No, the featured image is not a mistake, I’ve seen this in pattern listings and this is partly what this post is about.
Recently Mom and I had a conversation about buying patterns from internet listings and how difficult it can be. I want to use this post to help stitchers navigate this and hopefully inspire designers in the information they choose to share when they list a pattern.
There are multiple places on the internet to buy digital patterns, the two that I am most familiar with are Ravelry and PayHip so those are the examples I will be using. PayHip allows all of what I talk about here for Ravelry and then some.
Mom was looking to make a sweater. This will be her first adult sized sweater and she wanted to make a good choice. While I could help and show her patterns that I think would be a good idea, her looking is what lead to this conversation and not every stitcher has someone who can help them in this way.
She knew that she wanted a top down sweater, with stocking stitch and a plain collar, made from fingering weight yarn.
She looked on Ravelry and Etsy but because of the descriptions and the info given she passed on many of the choices available. There was one that was only a couple of dollars but because of the lack of info she wasn’t willing to buy it. Her thought is that if the listing is incomplete the pattern might be as well. She wanted a pattern that she would be able to execute the of majority on her own and need little from me.
Mom is also the type to spend around $15 (US) on a pattern if she knows it has all the information she needs. So what is this information?
The yardage needed for each of the different sizes. Many of the patterns only had a range of yardage needed from the smallest size to the largest. She is trying to work from stash and that info is too vague to make a decision. Some pattern listings didn’t give any info on the construction type, skills needed to make the piece or how much support is available for the pattern.
On Ravelry, when a pattern is listed, there is a notes section. I have seen some of these be very long and there is no reason not to use this box to the benefit of those looking at the listing, designers these are your potential customers. This is a great place to list the measurements and yardage for each size.
After this conversation with Mom I will be going back to my listings and updating them with the following information: yardage needed for each size, construction method in the description, not just in the pattern tags, share about the tutorials available for each pattern and the schematic if there is one. A good schematic can help a stitch make crucial decisions about how the piece is going to fit them and if this is a type of construction they want to try. Designers, I’m not saying to share trade secrets, and even with a complete gauge swatch this isn’t enough info to completely lose a sell because “then they can just make it on their own.” If they can do that from your schematic and gauge swatch, then let them go through all the headache, math, ripping and work to do so, they aren’t your ideal customer any way.
On Ravelry when it asks a designer for the gauge info, the designer can put the pattern for the swatch there. I recommend doing this because it gives the stitcher a ton of info and opportunity before they buy the pattern. Stitchers, use this info to make educated decisions on which pattern to buy. That means taking the time to make the swatch that the designer has given you the info for. This swatch is a tool for you to know how your interpretation of this piece is going to look. Are you going to like it? Maybe you don’t like it and now you know without buying the pattern and making a thing you don’t want.
This description includes a range for the yardage because I want each knitter to have a good experience and having that extra ball on hand for this project is the best way to go. This piece is made in only one size but everyone does nupps a bit differently and they might use more yarn.
I can make this listing better by adding the needle size used to make the swatch to the gauge info.
In the description that is below what is in the screenshot above, is a list of the skills needed to complete this shawl. I prefer to list the skills that a project uses and let the stitcher decide if they want to tackle it and not putting a skill level on a pattern. This is a great way for them to see how many of the techniques they don’t know, as well as see something they want to learn and use your design to learn that skill. That same section currently says “lots of tutorials.” I want to make it better by adding a bit about what kind of tutorials, possibly adding a list of them and adding the fully typed out link to my YouTube channel and my tutorial spreadsheet.
Any time you have a question about a pattern, either before or after you buy it, contact the designer. A good designer is going to want to help you have the best experience possible with their pattern so that you come back and buy another one. We don’t know what needs changing, clarity or is wrong if you don’t tell us. If the designer doesn’t get back to you, don’t cancel them, but don’t buy any more of their patterns either. If a designer isn’t willing to stand by the work they have put out, then they don’t deserve your time and money.
We all have responsibility here, stitchers and designers, to make sure that everyone has the best stitching experience possible, we all need to do our part. Designers make the swatch info and schematic available BEFORE purchase and stitchers, use this info to make a swatch!
Until next time…
Happy making!
Azariahs Fibre Arts 