
- âbonjour, je vous remercie beaucoup pour la traduction. Je vais me mettre au travail. Jâaurais encore une robe à traduire donc je vous solliciterai encore . Mais pas tout de suite. je vous remercie encore. A bientàŽt sylvie R.â
- âHi Sylv, Thank you very much for the translation. This is s big help, but compared to the English patterns the French patterns as still quite sparse on there instructions. If I have any major problems I may come back for a little more clarification, but hopefully I will be okay. Thanks very much. Karen P.â
- âThank you very much for doing it so fast!!!!!!!!!!!!! Angela V.â
- âThankyou so much, you have done a brilliant job. I will be back for more :o) Madelineâ
- âBonjour Sylvie, je rentre de vacances, merci pour la traduction. dàšs que je finis le perry, je vous re sollicite pour une autre traduction. Encore merci Faridaâ
- âBonjour Sylvie et merci beaucoup pour la traduction. Je suis ravie. Belle fin de journà©e. Sylvieâ
- âSalut, Câest nickel et parfait pour moi! Merci pour la rapidità© et le sà©rieux de la traduction (..) E. H.â
- âSylvie, I received your translation of my French knitting pattern. Thank you so much, itâs perfect! I am so excited to start knitting! Reneeâ
- âHi Sylvie, I don’t know if you remember me, but in January of 2011 you very kindly translated a Phildar pattern from French to English for me. I wanted you to know that your efforts were not in vain, and that I have worked on it. I take a VERY long time to knit anything, especially being new to the advanced (for me)cablework, and with SIX dogs, 3 grandchildren and working part time:)Â I do want you to know how happy I am that I am able to have this pattern because of you. I am attaching a pic, not that good, but you will see that I LOVE it. My best regards, Dianaâ
- “Hi Sylv, I just opened the translation and I am so happy with it. You will be my go to whenever I find a pattern in French. Thank you for your quick translation. Have a wonderful day, Theresa G.â
- âMany thanks!!!! I may try it soon! :) Barbara P.â
- âbonjour, merci pour votre sà©rieux et rapidità©. Je me permets de garder votre adresse au cas ou. Jâai deja commencà© le 1er ange, câest bcp plus facile pour moi en franà§ais !!!
je vous enverrai une photo dàšs que jâen aurai terminà© un exemplaire de chaque. bien cordialement Mme V. â - âImpeccable, merci beaucoup. A-Marieâ
- âMerci pour la traduction ! A une autre fois peut-etre. Manonâ
- âMerci beaucoup! Georganneâ
- âBonjour, Câest parfait merci beaucoup. Envoyà© dans le temps que vous mâaviez dit en plus^^. Vraiment merci, je garde votre adresse au cas oàč, jâaurais surement dâautres projet à traduire. Et si jâai des questions par rapport à ceux là , pendant la rà©alisation⊠Encore un grand merci. Bonne fin de semaine VALERIE A.â
- âBonjour, Bien reà§ue, merci. Bonne journà©e, Lauraâ
- âThank you very much Sylvie. You were very fast! I shall look forward to using your translation. I have some silver grey wool silk for the purpose. XX Kind regards, Veronicaâ
- âMerci pour tout et peut-àȘtre à une autre fois pour une traduction ! A-Marieâ
- âSylv, what can I say other than:THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU. merci, merci à vous ! I purchased the yarn yesterday so this is perfect timing. Lovely lace pattern that will be easy to remember. Again, merci and Bon Tricot, Aineâ
- “Merci Sylvie tu as bien travaillà© et merci aussi pour les surlignages à§a mâaide vraiment bien. Jâespàšre bien te solliciter encoreâŠ. quâen dis tu ?(âŠ) encore mille mercis. Marlàšneâ
- âthank you so much! Iâll spend the weekend knitting happily! Enjoy the fiber festival, Tammyâ
- âComme câest bon de lire votre message, Sylvie ! (âŠ) Merci beaucoup, votre aide mâa à©tà© prà©cieuse. Câest chouette de trouver des gens comme vous sur la toile, sincàšrement ! Bon week-end et big hugs, Coletteâ
- “Bonjour Sylvie, Merci beaucoup pour la traduction”
- âThank you so much! I am really excited to get to knit this scarf, it looked so pretty in the yarn store. That was one lovely yarn store as well. Thank you again Sylv, and I may be emailing again with questions! Have a good Wednesday! Sincerely, Stacy Mâ
- âThank you, Sylvie! Stephanie Bâ
- “Thank you so much! I was on the right track, but yours [translation] makes so much more sense! (…) Looking forward to starting this! Cheers. Jolàšne”
- “maintenant je sais à qui m’adresser pour les traductions!.. (…) Cordialement, Josette”
- “Et bien merci (…) Tu as bien travaillà© super ! merci encore et à bientàŽt. Marlàšne “
- âMany thanks Sylvie. Life here has been hectic and knitting has been on the back burner. (âŠ) Hopefully I will be able to knit again very soon. Again many thanks. Regards, Joyceâ
- âyay thanks darl!!(..) xxx Lâamour M.â
- âHi Sylve, Thanks for the translation. Itâs been happy knitting for my mom as well. Hereâs one more if you if you can let me know your estimate. Best, Annieâ
- âJust have 20 min time to look at the translation . GREAT!!!!!! Aus far as I read up to now, it’s perfect! (..)I’ll tell you more tomorrow. but first THANK YOU. H.L.!!!!!!!!!â
- âHello Sylvie, I can not thank you enough! Thank you so very, very much. I am so excited. I have had Donegal Tweed for two years waiting to do this sweater. Your help is so greatly appreciated. I hope I am up to the task! :) Diana â
- “Thank you so much Sylvie, I appreciate how quickly you did this!!!â
- âHi Sylvie,Thank you for the translation! Looks great! And thank you also for the notes on the yoke. Best, Brookeâ
- â Merci pour votre rapidità©. A bientot peut etre. Daniàšleâ
- âThank you so much for your fast service. I am so excited! Itâs still morning here, and I am leaving for the shop and need to work a little till lunch time. I will read and try your pattern as soon as possibleâ
- âBonsoir Sylvie, Un tout grand merci pour la vitesse à laquelle vous avez terminà© la traduction! â
- âHi SylvieâŠthis is great! thanks again!â
- âThank you so much! Until next time, E.â
- âHi Sylvie, Happy New Year. Thank you so much! Iâm starting right away. Iâll let you know if I have any problems.â
- âYouâre a gem. Thank you for doing the translations so quickly.â
- âThank you sooo much! It was so quick too.â
- âWow, you are efficient, once you started it, you can finish it as fast as possible. :D â
- âBrilliant. Looks great. Many thanks.â
- âThank you very much Sylvie. I am very pleased with the translation!â
- âThanks so much for the quick response! The translation looks very clear, so I should be able to tackle it. I will feel very French as I knit itâand hopefully wear it someday. Thanks for the extra care in using American terminologyâ
- âI have just printed these and will read them in the morning! Needless to say I am very happy to receive these!! Thank you againâ
- âMerci beaucoup! Thanks for your quick service! â
- âThank you itâs perfect!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!â
- âThank you so very much. You have been a blessing.â
- âI just wanted to say thank you!! I really appreciate how fast you translated this pattern. I am really excited to knit it!â
- âThank you so much . this is perfect. I’m looking forward to working on it!â
- âThank you, Sylvie. I canât wait to start knitting it!â