There’s an ongoing issue that I want to address. I get emails (social media comments and reviews) similar to the ones I included below, on a weekly basis. I think it’s time I let everyone know how hurtful and demoralizing it is to receive these messages.
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use the Table of Contents tab to the left
For years, I have been designing and writing knitting (and a few crochet) patterns and publishing them through various distributors. One of these has been my website. It’s gone though many iterations over the course of my career but my patterns have ALWAYS been free to read online. I make my designs accessible to EVERYONE. They are the complete patterns with links to how-to videos, photos and more. I do this so anyone can access my work. No strings attached. No login required.
Yes, they are ad supported. I also advertise what I make through other marketplaces like Amazon, Etsy, etc. It’s how I can make a living from doing this without charging users directly. I see it as a win-win for everyone. But here is where the problem lies. It’s the printing of my patterns…
I had to disable printing on my website because people would print off everything on my site, without so much as a thank you. My work that I had literally spent weeks designing and more weeks into formatting and publishing. Yes. It does take that long.
To offset the loss of ad revenue from the “print users” not being on or returning to the website, I charge a small fee ($3 USD) to print my patterns. I chose this price keeping in mind that a standard ball of acrylic yarn available at a big box store is a little less than $4. This is the yarn users need to make my patterns. I didn’t think it was too much to ask for my work. Apparently, to some, it is. And somehow translates into accusations like those in the attached email and YouTube comment. Messages that illicit some strong emotions in me. But I digress.
Tbh, these comments are completely inaccurate. Printing of the patterns isn’t necessary. You can pull up my website on your phone or tablet and scroll along with the pattern as you knit. Wanting a paper copy is a preference, not a requirement to read the pattern.
The impetus of making this post is how I continually feel like I need to defend the choices I make in how I disseminate my patterns. I’m tired of defending my right to be financially compensated for my work. I shouldn’t be berated over a $3 purchase or membership subscription fee because someone doesn’t want to scroll down a webpage to read the pattern. Or even worse, being accused of lying that the patterns aren’t free. If you can read it in its entirety, how is that not free?
In short…Please stop sending me messages like this.
For the sake of my mental health, I will selectively acknowledge or respond to the selfish, entitled haters. If you don’t like it, don’t use my work. It’s the simplest solution to the “problem”.
If you’re reading this, I probably sent you the link in response to your very unnecessary message. Keep that in mind when you feel the need to “reach out” to creators on the internet. We’re real people. What you said was hurtful. And untrue.
But if you stumble upon this inadvertently and are a supporter of my work, thank you soooo much! To those who have purchased my patterns and given me great reviews; you are why I keep going and I truly thank you!!
TL;DR – Stop bitching about my patterns not being free or about the ads. You CAN read them for free on my website. I’m allowed to profit from my work.
More FREE patterns
Click the pic to read online!!
If you like the patterns and would like to support my future work
Bravo! You have every right to charge as I’ve seen patterns far less attractive than yours or charging an outrageous price. I love your patterns and am very grateful you give them free. $3 dollars is very reasonable compared to greedy ones that charge $10 for a simple pattern.