I belong to a lot of crafting groups and boards. I read a lot of crafting blogs and watch a lot of tutorials on Youtube. As I have mentioned before, I really value these things. There are so many crafters out there who are willing to generously give of their knowledge, time, and skills to help other people learn more about their hobbies. I would like to give a special shout out to the blogs of Mormon women. Ladies, we aren't on the same page religiously, but I love your blogs. You're awesome. Thank you.
Anyway, between all of the various boards, blogs, videos, and groups, one can find an abundance of projects and ideas for free. I could work on free projects for the rest of my life and never run out of them because there are really that many online. Even before I started working on this post, I read one over a crocheted clutch. It was there, totally for free. As long as you understood how to read the instructions, it was yours for the making.
If there is any price you have to pay for all of this free stuff, it is only in time. If you have a project in mind, it may take you a few hours (maybe even a few days) to find a free one to your liking. You may spend a lot of time searching through Google or YouTube or Ravelry to find what you need. There is a lot of stuff out there, and while narrowing your searches helps, it could still take you a while. However, if time is the only thing you are investing into this, it is still worth it.
That isn't to say there aren't patterns and projects you can buy. In fact, as many projects as there are out there for free, there are even more out there for purchase. The ones for sale usually have some characteristics to them over the free ones. They are cooler. They are more complex. They are very beautiful. Most of all, they often represent the kind of transcendent yarn craft work that most of us can only dream about.
I have absolutely no problem with people charging for their patterns. It often takes a of time, trial, and error to create a masterful pattern. Hell, the wonky hat I posted yesterday was a simple pattern, but it still took me quite a bit of time to figure it out. Some of the things that people can create with knitting needles or crochet hooks are breath-takingly beautiful. By all means, they deserve compensation for that.
It seems that not everyone sees it this way. Today on one of my crochet groups, the moderator had to call out some of the members for verbally abusing another member who sells her patterns. She had posted several shawls she'd recently made and put a link to the pattern. She wasn't charging a lot for it, really. In all honesty, it was a fair price, especially when you consider the advantage of the person who wrote the pattern being in the group, meaning you could ask her questions if need be. However, some people feel that any price is too high to pay. All patterns should be free of charge. From what the mod said, this woman came on Facebook today to over 20 messages of people bitching about what she was doing.
I'm glad the moderator called them out because it sends a message that people need to let sink in. People should be compensated for their skills. If someone works hard and creates something, and you want whatever this something is, you should compensate them for it. If someone edits your essay for you, pay them. If someone sets up your computer, pay them. If someone uses their skillsets to benefit your life, pay them. This payment doesn't always have to be money, but it should be something, even if that something is you using your skills in some way to make their lives better.
And if you do not want to pay them, just accept that you don't get to have what they are selling. Don't complain to them about how it isn't fair. Don't try to make them feel guilty. Certainly do not bully them. If you choose not to make a purchase, then don't make it. Accept the stuff out there that is free of charge and be happy with it.
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