Pattern Purchasing Dilemma

When I first ran across Delancey, I was really excited to make it. I went and ordered grey yarn with some black yarn to be the accent color. I was going to replace my beat up pilly old grey cardigan that I’ve been wearing for years.

While waiting for my yarn to come in the mail, I found this. That really pissed me off. The pattern page on Ravelry has the pattern for sale for twice as much and there is no mention that it is available on Knit Picks. The yarn used in the pattern isn’t even linked to Knit Picks Capra’s yarn page on Ravelry. I went to the designer’s website because I was curious what price the pattern was o there and whether or not it mentions that the pattern is available on Knit Picks for half the price. The designer’s website doesn’t even identify the yarn as being Knit Picks yarn! The combination of factors makes me feel like the designer is intentionally trying to trick their customers and that pisses me off. I realize that Ravelry has perks to download from (being able to access the pattern online all the time) and that there are a service charges for each sale from Rav and PayPal that might justify the increased price, but the way it appears that the designer tried to hide the availability of the pattern on Knit Picks for a lower price makes me feel like they’re not just trying to give their customers more purchasing options and is making up for those extra costs. I should probably note that there legally is nothing wrong with what the designer did. The Knit Picks IDP contract allows for it. I just find it kind of insulting.

Now I don’t know what to do. I’m annoyed about the way the designer presented things, but I sort of still want to knit the sweater. I can’t think of anything else to do with this yarn that wouldn’t take a lot of math on my part and I wanted this to be a math free project. The designer being a jerk doesn’t make the pattern any less rad, but I also don’t like giving money to people who try to trick me. What would you do? Buy the pattern or just stash the yarn until inspiration strikes?

In other news, the reason why this post contains no pictures of lovely yarn and that I haven’t updated more recently is that my laptop was sent in for repairs. I’m using my sister’s craptop. It sucks. Hopefully my laptop will be back soon and regular content will resume.

ETA: I took Vivianne’s advice and sent the designer a message. She told me that the yarn wasn’t named because she self published the pattern on Ravelry and her website before Knit Picks’ release of the pattern and the new yarn line the pattern uses. She said the difference in price is because that is what she feels the pattern is worth which leaves me wondering why she published through Knit Picks in the first place. I’m still feeling iffy about the whole thing.


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22 responses to “Pattern Purchasing Dilemma”

  1. I am right there with you on this issue. The designer should have stated the Knit Picks option on her page. I am a Knit Picks designer and my IDP patterns are ONLY available through Knit Picks for the $1.99. I don’t even offer the patterns as a separate Ravelry downloads. It is kind of cheating, in my opinion, and I would be pissed off too.

    The cardigan is really cute and I guess, I would probably still knit it, but download the thing for $1.99 from Knit Picks, rather than from her Rav page. Just my two cents. 🙂

  2. I would PM her and ask her about it. Just for curiosity’s sake.

    1. You know, that didn’t even occur to me. I think I will ask about it if I can figure out a tactful way to do it.

  3. Oh man. That just ain’t right. I really like the look of that cardigan too. If I do make it, I’ll download it from Knit Picks. But damn. I’d like to know why the designer is choosing to do this.

  4. Oh man. That just ain’t right. I really like the look of that cardigan too. If I do make it, I’ll download it from Knit Picks. But damn. I’d like to know why the designer is choosing to do this.

  5. I would probably feel just like you’re feeling right now. I think it’s better to be upfront if your patterns are offered cheaper elsewhere. If you’re not going to come right out and post that on the pattern page in Rav, then if a customer finds it cheaper after already purchasing it for double the price, they’re going to feel ripped off.

    Have you already purchased the pattern? If not, I would probably still knit it but get the pattern of KP.

    Good luck!

  6. I would probably feel just like you’re feeling right now. I think it’s better to be upfront if your patterns are offered cheaper elsewhere. If you’re not going to come right out and post that on the pattern page in Rav, then if a customer finds it cheaper after already purchasing it for double the price, they’re going to feel ripped off.

    Have you already purchased the pattern? If not, I would probably still knit it but get the pattern of KP.

    Good luck!

  7. Danielle Hare

    Are you kidding me?! You have wasted more negative time and energy on this post than the $2 you claim was a loss to you. Get a grip…seriously! If you know anything about the commercial “world”, then you would clearly understand that there is always additional cost involved when you are dealing with a third party. Hence, the loss of $2 in your case. There doesn’t appear to be any “trickery” after reading the links you posted above….it’s just that pattern is available through other venues (as most items in the world). I honestly don’t think someone that is passionate about yarn and pattern-making is intentionally playing you. You seem to have other issues if you are bent in a wad over $2. I understand money is money but people will spend precious time bidding on things that are .99 cheaper. What they don’t realize is they probably lost more money on shipping or hours of productivity for .99. Sounds like you fall into this category. You might want to find another hobby. As always, smile and be happy.

    1. Actually, I do know about the world of selling patterns because I use both venues that this designer is using. I am aware of the additional costs which is partially why I am annoyed. If the designer had acknowledged that the pattern was available for a lower price off Ravelry, I probably would have bought it on Ravelry for the higher price because buying on Ravelry gives me constant online access to the pattern that buying on Knit Picks doesn’t. I’m not upset over two dollars. I’m bothered by the apparent deception.

  8. Danielle Hare

    Are you kidding me?! You have wasted more negative time and energy on this post than the $2 you claim was a loss to you. Get a grip…seriously! If you know anything about the commercial “world”, then you would clearly understand that there is always additional cost involved when you are dealing with a third party. Hence, the loss of $2 in your case. There doesn’t appear to be any “trickery” after reading the links you posted above….it’s just that pattern is available through other venues (as most items in the world). I honestly don’t think someone that is passionate about yarn and pattern-making is intentionally playing you. You seem to have other issues if you are bent in a wad over $2. I understand money is money but people will spend precious time bidding on things that are .99 cheaper. What they don’t realize is they probably lost more money on shipping or hours of productivity for .99. Sounds like you fall into this category. You might want to find another hobby. As always, smile and be happy.

  9. Oh, that is so frustrating. Especially because that’s a really cute cardigan. I second the PMing. Might as well – just see what she says!

  10. I’ve noticed another designer with several designs at KnitPicks selling them for more (anywhere from ~$3 to $6) on Ravelry with no mention of the availability on KP. I thought it was sleazy and greedy. I can see the designer’s point that $4 was what she thought the pattern was worth, but I agree with you, then she shouldn’t have agreed to publish the design on KP.

  11. I’ve noticed another designer with several designs at KnitPicks selling them for more (anywhere from ~$3 to $6) on Ravelry with no mention of the availability on KP. I thought it was sleazy and greedy. I can see the designer’s point that $4 was what she thought the pattern was worth, but I agree with you, then she shouldn’t have agreed to publish the design on KP.

  12. This is tricky. I think that if you are a designer and you make a deal with Knitpicks knowing they will sell your pattern for a certain price, you have to bite the bullet and match that price everywhere the pattern is for sale. If you think your pattern is worth more than $1.99, you shouldn’t sell it though Knitpicks. I don’t think here non-disclosure on Ravelry is trickery, just a really bad business move!

  13. This is tricky. I think that if you are a designer and you make a deal with Knitpicks knowing they will sell your pattern for a certain price, you have to bite the bullet and match that price everywhere the pattern is for sale. If you think your pattern is worth more than $1.99, you shouldn’t sell it though Knitpicks. I don’t think here non-disclosure on Ravelry is trickery, just a really bad business move!

  14. UGH! I’d do the same thing as you, it just doesn’t seem right! They should at least state their reasoning’s publicly, I’d feel alot better about it then. I’d say if you believe what she is telling you buy it from the knitpicks site since it’s the cheapest and start knitting. It’s very likely a simple issue and she’s not trying to screw you over.

    And by the way I love your new blog layout!

  15. This is exactly why I would never submit a sweater pattern or other complicated/involved pattern to the idp. It savagely devalues knitting patterns in a way that could undercut everyone’s hard work. Small things like hat & accessories, yet, but never the “big stuff”.

  16. This is exactly why I would never submit a sweater pattern or other complicated/involved pattern to the idp. It savagely devalues knitting patterns in a way that could undercut everyone’s hard work. Small things like hat & accessories, yet, but never the “big stuff”.

  17. […] finally made a decision about the pattern from my last post. I decided that my iffy feelings about how the pattern was priced might taint the project and I was […]

  18. […] finally made a decision about the pattern from my last post. I decided that my iffy feelings about how the pattern was priced might taint the project and I was […]

  19. Christine

    I am so glad that I am not the only one bothered by this. I recently purchased a pattern for $5, to later find out it’s for sale on KP for $1.99 plus an extra pattern added to the package. Then the NEXT DAY the designer put the pattern on Ravelry on sale at $2.50. UGH.

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