Ravelry Alternative: Crafting New Opportunities Ravelry Alternative: Crafting New Opportunities

 The last update was April 26, 2022

The top Ravelry alternatives for 2022 which are discussed are:

•   Etsy
•   Lovecrafts

For a long time Ravelry is the best spot for crocheters and knitters to meet and purchase patterns. It's an innovative blend of an online notebook, pattern database as well as social media and a the pattern marketplace. Many independent knit and crochet creators have established their business using Ravelry as the foundation of their business.

However, change happens fast when you're on the web. Websites abruptly shut down, are bought by larger companies, and sometimes disappear from the market.

In 2020 Ravelry launched a new look which members called NuRav. Soon after, some members reported NuRav triggers vertigo, migraines, eye strain, and some seizures. A lot of long-time members complain that they are no longer able to access their library of patterns, or get support for their patterns through the website.

NuRav isn't the sole surprise disruption that has occurred in the fiber community. In the year 2017 NBC/Universal bought the well-known website Craftsy rebranding it as Blueprint. Many independent designers sold their works on the Blueprint/Craftsy platform. The summer of 2020, out of the blue, NBC/Universal decided to shutter the site. TN Marketing bought the video library and relaunched Craftsy at the end of that year.

Due to unexpected changes like these, designers are asking whether it's a good idea to establish their company around one website like Ravelry. If you're an independent designer seeking new strategies to market your work three options to think about include:

• Selling patterns on Ravelry as well as a similar e-commerce store
• Make use of Ravelry to stay in touch with community forums, and showcase your designs, but when a knitter is ready to purchase are directed to a different website.
• Create a new online store and quit Ravelry all together

No matter which route you choose, selling your patterns through the alternative Ravelry site is a chance to create a more adaptable business that can withstand unexpected changes.

Ideas for Designers who are Independent and Selecting Ravelry alternatives

Independent designers do more than just write gorgeous patterns for crochet and knit. They are marketing departments and customer service rep as well as chief financial officer. You require efficient e-commerce websites that allow you to focus longer creating and less time on everything else.

While looking into a Ravelry alternative, some important questions designers have to be asking are:

• How will a knitter know that their work is real?
• Free patterns and discounts are a great way to attract new clients. What is the easiest way to setup coupons? Does it allow BOGO, free patterns?
• Businesses require repeat business. Strong branding is critical. Does the knitter think of you when they recommend your knitting pattern? Or are they thinking of the website from a third party?
• Does the site that you are selling on make it simpler to distribute updates to customers? Do you require setting up an email list for this?
• Independent Knit and Crochet patterns are a worldwide market. Does the e-commerce site manage VAT? US Sales Tax?
• What fees are there? How will you be paid?

Online-Commerce Options

There are two broad categories of e-commerce sites that cater to knitters who are independent and crocheters:

• There are marketplaces that resemble Ravelry, that let thousands, sometimes even millions of artists compete for their attention from crocheters and crocheters
• A Personal website and shopping cart for selling directly to knitters and crocheters.

Marketplace E-commerce

In theory, marketplace sites bring customers to you. The crocheters and knitters go to these sites ready to buy. As these marketplaces have a huge business presence that handles VAT and sales tax to your benefit. These are significant advantages.

Marketplace websites may help you entice a first time customer. However, how do you convert them into a long time follower? The most common response is, "I bought it on Etsy." When the customer is ready to begin their next project, will they come back to your store , or perform another Etsy search? Making your business stand out in the shadow of a large website is a challenge.

If built-in foot traffic is what you are looking for, there are two big websites to consider: Etsy and Lovecrafts.

Etsy

Etsy is an incredibly well-known online marketplace website and makes it easy for artists, designers and artisans to sell their works to a discerning audience. In 2019 over 45 million customers bought items on Etsy. However, not all of the 45 million buyers on Etsy are searching for knitting patterns, crochet patterns or are even fiber crafters.

However, having access to over 45 million clients, the ability to have sales tax handled for you as well as the ease to list your business is a plus. This comes with a price tag. Setting up the Etsy shop is free, posting your designs isn't.

• The listing fee is $0.20 (USD) per listing.
• You pay this fee regardless of whether the work is sold or is not sold.
• Listings are canceled every four months. It costs $0.60 a year to keep your list in good standing.

If you market a pattern through their Pattern Tool, you'll notice something a little different:

• Free trial for 30 days. After that, you'll be charged monthly subscription fee of $15.00 USD for a month.
• 6.5% Transaction Fee on all transactions
• Processing Fee applies if you sign up to use Etsy payment. This cost varies with the country of.
• Ad Fee: Sellers will be enrolled automatically in Etsy offsite ads. Additional fees will apply when Etsy attributes a sale to an offsite advertisement. Sellers who earn less than $10,000 in a year can opt-out.

It's small enough that I don't have the resources to host my own site. I also get traffic [on Etsywhich I don't get on my own site. But if I had more popularity or sales, I'd do my [own websiteto increase sales. They are continually getting higher AND it's really not just a hand-made site anymore.

- Laura Designs, Spinner, and Laura
 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 a few characteristics that distinguish it from Etsy.

The Community Page: Participants can share photos of their finished objects. They are extremely helpful in inspiring other knitters to purchase patterns.

Imports Listings Directly from Ravelry There is a requirement submit additional information however, this could make it easier. However, Lovecrafts does approve each listing before it posts to the site. It can take 3-5 working days for your listing to be accepted.

Pattern Library: Similar to Ravelry users, members can access patterns in their library. They also receive periodic updates

Customer Service Lovecrafts provides all customer service to you, which includes assistance with patterns.

If you are an individual designer, you may have missed an beat. Support for patterns eats up your precious time. But, Lovecrafts acting as a constant intermediary can prevent deepening the brand's loyalty. The crocheters and knitters are able to follow your community page on Lovecrafts, but there is very little chance of building your list of email subscribers or guide users to your site.

The fees for Lovecraft is similar to Ravelry but is easier to use in comparison to Etsy.

• Making your own shop or list is completely free.
• It is possible to offer free designs to attract new customers.
• A transaction fee of 4% + $/PS/EUR0.35 for any sales
• Selling Fee of 5% applies if you have monthly sale between $40 - $1500 (USD)

Simple. But there are some disadvantages. The community pages are helpful, but there are no forums online. There's not much opportunity to connect with fellow knitters or crocheters. Also, it's hard to establish your email list or promote an membership program.

New Kids on the Block

Following the controversy over NuRav People are seeing opportunities to come up with Ravelry alternatives. One that is currently being developed is Fiber.Club. But, there are several unknowns:

• How will these websites function?
• What will be the cost arrangement?
• What will they do with the sales tax?

In the event that Fiber.Club or a different website is launched in the near future, it is unclear whether it can gain momentum and develop into an effective Ravelry alternative.

You can create a website of your Own

A website can be an chance to completely control prices advertising, branding, and even pattern support. It is also possible through your site to develop membership-based programs that generate revenue streams.

Most of you currently have websites. Designers often use their sites for directing designers to their Ravelry stores for sale. Why not turn these links into website store listings instead? Selling your pattern directly to the customers you sell them to makes your company more adaptable and able to ride out the disruption whenever a website that sells products goes out of business, buys outor is thrown out of favor.

is an e-commerce website created for downloads via digital media that allows you to turn your website into a retail store. There are two methods you could use it :

• Embed listings into your current website
• Create a hosted e-commerce website in just a few minutes

I've discovered their system really easy to learn. Its open-page to fill in specifics is so enjoyable. There is no need to be concerned about how to make my pattern "romance" to be a good fit and creating sense...I love how simple it is to integrate using my blog (with embeddedthe embedding. My blog should be my main hub, and having my patterns on display gives it that feel. Once I've learned how to setup things, it'll be easy to do every time a new design comes out.

Getting Started On

The process of getting started is as simple as providing your email address and creating an account with a password.

After you've set the account you build your very first page. Customers can opt to be able to pay via Paypal and Stripe. After your initial listing is up, you can modify your store's appearance to align it to your company's branding. Choose button colors, fonts, and even a CSS.

Much like Etsy and Lovecrafts, they handle VAT on behalf of customers. For US Sales Tax will report the tax on sales and add the tax in the purchase price. However, you are responsible for making the payments to the state agency that you are responsible for. (Sales Taxes differ by state. Please consult with a tax professional.)

There are many ways to sell yourself and your work

Each e-commerce website has the ability to give your followers coupon codes and sales. It also comes with a shopping cart option that will make customers more likely to purchase more than one pattern that includes cross-selling and upselling.

• Once a user adds a pattern to their cart, you can automatically offer a discount for the second pattern.
• Do you have a hat pattern with an identical glove design? Set up the cart to automatically suggest the second pattern.

We Are Fiber Family

Shared Passion in crochet and knitting creates more than just a commercial or customer relationship between makers and creators. It's like having a social network. One tool that many designers employ to establish a lasting relationship with crafters is the use of newsletters and email lists.

You can choose to have your customer's email directly added to your email list when they purchase your design. If you're using for hosting your shop you can follow your customers. Button can be found on the upper right hand side of your web page.

I inquired Kristin Jancuk about how quickly she was able to create her email list:

"I am thrilled to discover that I could link my newsletter with checkout this is something that I've always wanted at Ravelry...I consider that getting my patterns immediately in front of the eyes of those that are already interested in my work is the most important thing and I offer discount coupons to my subscribers, so they have reasons to keep coming back as well.

However, there's something more to do building your email list than just creating one. We crocheters and knitters are awed by showing their finished items to others. We're the top marketing team. Let your customers know that you are a great source of information. your designs to their friends through a an incentive program.

Etsy, Lovecrafts, even Ravelry provide a method to earn money through pattern sales. Numerous designers are turning to Patreon to create different revenue sources. It's a huge task to run the administration of a Patreon or an Etsy Store, a Ravelry page and so on. Imagine eliminating one of them by setting up your Membership Program with . It is possible to have a membership program and e-commerce site in one .

Fees

offers three membership tiers that each include the same features. Only difference is the transaction fee you pay.

• Forever Free A 5% transaction cost
• Additional: $29.00/ month 2 1 % transaction cost
• Pro: $99.00/month 0% transaction cost

If I Build it, Will They Come?

Selling your product on your site has one disadvantage that there's no built-in customers' traffic such as Etsy, Ravelry, or Lovecrafts. You will have to drive knitters and crocheters to your website. I inquired Sile Thiels whether it was difficult to promote her designs to knitters, and she said:

It's not all that great slightly, but I'm sure that I'm not any worse than I did in the past when I was just selling my work on Ravelry. I've always relied upon promoting myself through my Twitter, Instagram, and FB page. And my patterns still come into Ravelry searches. They just direct off Ravelry to the sale.

- Sile Thiels, Independent Knit Designer
 Knit Dance Repeat

If you are thinking it's time to build your store , it's either via your website or else you'll need to market your work. However, as Sile Thiels has demonstrated, it is possible to use Ravelry to promote your project. But, if you decide to utilize Ravelry later on, with a mix of e-commerce websites, you can establish a reputation inside and outside of Ravelry. Most importantly, your success will not depend on the performance of another site's failure.

Comparison Table

Below is a short table of comparison. The fees do not include any the processing charges for Paypal and Stripe. All fees are in US Dollars.

 It is always advisable to consult the Tax Professional

Conclusion

Recent problems with Ravelry has led designers to think about new possibilities to online-based solutions. The creation of a website, whether in place of or in addition to sites like Ravelry, Etsy, and Lovecrafts can help you develop a flexible company that is able to withstand sudden changes.