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

 Updated: 26 April 2022

The top Ravelry alternatives for 2022 which are discussed are:

•   Etsy
•   Lovecrafts

For a long time Ravelry has been THE spot for crocheters and knitters to connect and buy. It's a singular combination of an online notebook with a database of patterns along with social media as well as a the pattern marketplace. A lot of independent crochet and knit entrepreneurs have created their own businesses by using Ravelry as their foundation.

However, change happens fast when you're on the web. Websites abruptly shut down or are purchased by bigger corporations, and then disappear from the market.

In the year 2020, Ravelry launched a new look that members named NuRav. In the following days, some members have reported that NuRav triggered headaches, vertigo, migraines as well as seizures. Some long-time users feel they can no longer access their library of patterns, or access support on patterns via the site.

NuRav isn't the only unanticipated disruption to the world of fiber. in 2017 NBC/Universal bought the well-known site Craftsy and rebranded it to Blueprint. A lot of independent designers offered their works on the Blueprint/Craftsy platform. In the summer of, out of the blue, NBC/Universal decided to shutter the website. TN Marketing bought the video library and launched Craftsy in the following year.

Because of sudden changes such as these, designers are asking whether it's smarter to build their business around an online platform like Ravelry. If you're an individual designer looking at new ways to sell your work, three options to think about are:

• Sell patterns through Ravelry along with a parallel online store
• Use Ravelry to stay in touch with forums for community members, as well as showcase your creations However, when the knitter is ready to purchase , they will be lead to another website
• Make a store on the internet and quit Ravelry altogether

Whatever route you choose, selling your patterns via another website like Ravelry website can be a great way to develop a flexible business built to survive unpredictable changes.

Tips for Independent Designers When Choosing Ravelry Alternatives

Independent designers can do much more than create beautiful knit patterns and crochet patterns. You are a marketing department and customer service rep and chief of finance. Your website needs to be efficient that allow you to focus your time developing and less time on everything else.

When looking at an Ravelry alternative, the most important concerns designers must consider are:

• What does a knitter need to know about your work exists?
• Free patterns and discounts draw in consumers. What is the easiest way to setup coupons? Do they allow BOGO or free patterns?
• Businesses require repeat business. A strong brand image is essential. Does the knitter think of you when they recommend the pattern? Or do they think of the site of a third party?
• Does the e-commerce site make it simpler to distribute the latest information to customers? Will you need to set up a website or email list in order to accomplish this?
• The independent market for Knit or Crochet patterns are an international market. Can the online store take care of VAT? US Sales Tax?
• What are the fees? How do you pay?

Opportunities for E-commerce

There are two broad categories of e-commerce sites for knit designers who are not independent crochet designers to consider:

• 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 as well as a shopping cart to sell directly to crocheters and knitters.

Marketplace E-commerce

In theory, marketplace sites attract customers to you. Crocheters and knitters visit these websites with the intention of buying. Because these marketplace websites have a huge business presence, it often handles VAT and sales tax to your benefit. This is a significant benefit.

Marketplace websites may help you entice a first time customer. However, how do you convert your customer into a loyal customer? The most common response is, "I bought it on Etsy." If your customer is ready to start their next project, will they come back to your shop or conduct another Etsy research? Building your brand in the shadow of an enormous web presence is an uphill task.

However, if foot traffic is your priority then there are two huge websites to consider: Etsy and Lovecrafts.

Etsy

Etsy is an incredibly well-known online marketplace site that makes it simple for designers, artists, and artisans to sell their creations to a wide customer base. In 2019 over 45 million people shopped on Etsy. But, not all 45 million buyers on Etsy are searching for knitting patterns or crochet patterns - or perhaps are crafters themselves.

However, having access to over 45 million customers, having sales tax take care of for you in a simple way, and the convenience to list your business is a plus. That value comes with costs. Setting up an Etsy shop is easy, but posting your designs isn't.

• Fees for listing are $0.20 (USD) per listing.
• The fee will be paid if your work sells or not.
• Listings expire after 4 months. The cost is $0.60 a year to keep one listing active.

If you do offer a pattern using the Pattern Tool, you'll notice an entirely different format:

• Trial for free for 30 days, then you'll be charged a monthly fee for a subscription of $15.00 USD per month.
• 6.5 percent Transaction Fee on all sales
• Processing Fee is charged if you choose to sign up for Etsy payment. This cost varies with the country of.
• Ad Fee: Sellers will be enrolled automatically into Etsy Offsite advertisements. You will incur additional fees when Etsy credits a sale an offsite Ad. Sellers who earn less than $10,000 in a year can opt-out.

I'm small enough that I can't save money hosting my own website. Also, I get traffic from Etsywhich I don't get have on my own website. However, if I had greater name recognition/sales volume I'd create my own websiteas well. Their fees are always growing and they're not anymore handmade.

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

Lovecrafts

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

Communities Pages: Users have the option to upload photos of their completed products. These photos are invaluable as they can inspire other knitters purchase patterns.

Imports listings directly from Ravelry: You will have to provide additional information, but this may make it easier. However, Lovecrafts does approve each listing prior to it being posted to the website. It can take 3-5 working days for your listing to be approved.

The Pattern Library is similar to Ravelry users, members can access patterns in their library. They also receive regular updates

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

If you are an individual designer, your heart might have skipped a beat. Support for patterns eats up your precious time. But, Lovecrafts acting as a constant intermediary can prevent deepening brand loyalties. The crocheters and knitters are able to follow your page's community on Lovecrafts however, there's little opportunity to build your mailing list, or direct visitors to your website.

Fees for Lovecraft are like Ravelry as well as simpler than Etsy.

• Creating your shop and listing is free.
• It is possible to offer free designs in order to draw new fans.
• A transaction fee of 4% + $/PS/EUR0.35 for any purchases
• A selling fee of 5% is applicable when you are selling monthly from $40 to $1500 (USD)

Simple. Still, there are disadvantages. Community pages can be helpful however, there aren't any forums online. It is difficult for interaction with knitters and crocheters, and it is hard to build your email list or promote an membership program.

New Kids on the Block

In the wake of the controversy surrounding NuRav People are seeing opportunities to come up with Ravelry alternatives. The one currently under development is Fiber.Club. There are however a number of in the dark:

• How do these websites work?
• What will be the cost structure?
• What will they do with the sales tax?

When Fiber.Club or another website launches it will be interesting to see if it will gain traction and develop into a viable Ravelry alternative.

Create A Website of Your Own

The ownership of a website gives you the chance to completely control prices advertising, branding, as well as pattern-support. It is also possible through your site to develop membership programs and generate additional income streams.

Most of you currently have a website. Many designers use their website to direct users to their Ravelry store for sale. What better way to turn these links into website catalog instead? Selling your patterns directly to the customers you sell them to makes your business more flexible and capable of weathering any disruption that occurs in the event that a marketplace site closes, is bought by another company, or goes out of favour.

is an e-commerce website designed for digital downloads that lets you turn your website into a store. Two ways to use it can utilize :

• Include listings on your existing website
• Set up a hosted e-commerce website in a minute

I've found their set up really easy to learn. Its open-page for filling in the information is a delight. There is no need to be concerned about my pattern "romance" to be a good fit and being able to make sense...I really like how easy it is to integrate using my blog (with embeddedthe embedding. I would like my blog to become my hub and having my designs in the right place helps to create this feeling. Since I've learned the best way to organize things, it will be much easier every time a new design comes out.

Getting Started On

Getting started with is just as easy as entering your email and creating a password.

Once you have set the account you build your first listing. It is possible to choose which customers make payments to you via Paypal as well as Stripe. When your first store has been created, you will be able to customize your store in order to bring it in line to your company's branding. Select the colors of your buttons, fonts, and even a CSS.

Like Etsy and Lovecrafts. They handle VAT for you. For US Sales Tax will report the tax on sales and add it with the purchase price. However, you are responsible for paying the tax to appropriate state authorities. (Sales Taxes differ according to the state. Consult the tax expert.)

More Ways to Sell Yourself as well as Your Work

Every online store has the possibility of offering your customers coupon codes as well as sales. It also comes with a shopping cart feature that can make customers more likely to purchase several patterns at once that includes cross-selling and upselling.

• If a person who crochets is adding a pattern to their cart, you can immediately offer a discount to a second pattern.
• Do you have a hat pattern with a similar glove pattern? Set up the cart to automatically suggest the second pattern.

We Are Fiber Family

A shared passion for knitting and crochet creates more than just a commercial or relationships between customers and designers. It's like being part of a community. One tool that many designers employ to build an enduring friendship with craftspeople is the use of newsletters and email lists.

By using this feature, you are able to have the email address of a client immediately added to your mailing list following the purchase of your pattern. If you're using to host your store, a follow Button is present at the top of the webpage.

I asked Kristin Jancuk how easily she could build her email lists:

"I am thrilled to discover that I could link my newsletter with checkout this is something that I've always wanted on Ravelry...I consider that getting my patterns directly in front of eyes who are already interested in my designs is one of the best benefits however, I also provide my subscribers the most attractive discounts which gives them an incentive to stay too.

However, there's something more to do the creation of your own email list. Crocheters and knitters love to show off our finished objects with other crafters. We're the most effective marketing team. Encourage your followers to recommend your patterns to friends with an incentive program.

Etsy, Lovecrafts, even Ravelry offer a way to earn money: pattern sales. Many designers are turning to Patreon to create new revenue streams. There is much to run an account on Patreon or an Etsy Store, a Ravelry page and so on. Imagine eliminating one of them by setting up your Membership program through . You can indeed have a the membership program as well as an online website all at once with .

Fees

Three membership levels are available with each offering all features. Only difference is the transaction fee you pay.

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

If I construct it, Will People Come?

Selling your product on your website has a drawback it is that you cannot build-in customer traffic like Etsy, Ravelry, or Lovecrafts. You will have to drive customers who knit and crochet to your website. I asked Sile Thiels if it is difficult to sell her knitting patterns to knitters, and she replied:

Somewhat slightly, but I'm sure that I'm not anything is worse than what I was before when I was only selling on Ravelry. I've always relied on increasing the visibility of myself via my twitter, Instagram, and FB page. And my patterns still come up in Ravelry search results, but they redirect to Ravelry for sales.

- Sile Thiels, Independent Knit Designer
 The Knit Dance Repeat

If you think it is time to build your shop, either through your site or on your own, you'll have to advertise your own work. But, as Sile Thiels does you can use Ravelry for marketing your business. But, if you decide to make use of Ravelry at some point in the future. using a combination of different eCommerce websites. You can create a fan base both within and outside of the Ravelry community. Most importantly, the success of your business will not be dependent on the performance of another site's the failure of another website.

Comparison Table

Below is a short table of comparison. Fees are not inclusive of extra processing fees for Paypal as well as Stripe. All fees are calculated in US Dollars.

 Always consult a Tax Professional

Conclusion

Recent issues caused by Ravelry is leading designers to think about new possibilities to online-based solutions. The creation of a website, whether as a replacement or addition to sites like Ravelry, Etsy, and Lovecrafts, allows you to create a flexible business that can survive unexpected changes.