Y U No Pay? Or, Designer Wank
So. I've been doing a little series on here called You're Really Selling This Shit? for awhile now (new ones coming soon!)
I got my first loving comment from a "designer"!
In reply to this post, they said:
Indeed.
If you would have read the post that introduced the series, you would have understood that I am not against paid patterns, or designers getting compensated for their work.
I don't usually quote myself, but in this case it's necessary:
The bold was added in the quote for posterity's sake.
Again, one of the reasons I decided to start this series was to prevent people from buying patterns that can be easily reverse engineered or don;t require extensive instructions. I don't think your design was innovative enough to warrant a $5 charge, my dear. It did catch my eye, as I did admit in the post, but not enough for me (or anyone else I can alert) to pay $5. You tout the pattern as a great beginner colorwork pattern, and that much is true. BUT, being a novice of colorwork, I can make a hat that looks like that without referring to instructions...and I am sure a lot of people can too. Or they can follow the suggestions I left to get on the road to doing so. Either way... no, you don't deserve the money.
Thanks for letting me know it wasn't corrugated ribbing... on closer inspection, it's just alternating 2x2 stockinette with the two colorways. I will be sure to add that as a note :)
I got my first loving comment from a "designer"!
In reply to this post, they said:
Indeed.
If you would have read the post that introduced the series, you would have understood that I am not against paid patterns, or designers getting compensated for their work.
I don't usually quote myself, but in this case it's necessary:
I will say this before I start: I understand I am gonna piss a lot of people off with this. My aim in doing this is to let y'all know that there are people who will not stand for being charged for something that can be easily reverse engineered. I am not saying designers shouldn't be compensated for their hard work. Quite the contrary, actually. There are many designs (i.e sweaters, lace, and colorwork) that have to be extensively tested, charted, etc.-----I don't mind paying for these things. As a matter of fact, I am proud to support these amazing designers and am happy they decided to share these things with us at reasonable cost.
The bold was added in the quote for posterity's sake.
Again, one of the reasons I decided to start this series was to prevent people from buying patterns that can be easily reverse engineered or don;t require extensive instructions. I don't think your design was innovative enough to warrant a $5 charge, my dear. It did catch my eye, as I did admit in the post, but not enough for me (or anyone else I can alert) to pay $5. You tout the pattern as a great beginner colorwork pattern, and that much is true. BUT, being a novice of colorwork, I can make a hat that looks like that without referring to instructions...and I am sure a lot of people can too. Or they can follow the suggestions I left to get on the road to doing so. Either way... no, you don't deserve the money.
Thanks for letting me know it wasn't corrugated ribbing... on closer inspection, it's just alternating 2x2 stockinette with the two colorways. I will be sure to add that as a note :)
Instead of responding with reasons why their "pay for" pattern might be unique: it has more detailed instructions, a better chart, extra tips, a better written pattern, the reply just indicates bitterness that someone would dare question why a designer would charge? Really?
ReplyDeletePersonally, I love this segment. It really helps knitting newbies open their eyes to seeking out the plethora of free patterns out there. As a intermediate knitter and Raverly Master, I've learned through trial and error that there are many "pay for patterns" out there that really shouldn't cost a dime. You're not telling people to shun patterns that cost, you're simply educating those who might be unaware.
On the other hand, there have been times when I've purchased a pattern based on the FO picture, comments, etc. when there was a similar free pattern, especially if I don't like how the free pattern is written.
"My aim in doing this is to let y'all know that there are people who will not stand for being charged for something that can be easily reverse engineered."
ReplyDeleteIf the designs are too simple to be worth needing a pattern for, why do you offer free alternatives? Your intent might have been to show that simple designs are easy to reverse engineer, but adding the free alternatives just makes it seem like you just don't want to pay for any patterns. Other wise you wouldn't even need to mention the free patterns.
Are you saying you're going to create patterns for designs that are so simple they don't need patterns? It seems just...mean...to do this. Why not just link to the many tens of thousands of free patterns that are already available?
ReplyDelete