The Ravelry Alternative: Creating Opportunities for the future --

Updated: April 26 2022

The best Ravelry options for 2022 that will be considered include:

•       Etsy
•       Lovecrafts

For years Ravelry has been THE spot for knitters and crocheters to meet and exchange patterns. It's an innovative mix of an online journal along with the database for patterns, and social media and a market place for patterns. Many independent crochet and knit entrepreneurs have started their own companies employing Ravelry as the foundation of their business.

However, there are frequent changes on the internet. Websites suddenly shut down or get bought by larger companies, and sometimes cannot be used again.

In the year 2020, Ravelry unveiled a fresh look that members dubbed NuRav. The following days, some users have reported that NuRav caused headaches, vertigo migraines, seizures, or headaches. Some time members are complaining that they are no longer being able to access their pattern or receive help for their patterns with NuRav.

NuRav isn't the sole surprise disruption that has occurred in the fiber industry. In the year 2017 NBC/Universal bought the well-known site Craftsy and changed its name to Blueprint. A lot of independent artists and designers were able to showcase their work through the Blueprint platform and Craftsy. In the summer of suddenly, NBC/Universal decided to shutter the site. TN Marketing bought the video library, and then relaunched Craftsy later that year.

With the sudden events like this, designers are asking whether it's appropriate to establish their own businesses with an online marketplace like Ravelry. If you're a professional designer who is seeking new ways to promote your work, Three strategies worth considering are:

• Create patterns that are available on Ravelry as well as the same store on the internet.
• Make use of Ravelry to stay current with communities and forums, and showcase your designs However, once knitting enthusiasts are in the market to purchase  it, they'll be directed to a separate site
• Make a store on the internet and quit Ravelry totally

Whatever route you choose it is possible to sell your designs via an alternative Ravelry site can be an excellent way of creating an agile company designed for enduring unpredictable shifts.

The considerations for designers who are independent in their selection of Ravelry alternatives

Independent designers go beyond simply write beautiful patterns to crochet and knit. Your job is to be a marketing department and customer service representative as well as chief of finance. Your website needs to function efficiently, allowing you to focus on developing and less time on the other things.

In the process of looking into a Ravelry alternative, Important issues designers should ask include:

• How does a knitter become aware the work is there?
• Discounts and free patterns are a great way to draw new customers. What is the easiest way to setup coupons? Do they permit BOGO or no-cost designs?
• Businesses require repeat business. An effective brand image is crucial. Do knitters consider them when they recommend your pattern, or are they thinking of your website of a third-party?
• Does the website for e-commerce make it easier to distribute updated information to customers? Will you need to set an email or website list to achieve this?
• The independent market for Knit or Crochet patterns is an international market. The online store can manage VAT? US Sales Tax?
• What is the cost? What are the methods of payment?

Online-Commerce Options

There are two main kinds of web sites that cater to knit designers who are not crocheters in their own right:

• Marketplaces like Ravelry that allow thousands and sometimes millions of creators compete to draw attention of those who crochet as well as crochet.
• Personal websites and an online shopping cart that sells directly to knitters and crocheters.

Marketplace E-commerce

The theory is that marketplace websites can bring buyers to your site. Knitters and crocheters go to the marketplace sites with an intention to purchase. As these are huge enterprises, they typically deal with sales tax and VAT for you. They offer a number of benefits.

Marketplace websites may help you entice a first time customer. But, how can you convert your customer into a loyal fan? One of the most popular responses is "I bought it on Etsy." After your client is ready begin their next project, should you encourage them to return to your store or conduct an Etsy check? Making your business stand out in the shadow of a massive internet presence is a challenging task.

If foot traffic that is built-in is your top priority, there are two big sites worth a look: Etsy and Lovecrafts.

Etsy

Etsy is a popular online marketplace that permits artists, designers and other artisans to offer their works to a discerning audience. There were more than 45 million customers who bought on Etsy. It's not the case that all of the 45 million customers on Etsy are searching for knitting patterns and crochet patterns, or are fiber crafters.

But, access to 45 million customers with sales tax being handled for you, and ease in listing are valuable. That value comes with costs. Set up of the own Etsy shop will not cost you a fortune, however making your own patterns available will cost you.

• Listing fees are $0.20 (USD) for each item.
• The amount will be due regardless of whether your product sells or isn't sold.
• Listings are canceled every 4 months. It is $0.60 an year to keep your listing up-to-date.

If you decide to offer a pattern using their Pattern Tool, you'll notice an entirely new format.

• Free trial for 30 days. After that, you'll have to pay monthly for a subscription of $15.00 USD for a month.
• 6.5% Transaction Fee on every transaction
• Processing Fees will be charged when you register to make an Etsy payment. There is a different fee for every country.
• Cost of advertising: Sellers will be enrolled automatically into Etsy Offsite advertisements. Additional fees will apply when Etsy will assign a sale an Offsite Ad. Sellers earning less than $10,000 annually could opt to opt out.

I'm small enough that I cannot afford hosting on my own platform. I also get traffic [on Etsybut not directly on my site. But, if I had an increase in sales or recognition, I would make my own site as effectively. It's always growing, and it's no longer handmade just.

the Corner of Knit & Tea

Lovecrafts

Lovecrafts is an all-in-one-shop for crocheters and knitters who want to buy yarn and patterns. There are several things that distinguish it from Etsy.

The Community Page: Members are able to upload pictures of their knitted items. They are valuable as they may inspire knitters to buy patterns.

Imports listings directly direct from Ravelry There's a requirement to for additional information, however this could help save time. But, Lovecrafts does approve each listing prior to it being posted to the site. It can take 3-5 days to be cleared.

Pattern Library: Just like Ravelry users, members can use a pattern library as well as receive notifications on a regular basis.

Customer Support: Lovecrafts handles all support for customers to you, which includes help for patterns.

If you're an independent designer, you might miss a opportunity. Support for patterns eats up your time. However, Lovecrafts acting as a constantly-on intermediary may hinder building trust with customers. Crocheters and knitters can visit the pages of community on Lovecrafts but there's low chance that you can build your list of email subscribers or direct visitors to your website.

The costs for Lovecraft are comparable to Ravelry but are much easier to use as when compared with Etsy.

• The process of creating your list of stores and lists is absolutely cost-free.
• Offer free patterns to attract new customers.
• The transaction fee is 4% plus $/PS/EUR0.35 on any sale
• A selling fee of 5% will be charged for each month's sales between $40 to $1500 (USD)

Simple. But there are some disadvantages. There are community forums that can be useful but there is no on-line forums. It's hard to connect with crocheters or knitters. It is also difficult to create a mailing list, or to promote a membership program.

An All-New Generation of Kids on the Block

Following the controversy over NuRav The community is seeing an potential to create Ravelry alternatives. One currently in research is Fiber.Club. There are, however, a couple of unanswered questions:

• How do these websites work?
• What will be the fee structure?
• How will it handle the sales tax?

In the event that Fiber.Club or any other website goes live soon, it is unclear whether it will grow in popularity and become a viable Ravelry alternative.

Create A Website of Your Own

The ownership of a website gives you the possibility to control the pricing advertising, branding, and pattern-support. Additionally, you can through your website, create subscription plans and generate other income streams.

A majority of you already have an website presence. Designers typically use their websites to direct designers to their Ravelry stores to sell their products. What better way to turn those links into your website catalog instead? Selling your pattern directly to the people you sell them to makes your business more flexible and able to withstand any disruption that occurs when a marketplace site closes, is acquired by a different company or goes out of fashion.

This is an online shop created for downloads via digital media that allows you to turn your website into a retail store. Two ways to use it are able to use :

• Include listings on your existing site
• Create a hosted e-commerce website within just a couple of minutes

I've found the setup extremely easy to master. The page that allows you to fill in details is an absolute delight. It's not necessary to worry about my style "romance" will look and be able to make sense...I find it easy to create a blog. is to create using my blog (with embedded embedding. I want my blog to serve as my primary hub and having my designs in front of my readers will give it the look. Once I've figured out the best way to organize things and how to do it, it will be simple to set up when a brand new design is announced.

Getting Started On

Beginning the process is easy by providing an email address and making a password.

After you've created the account you can create your initial website. It is possible to choose which customers be able to pay via Paypal as well as Stripe. After your initial listing is up and running, you have the option to change the look of your store so that it is in tune to the branding of your business. Pick the color scheme of your buttons and fonts, as well as a CSS.

Much like Etsy and Lovecrafts, handles VAT for you. For US Sales Tax will report the tax as sales tax and will include it with the purchase price. However, you are responsible for paying the appropriate state authorities. (Sales Taxes differ according to the state. It is recommended to consult an expert tax advisor.)

There are many ways to sell yourself as well as your work

Each online retailer has the ability to give the customers coupons and sales. But, they also have an option to purchase items from a shopping cart that could help customers buy more than one pattern like cross-selling and upselling.

• Once a user includes the latest pattern into the cart, you will be capable of offering a discount on a different design.
• Do you have a hat pattern with the same glove design? Create the cart so that it will instantly recommend the different pattern.

We Are Fiber Family

Sharing a passion to knit and crochet goes beyond simply a client or commercial connection between makers and their creators. We feel like a community. A tool many artists use to keep a lasting relationship with their clients is to establish an email list or newsletter.

With , you can opt to have a customer's email immediately added to your email list when you purchase your design. And if you are using the store's website you can connect with your customers. This button can be located in the upper left corner of the page.

I was interested to learn from Kristin Jancuk on how easy she could build her email database:

"I was happy to see that I could link my newsletter to the checkout page and purchase my items which I've always wanted to do on Ravelry...I consider that having my new designs immediately in front of the eyes of those that are already interested in my work is among the best benefits however, I also provide discounts to my customers which gives them reasons to come back.

There's much that's more important than building your email database. Crocheters and knitters love showing the finished products to those around us. We're the top marketing team. Encourage your customers to recommend your design to their peers through a a referral program.

Etsy, Lovecrafts, even Ravelry give you one way to earn money from patterns sold. A lot of designers are using Patreon to earn revenue from various sources. It's a huge undertaking to run an account on Patreon as well as and an Etsy Store, a Ravelry page and so on. Imagine removing one with the help of setting up your membership Program with . It is possible to have the membership program as well as an online site all at once by using .

Fees

offers three membership tiers which each come with all features. The only difference is the cost for transactions.

• Forever Free 5 percent transaction fee
• Additional fees: $29.00/ month 2 percent transaction cost
• Pro: $99.00/month 0% transaction cost

If I construct it, will they come?

Selling your products via your website comes with one disadvantage: there's no integrated customer traffic such as Etsy, Ravelry, or Lovecrafts. It's your job to attract crocheters and knitters to your site. I inquired with Sile Thiels whether it was difficult to promote her designs to knitters. She told me:

Perhaps a little, but I'm sure that I'm no worse than what I was in the past in the days of selling on Ravelry. I've always relied on increasing the visibility of myself through my Twitter account as well as Instagram as well as my Facebook page. The patterns I've created still appear on Ravelry searches, however they take you to Ravelry to sell them.

knit Dance Repeat

If you're ready to start a shop whether through your website or on your own, you'll have to market your own creation. As Sile Thiels demonstrated, it is possible to use Ravelry to promote your project. However, you must decide to utilize Ravelry at some point, it is possible to do this using a mix of eCommerce websites. You could establish a brand in as well off Ravelry. Most importantly, your success won't be contingent on an other site's failure. another website.

Comparison Table

This is a brief comparability chart. These charges do not cover the processing fees which are charged to Paypal and Stripe. All charges are in US dollars.

Always advised to talk to a Tax Professional

Conclusion

Recent disruptions created by Ravelry is leading designers to think about new possibilities in online-based solutions. Crafting a website either instead of, or in conjunction with websites such as Ravelry, Etsy, and Lovecrafts lets you create an agile company that is able to survive unexpected changes.

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