I’m with you on not being interested in primarily text based social media platforms. I’m using the internet to See the projects in progress, how to tutorials, how the project looks completed and being worn and how the yarn looks knit up etc. I was totally thrilled when I discovered KZread had how to tutorials and thrilled again when I found there were videos with people sharing their own projects. I’m in my mid-60’s and tech challenged but managed to learn how to catch on to what interests me with the help of younger generations in my family. Thank you for the interesting topic.

I love a thought provoking ramble while I knit on a Saturday morning💞 well done.

The primary purpose of Ravelry for me is also pattern accessibility. I am fortunate in that the rebrand didn’t make Ravelry inaccessible to me. I think if another platform had the same pattern library function, or a way to migrate the patterns that I had purchased, I would be more likely to switch over.

@futurefiber

11 ай бұрын

Thats a great point about purchase history and archive- it can be hard to keep track of what you have already (speaking for myself 🥲)

Really interesting discussion Jenny. Not so much a social media function, but one thing I think is missing is a tool to help you manage a library of "how-tos", combining photo and video tutorials. When I started using Ravelry, I was surprised that there wasn't a technique section of the website where people could post their favourite how-to for long tail cast on, for example.

Hi Jenny, , Thank you for another great episode. This is perfect content for me - an interesting perspective on an area of how we share our crafting and how that feels / works. I also left Ravely in a bit of a huff when they did their relaunch with no user testing and no notice of the changes. It seemed unreal to me that a platform that is supposed to bring knitting and crochet patterns to the world, with millions of downloads, would not do their due diligence in terms of accessibility. I know incredible knit designers who had seizures as a result of going on the new website and lost their livelihood because they could no longer use it. All that to say - I love your thoughts on why a new platform to rival Ravelry may not work. That made so much sense to me. I only use rav now if i have done a test for a designer who doesn't have a big following and I want to help them succeed by adding a project page and photos. This whole - how we communicate with each other - has been making me consider starting my own podcast - simply because after 8 years of knitting, it feels odd to me to feel like i 'know' podcasters i watch here on youtube, but they don't know me! Anyway. thanks again - such great content - appreciate you so much! X Ros @rosem0nde on IG.

Dear Jenny, thank you for explaining some tech terms I’m not familiar with. I’m 62 years old, love to knit, and appreciate your content. I do not like the platforms that I refer to as antisocial media. I am very disappointed and shocked at people’s behavior and with the platforms-like Ravelry-that lead the charge of excluding people for having different views that have nothing to do with knitting. I really enjoy your videos and respect your opinions. Thank you for keeping it fun and classy!

@futurefiber

11 ай бұрын

Thanks for the kind words! Although I think what makes up a large part of a person (it can be hobbies, personal beliefs, etc) rarely exists in a vacuum and there are bound to be crossovers, so it may be natural for people to be passionate in spaces where they can express themselves. How a business like Ravelry or any other social media moderates those opinions for inclusion is something I’m hoping that they’re doing with good intentions + in alignment with their business values, although how an individual feels about those actions is obviously something personal to each!

Hi! I really enjoyed this video and hearing your take on things. I use KZread mainly for my making-knitting, crochet (and yarn) by watching content creators like you, designers, yarn store owners and tutorials. KZread is my 'TV'. I use Ravelry mainly for my making (and yarn) and periodically for KAL's. Some more aspects of Ravelry are 1) The yarn index where you can research a wide variety of commercial and indie yarns. 2) The stash index, where you can list your own yarn stash. This is beneficial to keep track of your stash and also beneficial because Ravelry will match it to your prospective projects based on what the pattern recommends OR what another Ravelrer has used. 3) The tool index, where you can list your own tools. (I rarely use this though). 4) The Queue, where you can make a list of things you plan on making-added benefit of having your stash listed is that if you queue a project and add the yarn to be used, it will show up when you look at the specific yarn to let you know that you already have a plan for it. 5) The search options, where you can check out what other's projects look like and key words can be used to bring up projects of those that have taken notes. 6) The 'Challenge", where you can set a yearly goal of how many projects you want to complete and Ravelry keeps track of it for you. 7) The PRO page, where you can create a maker/seller profile. In this aspect, you link your Paypal account in order to receive payments for patterns. You also have the choice to make your patterns available to yarn stores. Ravelry does take a small percentage of sales, but I think it may be only after a seller reaches a certain sales amount. It's a great way to have your patterns available worldwide, especially if you 'advertise' on social media like IG. I started out using it solely for patterns but then it truly became indispensible for me. It is just SO awesome in how complex it is yet how easy it is to use! (IMO)

I think the thing that's different about ravelry vs more general old-guard social media is the old content remains relevant. Like old Facebook content (besides baby pictures I guess) is not something people want to go back to again and again. So particularly for text posting, where people are now matters more than a deep history. But old patterns, old project notes, etc, generally are still useful. Very interesting thoughts!

this video is really informative! I like how you integrated your day job perspective too haha. For some reason I see some apps working more for crochet vs knitting (for example, Ribblr also brings on established crafters with followings to sell their patterns, etc.) where just the faster nature of crochet means people can put out more crochet vs knit patterns. I say this love too--I learned crochet first but I knit a lot more these days. With things like pattern testing for garments, and incorporating things marketplaces, forums, and user to user messaging, there's a lot going on. That also means a lot that can go wrong for people to go back to something reliable like instagram or ravelry for the archives, reference tags, and a more curated feed.

@futurefiber

11 ай бұрын

Very good points on reliability- thanks for sharing 💕

I've been thinking the exact same thing about Threads likely having staying power because you do't have to put in the work to find people to follow... you're already following them! I'd love to ditch it all and go back to tumblr because it can be an incredibly creative platform, but i would have to spend hours upon hours trying to find people i'd like to follow again - since not many people i used to follow still use it!

@MichaelaWagner

11 ай бұрын

I also 99% think of Ravelry as a database more than a social media! it's really hard to figure out how to interact with others without commenting on a pattern haha

New subscriber here- from the very beginning - you're amazing to being able to knit and speak 😊 and not even look 😮

Really enjoyed your thoughts on all of this, especially on the migrations btw platforms. I tire of podcasters dismissing Ravelry, saying, 'if that's available you ...' or canceling them all together. Our society's cancel culture has me aghast. Many/most missed Ravelry's response to their users regarding the redesign and the necessity for it -- behind the scenes is hard work, for sure and I gathered they hit the wall w the amount of data they had and needed new ways to categorize it all, I might add for the better. Your perspective comes from being inside the industry and I appreciate that.

If I was an app developer I’d be talking to ravelry about creating an app that interacts with their website and shares content in real time.

@rosieroo538

11 ай бұрын

I totally agree! I use Ravit which mostly does the job but misses some key features e.g. yarn recommendations which is a pain in the butt but you can open whatever page you're on in your browser so at least you don't have to search again.

Good video! I enjoyed listening to your views on this!!

This is all very true. There are things about ravelry that I like, but there are lots of things that I dont particularly like, and one of them is the social aspect. I like logging my projects and basically use it as a way to know what I've made, what yarn I have, what patterns I have, etc. But the social aspect has basically disappeared. I used to live Kollabora years ago because it took the ravelry idea and tried to make it for sewing as well, but the creators closed it a few years ago because they went into hosting events instead. That was a big bummer because I had logged all my makes in there and it was just gone. Pattern review is nice for the organizational aspects of ravelry, but its not great for the social aspect. I wish someone could do what Kollabora did and just ... keep it open. Lol that doesn't seem like much to ask, but apparently it is. None of the other making sites ive joined have come close, and im certainly not going to pay a membership for one when ravelry is free. So I do most of my socializing on youtube knitting videos, oddly enough.

@showandtellmeg

11 ай бұрын

I was also very into the sewing and knitting blog world until the big fall out about 3 or 4 years ago. Now the only ones still around seem to have transitioned to youtube. I still blog, but I know its mainly for my own memory than anyone else reading it.

Sitting opposite of each other, you knitting on your moonsa tee and me on my cumulus tee, you talking and me listening…..that was a nice half an hour. For me Ravelry is more than enough. It full fills my needs and interests, so I prefer to knit instead of looking further. I do use an app, but that’s a practical app; knitcompanion. I love it, but it is totally not related to the topic of your talk today. Anyway, I enjoyed this episode. Thanks for sharing.

I left Ravelry in an outraged huff. I deleted my project and stash info. It soured my feelings about knitting and social media. As time went on I began to reluctantly visit Ravelry again for its awesome database of pattern and yarn info but I get on and off it as fast as I can. I used to think talking to other knitters on the internet was heavenly. Now I associate it with trauma. I haven't been able to find any other place that has recaptured the magic.

@futurefiber

11 ай бұрын

That’s unfortunate that you had that experience! I think hobbies bring people together and give you a strong starting point for relationships but lasting connections have more variables to them, which makes it always tough for me

@lovemesomeslippers

11 ай бұрын

My only knitting “friends “ are here on KZread. I haven’t heard anyone mention those other sites before. I also don’t use the Ravelry forums. I dipped in once as a brand new knitter and got the same greeting I had received at a LYS. They looked down on me for being clueless and let me know there are such things as stupid questions! I’m not sure why I kept knitting but there’s a new LYS in my town, kicking the old ones behind! I can’t imagine that happening to Ravelry, but who knows?

@444Raine

11 ай бұрын

@@lovemesomeslippersI’m so sorry you were treated that way but I’m so glad you kept knitting!

I really appreciated this video, it perfectly put into words what I've been thinking. I'm a software developer and have been struggling to find a job the last couple months due to the job market, so I've been tempted to create my own app while I look. However, all I'm interested in creating right now is a knitting/crochet focused app- and Ravelry has already dominated that audience. At the very least it looks like I could mess around with Ravelry's API and have fun with trying to create some features I wish Ravelry had.

@futurefiber

11 ай бұрын

Best of luck with the job search- i know it’s rough out there 😭 but if you want another unsolicited project idea (lol) I think it could be super cool if there was some way to have a more robust recommendation engine/‘see more like’ features with ravelry’s db - searching thru just their tags is so exhausting sometimes lol

@anyotherusername6448

11 ай бұрын

@@futurefiber ooo that would be a fun project! I like that idea, thank you!

Interesting topic! It makes me think of DeviantArt, and how the whole illustratior community was there, but after some bad algorithm changes, they suffered a mass migration to Art station, Instagram and Twitter (unexpected I know!) I guess I think nothing will displace Ravelry, but it could definitely die as a model. It has horrible discoverability (from a serendipitous browsing perspective), and somewhow people use it less and less in favor of private ecoms or Etsy. Crochet os already useless on Ravelry. I've started knitting 2 years ago, and I use Ravelry A LOT, but there's a weird 'dead' vibe to it. I think it attracts an older crowd. The uX patterns are all old, uploading images is WILD, and I never got the patience to understand their forum. Newer knitters are on Instagram, KZread and Tiktok. I find more example pitctues on a Instagram project #hashtags: more WIPS, more body styles and styled finished pieces. Also, a bit off topic but I love Reddit and r/knitting. It get loads of inspiration, and I learn a lot from the comments and discussions.

KZread is the most personal I think

Side note:Threads isn’t even released in Europe on account of being a total privacy nightmare 😅.

Very nice chat ❤ I don't think I will join threads I just enjoyed twitter as it is and still do. Migrating it is not something I like to do. I do much enjoy ravelry for the pattern library and database

Thank you for the chat. :) I think there is opportunity for a really great Twitter-like app for fibre arts. I feel like I can't participate as much as I would like in the communities on Instagram and Ravelry because I'm just not a photographer. You're right about population migration though; it would have to be well-timed, well-marketed, and have enough content at launch in order to keep users' attention.

I had no idea there was other sites/app for knitters I barely can keep up with Ravelry and youtube and my own knitting and with sending my videos to all of my friends and begging them to subscribe 😅 but I should clarify I live in Eastern Europe

Like you, if I had the great new idea, I'd be pitching elsewhere 🤣😁😃 but I'd like to add my 2 cents re Ravelry ... when using it I have this indefinable feeling of underlying frustration ... is it possible there are some aspects of this app that are a left over from the early years that need tweaking???

If the app was exclusively for fiber crafts, I might consider. I use Insta and KZread strictly for fiber craft content. The one thing that really irritates me about Insta is all the advertising that shows on my page that has nothing to do with any of my interests. Insta has algorithms that lets them know my interests yet they bombard the site with ads that don't interest me or have anything to do with my interests. And then there are the friends request from women and men that looks like they are in the porn business. I have never visited a porn site yet insta sends me those requests.

So I’m pretty new to knitting and to Ravelry. Can some one spill the Ravelry tea? How did it change accessibility?

@futurefiber

11 ай бұрын

What I was referring to has to do with the UI/color scheme change that gave some people negative physical sensations- all I know is that Ravelry took steps in attempt to remedy it!

I’ve always wondered if Ravelry has a UX person - cuz yikes

@futurefiber

11 ай бұрын

I believe they do!

As a knitter and designer is a little bit of you sad that Threads has nothing to do with fiber arts?

@penelope.remade

11 ай бұрын

Like the name...not the content 😅

@futurefiber

11 ай бұрын

NO but this is the real disappointment,,,

I honestly think that Ravelry has disgusted so many people over the years with multiple causes of harm and offense that if there was really solid competition out there, people would migrate to it in pretty large numbers. I've heard many people say that they only maintained membership at Ravelry, because there was no other place which did a few key functions they really wanted. Many people have already cut down their involvement there and only do on Ravelry what they can't do elsewhere. I see this very often, even with people who were once big supporters of theirs. I feel that if any other easily accessible venue could duplicate those few key functions, Ravelry would lose a huge percentage of its users. If you manage a community of crafters, you should manage it to the benefit of the community as well as your business. They don't. They have lost a lot of loyalty.

@Lisa-vb3gn

11 ай бұрын

I have never had a problem with Ravelry. I love it for the easy access to patterns and being able to search for very specific patterns based on yarn, colors, yardage, etc. I don’t use the social aspect of it because people post so many pictures with cats and dogs sitting on their work, or their hair in the way. I also appreciate the artistic effort put into some photos, but my goal is to see the project and how it looks on a real person, not the background or how it looks on a hanger.

@frizfriz

11 ай бұрын

@@Lisa-vb3gn I'm so glad you don't have access problems. I hope it continues to be useful for you.

@siggylev4268

11 ай бұрын

I agree with you about Ravelry. I only use them to look for patterns/ideas, as they have a vast library in one place. I don't get involved with the knit-a-longs or groups that they have. For me the groups and knit-a-longs come across as snobbish/cliquish. I would definitely stop using them if there was another with similar functions. As for the few patterns that I have purchased from them, I do keep a copy in my computer so losing that record in Ravelry isn't an issue for me. If the designer makes changes to the pattern, the notification on Ravelry is convenient.

@frizfriz

11 ай бұрын

@@siggylev4268 That pattern update feature on Ravelry is awesome, I agree. It's so convenient to the designer only to have to update in one place, and the user only has to click one button to update their library. I also really like that you can easily download your pattern to new devices any time. It's features like this that have kept Ravelry in a strong position in the market.