Ravelry

I have been a member of this website since it was in beta testing in 2008. This has always been a wonderful resource for knitting patterns and a great place to curate your yarn and pattern collection, discover pattern designers and also socialize with other knitters through their group function. Although I haven't been active in groups on the site as much in the past few years, the ones I was a part of were enjoyable. The site administrators do care about their members and do their best to make everyone feel welcome and safe. Unfortunately, with a site with 8.5 million members it can get ugly at times and I can't imagine it is an easy job. If you love to knit/crochet and want a respectful, inclusive and supportive community, this is a great site to join. Or, if you are like me and just like to use it to find cool new patterns and avoid the drama, it's good for that too!

I've been a member of Ravelry for a decade or so now, and I have not lost my love for it in the least. It is simply THE site for knit/crochet.

It is the most complete resource available, from patterns to yarns to forums to how to's and more. I love that I can look up a pattern I plan to make, and see the different ways other people have created it. Sometimes they have made and shared their modifications - so I may find instructions to change it to a shawl collar, or add pockets, or who knows. That alone is fantastic.

But I can also look at the yarn database and see what might be a good investment for my dream sweater. Or I can ask in the forums for some help to get started with these short rows that were confusing me. Or maybe I will participate in a knit-a-long of a pattern, so we can all help each other or be stuck together.

And the price of all this? Blissfully free. The haters must be stirring up s*** to think anything but positive thoughts because this site is amazing.

Ravelry provides amazing resources for fibre-arts devotees in the form of patterns, forums, social networking, and tons of information in an incredibly easy to use format. It's fabulous! But not only that, Ravelry is one of the few organizations taking a stand against hate speech, and making a real effort to be inclusive and welcoming to all marginalized groups. I have met incredible people here who are now my friends; I have improved my knowledge of and skill in knitting; I have learned to spin and dye fibre; and I have before me an example of people taking a stand for their beliefs.

I've been a member of Ravelry for a number of years and previously thought it an excellent site. That opinion has changed drastically in recent months. A member is creating "projects" to attack other members, quite viciously in fact. Ravelry won't even respond to the complaints, let alone do anything about it. Several people have deleted their accounts after being attacked by this member. Their "community standards" are a complete joke, as the attacks continue, day after day. If you enjoy being bullied, this is a good site. Be prepared to have your knitting criticized, your profession, your looks and your body!

Website is run by a person who censors all speech, thought or ideas other than his own. He allows Trademark and Copyright infringement He holds data of every account including those of any and all designers once they close their accounts. What you think is yours, isn't. It now belongs to the website owner. He has falsified accounts to make it look like there is over 8 million when there really isn't. He's scammed his followers out of donation money. Ravelry isn't what the owner claims it is. Don't open an account. All patterns you can find elsewhere on the internet. You can find the designers directly on their own websites.

People waste their time on making some stupid $#*! Website is unusable and constantly crashing. Making an account takes way to long and the whole thing is just a shambles.

Being a member of this site for years, it provided me with the opportunity to buy and store my patterns and browse the many patterns by designers, some good, some not so good, but there for people to choose. The Forbes, who own this site, have let their political views and now recent guidelines, ruin a good thing. They encourage bullying and name calling of people who they think deserve this treatment because of opposing political views. The Forbes don't know any of these affected people personally, they know nothing about them. Sadly, designers, not all, have followed suit. So if you support this group and their unprofessional attitude, you are a bully too. If you can think for yourself and leave, like so many others who are standing up against this, you will be in the company of true patriots of this country.