Ravelry’s 2014 Indie Designer Gift-A-Long!

It’s a chance to save some $$ on your favorite gift patterns, participate in knit/crochet-a-longs, share photos of your finished projects, see what others are making, win prizes and HAVE FUN! In other words, it’s a multi-designer promotion to help you kick your holiday gift-making into high gear!

From November 13, 8pm EST through November 21, 11:59pm EST 293 indie designers will be discounting between 4 – 20 of their patterns 25% off for this event with coupon code “giftalong2014” (Ravelry only). Click here for a list of participating designers.

Once you’ve got your Gift-A-Long patterns, please join a relevant KAL/CAL (this is optional, but who doesn't want prizes?). For instance, if it is a shawl, please join the shawl KAL/CAL. KAL/CAL participants are eligible for lots of lovely prizes (check out the Prizes thread for details) and digital prizes (1,866) but you gotta post to win!

Almost 300 independent designers from Ravelry have banded together to offer their best gift patterns at a discount of 25% off (you gotta use the coupon code “giftalong2014” to get the discount) from now through Nov. 21, EST. In addition, all patterns by participating designers are eligible for the KAL/CALs. All self-published, paid for designs are eligible to win prizes. Last, designers will be monitoring the various KAL/CAL to see if there are any questions. And did I mention there will be prizes, lot’s of prizes-almost 2,000-with lots of chances to win. KAL/CALs will run until December 31st, plenty of time to knock out all your holiday knitting and crocheting.

Since I am one of designer that join this Gift-A-Long, I am also offering 25% discount on these patterns. So, if you like them, and haven't got them, this is your chance to get it in lower price. Remember, you have use the coupon code “giftalong2014” to get the 25% off. I can’t wait to see all your finished items!

New Group in Ravelry

After more than 6 months thinking about it, finally I braved myself to create my own group in Ravelry. Several people suggested to me 6 months ago, but I am too afraid to do it. First of all, I am afraid that nobody will join in. Second, I am afraid that I won't be able to maintain the group, and it will die like many groups that I know of.

However, 3 days ago, I don't know what came into me. Suddenly, I found myself open my own group in Ravelry. As today I got more than 700 members, so I guess my fear has no ground. Now, the only task is how to maintain the group in order not to die fast. I have several ideas in mind, something like crochet/knit along, mystery crochet/knit along, etc.

If you like my designs and a member of Ravelry, why don't you come and join me here.

Cassandra as A Featured Pattern in Ravelry

Oh look, my Cassandra shawl pattern was picked as a featured pattern in Ravelry. As the result she was rank 5 of "The most active recently published designs" category in Ravelry (see the circle). No 1 - 4 are free patterns. So, it's quite an accomplishment as a paid pattern to be able to sit in no 5.



Actually this is the second time my pattern was selected as featured pattern. The first time was 2 year ago, they picked my Dahlia Top Pattern.

My Dahlia as Featured Pattern in Ravelry

In the beginning of this month I got an email from Mary-Heather from Ravelry. Here is what she wrote:

Hi there Lily!
I hope you are well!
Jess and I wanted to write to you because we wanted to feature your beautiful Dahlia Top pattern as the September “Jess’ and MH's Pick,” featured pattern, if you are interested.

This is a free promotional spot that Ravelry uses to highlight indie designers who are distributing patterns on Ravelry, and it appears on the main patterns page when you click on the "crochet" filter or when "knitting + crochet" (the default setting) is selected. The pattern will appear for all of September, not a half-month like the paid Featured Ads.

If you are interested, we will create the image for you using your pretty photo, and put the ad in for you and everything. We think Ravelry users will love the pattern and hope that you would like to highlight it in this spot!

Please let us know what you think! :)

Best regards,

Mary-Heather

And you know what my response was right? Of course I said YES! I AM INTERESTED. As the result you can see the my Dahlia pattern feature in the crochet pattern section.

Ravelry

Oh look! There is new group in Ravelry that is using my sketch of Dahlia Top and also my photo as their banner. The group called Designers and Crafters Working Together.

I am very flattered. When they asked permission to use my sketch and photo, I thought they also used others as well, I didn't know that they only used mine.



Starting middle this month, I also tried to put my ad in Ravelry. Since the rate is very cheap, I think I should try it. I had no experienced putting an ad, thus this was something new. At first I linked it to my Etsy Shop, however, in the end I decided to link it here so I could check whether the Ad resulted to sales or not.