Speed Knitting Contest — would anyone be interested?

Hi ladies, hi operator

How about a speed knitting contest?
Basically, the theme would be set, for example you choose a pattern — it could also be a free pattern, so there’s no discussion about having to pay to take part.
Then everyone who wants to join works on that pattern, and whoever finishes it the fastest could maybe get a small gift card for the shop? Or maybe gift cards for the best and fastest three?

It would probably be practical to do it on the weekend.

I mean, there’s always this speed-knitting yarn, though as an untalented knitter I’m not really sure what it’s good for.
But we could try it out. Well, not me, since I’m not very good at knitting, but maybe everyone else.

And then everyone uploads a nice photo of it,
here in the forum or over on Facebook.
It would definitely be worth seeing
all those photos together.

Or another thing we could do:
each of the ladies takes a few photos of the finished knitted item, writes a few words about it, and puts it in the blog.
Then it’s all nicely collected together, and the blog is easy to browse.
That would be an idea too.

If it goes well and is well received,
I could definitely imagine doing it regularly.

To make it fair,
we could maybe divide the ladies into two groups:
pros vs. hobby knitters,
because as a hobby knitter you probably can’t compete with a professional.
Then we could choose one winner per group,
so hobby knitters would have a chance too.

If one of the sellers were to provide a free pattern,
that lady would get a lot of publicity, because a contest like this always attracts attention.

It would be good if operator announced a few days before the contest
roughly how much yarn you need and which knitting needles,
so that the ladies who want to take part could maybe go shopping again or something.
So that would probably make sense.


What do you all think about it?

Hi Muetzekatze,

in principle, it’s doable. Are any sellers interested in first presenting a pattern to me so I can then publish it for free after an announcement? The pattern must be original and remain a secret until the publication date :-).

Best regards
Alexander

Great idea :-)!
But we really don’t need to divide people into hobbyists and pros. Many of the hobbyists have been doing this for so long that they probably have plenty of experience :-) Instead, the patterns shouldn’t be too complicated or time-consuming, so it goes quickly and as many people as possible can recreate it.

I could imagine announcing the contest a week in advance and then revealing the material and a brief description: e.g., a hat or scarf for adults, yarn requirements\/type, and hook or needle size. The pattern would then be available for free from Friday morning through Saturday evening, after which it would be sold at the regular price. The contest could run until Sunday evening, and participants could upload photos for as long as they’d like. I think many people would want to show off their creations even if they didn’t win.

By the way, I started a crochet pattern for clothing yesterday—that might be suitable :-)

Hi everyone,

we’d be happy to launch the campaign under the name “Needles Ready, Set, Go!” Please email the patterns you’d like to include to post@crazypatterns.net. Please make sure the patterns are new and haven’t been published anywhere else. The pattern must be made available free of charge for 2 days (over the weekend). Since the campaign needs to be announced in advance, the pattern must remain unpublished for a while.

The campaign will be promoted across multiple channels — as a seller, you’ll benefit if your pattern is selected.

Best regards
Alexander

Hello,

That sounds soooo great!!!! 
@ muetzekatze: Great idea...I'm already looking forward to the photos!

Awesome!!

Have a lovely day, everyone, and of course lots of fun "crafting"

Best regards, Anja

Hi Alexander,

I already have an idea and will put it into action. I’ll send you the pattern when it’s finished and hope it gets accepted. I still need a little more time. Can we set the deadline for submissions to the end of February? Any sooner than that will be difficult, since I’m currently working on other patterns.

Best regards
Natalija

Hi Alexander,

could you please clarify the rules?

What exactly is allowed, and when?

Just knitting patterns, or crochet patterns too? How long should the project take, roughly? Etc...

Thanks!

I think it’s really nice that you’re all so enthusiastic about my idea :)

Hi Elena,

A seller is supposed to prepare a pattern that won’t be published right away. This prepared pattern should be sent to us via email. We’ll look over the patterns and select the most suitable one(s). In the second step, we’ll announce that a contest is taking place. Anyone can participate. In the third step, the prepared pattern (or patterns) will be made available for free (anyone can download them). The pattern will either be free the whole time or, if applicable, only for 2 days. Immediately after publication, the campaign will be announced and promoted again.

In the next step, everyone (who’s interested) will start crocheting, knitting, or sewing. As soon as you’re finished, take one or more photos of the finished piece and post the pictures here in the forum (or on Facebook). Once the campaign period is over (we should probably give participants about a week), we (the editorial team) will evaluate the photos and select a few of the best ones (I think there will be 5–10). The winners will receive shopping vouchers worth 10–20 euros each.

As a seller, you’ll naturally benefit from the fact that the pattern will get a lot of exposure thanks to the campaign.
If anyone else has questions, I’m happy to help.

Best regards
Alexander

Are there any requirements for the patterns?
Difficulty level? Time required?
Can only knitting patterns be featured, or are crochet and sewing patterns allowed too?
Etc...

Hi Elena,

all types of craft techniques may be presented. The difficulty level should be easy to medium so that even those with little experience can participate. Time is unimportant.

Best regards
Alexander

Hi! Is there a timeframe or a deadline for submissions?
Best regards

Hi Mellow,

the patterns are due by the end of February. The contest will be announced about a week after that.

Best regards
Alexander

Okay... The pattern hasn’t been published yet. But it’s currently being test-knitted. Is that a problem?

Hi Mellow,

I think that’s fine. I also think we need every single participant :-). Sure, there will be plenty of people who try their hand at it, but only a few will take and upload photos, and even fewer will take good ones. Hopefully the contest will turn into something.

Best regards
Alexander

But why just one contest? An idea like this has to catch on first. And if there aren’t that many participants the first time around, that’s actually totally fine—things like this grow over time :-)
Take a look at Spoonflower or Coats, for example. At Spoonflower, for example, the number of participants used to be really small, but now there are countless participants, and the intervals between contests are getting shorter and shorter because so many people enjoy it.

We’ve received two patterns so far. Natalija has agreed to provide one. So there will be three in total, unless any others are suggested. Personally, I think that’s a bit too few, because the selected pattern gets the customers’ full attention. Is it really not worth making the effort?

I’ll also post a pattern :-) But I still need 2 days

Hello,

thank you very much for sending in the patterns. I’d like to give you a quick update:

3 patterns have arrived. I’m still waiting for the photos. The announcement will be made around March 1, 2014. Hopefully everyone will have uploaded their patterns by then. Please don’t include any links to your shops on other marketplaces in these patterns.

Best regards
Alexander

Hi Alexander,

could you let me know if my pattern qualifies? Otherwise, I’ll just publish it as usual. Thanks :-)

@Orimono, since we don’t have that many, we can safely make all the ones we have available.

Hi,

Interesting thoughts :- ) I don’t think that’s a bad idea. We can offer all the suggested patterns or, if there’s a reason against it, just choose one. Johanna, your pattern is of course definitely an option. It might make sense to choose 1 pattern from each technique: 1 for crochet, 1 for knitting, and 1 for sewing. If there’s a craft pattern, then one for crafts as well (e.g. paper).

I received additional questions via private message, which I’m happy to answer here: the patterns should be uploaded by the designers themselves. They will be activated on March 1. When uploading, please note that it is a pattern for the contest (in the “Message to the Editor” field).

Best regards
Alexander

P.S. muetzekatze, you wanted to help with the preparations. Will you get back to me, or are you no longer interested?

Hi Alexander :-)

I just uploaded the pattern, and I’ve already included the material list in the product description.

Hello,

Thank you! The patterns will be offered free for 2 days and then changed to the price suggested (during
upload). 

Best regards
Alexander

Hi everyone,

I’ve also almost finished a pattern—I have until tomorrow evening at the latest, right?
I’ll be sharing a craft pattern then.
 

Hi Elena,

we’ve set the submission deadline for the end of February :-). You still have until tomorrow evening.

Best regards
Alexander

P.S. muetzekatze, you wanted to help with the preparations. Will you get back to me, or are you no longer interested?

Yes, of course I’m still interested. :)

So, if I understand correctly, the contest starts on Saturday
—by when do the photos of the finished projects have to be uploaded?
Sunday evening/midnight?
And when will the winners be chosen?
And who picks the winners? Are you doing that, Alexander?
Or could we do it as a vote?
I’d prefer a vote because it’s more interactive that way—then everyone can participate, even those who haven’t crocheted, knitted, sewn, or done any crafts.

I think a customer vote on Facebook would also encourage lots of people to join in. That would probably mean the contest gets shared and talked about much more often.

Help!!! I can’t download the 7z archives.....

It worked out already )))))

Hi Muetzekatze,

thank you very much for your help and your emails. We’ll let the customers vote. The patterns will be available for free for 2 days. Photos of finished projects can be uploaded for 1 week. The voting results will be collected for another week. After that, the winners will be determined based on the number of votes.

Best regards
Alexander

Hello!

Update: We already have 3 patterns. One more pattern has been promised and should arrive tomorrow. So there will be 4 patterns participating. Many thanks in advance to everyone who’s making the effort!

Best regards
Alexander

Isn’t one week a bit short for the photos?
My idea is quick to make, but as for the others, I’m not sure—you’ll still need time to buy materials and…
Should we give it two weeks, or at least 10 days? What do you think?

Alexander, did you count my pattern too? Did it arrive? (I had trouble uploading it and I’m not sure if everything worked out.) Please let me know! ;)

Best, Elena

P.S. Can the authors participate too? I don’t mean my own pattern, of course, but those from the other “creators.” I would have made something myself and submitted my photos for the contest...

Hi Elena,

Your pattern has arrived (there are 3 including yours). Thank you very much!
We’re happy to give it 2 weeks. That’s up to you.
Let’s wait for the other feedback.

Best regards
Alexander

For a quick knitting contest, I think even two weeks is already pretty long.
If it were structured like this:
The contest is announced and the required materials are listed, time: 2 days
The patterns are made available for download, time: 2 days
Make the item and upload it, time: 3 days to make it; from then on: upload it and start collecting votes
Voting separately, time: 1 week

I think that would all work, since the patterns should be quick and relatively easy to complete.

But again: I think it’s a shame that all the patterns are supposed to take part in the contest at the same time; I would have liked it better if they had come into the contest one after another
because then it could have become a sort of institution. Contests every two weeks for 8 weeks (while the first voting round is running, the second contest could already be announced and the pattern provided. Anyone who missed the first one, or simply couldn’t fit it in timewise, could still have taken part in the second one, and so on.
That way, we’d be “using up” all our material at once . . .

Hi Johanna,

we’re going to do this as a test run. If everything goes well, we’ll hold contests like this more often and gain some experience. It doesn’t have to be perfect the first time :-).

Best regards
Alexander

Hello,

We have to postpone the start by one week (to March 7, 2014). Unfortunately, there isn’t enough time left to get everything ready.

Best regards
Alexander

Hello Alexander,

good preparation is definitely important, you’re absolutely right about that.

Another thing that comes to mind is the start and the announcement of the event on a Saturday.

I was also thinking whether it might not be better for the participants to announce the contest and the materials list 1 or 2 days earlier. If the materials aren’t announced until Saturday, and someone has already done their weekend shopping ... and the material is missing, they have little chance and would have to throw their weekend plans out the window. Having to go out again just for that could put many people off taking part, because they wouldn’t be able to fit it into their schedule in time. Personally, I think it would be more productive to move the announcement to Thursday, without releasing the files yet - perhaps posting pictures and the materials in the blog section, and then making the files available on Saturday and Sunday.

Especially since it’s worth bearing in mind that quite a lot of users mainly find time for handicrafts at the weekend. They would then be at a disadvantage if the materials were missing, because they would only find out on Saturday that and what they would need.

I hope I haven’t said anything wrong :)

Waving, Nici

Hi Nici,

we can go ahead and make the announcement on Thursday and keep the files available for free until Monday morning. So instead of 2 days, the files will be free for 4 days. What do you all think?

Best regards
Alexander

I can only speak for myself, and I hope the others will chime in too :). Like I said, I think it’s more practical and effective. Personally, I don’t have any objections to the free download period either.

Please don’t extend the download period to 4 days! Based on my personal experience with free downloads, it already took a lot of thought on my part to offer a free pattern at all.

On the other hand, I think the advance notice on Thursday is very good—Nici summarized the reasons well :-)

Johanna, I can totally understand your concerns regarding the free download and the extension. I still have the current discussion in the back of my mind, and I’m afraid the “hunters and gatherers” won’t stay away—true to the motto: “look, download, and gone” :( without actually intending to participate in the contest.

It won’t be possible to completely prevent this even in the 2-day period, but with 4 days, the number of such cases is naturally much higher. There certainly aren’t enough options to make it “safer” for the sellers—such as allowing only one of the patterns to be downloaded for free during that time. Or they could charge a fee initially and then refund it for the one pattern that’s actually used in the contest if the participant actively enters with a photo.

But that’s not so easy to implement and would likely reduce the number of participants right from the start, because people tend to overlook that part :)
 

I think the advance notice on Thursday is great, but please make the free download available only on Saturday and Sunday.

In my personal experience, if you have less time, you get more done, and vice versa ) ) )

@ Nici

That’s true; I guess you can never completely avoid the freebie-collector mentality, but then please not for too long :-)
 

I hadn’t even thought about the freebie collectors when I started this thread.
But, well, there will always be some.
I think it’s really admirable that we’ve still managed to gather some patterns to offer for the contest.
I hope that the next contests—if there are any—will be easier to organize.

Hi :-) So is it postponed to Thursday now? I didn’t get the model photo by Saturday, and I wanted to know if I’d still have time :-) Best regards

Hi Mellow,

we’ll make the first announcement on Thursday.

Best regards
Alexander

Right now, almost everything here revolves around the contest. I’m really curious to see how many people will take part
and of course I’m also looking forward to the photos.

Hi :-)

We’re compiling the materials list now. Making changes later is very complicated. I’ll post the list here again for review.

++++++++++++++++++
orimono // 1307. Sewing pattern Children’s Hat “Blütenkelch”

Materials: sturdy cotton fabric/patchwork fabric or fine linen for the outer fabric and lining, 95 x 25 cm each
fabric interfacing / batiste interfacing (iron-on cotton interfacing with an adhesive layer, e.g. Freudenberger G740) 95 x 25 cm

++++++++++++++++++
nksdesign // 1312. Crochet pattern Pin Cushion "Rose"

Materials: crochet yarn, size 5, in 3 harmonious colors; crochet hook, size 1.25; sewing needle and sewing thread (in a matching color); fabric scraps (for the inner lining); stuffing

++++++++++++++++++
elenakreativ // 1322. E-book PDF pattern Kanzashi Flower Hair Accessory

Materials: 25 mm wide satin ribbon, scissors, ruler, tweezers, candle or lighter, glue (hot glue), piece of felt (circle, approx. 4 cm diameter), glitter nail polish, hair clip or barrette, small beads (seed beads).

++++++++++++++++++
appelino // 1327. Baby/Toddler

Materials: yarn in the main color orange (or any other color), white, and black. Leftover yarn is also enough. Size 3.5 set of double-pointed needles. Possibly 2 black pom-poms (for the nose), but this can also be embroidered with black yarn.

Please let me know in good time if anything is still missing.

Best regards
Alexander

Everything’s fine on my end

It’s the same for me, too :-)

Everything’s fine with me, too!

A quick knitting contest? That made me curious... Buuut... It involves, among other things,
sewing, gluing, and crafting, if the materials list is anything to go by.. I’m curious to see whether there’s really anything that can be knitted quickly.. Best regards

And what about the users who are too slow for a speed-knitting contest? Would they just do it for fun, without a chance to win?

The list looks correct to me.

Hi,

let me summarize again:
The patterns will be released on the morning of March 8 (the exact time doesn’t matter). The patterns will remain free for 2 days and will go back to normal (paid) starting Monday morning. Photos can be uploaded at any time (keep in mind—the sooner you upload them, the more ratings you’ll get). Ratings will be tallied on March 24, and the winners will be announced. There are 10 prizes of 10 euros each in prepaid store credit. Voting will take place on our site.

Best regards
Alexander

Thumbs up :-)

Isn’t the time announced in advance? I don’t think people want to keep checking back to see when it’s time. A countdown would be fun, too!

Hi, I’ve been following along here, but I just don’t really get the whole thing.
I thought there’d be a proper announcement—normally that would be on the homepage.
If I take a photo of the finished piece after following a downloaded pattern, where do I upload it? Who’s supposed to judge it?
It’s always tough at the start of a campaign, but if it’s only being publicized here, who’s supposed to participate?
There are only a handful of people active on the forum right now.
And, as already mentioned, the title “Quick Knitting Contest” is misleading.
BUT, I hope it turns out reasonably well and is something we can continue with.

I also think it’s really time to promote it on Facebook and on the homepage with all the rules and info. And not with a link to this forum, but as an informative announcement that encourages people to join in.

@mützekatze and Alexander
Do you already have something in the works? And when will the official announcement be coming out so we can promote it ourselves?

I can only agree and add that a newsletter on this topic would reach a large number of potential participants.

Since it’s not just about knitting, renaming it would be better. Maybe something along the lines of “Creativity”—since crafts are part of it too?

And don't forget sewing :-)!

Okay
so
the name “Quick Knitting Contest” was a bit unfortunate
that was just a spontaneous idea of mine. I didn’t think there’d be such a big response.

Regarding the announcement:
I put the announcement text in the email.

My suggestion was to put the materials list in a separate blog post
so users can access it more quickly.

Also, there’s a blog post called “Thanks to the Participating Sellers”
because I think it’s only right to thank them properly, with promotion and everything.
What do you all think?

Should we start a new thread for all questions about the contest, or do you just want to continue here in this thread?
This thread has become quite extensive by now, and it also contains details from weeks ago that are outdated by now.

What do you need? How are things looking for you?

Hi mützekatze,

I don’t think starting a new thread here or on the blog will do much good, since there are far too few visitors here and on the blog who would see it. It really needs to be posted on Facebook, on the homepage, and in a newsletter email.

Okay, I quickly put together
a draft for the newsletter text—let’s see what Alexander thinks of it.

It should also appear on Facebook and the homepage as soon as possible—people always need a little lead time, and it’s already pretty late for this anyway. It would be a real shame if the contest didn’t really work out because people found out about it too late.

Sorry, my typos are terrible today—I’m in a rush :-)

Sorry, but I’m a little worried that this is all happening a bit too fast. Maybe we should have asked for suggestions here in the forum first. Muetzekatze’s suggestion here in the forum was only posted on February 17. Setting up a proper contest takes time, clear ideas, and planning. Here, too, a newsletter would certainly have attracted more people to check out the forum.
It would be a shame if it turned out to be a flop right from the start and this truly wonderful idea didn’t get a chance to develop.
I agree with orimono that a proper announcement belongs on the homepage and in a newsletter. Just posting it once on Facebook definitely won’t generate the necessary response.

I hope we can still manage all that.

The first attempt at something new—whether it’s a contest or something else—is always a chance to learn.

That’s true, but it was still a lot of work for the sellers, too. That’s why it’s important to hit the ground running now, so there’s as little frustration as possible over missed opportunities. Right? :-)

Is the homepage ready yet? And what about Facebook?

We’re working on it right now—please be a little more patient

Hi... I think the idea of having a contest is great, and I’d love to take part. I hope I can manage uploading the photo okay too... Oh, and unfortunately, I’m not much of a tinkerer, but if I ever create a nice pattern, I’ll be happy to share it with you :-)
Best wishes and good luck to everyone taking part
Angi

It's true that we don't have much time to organize it. However, everything doesn't have to go perfectly the first time. We learn from mistakes and will do it better next time ;-). Please don't panic!

I've created the blog post (many thanks to Muetzekatze for the content): https://www.crazypatterns.net/de/blog/63/an-die-nadel-fertig-los

Of course, everything will be announced on Facebook and via the newsletter.

Best regards
Alexander

appelino // 1327. Baby-/Kleinkinde

is there a mistake? What even is  Baby-/Kleinkinde?

in the blog it says Baby-/Kleinkinder

still not any more understandable...

It should actually be called “baby/toddler shoes,” but I think it’ll be presented correctly later.

Small mistake. Thank you very much! That means: Baby/Toddler Shoes - Knitting Pattern - Foxes
The corresponding correction has been made on the blog.

Best regards
Alexander

Hi, the crochet yarn is pretty fine—would this work with thicker yarn too? I’ve had trouble finding something suitable. LG Angi

Have you all already been busy posting on Facebook or on your blogs that there’s a contest? :-)

Angi, do you mean for the pincushion? You can also use thicker yarn. Then it’ll be bigger—my sample cushion is pretty small, so no problem at all :)

Hugs, Nici

Hi Orimono, the announcement has already been made via email and on Facebook. 

Hi Alexander, I’m also signed up for the newsletter, but I haven’t received anything—hmm… I’ve already checked my spam folder, too.
I saw on Facebook that you linked to this thread here in the forum, but it still just says “Knitting and Quick.” I’m afraid that didn’t get noticed at all.

Couldn’t you post a clear announcement on Facebook—not just text, but also some preview images…? That would surely get some people excited when they see what it’s all about. You wrote yourself that pictures are the be-all and end-all of an application—I think that’s true for a contest, too :)

The email thing has me wondering—was the newsletter exclusively about the contest, or was it just briefly mentioned at the end, where most people stop reading? If so, I definitely missed it, since I’m only ever interested in the pictures in the newsletter—that’s how I decide whether it’s worth taking a look.

Waving, Nici

I didn’t get the newsletter about the contest either.

In fact, I haven’t received one for days. And you’ll have to forgive us if we’re slowly starting to get anxious, but if the contest isn’t posted on Facebook until tomorrow, I wonder when the participants are supposed to buy the materials. If we’re supposed to start on Monday, it’s very late to tell people over the weekend what will be needed. I don’t think many people check the blog; instead, 30,000 people on Facebook are waiting for the information that was announced on the 5th. There wasn’t a link to the blog there either...

Hi Nici, Hi Johanna,

the newsletter was sent to non-sellers. Please don’t be surprised. Your post @Johanna was recently posted on Facebook. Please don’t worry. Anyone who wants to participate will participate. We’ll keep everyone informed.

Best regards
Alexander

P.S. I wish you all a wonderful weekend :-)

Why limit it to non-sellers, though?
I wanted to participate, for example...
If you’re not here that often, how are you supposed to know that a contest is starting here?????

I didn’t get the newsletter either
even though I’m not a seller.
 

Please forgive
me for the flood of threads, but I’ve put
some important info in new threads. This thread has gotten so long by now that new readers probably won’t read
it all the way to the end, which is why I’ve created the new threads.

Where can I find these new threads, please?

Please take a look here:

Which pattern are you going to make?

Who’s joining in?

Materials list for the contest

Thanks to the sellers who are providing the patterns.

Waving, Nici

 

It would be great if it were featured on the homepage too, so customers have an immediate incentive to join in—don’t you think?

@Nici: Thanks for linking to the new threads :)
I checked out the download numbers—
things are really taking off.
Wishing you all lots of success!

Johanna, I totally agree with you. The pictures aren’t visible anywhere, and they’re what really get people excited, right?

Sure thing, muetzekatze :) Let’s see how many of them actually submit their photos to the contest....

I’m curious too :-)

I agree—that way, anyone who hasn’t noticed it yet would still have a chance!

Thanks for the link—I’ll definitely join in and hope the photo uploads go smoothly.

Hi! Unfortunately, I’ve been sick since Monday and haven’t managed to pick up my needles. My test knitter hasn’t gotten back to me with a photo either, which is why the pattern is incomplete
But I’d love to participate in the next contest with the pattern next time :-)

Hi... I haven’t quite finished my entry for the contest yet, but I also don’t know how to upload the photo—could you please help me with that?
Best regards, angi

Hi hansenangi,

You can upload the photos here: https://www.crazypatterns.net/de/gallery/upload
Just select the photo and submit it. Please let me know if you’re having trouble. Then we’ll create a guide.

Best regards
Alexander

Hi Alexander,
I wanted to take part in the contest too, but somehow I can’t get the photos uploaded. I did follow your instructions, though.
Do certain size limits or formats need to be observed?
Best wishes, Strickfee
 

So what’s the deal with the contest, anyway? When is the voting going to take place?

You can still submit pictures until the 24th.

Voting is already underway—you should check out the gallery. You can see the uploaded photos of the finished pieces there. Then you can decide which ones you like best and vote for them :-)

I messed up the contest and didn’t download a single pattern. I hope you all had a lot of fun with it.

Hi

I’m definitely way too late for this contest, but I’m sure you all had an exciting weekend.
In my opinion, this solution with the Guardian Angel contest is very elegant. It keeps the contest from getting too unwieldy, and as far as I can tell, the users are really enthusiastic about it.

Sidney