Monday, February 1, 2010

Ceres Giveaway!


Like Ceres?  Want a copy of the pattern?  Don't wanna pay $5.00 for it?

I rather enjoyed the last giveaway I did.  I think perhaps I'll make it a habit to do a giveaway each time I release a new pattern.  So here's what we'll do, we'll conduct some market research while we're at it, maybe get an interesting discussion going.

To enter:  post a comment answering the following question:  What, if anything, would make you willing to pay for a knitting pattern?  Comments entered before 8pm CST on Sunday, February 7th (that's next Sunday) will be entered into a random drawing.  One winner will be drawn and posted that night.

There's no shortage of free knitting patterns on the internet, and there are a lot of people who stick exclusively to those.  But there are people who purchase patterns for money - either in print magazines or individually online from sources like Ravelry, Twist Collective or individual blogs like mine.  I'd like to get a better idea of what people expect and hope for in a knitting pattern that they're willing to shell out cash for.  What makes a pattern worth paying for?  (For the record, "nothing," is a perfectly legitimate and informative answer).  What about the patterns you've paid for made you go, "Oooooooooooh..." and then buy the pattern?  I ask this not just to boost sales, but to really make sure people get what they're after when they buy a pattern from me.  So what tips you over the "I'll buy that" edge, and what do you expect when you go there?

36 comments:

  1. The one thing that makes me buy a pattern is uniqueness. If a pattern has something that sets it apart from other patterns so much that I like it AND I can't work out how to do it myself then I will probably buy it.

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  2. Sometimes knowing the kinks are worked out with sizing and shaping is reason enough to purchase a pattern. And it depends on what the pattern is, I found an infant hat I liked for a photo shoot but didn't want to spend $6 on a rediculously basic hat, so I fudged it. However if there's colorwork, unique shaping, or a fancy stitch pattern I would be willing to pay for those assuming things are worked out and I'm not going to spend days ripping and reknitting to get the desired look.

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  3. I mostly look for free ones, but I did just buy a bunch in conjunction with the Patterns for Haiti effort on Ravelery. I was needing cool patterns for baby stuff, and someone had some and was donating part of the $ to ER&D. Also, I'll buy patterns (and/or books) if it's a pattern that really catches my eye and I think I'll actually make it.

    (InJuneau on Ravelry)

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  4. For me to buy a stand-alone pattern it has to have something distinctive - an unusual technique, a novel use of the yarn, a distinctive shape, a striking combination of stitches that I wouldn't have put together on my own. I do subscribe to a knitting magazine (although I'm not sure for how much longer), & do pick up single magazine issues when the content catches my eye, but my knitting books tend more toward the reference basics & stitch dictionaries. The purely pattern collection books that I have did something different enough to capture my imagination.

    While I'm anything but math-phobic, it's more relaxing for me to knit from a well-written & thoroughly tested pattern. That said, more than half the time I end up modifying it, especially if it's something for my 6'5" spouse. Anyone who does a book of classic sweaters for big & tall men will have my money in a heartbeat.

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  5. I would purchase if there was a lot of buzz about a pattern and/or if I needed it for a class.

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  6. When looking at patterns I look for something that is a little different, has a nice design and has some extras (such as color, pattern, etc). If I like the pattern then I'll look at the type and amount of yarn to see if it's worth the product/cost. If it is all that, and especially provides two things for the price of one, then the purchase of the pattern is worth it.

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  7. It has to be something that I couldn't figure out how to do on my own. Since I'm a designer as well, I would rather spend my time designing a new pattern. I would also buy patterns if proceeds went to charity.
    knitmit on rav

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  8. I almost never buy a pattern, I find so much that I like for free. I do have a few books that I knit from, though, so they are "purchased" patterns. There are a couple of patterns offered by bloggers/Etsy sellers that I am going to have to break down & buy because I can't find anything that comes close to their style & flair.

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  9. I don't mind paying for a pattern, if there is nothing out there for free that is similar. BUT, I do expect that a for-pay pattern will have been test-knitted and tech-edited. Errors do happen, but I am more tolerant of errors in a free pattern. I also tend not to buy patterns until I am ready to start knitting them--if a pattern is free I might download it right away just in case it's not there when I get around to wanting to knit it. :)

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  10. I agree with much of what's already been said. When I see a pattern that offers both text and charts (for lace or texture patterns) and know that the designer usually produces (nearly) flawless patterns, I'll be more likely to pay money. If there are problems, I like some tech support, although I've never needed to go that route. I'll often try out a new-to-me designer with a free pattern, then decide whether to pay for her/his other patterns.

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  11. I have only bought one pattern. The pattern was for a sweater that looked so flattering, easy to make, and just so suited for me. I have purchased many pattern books, and have used them extensively. I guess if I am looking for something and its not in a book that I have, I search ravelry but I look almost exclusively at the free patterns. There is just so much out there. I would be willing to purchase a pattern if it was unique and I just HAD to make it.

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  12. to purchase an individual pattern, it has to be something that really catches my eye & makes me say "Oooh! I MUST make that!"

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  13. I'll pay for a knitting pattern if I really like the style, fit or something particular about a certain project. I've bought some for mostly between 5 and 7.50 and they are ones I don't want to be without!

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  14. If I know a designer is good (e.g., ysolda, with her creative approach to things) and the pattern looks like fun, is something I want to wear or give, and is different in some way, I'm happy to part with a little cash. also, if there are a number of comments from other knitters on rav about the pattern (good ones, obviously!), I'm even happier to part with my cash! I love the Ceres hat, real cute.

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  15. The details are what make me want to buy a pattern. The pattern must be well thought out overall, but there also needs to be a high attention to the little details.

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  16. $3 - $7 is an appropriate price for a pattern. Additionally, it depends on the format of the pattern itself - I won't buy patterns that get shipped.

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  17. As a newbie designer (selling patterns) I'm also interested in people's feedback on this topic.

    I don't buy patterns too often myself, for one main reason: I don't have time to knit anything else w/ all the designing I'm doing.

    I also, right now, don't have a lot of spare cash, and if I do buy a pattern, it's when I'm ready to knit it.

    I also have a ton of things I already want to knit (and have wanted to knit for a long time) to get to.

    Having said that, if a pattern is cute beyond words (in my opinion) I can be tempted to purchase & cast on immediately. I did that with the Polar Chullo. (Of course, I've note finished it yet, but....)

    I also recently bought & have cast on for the Galileo mitts (hubby is an astronomy buff & really loved them)(alas, not finished yet either though). Could I've come up w/ the charts myself from pics? yeah, I could've, but I certainly didn't begrudge the designer's time & effort. It was worth it to support a fellow designer & have everything all worked out.

    I bought the Zur Lederhos'n kit from Yarnissima a few months ago....love her patterns. Very intricate.

    So: cute & intricate, for someone else & intricate, or just intricate.

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  18. It's all about the desire to make it. The same thing that draws me to free patterns, really. I'm just more likely to grab a free pattern and put it away for later; I don't tend to buy something until I'm absolutely sure I'm ready to make it.

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  19. For me, it's not the money but the amount that makes the difference. Every pattern that's ever been offered is worth payment, what with the time and effort expended by the designer to create a item of use and beautiful, but I find that some of the prices can be a little steep. As the mother of five, it can be very disheartening to see just the right pattern for that one particular child and find I cannot afford to make it because of its high price.

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  20. When the pattern yells "oh oh, pick me, pick me!". Now I have to decide if the asking price is within that weeks budget, and ff it's a pattern I'm likely to get a lot of use from then I don't mind paying a little more. I've paid as much as $10 for a pattern because it was a work of art I.M.H.O., but I do love a freeby also. So as per my personality, I'm all over the place on that.
    Manitoba2ct

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  21. Okay, I admit it... I design patterns, I sell patterns, but I don't buy them. I used to buy patterns in books and magazines (before downloadable were available), and it was how I learned a lot of what I know. But money is tight, and I always modify the free patterns I get anyway, so there ya go.

    As for my own designs, I try to keep the prices so low that an interested knitter or crocheter would think it was worth the $2-$3 just to not have to figure out how to make it. But am I one of those folks? Well, no.

    (Since I'm your mom, don't pick me for a free pattern... love it, though!)

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  22. I am a new knitter, but a rather adventurous one. I have mostly stuck to free patters so far. That is mostly due to a huge queue of projects and very little time. The few I have purchased i have made were mostly for the Haiti relief donations. Right now, I've set the cap for $5 for a pattern I can't live without, but will spend $2 or $3 without much thought.

    One day I hope to make my own designs and am enjoying learning from other designers.

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  23. I do subscribe to Interweave...I'm willing to pay for that because it provides a fun surprise in my mailbox w/a variety of patterns to ogle, and there's usually 1 or 2 I like enough to knit. However last week was the 1st time I ever paid for individual patterns from Ravelry and Twist, which I did because designers were donating proceeds to help Haiti.
    Shannon (AndaraKnits on Ravelry)
    P.S.--I'm glad you brought this up, as I just released my first free pattern on Ravelry, and hope to sell others in the future.
    P.P.S.--- I followed the FlyLady program awhile back too. It is kind of goofy, but it did lead to overall organization in my household which helps me stay sane and have more time for things like knitting!

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  24. Well I'm a wanna be knitter sooo, if it was super easy and beautiful I would be willing to pay for it. :)

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  25. I tend to knit once a year (right before Christmas, to be specific). I would be much much more likely to use a free pattern. If I were going to buy it, it would have to be not-too-complicated (since I knit so rarely, my skills aren't what they should be given that I learned how to knit 10 years ago), but not stupidly easy either. Plus, it would have to be amazingly adorable.

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  26. Well shoot; I'm willing to buy any pattern I couldn't figure out on my own. Which is alot...so pathetic! Great blog! I'll be back :)

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  27. For me to buy a pattern it not only needs to be unique and adorable, but it needs to be something that I can knit confidently. I often look at Rav comments frm other folks who knit a pattern. For example the French Press Slippers was a pattern to buy because of the uniqueness of the style, and the many Ravelers that stated it was simple and quick and lovely.

    I'm naughtyknots on Rav

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  28. I have only bought ONE pattern; Koolhaas, and only because I could not find the issue it was printed in my LYS. Sooo, I guess you could say I'm a total penny-pincher/scrooge :P

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  29. Up to 5$ for a nice pattern that I know I will get a lot of use out of.
    Up to 8$ but it needs to be distinctive and unusual to grab my attention and convince me to pay that amount for one pattern.

    MariAngel (Ravelry)

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  30. I do use a lot of free patterns, I do buy quite a lot as well. I will buy a pattern if it teaches me something new and there isn't a lot of info for it, if it's unique or complicated (I figure that patterns for sale will have been test knitted), and sometimes, just to support an independent designer who's work or blog I really enjoy.

    rubyknits on Ravelry

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  31. I have yet to purchase a pattern online, and I only have a couple of knitting pattern books. I borrow and/or use free patterns almost exclusively.

    That said, I am going to buy my first pattern online for my Ravelympics Project. I'm buying it because I liked the way the designer wrote up the free pattern I used of hers, and I really like the look of the finished object she has in the pictures for the pattern. It's also $4, which I think is affordable, especially if I am not buying patterns all that often.

    Preservationgal (Ravelry)

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  32. If I'm going to pay for a pattern, it has to be special. Unique details (like Ceres), interesting colorwork (like Ceres), and I just WANT it.

    tinylittlemama on Ravelry

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  33. As a single parent, I pretty much only do free. If I get a gift card for a book store, I may buy a pattern book if I see one that I really like or there are no other books that I really want. Two times have I been tempted to buy a pattern on Ravelry lately. One is for a koala hat, because I love koala's and I only found a paid for pattern. The other was again for something I wanted but there was only paid for patterns listed.

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  34. I always look for free patterns first. I start with an idea. Right now I'm lookig for a sock pattern on magic loop to go with new green sock yarn. If I can't find any free then I start looking at the ones for money.

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  35. I definitely love a free pattern - who doesn't! But I've paid for some as well. Usually things like sweaters, but if I will make the pattern more than once, I will usually pay for it as well.

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  36. As a new knitter I often see patterns that I would love to knit. I often search free patterns first as my experience level doesn't often equate to what is listed in the pattern descriptions. I have learned most of my knitting skills from youtube as it is. I have bought a few patterns only to be disappointed in the directions, as in not being clear enough for a newbie like myself. Even with email question availability, it still makes me leary to pay for a pattern only to find that I have to frog it because I just can't seem to make it work. =(

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