Ravelry Alternative: Crafting New opportunities --

 Updated: April 26, 2022

The top Ravelry options for 2022 that are which are discussed include:

•   Etsy
•   Lovecrafts

For years Ravelry has been THE spot for crocheters and knitters to make connections and buy patterns. It's an innovative combination of an online notebook as well as a pattern database as well as social media and a market place for patterns. Numerous independent knit and crochet entrepreneurs have created their own businesses by using Ravelry as their cornerstone.

But, changes are swift online. Websites suddenly shut down or are purchased by bigger companies, and sometimes are unable to be used again.

In 2020 Ravelry launched a new look which members called NuRav. In the following days, some members have reported that NuRav triggered headaches, vertigo, migraines and even seizures. A lot of long-time members complain that they are no longer able to access their patterns or get support for their patterns through NuRav.

NuRav isn't the sole surprise disruption that has occurred in the fiber community. In the year 2017 NBC/Universal acquired the well-known website Craftsy and rebranded it to Blueprint. A lot of independent designers offered their work on the Craftsy/Blueprint platform. In the summer of suddenly, NBC/Universal decided to shutter the site. TN Marketing bought the video library and relaunched Craftsy later that year.

In light of unexpected developments like these, designers are asking whether it's a good idea to base their businesses on an online platform like Ravelry. If you're an individual designer who is looking for new methods to market your work three strategies to consider include:

• Make patterns available through Ravelry as well as a similar e-commerce store
• Utilize Ravelry to keep up-to-date with forums for community members, and showcase your designs, but when a knitter is ready to purchase , they will be lead to another website
• Create a new online store and quit Ravelry completely

Whatever route you choose the possibility of selling your designs via an alternative Ravelry website can be a great way to create a more agile business designed to withstand unpredictable changes.

Considerations For Independent Designers Selecting Ravelry alternatives

Independent designers do more than just write gorgeous patterns for crochet and knit. Your job is to be a marketing department and customer service rep as well as chief of finance. Your website needs to be efficient which allow you to spend your time developing and less time on all other tasks.

While looking into a Ravelry alternative, Important issues designers should ask include:

• How can a knitter be aware the work is there?
• Discounts and free patterns are a great way to attract new customers. What is the easiest way to set up coupons? Do they allow BOGO and no-cost patterns?
• Businesses require repeat business. A strong brand image is essential. Do knitters think of you whenever they suggest your pattern, or do they think of the website from a third party?
• Does the e-commerce site make it simpler to send the latest information to customers? Will you need to set an email or website list in order to accomplish this?
• The independent market for Knit or Crochet patterns are an international market. Can the online store manage VAT? US Sales Tax?
• What is the cost? How do you pay?

Online-Commerce Options

There are two major kinds of websites for knit designers who are not independent crocheters:

• Ravelry-like marketplace websites that let thousands, sometimes even millions of creators compete to get their attention from crocheters and crocheters
• A personal website as well as a shopping cart to sell directly to crocheters and knitters.

Marketplace E-commerce

In theory, marketplace sites bring customers to you. Knitters and crocheters go to these sites ready to buy. Since these websites are large businesses they often handle VAT and sales tax on your behalf. They offer a number of advantages.

Marketplace websites may help you entice a first time customer. However, how do you convert your customer into a loyal fan? The most common response is, "I bought it on Etsy." Once your client is ready start their next project do they return to your store or do another Etsy lookup? Building your brand in the shadow of a massive web presence is an uphill task.

If built-in foot traffic is your top priority, there are two big websites worth considering: Etsy and Lovecrafts.

Etsy

Etsy is an incredibly well-known online marketplace website that allows for artists, designers, and artisans to sell their works to a discerning public. Over 45 million people shopped on Etsy. But, not all 45 million people who shop on Etsy are seeking knit patterns, crochet patterns or even are fiber crafters.

Yet, the access to 45 million customers, having sales tax handled for you, and ease of listing is valuable. That value comes with costs. Set up of your own Etsy shop is not expensive, however making your own patterns available isn't.

• Listing fees are $0.20 (USD) per item.
• The fee will be paid whether your product sells, or is not sold.
• Listings expire every 4 months. It costs $0.60 an year to keep a list up and running.

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

• Free trial for 30 days, then you'll pay a monthly fee for a subscription of $15.00 USD for a month.
• 6.5% Transaction Fee on all transactions
• Processing Fees are charged when you sign up to use Etsy payment. The fee is different for each country.
• Cost of Ad: Sellers will be enrolled automatically into Etsy Offsite advertisements. Additional fees will apply when Etsy assigns a sale to an offsite Ad. Sellers who earn less than $10,000 per year may opt out.

I'm small enough that I can't save money hosting my own platform. I also get traffic [on Etsybut not on my own site. However, if I had greater popularity or sales I'd make my own websiteas well. They are continually increasing and it's no longer handmade only.

- Laura, Spinner and Designer
 The Corner of Knit & Tea

Lovecrafts

Lovecrafts is a one-stop-shop for crocheters and knitters who want to buy yarn and patterns. There are a few aspects that make it different from Etsy.

The Community Page: Participants can upload photos of their completed products. These photos are invaluable as they can inspire other knitters purchase patterns.

Imports listings directly from Ravelry There is a requirement submit additional information but this may help you save time. However, Lovecrafts does approve each listing before it posts to the site. It can take 3-5 days for your listing to be approved.

Pattern Library: Like Ravelry users, members can access a pattern library and receive regular notifications

Customer Service: Lovecrafts manages all customer support for you, including the support for patterns.

If you are an individual designer, you may have missed an beat. Support for patterns eats up your time. But, Lovecrafts acting as a constantly-on intermediary may hinder building brand loyalties. Knitters and crocheters can follow the community pages on Lovecrafts however, there's very little chance of building your list of email subscribers or guide visitors to your website.

The fees for Lovecraft are like Ravelry, and easier to use as compared to Etsy.

• The process of creating your store and list is completely free.
• Offer free patterns to attract new customers.
• A transaction fee of 4% plus $/PS/EUR0.35 for any sales
• A selling fee of 5% will be charged for monthly sales of between $40 and $1500 (USD)

Simple. But there are some disadvantages. The community pages are helpful, but there are no on-line forums. It is difficult to interact with other knitters or crocheters. Also, it's hard to establish your mailing list, or to promote a membership program.

A New Generation of Kids on the Block

After the uproar around NuRav People are seeing the opportunity to develop Ravelry alternatives. The one currently under development is Fiber.Club. However, there are a few unknowns:

• How will these websites function?
• 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 in the near future, it is unclear whether it can gain momentum and grow into a viable Ravelry alternative.

Create A Website of Your Own

The ownership of a website gives you the possibility to control the pricing, branding, marketing, as well as pattern-support. Additionally, you can through your site to develop subscription programs as well as generate other income streams.

Most of you currently have an online presence. Designers often use their sites to drive 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 customers you sell them to makes your business more flexible and capable of surviving the disruption in the event that a marketplace site shuts down, gets bought by another 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 store. Two ways to use it are able to use :

• Integrate listings onto your current site
• Create a hosted e-commerce website in just a few minutes

I've found their set up extremely easy to master. Its open-page for filling in the information is a delight. It's not necessary to worry about how my design "romance" fitting and still being able to make sense...I love how simple it is to create using my blog (with embeddedthe embedding. I want my blog to be my main hub, and having my patterns on display gives it that feel. Now that I know how to setup things, it'll be easy to do when a new pattern comes out.

Getting Started On

The process of getting started is easy as providing an email address and making a password.

Once you have set up your account, you create your first website. It is possible to choose which customers be able to pay via Paypal or Stripe. After your initial listing is live, you are able to modify your store's appearance to bring it in line to your company's branding. Select the colors of your buttons, fonts as well as a CSS.

Like Etsy and Lovecrafts, handles VAT for you. In the case of US Sales Tax will report the sales tax and include it with the purchase price. However, you are responsible for making the payments to appropriate state authorities. (Sales Taxes differ according to the state. It is recommended to consult the tax expert.)

More Ways to Sell Yourself and your work

Each e-commerce website has the ability to give your users coupon codes and sales. However, it also has a shopping cart function that could help customers buy more than one pattern such as cross-selling or upselling.

• Once a user includes a new pattern in your cart, you are able to automatically offer a discount for another pattern.
• Do you have a hat pattern with a similar glove pattern? Set up the cart to automatically recommend the other pattern.

We Are Fiber Family

Shared Passion to knit and crochet is more than just a commercial or client relationship between the makers and creators. We feel like a community. One tool that many designers employ to maintain a long-lasting connection with their crafters is to create an email list and newsletter.

With , you can opt to have a customer's email instantly added to your email list after buying your pattern. And if you are using the store's website you can follow your customers. Button can be found at the top of the web page.

I wanted to know from Kristin Jancuk how easily she was able to build her email list:

"I was happy to see the possibility of linking my newsletter to checkout and pay for my purchases, something I've always wanted at Ravelry...I believe that getting my new designs immediately in front of the eyes of those that are already interested in my work is one of the best benefits however, I also provide discount coupons to my subscribers which gives them reasons to keep coming back too.

However, there's something more to do than build your email list. Knitters and crocheters love showing the finished products to people around us. We're the top marketing team. Inspire your fans to recommend your designs to their friends through a a referral program.

Etsy, Lovecrafts, even Ravelry give you one way to earn revenue through pattern sales. Numerous designers are turning to Patreon to generate different revenue sources. It is a lot to run an account on Patreon as well as and an Etsy Store, a Ravelry page, etc. Imagine eliminating one of them through setting up your membership Program with . It is possible to have the membership program as well as an online website all at once with .

Fees

offers three membership tiers that each include all the features. Only difference is the fee for transactions.

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

If I build it, Will They Come?

Selling your products on your website has a drawback that there's no built-in customer traffic like Etsy, Ravelry, or Lovecrafts. It is your responsibility to bring knitters and crocheters to your site. I asked Sile Thiels if it is challenging to market her patterns to knitters. She told me:

Somewhat slightly, but I'm sure that I'm not anything is worse than what I was in the past when I was just selling on Ravelry. I've always relied on increasing the visibility of myself on my twitter as well as Instagram and Facebook page. The patterns I've created still show on Ravelry search results, but they take you to Ravelry for the sales.

- Sile Thiels, Independent Knit Designer
 knit Dance Repeat

If you feel it's time to build your shop, either through your site or on your own, you'll have to market your own work. But, as Sile Thiels has demonstrated you can make use of Ravelry to promote your project. But, if you decide to make use of Ravelry later on, with a mix of eCommerce websites. You can establish a reputation on and off Ravelry. Most importantly, your success won't be contingent on the success of another site's the failure of another website.

Comparison Table

Here is a quick comparison chart. The fees do not include any extra processing fees that are charged by Paypal and Stripe. All fees are in US Dollars

 It is always advisable to consult a Tax Professional

Conclusion

Recent disruptions caused by Ravelry is leading designers to think about new possibilities to online-based solutions. Crafting a website either instead of, or in conjunction with sites such as Ravelry, Etsy, and Lovecrafts allows you to develop a flexible company that can survive unexpected changes.