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Crochet patterns are a time consuming product to create. Someone has to conceive the idea, write the pattern, create the prototype, make adjustments (if needed), correct instructions, lay out the pattern, create schematics, drawings, charts (if you’re lucky) and write the romance text. There are photos to take, files to create, and uploads to secure on various platforms.

As fast as it is to download a digital crochet pattern, don’t take the lack of glossy paper as a sign of less value. It takes the same amount of time to create a digital pattern as it does a physical copy, the only thing that’s missing is the print time before delivery. The designer/pattern writer puts in the same elbow grease.

This is why it really bothers me that people starting out blogging, sharing on social media, and on social networks so often make their crochet patterns available for free. Just because you are new or don’t feel experienced doesn’t mean you should give your time, talent, and skill away. The “free” patterns on the yarn ball bands are only free with purchase, those patterns were paid for long ago by the yarn company. The “free patterns” sent out in magazine and yarn company newsletters were paid for and are part of a marketing budget (or should be).  If you are an indie, giving away free patterns to get blog traffic is not going to do anything for you in the long run. There are a few exceptions and you’ll find those in the members only post.

Your time is worth more than any skill you possess, because it is the one resource which is finite. You only have so much time, you never get time back, do not buy into the myth that people won’t pay for patterns, they will if they perceive the value.  People are used to getting free crochet patterns, because people keep giving them away. Stop it!

I’ve seen lovely crochet patterns written painstakingly into blog posts with self depreciating romance text that looks something like

“I’m just starting, so this isn’t very good, but I hope you like it…”

“I’m not a real designer like (fill in the name), but I hope to be someday.”

“Enjoy this free pattern, come back to the blog again!”

Stop it.

Stop it.

Stop it.

So what if you’re just starting? Do you start a new job and say, “Oh hey, yeah since I’m new and all, you guys don’t have to pay me for the first year because, well you know I’m not that good.”?

So, what if you don’t have 20 books published and a horde of adoring fans? Neither did (fill in designer name) when they first started either. Do you do this at work: “Oh by the by I’m going to just give you a month of my time for free because I’m not as good as Suzy over there who’s been with the company FOREVER.”? Of course you don’t.

Do you invite lots of strangers to house for dinner, feed them, don’t get their contact info and then afterwards say, “Hey this was great come by again next time I’m feeding the masses”? Of course you don’t.

Your time is valuable, your skills are valuable, YOU are valuable, and people only recognize your value after you recognize it, so stop giving it away and start studying up on how to express your value. It’s about everyone doing better for themselves and helping each other do better!

CLF members with design aspirations don’t forget that you have pattern templates that come with your membership! You can find those here Pattern Style Sheets. There are four style sheets from which to choose that are easily customized in MS Word.

Not a member yet?  We have a new monthly subscription rate of only $7.87 , this is perfect for makers, designers, crochet pattern writers, serious hobbyists, crochet service providers and other craft business folk who want to reach the crochet market. Click to learn more about how the CLF can help you do better.

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