RavelryReviews of ravelry.com

So many patterns, usually reasonably priced and many free. Yes, some designers are newbies and their pattern instructions reflect that, but you can see the comments of other purchasers and their knitting notes, and you can message the designer. Easy to find yarns -- except trying to get info on a 50-year-old linen thread from a company that closed 40 years ago (I wasn't surprised). The needle inventory and yarn stash is nice, and it's handy to be able to access them and see what patterns I already have when tempted at the LYS.

I love Ravelry. It is the best place I know for knitters & crocheters to browse, get tips, get inspiration, buy patterns, see how other makers have got on with using a pattern, compare yarns etc. There are tons of forums and help groups and you can be as involved (or not involved) with other users as you like. Low key, tons of resources. Absolutely brilliant. As a place to buy patterns, it is much better than Etsy. 1. Once you purchase a pattern on Rav it goes in your library. If you try to buy again you get a message saying you have already purchased, asking if you want to buy it as a gift for someone else. Etsy doesn't warn you like this. Buying patterns on Rav feels like a genuine service for users. On Etsy it is of course just a business model. 2. You can leave reviews on Ravelry, but there is no pressure to do so, also, no rewards for doing so. It is up to you. This process is much less transparent on Etsy. 3. Your account is private on Rav. Not so on Etsy. 4. I have never seen a pirated pattern on Ravelry, but they are all over Etsy (not just with crochet and knitting patterns on Etsy, but with plenty of other things too). Etsy is a big company with very bad customer service. As a buyer you cannot flag up that someone is selling something they have not created. Only the original creater can do that. I have never had to do it but I am sure that on Ravelry if there was a problem with pirated patterns the Rav team would take action to check things out. Because.... 5. Ravelry team is small and dedicated. Really interested in their members. And in yarn!

Beats Etsy, hands down. 1. Duplicate purchases aren't possible because they go in your library. If you try to purchase again, it shows already purchased. Etsy fails this one. 2. Randos can't contact/spam you. Your account truly is private. Another Etsy fail. Randos can click on your name from reviews you leave, message/spam and view your info. 3. No forced reviews; no popularity contests. Etsy fails this one, too. 4. Ravelry won't allow political stuff, regardless which party you like. not sure about Etsy. 5. Never needed to contact Ravelry customer service. Etsy fails at this. 6. Almost no pirated patterns (can't say none, since I haven't looked at all of them). Etsy is rife with them and a haven for pirated pattern sellers. Can't report; only copyright holder can contact Etsy. Update: 7. Etsy is rife with AI images (some also have actual images, but most don't) and AI created patterns. I'm slowly purchasing crochet patterns saved in my Favorites, from sellers I already know are legit. After they're gone, I won't be purchasing except for new patterns from trusted sellers. I always check Ravelry first and purchase there, if possible

I love Ravelry and always have. Finding their site was like discovering a secret garden. Thanks so much!

Ravelry is an excellent sight. I’ve been a user since the beginning- never had to pay a cent to use it and they’ve never been anything but helpful and accommodating. I absolutely recommend for anyone who likes knitting or crocheting.

The greatest resource ever for knitters (and crocheters!) I've been a member of Ravelry for many years and I use it a few times a week. To have this at our fingertips as crafters makes us extremely lucky indeed. It's an incredibly advanced database which covers pretty much every search you'd ever want to do to find patterns, designers, yarn, you name it. I love it!

Ravelry is amazing. I have found so many patterns, gotten ideas, and learned from their articles. I keep an my patterns that I get from my subscription to interweave organized there and live the search function.

Great free database of knitting and crochet patterns!