If you crochet/knit...

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...how much do you expect to pay for a pattern? I crochet a bit, but mostly just granny square blankets for babies, or other simple free patterns, blankets, scarves etc.. Nothing complicated and always using free patterns.

A friend of mine reposted a post by a pattern designer recently, where the designer is complaining that people don't want to pay a lot for patterns and that other people offering them free/cheap is unfair on those that want to make a business out of it.

But... maybe if people don't want to pay £7 for a pattern, it's not a viable business? Maybe when enough people are happy enough to just use free patterns and when people find it enjoyable enough to design patterns for free or for their advert-paid blog, it isn't reasonable to expect to make a good income doing it?

I could try to sell what I make, but I don't, because I'd have to charge £100s for a granny square blanket just to make NMW on it, and I know not enough people would want to pay that... but I'm not out there demanding that people do so that I can make it a business and quit my day job.

The designer implied it was a feminist issue because people don't value traditionally female crafts, which is an interesting take. But I think for me it's just I don't see the point in paying a lot for something when free or cheap options are available (I also use the library rather than buying books).

Everyone commenting on the post agreed with the designer, so I'm wondering if I'm in the minority thinking that supply and demand means you can't expect to make a lot as an independent designer, and the same goes for a lot of jobs that are fun enough that people are willing to do it for free (I'm sure not every aspect of it is fun but clearly a lot of it is if some people do it for free).

(I have a link to the post but don't know if it's fair to share it as I don't want to target her, just to discuss the issue)

I'll pay up to £7 for a pattern - but I want my money's worth.

At that price, I expect the garment to be fully test knitted and with no errors in the pattern.

I suppose it depends on what you are making, too. I just make simple things, but if it's a jumper with a lot of different sizes etc that's going to take longer to work out. I can see in those cases that £7 would be reasonable but then I'm not sure you can get that kind of thing for free? For the sort of thing I make there are always free options and I don't think I should feel bad for taking them!

I very rarely pay anything for a pattern. Very occasionally I might pay up to £8 or so if I wanted something very specific.

If it's something I really want I would pay that for a pattern but I do think handmade garments are woefully undervalued

I am happy to pay for soemthing unique and unusual, but as you said there are more than enough free patterns about to keep people who don't want to pay busy!
For example, this is worth a tenner!
https://www.projectarian.com/project-050-apollo-the-octopus/

That definitely is worth it! I've never tried anything 3D but it looks like it would be a lot of work to design something like that.

It's supply and demand though isn't it? Not enough people value handmade garments as being worth so much more than factory made (or can afford to pay) for the market to bear a high price.

Unless it's for something very basic or a freebie by a known and trusted pattern designer, I mostly only use paid for patterns from designers I trust or with good reviews.

I'm happy to pay around £10 for a really good pattern.

It depends on how much I want to make the item.

I normally use free patterns, but would happily pay up to £3 for a downloadable pattern / £5 for a printed one. Any more than that and it would have to be truly exceptional.

I rarely pay for patterns because there is such a huge amount of choice of free ones. If I wanted something very specific and hard to find, or saw a pattern I absolutely fell in love with, I would pay without worrying about the cost tbh, because I normally spend nothing! I have pretty much never had any issues with mistakes or problems in free patterns. Most of the ones on Ravelry have reviews, and people are quick to point out mistakes or query problems.

I'm quite a prolific knitter - always something on the go.

I've paid about £10 for a single pattern.

Average about £3-£4.

I've paid a lot of money for a book of patterns just for one particular pattern.

I've made lots of pieces which have taken many hours.

I give them away to family and friends - I would be upset if they were passed on, come to think of it.

I always have a considerable waiting list for garments and toys.

I've got pieces which are older than my adult children and they still look new and timeless. My daughter's have chosen plenty of pieces for themselves which I wore 40 years ago.

If I charged an 'expert rate' for my time, even a hat would be too expensive.

I'm happy to keep up my hobby, take photos of my work, and then let it go to a new home.

I'm not bothered whether other people value my makes - I'm happy to know that my family and friends do.

Also, I totally see what people mean about patterns and handmade items being undervalued, but it's supply and demand. Most people simply don't want or can't afford to pay large amounts for something they can get much cheaper or free elsewhere. There's no point in complaining about that. I'm a slowish knitter and use expensive wool. If I sold the jumper I just made, based on time spent and materials used, it would probably cost thousands

It depends really. I often don't use a pattern at all.

One of my many WIPs is a jumper that I am making without a pattern. There's a lot of trial and error. I initially had to try it on every so often to get the armholes in the right place and the right size etc. If I wanted to sell the pattern id have to work out the stitch count for multiple sizes. Tbh the amount of work that would take is more than i can be arsed to do.

I've found that so many patterns aren't properly graded, especially for larger sizes. If I've paid for something it's a pain in the backside to then have to change it myself.

I bought an amigirumi pattern a couple of years ago. It cost somewhere between £20-£30 (it was for an entire nativity set).
There Were so many errors it was unbelievable. And despite the promise that the figures were posable and could stand up... they were not and could not.

Lots of free patterns on Ravelry and lots of paid ones. The ones which you pay for have generally been well test knitted. I would pay up to £10 for a pattern depending on the level of intricacy.

I have bought patterns in the past but I don’t think I ever paid more than £7, if it was more then I’d make do with something similar that’s cheaper or free.
I got very disillusioned with so many bought patterns having errors; I expected them to be thoroughly checked before publishing.
I do stick to fairly simple designs unless they’re Aran or fair isle.

With patterns, which can be sold infinitely, what people "should" pay is less important than maximising profit x sales. If one person will buy the pattern for £10 and 10 will buy it for £2, then insisting everyone "should" pay more will just lose you money.

I happily pay for crochet patterns, I’m paying for the time and effort of not only designing the pattern but testing it as well. The designers I regularly use are reasonable with their pricing, patterns extremely well written and easy to follow. It would be a huge loss if they stopped producing patterns because people won’t pay for their work.

I agree that it depends what the pattern is for. Clothes etc I will pay for but something like a crochet blanket then no - as I could probably work it out for myself just by looking at a decent photo of the finished item.

I agree. This designer was arguing that everyone should be happy to pay the higher price, though.

As someone who uses free patterns, I'd probably pay a couple of quid for something that looked interesting. But if it was £10 I'd probably choose something else instead. I haven't even made all the free pattern things I want to yet!

The majority of crochet patterns for sale do not belong to that person. I've seen the stitches and the same designs since the 1960s and all they have done is use modern colours to make it appear different.

I won't pay someone just for rehashing a design that's been around for decades.

I agree. I've noticed (on SM, admittedly) there is a small but vocal group of designers/makers who are trying to make a business out of their hobby and complain people won't pay what things are "worth". But, sad as it might be, things are only worth what people are willing to pay for them.

I wouldn't generally pay £7 for a pattern unless it was for multiple items, I normally pay about £3. I am currently makeing a hat that is free on youtube
I was at the stitch show and someone was trying to sell dress patterns for £20 which seemed really expensive to me and they didnt seem to be getting much business. £10 would really not worth it for me and i would not buy.
Agree with @AllProperTeaIsTheft I have made a couple of cardigans for DD's friends . I charge them for the wool only as if i charged by the hours they would be £1000s both took about 6 weeks. I just sayid send me the wool and dont expect it quickly.

My local sewing/wool shop wont even sell patterns without buying the wool , which is a practice i remember back in the 60s/70s but didnt think anyone still did that. They dont really have a good choice of wool so i wouldnt buy the patterns from there.

I typically pay between £5 - £7 for most patterns, but have paid up to £12 on occasion. I do expect it to be well written with plenty of photos. I use Etsy mainly and have always been very happy with the quality of patterns and level of detail. I had one where I needed to ask the seller a few questions and she came back to me really quickly and was super helpful.

I have been working on my own pattern for ages, so I can see why people charge so much for them. That said, there is a lot out there for free, including you tube videos. I think when it comes to blankets, it would need to be pretty special for me to pay as there are literally thousands of free patterns out there.

But, sad as it might be, things are only worth what people are willing to pay for them.

Exactly. If people aren't willing to pay an amount that makes it worth your while to make the item, then it's simply not a viable way to make money!

I hear you. I paid AU$9 for a pair of Patons patterns recently. It soon became obvious they hadn't test knitted them at all. If one followed their directions for a sideways knit cardigan, the sleeves ended up about a metre long, and far too wide - in my size they want 102 stitches on the needle at the armpit. I got to 90 stitches and it's still wider than I care for. They also placed the increases so that the textured rows had slip stitches at the edge. Poorly written and obviously not tested at all.