First Off -
The winner of the Knitgrrl Guide To Professional Knitwear Design is [drumroll]
Janice in GA – chosen entirely at random!
So Janice, contact me with your address (if you’re on Twitter, dm me @modeknit) and I’ll have the book out to you very soon! Thank you to EVERYONE who left a comment!
RUFFLED FEATHERS SCARF?
Would you swear at someone over this scarf?
I’ve been offering a scarf as a free pattern for several years now, the key to obtaining it being that you have to walk into your local yarn shop and ASK for it.
Why did I do it? Because yarn shop owners – like many folks in this economy – can use a bit of help. It’s SO easy to buy all your yarn online and never visit your local shop.
I, myself, love the availability of yarn online, and think it’s wonderful that we have so many options. But I also love the yarn shops, the sense of community, the technical and emotional support a knitter can receive from helpful folks there.
So I thought that by offering a unique pattern that folks would want to have, I might help knitters find their way to a local yarn shop. At this point almost 450 yarn shops have requested the scarf. The list on my website desperately needs to be updated, I know, but that’s become one of the lower priority things to do as I try to get the ‘mortgage work’ done.
Since offering the pattern, most of the response has been very good. Most yarn shops are happy to have this ‘only at brick and mortar shops’ pattern, and most knitters who write for the pattern have been understanding when I respond to them thus:
Dear Knitter
I would LOVE to send the Ruffled Roses Pattern to you, but I’ve promised myself (and US Shop Owners) that I would ONLY send it to yarn shops. I’m doing it to raise awareness that we, as knitters, have to visit our local yarn
shop every now and then to keep them in business.
I love to buy off the internet as much as the next person, but I also make it a point that no matter WHAT yarn shop I visit, I buy at least one small thing. My case is different, obviously I earn my living from yarn shops, but I feel that as knitters – we ALL benefit from having a local resource to stop into for advice or to physically connect with other knitters and FEEL new yarns.
So if you have a yarn shop near you, let me know their name and I’ll see if I’ve sent them the pattern. You can contact them yourself and ask them to ask me for the pattern, then when you go in they’ll GIVE it to you for free!
I’m sorry that it’s a round-about process, but I was hoping that a free pattern for an unusual scarf would be a good inducement for folks to seek out their local yarn shop!
Thanks so much for writing!
Of course, every now and then someone writes very angry that I won’t send them the scarf; they say the live too far from a yarn shop, or that it’s too much trouble, but mostly they just write and swear at me.
I love knitters, but when you put yourself between some knitters and a pattern they want, watch out!
When folks write from other countries (and I can verify this) or if they’re handicapped, I will send them the pattern, but only after they’ve promised not to copy it, post it online or email it to anyone.
As you guys know, I’ve been nutsy busy trying to get the last 5 videos up and voiced and edited for my online classes. I answer email, but sometimes I’m not as quick as I should be (I get over a hundred non-spam emails a day with questions, comments, and business related stuff)
I received an email last week that I set aside, knowing I’d answer it when life got calmer.
Hello….My name is Barbara. I am a knitter and knit every Monday morning
at cafe 210 and every Tuesday nights at Bev’s Fabric and Thursday nights at Borders with groups of knitters.
My friend sent me the web with the picture of your beautiful Ruffled Rose Scarf. Its such a beautiful pattern.
I wonder if you can send me the pattern using my email, fortunately, I am a
better knitter than I am at opening files, pdf, etc. I hope that you will have time to do this.A little about our group….I am deaf and I was hestiate of joining this group about 2 years ago. It was either
staying at home knitting alone or taking a chance of how the groups would accept a deaf member. Well, I can say these groups of women and one young man (he is the top knitter) have been kind to me.
Thank you for the pattern!!! Barbara
(If you do have time can you type: Ruffled Rose Scarf in the subject box, so I know its you.)
Thank you!
Barbara C–
To be honest, it was one of the cases where I was going to send her the pattern, but it seemed clear from the email she may not have been entirely clear on the ‘free to yarn shops’ scenario.
I figured I’d write her a nice email sometime this week, making it clear that it wasn’t a pass-around pattern. I wanted to find a way to tell her that I wanted folks who were not disabled to visit to their local independent yarn shop for the pattern.
So I hadn’t replied to her yet as she had just written 5 days ago.
I received this today
oh me gosh!!!!!!
one look at that scarf picture, I copied it out in 30 minutes….easy to knit. Now I will put it on my list of 800 knitters and send them all a copy.
So there is your BIG DEAL of making your pattern just like any other pattern.
What the hell is so special about that scarf. So here is one up “yours”!
JESUS CHRIST…just another pattern.
Okay, folks, what is up with this?
I’m glad she can figure the pattern – bless her heart – that’s fabulous! So go make the scarf and make yourself happy. But why the swearing, nastiness, and promise to copy it to the 500 knitters on her list?
I know – just let it go – and I’ve become better at letting stuff go. The amount of angry mail I get about patterns that aren’t even mine – much less questions about my own patterns – is astounding.
But why on earth would this woman take such joy in wrecking a scheme I’d set up to help yarn shops?
I wrote back that the pattern is under copyright, that I don’t earn a penny on it, but I WOULD pursue any infringement on that copyright.
What are your thoughts? Is it time to just give up with the pattern for yarn shops only thing? Should I just sell the damned thing?
Yes, I’ll admit, I did think it made the pattern kind of special that folks could only get it at a local yarn shop. But I also know how many people it POs because they all write to me, most of the letters pretty angry.
Sheesh.
As a future LYS owner, I love your tactic of making the pattern available only at an LYS. There are MOUNDS of free patterns available on the Internet already. Anything that gets people into a shop is good in my book.
There will always be disgruntled people. The anonymity of the Internet makes it easy for them to pop off with angry emails. Fortunately, I believe they are in the minority of knitters. Just because the rude folks make the most noise doesn’t mean all the rest are grumpy, too.
Because no good deed goes unpunished? Yeah, some folks believe that they must be given anything that is provided one way in another way just for them. But it is your pattern, and you do get to decide how and when it is distributed.
I am stunned that any knitter would act in this way, S T U N N E D! Or get angry over such a policy.
I think its a brilliant idea to encourage knitters to go into a store. I love my local yarn store. It’s not unusual to see customers in there with their knitting, getting advice on the bit they are stuck on. The staff go out of their way to assist in any way they can. It’s a real sense of community.
I am just appalled at that kind of behavior! I love our local yarn stores and try to buy as much there as possible.
Of course you are better than that and your response was sensible and appropriate, but gee I know I would love to meet her face to face and give her a good sucker punch!
Wow. What got under her skin to prompt such an email? More people should wait couple of days before sending email–revisit their words with a clear head and see if that’s the image they want to portray, because after all, words matter. Anyway, I’m sorry you were the recipient of such a tirade. Keep doing what you’re doing and know that your work is appreciated my many.
Why is this woman so full of venom and vindictiveness? Because she got something for free?? It’s sure one more example of “no good deed goes unpunished”.
It’s hard to just shrug something like this off. I hope this incident hasn’t bruised you too much–a message like this would leave me walking under a heavy cloud for days.
Oh, but if you go after her for infringing your copyright, then you’re REALLY a bitch…don’t forget that! Not only are knit designers forbidden to charge money for their work, but they also can’t control who copies it, where they send it and what they do with it.
{laughing uncontrollably…I can’t even TYPE that with a straight face}
Look, her reaction is the problem here — you cannot control what other people do, you can only control your own reaction to it. (There’s some fancy Buddhist term for this which I am of course forgetting at the moment).
She is acting as if you owe HER something, which you don’t. You are well within your rights to carry on with your LYS-only-(with a few exceptions) policy, and as I think it’s a good policy with a very well-thought-out concept behind it, I think you should. Keeping the yarn stores strong helps everyone in this industry.
I can only hope that the 800 people to whom she sends the pattern eventually find this post and — finding her attitude as ridiculous as I do — make their way to their local yarn stores and at the very least, spread the word about the pattern if nothing else.
Barbara should be ashamed of her bad behavior.
I say keep doing what you’re doing. That lady was just downright rude! I love any excuse to go into my favorite yarn shop
wow, I am stunned, although i should not be given the heated comments regarding crochet patterns in a knitting magazine. Wow!
People who want to get their panties in a twist are going to do it, no matter what. You’re fine.
And ZOMG, I won a book?!?? Sweet! I’ll dm you on Twitter.
Screw ‘em – the ridiculous sense of entitlement people sometimes have is unreal. I love what you’ve done with the pattern – i think it’s a brilliant and beautiful idea and that you should keep it – and yes, maintain copyright. I can’t imagine a world without yarn shops – when i find one out traveling, it’s as much of a joy as anything to get to visit.
I was recently in santa fe and only made it to one shop. I am also “poor” but i was gonna leave with one skein, at least. The owner was so gracious and sweet and i so enjoyed sitting there talking to her. She even brought me a cup of coffee!
Now… This is the kind of thing you find in a lot of little yarn shops and it’s not something you find anywhere. That tattooed, wild-haired me and a sophisticated santa fe grandmother can sit and chat about something we love is amazing. To those full of animosity over this – write your own damn patterns and don’t cry when you lose a valuable community resource.
When I decided to make your scarf a couple of years ago, I had to order the yarn from a shop online because my LYS didn’t carry it. When I sent the order for the yarn, I included a note on the online order form explaining that they would need to procure the pattern for me. They sent back the pattern with my yarn and a note thanking me for bringing the lovely pattern to their attention. Not a big deal. Both parties happy. I used to work in my LYS and it’s incredible what people assume is theirs for the asking. One woman had me look up a stitch pattern for her and, when I found it for her, she asked me for paper and pencil to copy it down. I didn’t want to make a scene, so I let her have the info (she didn’t buy anything), but I did explain to her about copyright laws, just in case she didn’t realize their significance. I felt as if I’d better explain the rules, so she wouldn’t assume she could do it again. Unfortunately, I think she went only as far as being miffed about my explanation. Oh, well. People know in their hearts when they’re wrong.
I would just charge for the pattern, Annie. Why put yourself through this? Your heart was in the right place–I got it–but people who haven’t seen the yarn or pattern business from the other side might not fully appreciate your intentions–or want to even try.
“It’s just a pattern”. How rude. How would she feel if she gave the scarf as a gift and the recipient said something similarly rude? She’d be all over them about how much time she put into creating it. But she apparently hasn’t looked at the world through different eyes.
Annie….Unfortunately so many people have become so impatient, nasty and rude. The truly unfortunate thing is that this is making you question your values…which incidentally are very good! There are so many people out in the knitting world that totally support your position. Don’t let the few get in your way. Say a prayer for them and move on! Your health is not worth it!
Hang on girl!!! A lot of us support you.
come on people, let’s be kind to one another.
How ironic – you designed this pattern as a way to say “thank you” to local stores for the support that they give knitters – and here this particular person is one of the very people receiving that support. She goes to Bev’s Fabric every week to knit!
I guess free knitting patterns have become an entitlement, rather than an unexpected gift.
Any designer who is willing to give away a pattern gets to set the terms. Yours are generous and a bit unusual – just like you.
Wow! That was shocking to me. Deafness is no excuse for rudeness.
I think you should do whichever you want but I’d offer it for sale for a price and still offer if for free at the brick and mortar store. I think the scarf is smashing! I’d gladly pay for it.
Annie, You are a generous and loving knitter because that is who you are as a person. Likewise, other knitters’ personality is manifested in their knitting personality as well. I think you are doing a great thing by supporting the shops. Keep it up. Also, I think you sure pursue and infringement claim against the really angry knitter, especially since she TOLD you she was going to violate your copywrite. I mean seriously!
Annie, Who knows if she figured the pattern out or not? You did a good thing when you offered the pattern free through yarn stores. If she is such a good knitter that she can copy a pattern, write up the instructions and post them around, all for free in a matter of days, she should be prepared to put her name on her work and take the heat if the instructions prove flawed. She can’t put out instructions under your name..
Wow! I think as knitters we all cringe to hear of another knitter acting so ridiculously. Annie, I hate to hear that you get so many cranky emails, please know that the majority of us are thrilled to be able to knit your patterns. And if you’re nice enough to give one away for free, then you can do so any way you please.
Your idea of offering this pattern free from yarn shops was a very generous and kind thing to do, and I’m sure many LYS owners were very appreciative. Ignore the nasty, rude folks (though I am shocked that knitters could behave that way) and keep doing what you are doing! You are such a talented person.
Maybe some computer person could figure out a way to screen the nasty emails out so you don’t have to read them (the way my email service allows me to screen out spam).
This principle is becoming known on the intertoobz as John Gabriel’s “Greater Internet Fuckwad Theory” as posited here:
http://www.penny-arcade.com/comic/2004/03/19/
The basic equation involved is Normal Person+Anonymity+Audience=Total Fuckwad. The language is as used by the author, but you gotta admit it cuts to the chase, n’est pas?
Just leave her at the metaphorical curb and walk away. We’ll hold your hand, babe.
i hope barbara’s karma catches up with her.
i think it’s a great idea you offer your pattern free through LYS. i am more apt to purchase the yarn if there is a pattern made especially for it.
don’t let one bad apple spoil your mood.
first off, the irony of the name of the scarf (ruffled feathers) tickles me to no end!
perhaps one of the things that might help is a change in the wording. unfortunately, when people hear free, they think it is theirs to take… and it needs to be given. it’s a sad comment on our attitudes of entitlement… but it’s true of most folks i run across. most will adjust their attitudes with a moments thought… but not all. if you said it only COSTS a trip to the LYS and make people think of that trip as the payment for the pattern, it might help. when you say free, they hear limitations in availability. if the cost of it is the trip, then they are paying for it by going…. even though it is no different in actuality, i find things like that get through most peoples filters.
another idea… and one that is really easy for me to say, since i’m not the one designing, lol… perhaps you could make the scarf pattern available for purchase online now that it had been available for a few years at LYS. and then you could offer a new pattern (getting repeat traffic from those who had gotten the scarf pattern before) for the LYS. if people could see a direct link between either going into the shop to pick it up or waiting and paying money for it later online, they would get the concept of not exactly “free” more concretely, i think.
I would say that in the long run, she’s just jealous of your success. I agree with Jules …. don’t let one bad apple spoil your mood and just smile, take a deep breath and shake it off. People like that really do not warrant your time, effort or your energy. I love the fact it’s free for LYS owners, a bonus to the many shops out there
Stick to your guns. Don’t let the asshats get you down. That’s their goal and that means they win.
You can’t make everyone happy. Some people will never be happy. That’s not your problem even if they try to make it so.
I think it’s great you’re making the pattern available only in yarn shops. Hopefully people will look at other patterns and yarns while they’re there.
I try to take “shop locally” seriously. Question tho’: when you update your list, please include The Yarnery, 840 Grand Avenue, St. Paul, MN.
Thank you!
Just because this woman is deaf (so she says) does not mean she is stupid. She could have requested that her LYS or Bevs Fabric if she didn’t have one available. It actually sounds almost like a hoax. I agree with the others, don’t let the jerk get you down. You’ll probably take the high road here, but I’d be tempted to send this to Bevs Fabric and the other places this broad knits at. I know that my knitting community would rake me over the coals for this kind of copyright infringement.
Good Lord nasty knitter, take a pill, or whatever gets you by. I sincerely doubt that anyone’s world will cave in if the designer who came up with the original design controls the rights to its release.
sing along with Ethel now (pardon the caps, it is Ethel after all), EVERYTHING’S COMING UP SUNSHINE AND SANTA CLAUS, EVERYTHING’S GONNA BE BRIGHT LIGHTS AND LOLLIPOPS, EVERYTHING’S COMING UP ROSES FOR ME AND FOR YOU!
May nasty knitter find the roses elsewhere in her life.
I agree that it is time to sell the pattern online. No room for misunderstandings then.
Don’t waste your precious energy on ungrateful mean-spirited people.
Hi Annie
Mary here from the old About com knit chat room
Here is my take on this. I say, stay with the ONLY yarn shop formula ,except for those that are in the “special” group.
its YOUR pattern. I would think (hope) most of the email you get is not nasty.
My best to you miss annie
peace&blessings to you & your family
I think your reason for placing the pattern with the yarn store is vary well-reasoned and considers the future of the craft rather than short term profits.
That said, as someone who has on occasion been impatient to get a pattern, I would say to sell it. Maybe do both? Whatever you chose, some people will still be unhappy, and it will not be your fault. ;^)
I am so appalled by this woman’s behavior that I hardly know what to write. First of all, I want to send my support to you. The idea of supporting local yarn stores this way is creative, thoughtful bordering on brilliant, and kind–just like you. Part of me want to say to fight her, at least by sending something to Bev’s Fabrics, but really that may just prolong the agony and the energy you spend on it. People will defend her, the fight will go on and on. I hate to see you caught up in that kind of energy even if you are 100% in the right (which you are!). You’ve exposed her here and I hope she reads your post and these comments. At this point she has humiliated herself publicly and on the record. Enough. Move on with the things that give you sustanance–financially, creatively, emotionally. That’s not only the sole viable course, it’s your best revenge. Be well, W.
Wow! Simply stunned. What has happened to kindness in the world???
Annie- thanks for writing about this. You got it off your chest (don’t keep stuff like this bottled up inside! Take a deep breath and let it go…) and there’s a very good chance your post will get back to that rude human who obviously thinks she is the center of the universe. Maybe she will grow because of it. Or she can just be one of those horrible examples for us all to learn from……………………
Hope is cooler there than here in Middle-Of-Nowhere-comma-Georgia! (101 and climbing)…..
Hugs!!!
(Not THAT Barbara). The truth is that unless she and her cohorts have a decent degree of skill and expertise, she can not have “duplicated” Annie’s unique design. And she is going to send it to her friends along with some slanderous (or perhaps libelous) language about cranky designers that will cast a shadow on all designers.
But if it’s any consolation to designers (and LYS and bookstore owners), I don’t share knitting books, magazines or patterns, unless they are out of print and not available in any other way. And then, I only loan it to one person with a verbal reminder of copyright law. Back in the days before everyone had access to photocopy machines, loaning a magazine meant that you didn’t get it back until your friend completed the project; these days “loaning a book” means that one specific pattern will be distributed via photocopies, scans and internet ad infinitum. It seems like respect for copyrights went away when someone invented file sharing for music downloads, and that is really wrong.
I agree with the previous commenters; slap a price on the pattern, yet continue to offer it for free through the LYS. The ruffled roses scarf is an awesome design: it stands head and shoulders above similar designs available through Li*n Brand and other companies that sell a similar yarn.
it’s WONDERFUL that you’re doing your part in getting us reluctant souls into the LYS. There isn’t one close to me, but I have two fave ones about 35 miles away and it’s a treat to go! Yes, I’m one of those who does most yarn shopping online but there is so much to be experienced at Three Wishes Fiber and Camille’s (fave LYSs although there are other outstanding ones a little farther away).
IMHO… YOU are the designer, you have the final say in distribution method. If you wanted to hand the pattern out for free to every 15th person on the street – you can do that!
just sayin’
I love visiting my LYS (the owner is a truly lovely person) and I asked about your pattern at one visit. Alas, she’s not terribly organized and has tons of special orders and regular orders and…I’m afraid it never got on her list and hence I never got it.
I respect your decision to make it LYS-only so I never pursued anything. I wonder if you ought to consider offering it as a Rav download with proceeds either going to you (you deserve it!) or one of the many projects/organizations that I’m sure are dear to you. I, for one, would buy it.
There’s obviously issues with that around the shops that still have the free version available. And I don’t know whether the “free at an LYS, pay for download” would go over well.
At any rate, sympathies for the vitriol. It was definitely undeserved.
I think the problem here might be that having seen the word FREE, the customer thinks they should be able to get it right away!
Our microwave society sees a pretty, and wants it RIGHT NOW!!! The possible delays caused by checking with the yarn store for the pattern, finding out they must order it, and then going back again to pick it up, are just too much to handle.
I agree with Jen above, that the cost of the pattern is the time you spend working with the yarn store to get the pattern.
I think your idea was good, but the customers see it as cumbersome, and they don’t like that.
Next time I’m at my favorite yarn store, I’m going to ask for the pattern! The scarf is beautiful! Thank you!
My first thought agrees with Janet’s: This smells like a hoax — someone is jealous of your professional success and is trying to besmirch your professional reputation.
My second thought: what a bitch.
My third thought: It’s good to want to promote the growth of the craft and of the businesses people run to enable this craft to flourish. However, if someone’s going to be so ballsy as to say she’s stealing your copyrighted work and then sharing it with 800 of her closest friends, I say you should stop the “free pattern at the LYS” program. Make her and her 800 friends pay for the pattern — it seems every other schmo on Rav is doing so!
My fourth thought: why not make her life a living hell and have a lawyer send her a letter… but then you have enough drama in your life right now, and there’s no point in stirring up more when you don’t have to.
My last thought: karma will eat her and will burp at the end.
Thank you Annie for sharing this with us! You made my day! I get garbage response from disgruntled consumers, too. She sounds like a real nut job and I can confirm that from my various moves and joining knitting groups, there are nuts our there! Yes, rude, knitting nuts!
I hope the best is yet to come. Please tell me this is not the last we hear of this. The knitting world can be quite small and the internet everywhere. Surely it won’t be long before someone figures out who Barbara is.
Yes, her first email sounds suspicious. Her second, unbelievable. If she has 800 knitting friends, surely somebody already had the pattern and could have loaned it to her. Reminds me of the goofy Neiman Marcus cookie recipe which is really not that good.
I echo the sentiments above. The internet does bring out the worst in some people, that’s for sure. I’ve ended up minimizing my use even of Ravelry because of the nastiness I’ve seen there toward others.
Anyway, keep up the good work. A gentle reminder to visit a lys is always a good thing. I make it a point to stop by each of the lys in my community once in a while. Yes, maybe I’ll pay a buck or two more for a set of DPN’s, but I’ll have a nice conversation, some yarn-fondling, and no wait for shipping to go with it.
I am appalled at the pure nastiness of the comment you repeated in your blog. If this person follows your blog then she ought to know that life is quite difficult for you at the moment and that you are summoning all your strength in order to cope. Dismiss it from your mind Annie, her comments are not worth your consideration. I came to your classes in the Chapel and saw you for the genuinely nice person you are. Giving the pattern to LYS is a generous gesture but I am sure I am not the only person living in the U.K. who would be happy to purchase it online with a promise to go buy the yarn locally (as I do ). What goes around comes around.
Well
I am ashamed to REALIZE that this person is claiming to be from my home town! Its a small-ish town. I don’t think she exists. I work across the street from cafe 210 (a local coffee-ish shop extablished in a Presbyterian Church owned and supported building with a righteously devout clientelle) and a block from the Beverly’s fabrics that she speaks of.
I am a volunteer for a deaf/mute senior in the area and therefore am familiar with many of our community’s deaf population. The ladies that run “Bev’s” fabrics are not foul-mouthed women, neither are the women that gather for knitting there. Around the block we used to have the only LYS that wasn’t a chain or franchise big box and it was called Knitter’s Haven. Ellen bought Brown Sheep and made a wonderful little place for us knitters until she had to give it up.
It HAS been frustrating reading about and dreaming about a LYS to come back into our little community but with our local economy and regulations for businesses I don’t see it happening soon, but that is no excuse for sour grapes
THAT SAID, it was disgusting and uncalled for what this woman has done! And I SERIOUSLY DOUBT SHE HAS A LIST OF 500 OR 800 OR WHATEVER SHE IS CLAIMING SEEING AS HOW I AM ON EVERY LOCAL LIST AND RECEIVED NOTHING!
She is blowing smoke and I aim to find out if our local knitters know anything about this POOR SPORT!!!!!!!!! and on behalf of the BEAUTIFUL WELL MANNERED VISALIA CALIFORNIA I offer my sincere apologies to you Annie! and to your readers!
Rest assured that this ONE BAD APPLE does not represent our sweet town in the San Joaquin Valley in Central California!
Heidi
P.S. I’m going to Pasadena tomorrow and you can better your bottom dollar that every LYS I can google on the way will get a visit from me! After all what is traveling for if not MORE YARN!!!!!!! ha ha
I think it is great that you are using this pattern to help encourage traffic/business to LYS. I know that the anonymity of the internet encourages rude, outrageous behavior but that is not excuse. I’m sorry that you are on the receiving end of this, I have to believe that these types of people are in the minority but that doesn’t make dealing with it any better.
Your efforts on behalf of designers to raise awareness about fees/income etc have been eye opening for me. I applaud your continued efforts to support the industry as a whole, especially considering your limited time/energy.
I do think that it would be worthwhile to consider Jen Minnis’ suggestion to change the wording from “free” to “the cost is simply a trip to your LYS”. Whatever you decide – remember that it is impossible to please everyone and it is not your responsibility to even try
Un-freaking-believable. It never ceases to amaze me what people will put in print. I think your idea of getting people to their LYS is a great one so stick by your principles and ignore such small-minded twits like Barbara.
Okay . . . I’m deaf, and unfortunately, some do feel entitled because of their disability. What this woman did was really appalling. I’m not certain that she is deaf, although her grammar seems similar to some of deaf people’s writing. If she knits every week with this group, she obviously knows where the LYS are, and could have approached any of these in order to obtain your pattern.
Haven’t answered until others had their “say”. Just an idea. Like some have said – this sounds really phony. But, to add on – there are folks in this world who are just angry and seem to search for opportunities to express their anger. They’re mad “in general” and so almost any chance to sound off without being held accountable is just fine. They take the chance to be ugly & offensive – - it’s their big chance. Pity them. It’s really sad. With all of the challenges you face, your life is much richer & more productive than they can even imagine – they spend all of their energy and creativity on their problems & anger! What a waste!
Take care of yourself & Knit ON!
Marietta
I also think you should sell the pattern: price is a visit to a LYS or $75. Maybe special “this week only” $50.
That still would not pay for your time and aggrevation but it might get the entitled ones’ attention!
In case it’s not clear I think the way you are doing this is perfect and hope you can learn to let these nasties sink to the bottom where they belong.
People should play nice. Stick to your guns, Annie! We love you not only for your patterns, but for your amazing integrity. It makes me just plain mad that this person would behave in such a way. But, I guess we find “these sorts” in all places. Even knitters. Sigh.
Hi Annie, I don’t read your blog as often as I would lik although I am on your newsletter list. Personally, I think you’re idea is fantastic. To get my hands on a copy of that glorious pattern would be wonderful but I’m in the UK so no go.
I really think that lady was inappropiate with her language in her email. Over here we are going through very hard times and little independent shops are shutting all the time. You’re “Support Your Local Yarn Shop” is wonderful and it would be nice to see other knit designers so the same. We have to watchful that we don’t lose our local LYS shops all together. Yes, I buy on the internet but I also ensure I visit LYS when I’m out of town such as the one in North Wales a couple of weeks ago. Nothing can beat fondling wool!!!! I did indeed buy some yarn, some of which will be going to hat knitting for marins and sailors. We knitters can all do our bit in these horrible times. One ball of wool – 1 hat for a Hero.
Keep truckin’ with free patterns but maybe put this one up for sale on your site? Get another design out there and keep the yarn truck rolling!
Sorry, I’ve rambled a litte but hey so what!
Best wishes and hope your health improves soon.
BTW, I would have loved to join your classes over here but have other committments. Maybe next time.