Slightly off topic, but I think PPS might have been the first pattern I purchased from you (when you first released it), in part because I was tired of my in person knitting groups asking for copies of the patterns I was knitting. People who could easily afford the small cost were routinely angry when I explained copyright laws to them.
Oh, that's something that really does annoy me. It isn't as if there aren't 1000s of free patterns available. If someone genuinely can't afford the £5 or £6 then there are plenty of free alternatives.
I think I saw the same post as you and had the same thought as you. What I also found frustrating in that group is that no where in the group name does it mention 'patterns.' Therefore, there should be no expectation that the pattern be provided. After reading your quote, I realized that I have fallen into the pattern please post once in one of my groups. However, I primarily go on groups to look at pretty knitted items.
“even when posting a photo of a finished scarf, as women there is still a societal expectation that we should be doing so in service to others”
I was thinking about this in the context of play recently - I’ve just got into building Lego sets and was trying to remember why I stopped playing with Lego as a kid. I think at about 9-10ish I moved onto forms of play that had social use - cooking, dressmaking, knitting. Which is SO gendered!
Oh my goodness - same here. I loved Lego and would spend ages building sets with my Dad. Then we moved house, I started secondary school and I just stopped, almost overnight. It makes me so sad when I think about it now.
Totally agree with you about the arrogance of some people. I knit because I enjoy it, not for anyone else. Yes it's nice when someone comments on my finished work but it's not the reason I knit. Thanks for the download, BTW, much appreciated.
You are very welcome. I'm glad the download worked - it's the first time I've embedded a direct download link in Substack, I think.
And yes, totally with you on the comments thing - I know it happens in other spheres too but I can't help wondering if it tends to be more prevalent in female dominant spaces.
Thank you for sharing PPS. Just love your patterns. Martin from knit365 introduced me to you from his YouTube channel with last year's collab and now here I am reading Substack! Wiling away the early hours in the morning because I can't sleep, but too cozy in bed to get up, make a drink and knit or crochet on one of my many WIPs lol. Just some me time before the day starts in earnest.
That sounds so warm and cosy. I've just been reading Martyn's Instagram post about crocheting little pumpkins - so three guesses what I'm going to be doing today 🤣
🎃👍 Yes! I may have to make at least one (my patch has grown over the years) with some scrap yarn today. It's raining here in my part of the UK, so feels right to have a coffee (with pumpkin spices of course), listen to the rain outside and get one on my needles or hook. Not that I need another WIP, but it can count as an FO by the end of today...... 😂
Yummy shawl and gloves. Pattern please on the gloves?? Or did I miss it. (AND, BTW, I am so happy to find you. I am a crazy wild and relentless knitter. Look forward to what you share).
I definitely think that there is a sense of seeking approbation when I’ve posted photos of completed knitted items on FB groups and in many ways it is out of character for me to do that as I’ve always felt that I’m not confident per se and this includes crafts, hobbies etc. I make sure that I take as flattering a shot as possible! I’m never going to understand how there can be people who actually get enjoyment from being mean or harsh about other peoples’ creations and it doesn’t feel like a good fit to have that bad vibe when on a FB group discussing such lovingly made items. It must be so soul destroying to have to deal with negative comments when you have spent time creating your super designs Louise
It's so annoying when people say, 'Can you just make me one?', without any concept of the time and cost involved. Just as much as expecting you to provide all of your hard work in creating a pattern for free. I appreciate your free pattern today, but promise I will buy something from your shop soon.
I so agree with this! I am a member of 3 different knitting groups on Facebook, and often share a completed item - and have received lots of likes and complimentary comments about my work. Where I can I include details of the yarn used and the pattern number, as I know that people are going to ask - even then I still get requests for yarn details and pattern numbers ... I think people just look at the photo and don't read the accompanying text.
One person asked for details of how I had knitted an i-cord edging on a blanket - I explained I had simply watched a few videos on You Tube and worked it out from there ... she then asked for details of the videos and was not happy with my explanation that I couldn't remember which ones I had looked at (it was several months before, as it was the second blanket I had edged in this way). Another lady simply would not accept that the pattern for a top I had made did not have a pattern number (it was a free download from the site I bought the yarn from), and seemed to think I was being difficult in not giving her the pattern number!
It's so frustrating isn't it, especially as you say, when you've already given as much information as you feel able to. I do think some people have come to rely on the internet or FB groups almost as their own personal search engine. Rather than just 'asking Google' or whatever they feel quite happy to take up others valuable time, rather than spend their own.
There is a wonderful site called ‘Let Me Google That For You’. You type in the search and it provides you with a link that is a step by step guide to Googling what the person wanted. Hilarious - but you have to be prepared to get your hard hat out! 😂
People can be very entitled. If the photo doesn't have the pattern details with it then, if it is something that I would like to knit myself, I will ask where I can buy/download a copy of the pattern. I don't see this as wrong as I do not have expectations that the pattern will be given to me. To demand "Pattern (please)" is plain rude, not to mention breaking copyright laws.
I seem to have a different view on PP requests - I see them as complimentary responses to a lovely pattern or yarn or knitting! So for me, they are a positive thing!
Slightly off topic, but I think PPS might have been the first pattern I purchased from you (when you first released it), in part because I was tired of my in person knitting groups asking for copies of the patterns I was knitting. People who could easily afford the small cost were routinely angry when I explained copyright laws to them.
Oh, that's something that really does annoy me. It isn't as if there aren't 1000s of free patterns available. If someone genuinely can't afford the £5 or £6 then there are plenty of free alternatives.
I think I saw the same post as you and had the same thought as you. What I also found frustrating in that group is that no where in the group name does it mention 'patterns.' Therefore, there should be no expectation that the pattern be provided. After reading your quote, I realized that I have fallen into the pattern please post once in one of my groups. However, I primarily go on groups to look at pretty knitted items.
“even when posting a photo of a finished scarf, as women there is still a societal expectation that we should be doing so in service to others”
I was thinking about this in the context of play recently - I’ve just got into building Lego sets and was trying to remember why I stopped playing with Lego as a kid. I think at about 9-10ish I moved onto forms of play that had social use - cooking, dressmaking, knitting. Which is SO gendered!
Oh my goodness - same here. I loved Lego and would spend ages building sets with my Dad. Then we moved house, I started secondary school and I just stopped, almost overnight. It makes me so sad when I think about it now.
Totally agree with you about the arrogance of some people. I knit because I enjoy it, not for anyone else. Yes it's nice when someone comments on my finished work but it's not the reason I knit. Thanks for the download, BTW, much appreciated.
You are very welcome. I'm glad the download worked - it's the first time I've embedded a direct download link in Substack, I think.
And yes, totally with you on the comments thing - I know it happens in other spheres too but I can't help wondering if it tends to be more prevalent in female dominant spaces.
Thank you for sharing PPS. Just love your patterns. Martin from knit365 introduced me to you from his YouTube channel with last year's collab and now here I am reading Substack! Wiling away the early hours in the morning because I can't sleep, but too cozy in bed to get up, make a drink and knit or crochet on one of my many WIPs lol. Just some me time before the day starts in earnest.
That sounds so warm and cosy. I've just been reading Martyn's Instagram post about crocheting little pumpkins - so three guesses what I'm going to be doing today 🤣
🎃👍 Yes! I may have to make at least one (my patch has grown over the years) with some scrap yarn today. It's raining here in my part of the UK, so feels right to have a coffee (with pumpkin spices of course), listen to the rain outside and get one on my needles or hook. Not that I need another WIP, but it can count as an FO by the end of today...... 😂
Yummy shawl and gloves. Pattern please on the gloves?? Or did I miss it. (AND, BTW, I am so happy to find you. I am a crazy wild and relentless knitter. Look forward to what you share).
Welcome, I'm so pleased you found me here, I look forward to getting to know you better.
The gloves can be found here
https://www.louisetilbrookdesigns.net/everyday-knitter-shop/colour-block-mitts
I definitely think that there is a sense of seeking approbation when I’ve posted photos of completed knitted items on FB groups and in many ways it is out of character for me to do that as I’ve always felt that I’m not confident per se and this includes crafts, hobbies etc. I make sure that I take as flattering a shot as possible! I’m never going to understand how there can be people who actually get enjoyment from being mean or harsh about other peoples’ creations and it doesn’t feel like a good fit to have that bad vibe when on a FB group discussing such lovingly made items. It must be so soul destroying to have to deal with negative comments when you have spent time creating your super designs Louise
It's so annoying when people say, 'Can you just make me one?', without any concept of the time and cost involved. Just as much as expecting you to provide all of your hard work in creating a pattern for free. I appreciate your free pattern today, but promise I will buy something from your shop soon.
Thank you for the pattern. I too think it so rude when people demand a pattern name or yarn used.
Thank you.
I so agree with this! I am a member of 3 different knitting groups on Facebook, and often share a completed item - and have received lots of likes and complimentary comments about my work. Where I can I include details of the yarn used and the pattern number, as I know that people are going to ask - even then I still get requests for yarn details and pattern numbers ... I think people just look at the photo and don't read the accompanying text.
One person asked for details of how I had knitted an i-cord edging on a blanket - I explained I had simply watched a few videos on You Tube and worked it out from there ... she then asked for details of the videos and was not happy with my explanation that I couldn't remember which ones I had looked at (it was several months before, as it was the second blanket I had edged in this way). Another lady simply would not accept that the pattern for a top I had made did not have a pattern number (it was a free download from the site I bought the yarn from), and seemed to think I was being difficult in not giving her the pattern number!
It's so frustrating isn't it, especially as you say, when you've already given as much information as you feel able to. I do think some people have come to rely on the internet or FB groups almost as their own personal search engine. Rather than just 'asking Google' or whatever they feel quite happy to take up others valuable time, rather than spend their own.
There is a wonderful site called ‘Let Me Google That For You’. You type in the search and it provides you with a link that is a step by step guide to Googling what the person wanted. Hilarious - but you have to be prepared to get your hard hat out! 😂
Ha! That's perfect
Just looked it up - brilliant 🤣
People can be very entitled. If the photo doesn't have the pattern details with it then, if it is something that I would like to knit myself, I will ask where I can buy/download a copy of the pattern. I don't see this as wrong as I do not have expectations that the pattern will be given to me. To demand "Pattern (please)" is plain rude, not to mention breaking copyright laws.
I seem to have a different view on PP requests - I see them as complimentary responses to a lovely pattern or yarn or knitting! So for me, they are a positive thing!