Launched by husband and wife team Casey and Jessica Forbes in May 2007, Ravelry.com has quickly become one of the most popular online social networking sites for crafters. According to Jess and Casey, "Ravelry is a place for knitters, crocheters, designers, spinners, weavers and dyers to keep track of their yarn, tools, project and pattern information, and look to others for ideas and inspiration."
In November 2010, Ravelry's audience reached one million members worldwide. More than half of those members live in the United States, with groups representing nearly 100 other countries from Antarctica to Wales.
The site is free to join, and all content is user-generated, resulting in a beautiful hodge-podge of creative expression representing all types of fiber arts. The site is supported by carefully targeted ads which are so tastefully done that they don't look like paid advertising.
Customizing Ravelry
Notebook. Each user is provided with a virtual "notebook," a place to collect and record information on projects they are working on – known as WIPs (Works in Progress), yarns in their stash, future projects on their wish list (called a queue), favorites, friends, and groups. Users can upload pictures, track progress on a project, link to a project pattern or the yarns used, and record notes about the project.
This feature offers an elegantly simple way for crafters to chronicle their progress, keep a record of what they've created, and share their work with others.
A personal favorite feature of the My Notebook feature is the Queue. Most active crafters know that there are always so many projects and so little time. The queue feature allows users to create a list of future projects including a picture, link to the pattern, yarn type, yardage and needle(s) recommended, and links to the sites of other users who've already used the same pattern. The project list can be prioritized, and the order can be changed each time a new item is added to a user's wish list.
Unlike traditional pattern sources, this interactive feature also allows users to see what others have done. It's often amazing to see how different an item can look when a different type of yarn is used, or when someone else introduces a slightly different twist to the pattern.
Using Ravelry as a Resource
Pattern Search. Users can search for patterns by type of craft, designer name, type of item, free or for a fee, amount of yarn needed, fiber type or weight, pattern source, level of difficulty, and much more. Given the international audience at Ravelry, users can even search for patterns by language. Another wonderful benefit of the Ravelry community is that users typically report errors in patterns or clarify confusing patterns by including pattern notes that are visible to others searching for a pattern.
Yarn Search. Interested in learning more about a specific yarn? At Ravelry, users can search for specific yarns by brand, weight, gauge, or recommended needle size. Click on a specific yarn to see colorways, yardage, fiber content, gauge, whether it's machine washable, and user reviews.
People. Ravelry is about so much more than yarn and patterns. It's a true social network composed of real people from around the world who share common interests, not only in crafts, but many other things as well. Users can search the Ravelry member database by username, website, or geographic location, including identifying members by distance from their location. Users can even connect with other members who share the same birthday.
Groups. Ravelry has thousands of groups dedicated to a broad range of topics. Users can connect with groups based on common interests (such as knitting, crocheting, spinning or weaving), distance from where they live, country of origin, or language spoken. The interactive search feature also allows users to enter specific keywords. Groups exist for knitters going through a break-up, crafters looking for work, military moms, and crafters who share various political perspectives.
If you're an avid knitter, crocheter, weaver or spinner and you haven't already done so, be sure to visit Ravelry.com. You'll be glad you did.
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