Ravelry Alternative: Crafting New Opportunities --

 The last update was April 26, 2022

The top Ravelry options for 2022 that are that are discussed in this article include:

•   Etsy
•   Lovecrafts

Since its inception, Ravelry is the best site for crocheters and knitters to meet and purchase patterns. It's a singular blend of an online notebook as well as a pattern database as well as social media and a the pattern marketplace. A lot of independent crochet and knit creators have established their business with 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 the year 2020, Ravelry unveiled a fresh look which members called NuRav. In the following days, some members complained that NuRav triggers headaches, vertigo, migraines, and some seizures. Many long time members feel they are no longer able to access their pattern library or access support on patterns via NuRav.

NuRav isn't the sole unexpected disruption in the world of fiber. In the year 2017 NBC/Universal acquired the well-known website Craftsy rebranding it as Blueprint. Numerous independent designers were able to sell their creations on the Blueprint/Craftsy platform. The summer of 2020 in a sudden and unexpected way, NBC/Universal decided to shutter the website. TN Marketing bought the video library and launched Craftsy later that year.

Due to unexpected changes like this, designers are asking whether it's smarter to base their businesses on one website like Ravelry. If you are an independent designer who is looking for new methods to market your work three strategies to consider are:

• Make patterns available for sale on Ravelry as well as a similar e-commerce store
• Use Ravelry to keep in touch via community forums and to showcase your work However, when the knitter is looking to buy, they are directed to a different website.
• Start a brand new store online and then leave Ravelry altogether

Regardless of which path you take, selling your patterns through an alternative Ravelry site is a chance to build a flexible business built to survive unpredictable shifts.

Ideas for Designers who are Independent and Choosing Ravelry alternatives

Independent designers are more than create beautiful patterns for crochet and knit. You are a marketing department or customer service representative, as well as chief finance officer. Your website needs to be efficient which allow you to spend longer creating and less time on other things.

When looking at a Ravelry alternative, the most important questions designers have to ask are:

• How can a knitter be aware your work exists?
• Discounts and free patterns attract customers. What is the easiest way to create coupons? Do they allow BOGO and pattern-free?
• Businesses need repeat customers. Strong branding is critical. Does the knitter think of you when they recommend your knitting pattern? Or do they think of the third Party Website?
• Does the site that you are selling on make it simpler to distribute information to your customers? Are you required to set up an email list to do this?
• The independent market for Knit and Crochet patterns is a global market. Can the online store manage VAT? US Sales Tax?
• What are the fees? How will you be paid?

Opportunities for E-commerce

There are two major categories of e-commerce sites for knit designers who are not independent crocheters:

• Marketplaces like Ravelry which let millions if not thousands of artists compete for interest from knitters as well as crocheters
• A personal website as well as a shopping cart to sell directly to knitters and crocheters.

Marketplace E-commerce

It is possible that marketplace websites will can bring buyers to your site. Crocheters and knitters visit these sites ready to buy. Since these websites have a huge business presence, it often handles VAT and sales tax on your behalf. This is a significant benefit.

Marketplace websites may help you entice a first time customer. Butcan you make your customer into a loyal follower? People often say, "I bought it on Etsy." Once your client is ready begin 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.

However, if foot traffic is your priority, there are two big websites worth considering: Etsy and Lovecrafts.

Etsy

Etsy is a well-known marketplace website and makes it easy for designers, artists, and artisans to sell their work to an eager public. Over 45 million customers bought items on Etsy. It's not like all the of the 45 million customers on Etsy are searching for knitting patterns or crochet patterns - or perhaps are crafters themselves.

However, having access to over 45 million potential customers, with sales tax taken care of, and ease to list your business is a plus. That value comes with the cost of. Setting up the Etsy shop is free, listing your patterns is not.

• Listing fees are $0.20 (USD) for each listing.
• You pay this fee if your work sells or not.
• Listings are canceled every 4 months. It costs $0.60 a year to keep your list in good standing.

If you decide to offer a pattern using the Pattern tool, it has an entirely different format:

• A free trial period of 30 days. After that, you'll pay a monthly fee for a subscription of $15.00 USD for a month.
• 6.5 Percent Transaction Fee for all transactions
• Processing Fee applies if you sign up to use Etsy payment. This fee varies by country.
• Ad Fee: Sellers will be enrolled immediately in Etsy offsite ads. There will be additional charges in the event that Etsy attributes a sale to an offsite Ad. Sellers earning less than $10,000 in a year can opt-out.

I'm small enough that I don't have the resources to host my own site. I also get traffic [on Etsybut not have on my own website. If I had better name recognition/sales volume I'd create my own site]. The costs are constantly increasing and it's not anymore handmade.

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

Lovecrafts

Lovecrafts is one stop shop for crocheters and knitters to buy yarn and patterns. There are several characteristics that distinguish it from Etsy.

Communities Pages: Users have the option to post photos of their finished products. They are extremely helpful in inspiring other knitters to buy a pattern.

Imports Listings Directly from Ravelry: You will have submit additional information however, this could be a time saver. However, Lovecrafts does approve each listing before it posts to the website. It can take 3-5 business days for your listing to be approved.

The Pattern Library is similar to Ravelry, members have a pattern library and receive regular notifications

Customer Service Lovecrafts provides all customer service to you, which includes the support for patterns.

If you are an individual designer, your heart might have skipped an beat. Support for patterns eats up your time. However, Lovecrafts acting as a constant intermediary can prevent deepening brand loyalties. Crocheters and knitters can visit your page's community on Lovecrafts, but there is very little chance of building your mailing list, or direct customers to your website.

Fees for Lovecraft are similar to Ravelry but is more straight forward than Etsy.

• Making your own shop or list is completely free.
• Offer free patterns to attract new customers.
• Transaction Fee of 4% and $/PS/EUR0.35 for all purchases
• A selling fee of 5% is applicable for monthly sales of between $40 and $1500 (USD)

Simple. But there are some disadvantages. There are community forums that can be useful however, there aren't any on-line forums. There is little opportunity to connect with fellow knitters and crocheters, and it is hard to build your mailing list, or to promote a membership program.

New Kids on the Block

In the wake of the controversy surrounding NuRav the community is seeing an opportunity to create Ravelry alternatives. The one currently under development is Fiber.Club. But, there are several unknowns:

• What is the function of these sites?
• What is the fee arrangement?
• What is the best way to handle the sales tax?

When Fiber.Club or a different website is launched it will be interesting to see whether it can gain momentum and become an effective Ravelry alternative.

You can create a website of your Own

The ownership of a website gives you the chance to completely control prices and branding, marketing and even pattern support. Additionally, you can through your site to develop membership-based programs that generate revenue streams.

Most of you currently have an online presence. Many designers use their website for directing designers to their Ravelry stores for sale. Why not turn those links into your website listing instead? Offering your designs directly to customers makes your company more adaptable and capable of weathering the disruption whenever a website that sells products closes, is bought outor is thrown out of favor.

This is an online shop specifically designed to sell digital downloads. It lets you turn your website into a retail store. Two ways to use it could use it :

• Embed listings into your current website
• Set up a hosted e-commerce website in a minute

I've found their setup extremely easy to master. The page that allows you to fill in information is a delight. It's not necessary to worry about how my design "romance" to be a good fit and creating sense...I really like how easy it is to integrate by integrating my blog into my site [with embedding]. I would like my blog to be my main hub, and having my pattern right there helps create the feeling. Once I've learned how to organize things, it will be much easier every time a new design comes out.

Getting Started On

To get started, it's just as easy as entering your email and creating a password.

After you've set your account, you can create your first website. It is possible to choose which customers pay you through Paypal or Stripe. Once your first listing has been created, you will be able to customize your store in order to align it with your brand. Pick the color of your button, fonts as well as a CSS.

Like Etsy and Lovecrafts. They handle VAT for you. In the case of US Sales Tax will report the sales tax and include it with the purchase price. You are still responsible for remitting the taxes to the appropriate state agencies. (Sales Taxes vary according to the state. Please consult with a tax professional.)

Other Ways to Sell Yourself as well as Your Work

Each e-commerce website has the possibility of offering your users coupon codes and sales. But, has an added shopping cart option that will help customers buy multiple patterns: cross-selling or upselling.

• If a person who crochets is adding a pattern to your cart, you are able to automatically offer a discount for another pattern.
• Do you have a hat pattern with an identical glove design? Create the cart so that it will automatically suggest the second pattern.

We Are Fiber Family

Sharing a passion to knit and crochet is more than just a commercial or relationships between customers and designers. It's like being part of a community. A tool many designers use to establish a lasting connection with their crafters is to create the use of newsletters and email lists.

By using this feature, you are able to have your customer's email directly added to your mailing list when they purchase your design. If you're using for hosting your shop, a follow Button is located at the top of the webpage.

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

"I was thrilled to find the possibility of linking my newsletter to checkout this is something that I've always wanted at Ravelry...I believe that getting my new designs directly in front of eyes that are already interested in my work is the most important thing and I offer discount coupons to my subscribers and give them a reason to stick around and stay.

However, there's more you can do through than build your email list. We crocheters and knitters are awed by showing their finished items to others. We are the best marketing team. Encourage your followers to recommend your products to others through a referral program.

Etsy, Lovecrafts, even Ravelry provide a method to make money through pattern sales. A lot of designers are using Patreon to create fresh revenue streams. There is much to handle an account on Patreon or and an Etsy Store, a Ravelry page, etc. Imagine getting rid of one with the help of establishing your Membership program with . Yes, you can have an e-commerce and membership site all in one with .

Fees

Three membership levels are available, and each one includes all features. There is only one difference: the fee for transactions.

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

If I construct it, will they come?

Selling your products on your website has a drawback: there is no built-in customers' traffic such as Etsy, Ravelry, or Lovecrafts. You will have to drive people who crochet and knit to your site. I asked Sile Thiels if it is difficult to sell her knitting patterns to knitters. She told me:

Somewhat however, I'm not sure I'm anything is worse than what I was in the past when I was just selling my work on Ravelry. I've always relied on boosting myself through my Twitter as well as Instagram and Facebook page. The patterns I've created still show up in Ravelry searches, they just redirect to 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 you will have to promote your own work. However, as Sile Thiels suggests you can make use of Ravelry for marketing your business. However, you may choose to make use of Ravelry at some point in the future. using a combination of different online stores, and you'll be able to create a fan base inside and outside of Ravelry. Most importantly, your success will not depend on another website's success or failure.

Comparison Table

Below is a brief table of comparison. The fees do not include any additional processing fees that are charged by Paypal as well as Stripe. Fees are expressed in US dollars.

 It is always advisable to consult the Tax Professional

Conclusion

Recent disruptions caused by Ravelry has led designers to consider new alternatives for e-commerce solutions. Making a site, either instead of, or in conjunction with sites such as Ravelry, Etsy, and Lovecrafts, allows you to create a flexible business that is able to withstand sudden changes.