Are You Using Ravelry Yet?
Ravelry is not new to me this year, but I seem to be regularly informing new knitters about what a great website it is.
If you are a knitter/crocheter/weaver/spinner and have not signed up for a free membership do so now! Add me as a friend. My name is knitaddict.
Ravelry is like facebook for knitters. It is an online community where you keep track of your projects in your online notebook where you share pictures of your work. You can also search an online database of patterns (many are free). You can look up different yarns, or find projects recommended for a certain yarn that you already have. You can find friends by geographical region, or by common taste in knitting patterns. There are groups and forums to ask for help, or discuss just about any topic imaginable!
knitaddict's Ravelry notebook
There is a messaging function, where you can send questions and comments to people about their projects, or to designers about their patterns. I’ve found this part very useful. How many times have you wanted to ask “What did you mean by this line in your pattern”, but of course, without this forum for communication you were left to give up make something up….
There’s a store (no membership required) with so many things you could get for your favourite knitter. T-shirts, tote bags, buttons, pins, pint glasses….I bought a shirt from them last year and was very pleased with the service. Many of the items are designed by fellow “ravelers”
Image Courtesy of Ravelry.com "A Daily Dose of Fiber"
In 2008 many of us gathered together to participate in the Ravelympics, and many have already joined up for the 2010 competitions. Events are still being finalized, but stay tuned to the forums for more information. It is a lot of fun to challenge yourself to finish a certain number of projects during the span of the games
my patterns on Ravelry.com
Recently I became a “designer” on Ravelry, which lets me post my patterns, and sell them. I’ve got several free patterns available, and my Red Olympic Mittens pattern is for sale (raising money for the Penguins Can Fly swim club for disabled children). I’m enjoying the chance to share my creativity with others. So often knitters feel isolated, fighting against many stereotypes….but now we have a place where we can all find each other!
Although a great source of inspiration, it is possible to spend TOO MANY hours gazing at beautiful projects and yarns….
Consider yourself warned!
Tags: best of 2009, knitting, pattern, ravelry, ravelympics
