A View From my Soapbox

A few years ago, after seeing a cute, little bow-tie scarf at Anthropologie, I decided to sit down and knit one of my own.  Not only was their scarf rather expensive, but it wasn't made with quality fibers.  Off I set to create my "own" version.

Knowing that others might like to do the same, and realizing that the pattern wasn't exactly a difficult  or original one, I wrote up my notes and posted them as a free pattern.  I struggled with this because I am no pattern designer, yet I like to share with fellow knitters.  Indeed, I typically just put my "patterns" in the notes section of my own projects.  Given that some of the things I see posted as patterns (often for sale) are laughable, I figured, "why not?"

Which leads me to ask this, "What constitues a pattern?"  Does opening a stitch dictionary, adding garter stitches to the sides, and calling it a scarf make a pattern?  Does taking a standard mitten or sweater pattern and adding a cable to it make a pattern?  On the other hand, if someone figures something out and wants to share it, shouldn't they be able to?  I often wish there was one category for professional, technically-edited patterns and another for, "Hey, here's what I did." 

After posting my "pattern" a few years ago, I began to see comments about how poorly it was written and how confusing it was.  A few kind people said it was a great pattern and that they loved it.  But more complained that they had to keep frogging their work and still didn't understand it. 

I took each and every negative comment as a personal indictment.  Indignantly I thought, 'if several hundred people were able to figure it out, then why do I continue to receive requests for help week after week?'  And to the complainers, I wanted to scream, "IT'S A FREE PATTERN, PEOPLE!" 

In the end, it bothered me to have a sloppy pattern, my ONLY pattern, representing me as a knitter.  Yesterday, I sat down, reknit the scarflet, and rewrote the pattern line for line.  If nothing else, it just makes me feel better.

 

 

 

Comments

[Madmad]

Aw, man! You are waaaayyyyyyy too kind! You know I agree with you on all the other stuff, but feeling bad about your pattern? Crazy-talk! There will always be complaints/questions/misunderstandings, because there are always new knitters. And a few whiners! ;)

[Jeanne Sullivan]

I agree, you are way too kind but you can sleep at night knowing your kindness in sharing is
what the we knitters are REALLY about. I love reading your blog and have never made any
comments but I thought I needed to respond to yours. Just keep doing what you are doing.
And thank you for sharing with us.

[love2stitch]

Not much to add to the previous comments. I always find it amazing when people share what they did for free.
Lovely pattern btw :-)

[Tracy]

Umm.. I do beleive I test knit that initial pattern.... it was easy.....

Hey - somethings.. you just can't fix... :)

[Lilea]

Beautiful! Thank you so much for sharing. I know I'm going to love knitting this and I'll have no problems... even if you hadn't re-written it!

Some people just need their hand held through their knitting, no matter how well the pattern is written. I know someone like this. I've seen her talk about how difficult a pattern is and how she just can't understand it and I'll have had no problem with it. The sad thing is she isn't a novice knitter! She's been knitting forever.

[RoseRed]

As the others have said, there are some people who just don't get patterns, there are some who need their hands held, and there are some who just feel entitled to complain. And sometimes all of those at once. It's a challenge for anyone designing patterns I think, unfortunately. Because it does discourage some people from making patterns available.

And I so agree with you on people selling scarf or shawl patterns which are just stitches from a dictionary with (or sometimes without) a garter edging. If there are a few different patterns or shaping etc, then I think that's a different story. Oh well, it's just a matter of buyer beware, I guess.

Good on you for redoing your pattern though, even though I am sure it wasn't really necessary.

[Mary]

Those are some really good questions that I've often wondered about the answers to myself. The Anthro Inspired Scaflet pattern is so popular and has been made by so many people of all different knitting levels who haven't had issues. Why is it that we let a few complaints ruin a thousand compliments? I hope you continue to share your great patterns.

P.S. - I think you should sell the reworked pattern. :D

[Celestial]

I'm sorry you've had so many negative comments. I agree, it's something you shared from the goodness of your heart, it wasn't an officially published pattern, and some people expect you to bend over backwards if you don't list things the way they like.

I also agree with the whole 'this came right from a stitch dictionary' or 'let me alter one little thing and call it my own' in pattern selling. I admit that I have multiple patterns out that are basic and mostly just from a stitch dictionary - but they are free and I don't charge for them. If it's something unique, I've worked and worked and pulled my hair out to get just right, then spent countless hours writing up the pattern...you bet I'm going to charge for it.

It was very sweet of you to re-work the pattern and then write it up. But I warn you, if you suddenly start to 'sell' the pattern you'll get a whole whack of people complaining and begging for a free copy for various reasons.

p.s. I can't remember the last time I commented here, but I've been lurking for a long while ;)

[Denise]

I don't have a clue what makes a pattern either, but the fact you shared what you did and took the time to write it all out means a lot to many. There will always be some that have something negative to say! Don't let them get to you.

[boo21smom]

I just have to add something to love2stich's comment ("I always find it amazing when people share what they did for free.") I always find it amazing that someone who got something for free would complain about that something!

[Kathy]

All interesting questions. I've purchased 'simple' patterns because I don't have the time to figure it out. but then I see someone slap a $2 on a garter scarf and I'm a bit baffled. It was kind of you to rewrite the pattern. I recommend that you do what a friend of mine did with her free pattern. On ravelry just state, unfortunately I cannot help you with this pattern or techniques. There are many helpful references on the internet that show how to do the techniques in this pattern - some include videos! Or something like that.

[ayumi]

i'm late in the game with adding a comment, but i just wanted to say thank you for writing this pattern! i was very much a newbie knitter when i came across this pattern almost 3 1/2 years ago. i emailed you and you were so kind to explain things to me. i didn't even end up making this until NOW and i'm JUST about finished finally! ha! :/

i had a very old pattern you emailed me back then (probably the first one you created), and while working, i looked through our communication (mainly gchat). i realized the reason why ppl thought it was "poorly written" is because they didn't recognize intuitively what you had told me through gchat-- that it's just k1 on each end with the pattern in the middle for the front side, with purl st on the back + k1 on each end. i noticed you made that crystal clear w/your new pattern, and although i appreciate that, i was able to figure that out BEFORE i compared your old & new patterns, based on what you said 3 years ago and recognizing the pattern. (At the time i didn't get it although you had said that! :P) Anyway, i think that's why the confusion, but no, i would never imagine describing that issue as "poorly written"!:(
thanks so much again, Kim-- it's such a lovely scarflet and still so cute & popular years later. :)