Around 400 hours of work went into this design. Leadlight Blanket. Click the picture for the pattern.
How much work should a designer do?
I guess that depends upon who you ask!
This is an opinion piece!
Now before I get into the deep and meaning section of this post, I must say that in general people who reach out with questions and ask for help, are on the whole lovely. This post does delve into the darker side of designing. So if this is not for you then that is okay!
I would like to try and tactfully highlight a side of designing that many would not consider. I co-run a designer support group which means that I am in contact with over 450 other crochet designers. We could all write a book with tales of what goes on behind the scenes.
Patterns do not suddenly appear in written format for people to make and use, and while many seem to think that all patterns should be offered free for use, the reality is that for many of those who design, this is a business.
We try to make our patterns user friendly but we are human and every so often an error will slip through. I know if this happens I correct this as soon as possible. I don’t want a pattern to be out there with an error.
Most of my patterns are of an intermediate level. I know I spend hundreds of hours to get patterns that are of this level tested and published. I put as much information into these as I can, in an effort to try and make them as user friendly as possible.
This year alone I know of 2 incredible designers who simply gave up desigining and this is where I get to the point of this post.
Designers deserve to be paid for their work. They offer up a pattern for a few dollars and hopefully this is well written and error free (don’t forget the human factor). We have people purchase from all over the world and with this in mind, a designer may well be asleep when people decide they need a question answered. Answering questions takes time.
Questions can be as simple as people not being able to download on the platform they purchased from, to numerous other issues. People who message often assume a designer can instantly know where they purchased the pattern from. Many designers sell on multiple platforms and unless a person states that they bought from a specific one, it takes time to sort through sales information to find just where a person purchased from. I often have contact, where the person states that they bought my dragonfly pattern. I have over 20 dragonfly patterns. This usually then results in a scramble at my end to find what pattern was purchased. This means searching through each sales list, on each platform.
Many issues that occur, such as the download problem, can be solved by a simple Google search on how to download from a specific platform.
Most designers will state the ability level required to attempt a pattern. Please look for this and keep it in mind when you make a purchase. If a pattern states intermediate level, you can assume that it is expected for you to have a good understanding of crochet techniques, to be able to read a pattern and comprehend how repeats can be formatted.
Please try to be patient and understanding that designers get many questions. I can be almost ready to get into bed for the night and a message pops up with someone wanting help. Or I may be out shopping and without access to the patterns. There could be a sick child in the house or any one of a million situations that a designer is dealing with and many questions result in a need to research each pattern to understand what the customers issue is. I have well over 100 designs and really do not remember every row of every pattern I have done without looking.
I would also like to touch on a few other instances that people may not be aware of.
FREE PATTERNS
Many designers will offer free patterns in the hope that they will draw traffic to their webpages. This is where the complaints begin. Just a few of the messages that people have taken the time to send to designers:
It’s pointless trying to do this pattern, as you have too many ads on your webpage.
You have a buy me a coffee button on the page and are trying to make me feel guilty and buy you a coffee.
This is not a free pattern as I cannot print it out.
I am a beginner and WANT a video tutorial, can you do this for me.
I want to do this in a larger size and so want you to spend several hours doing the calculations so I can.
REVIEWS
While reviews have their place and are a necessary thing, there are times when it would be nice if a customer stopped for one minute before pressing that post button and thought for a moment. Just because I have not been able to make this, does it mean there is an issue? I didn’t ask for help, but I will blame the design or the designer for this, and my review will reflect this.
Once a review is left it can impact a designer in a good or negative way. Many factors come into play.
Designers who sell on the Etsy platform are now also finding that we are held to ransom with this new STAR SELLER badge that Etsy has decided to implement. Etsy does not seem to recognize that those buying a pattern do not want to leave a review right after purchase as they have not made the item yet.
This does not stop them from sending constant emails to the buyer requesting they do so. This sometimes means that a buyer will do a review to shut Etsy up. They have not made this item and so may decide to leave a 4 star or less due to this.
What impact does this have on the designer?
I had this situation a while back:
Some yarn pretties! Woltraum My Melody in the colour Always and Durable Color Cake in Licorice. Both available from Yarn Me Calm. You can click the picture for Yarn Me Calm
A customer left a 4 star. As this was right at the end of the month, the month ticked over and first I knew of it was Etsy sending me an email stating that it was bad luck, I had not received a star seller badge this month, but don’t despair, as they would help me to get back on track and correct this wrong doing, in order for me to get that badge back next month. Then I receive a condescend email stating, that they would help me be better and let’s get you back on track.
This year a new search choice was also put in place on Etsy. Buyers can choose to only search for items from star sellers. I understand that people do not want to purchase from sellers who may be questionable, but it takes so little to lose the star rating.
It seems fair that a person should be allowed to write a review as they wish but please do stop and think before doing so. But Esty’s star sellers system relies heavily on customer feedback. The concern with this is the subjectivity of the evaluations.
Below are real questions and statements sent to designers. Some of these relate to reviews and others are general questions or comments gathered from a group with over 450 designers worldwide:
Do note that most people who do contact, are genuinely lovely. Then there are times not so much!
I couldn’t make the pattern as it is intermediate. I didn’t ask for help but I am going to give it a poor review as I am only a beginner and can’t make it.
I bought your pattern and while I know you don’t do videos, I would rather be able to watch one, so I am leaving a one star rating.
I paid you $5 for a blanket and you didn’t send it to me. Where is it.? No I didn’t read it is a PDF copy to make a blanket, even though you have it everywhere on your selling platform.
I am very unhappy with your video tutorial explaining the tricky parts of your sweater pattern. I didn’t buy the pattern and so cannot understand fully how to make the sweater. Can you do another video free amd detailing all parts, so I can make it.
The formatting of your pattern hurts my eyes.
I cannot work out how to enlarge a page of your pattern and the graph is only A4 size so I have removed a star from the rating. In future please keep this in mind when designing
I am unable to print your pattern as my printer is refusing to do so. I want a refund.
I saw you had a limited time discount for a pattern. I missed out and really don’t think that is fair.
I bought this pattern and while it stated it is in English, I am Spanish and want it in Spanish. Please write it in Spanish.
I can’t understand this pattern as I bought US Terminology and it is in English.
I purchased your pattern and it is too small to view on my phone. You need to make it bigger.
Does this look right? Blurry photograph is attached.
My phone won’t download pdf’s and I cannot download your FREE pattern. Can you make me a video of it?
I downloaded your pattern to my computer and now I cannot find it. Where is it?
I have given you 3 stars as I did my own addition to your pattern and feel it looks better than yours.
I love your pillow pattern but have only given it 1 star as it took me too long to make.
I changed your design as I didn’t like it. Now I have made a mistake. Can you help me?
I really like your baby blanket pattern but I wanted it to fit a king sized bed. I tried repeating the last 20 rounds but the stitch counts don’t work. Can you give me all the stitch counts for rounds enough to fit a king size bed.
I have only given you 3 stars as I don’t like the yarn you used in your design.
Is centimetres the same as inches?
You are a thief. There is no pattern and I want my money back. (This was a pre-release purchase of a CAL pattern which at this point only had the introductions released).
My printer won’t print your pattern but printed all the others just fine
Here is a photograph of my enormous yarn stash. Can you pick some colours from it for use in your blanket pattern?
My stitch count is right. Your pattern is wrong. Money down the toilet as far as I am concerned. I want a refund. (the pattern in question did not have an error).
To those who take the time to leave a nice review and/or put a project on Ravelry, or even just show off your project and credit the designer, thank you!
Seeing my designs displayed and loved, puts a smile on my face.
Designers have lives beyond design and while some may crochet as a hobby, most are doing this to make a living.
Crochet designers are just people, who are trying to bring their art to the world and hopefully make some money along the way. This can be a very bumpy road.
Be kind to a designer!
Please also remember that copyright of designs is a real thing!
Not everyone has the same opinion, but this is mine on the topic!