Many of the patterns here are clearly too expensive

Good morning,

I just came across the following knitting pattern via a recent Facebook post.

Mod.Edit: Image and link removed at the seller’s request.

The little shoes are beautiful. Just great. But too expensive. I mean, surely the prices could be lowered a bit. Especially when it’s clear that customers aren’t accepting the price. Even without any statistics, you can see with this pattern—it’s been viewed over 150 times and purchased 0 times. I’d gladly buy the pattern right away if it cost 2.90.

Why is it more important to you to set the price high and not sell it, rather than lowering the price?

Best regards, Karo

P.S.@piccolo_popolo , I don’t mean this in a bad way, and it’s not personal. I think you make very beautiful, professional items. I just want to understand how the prices are set here.

I was at a café the other day and paid 3.60 € for a latte macchiato.
That made me realize it’s about the same amount of money I charge for a comprehensive crochet pattern.
But I get to keep the pattern forever and can use it to make something beautiful countless times.
The latte was also very tasty, but in the end, I finished it and it was gone...
Oh, and at the café, I can’t exactly say, “I’d have liked the latte for €2.90” ;o)
Everything has its price, but crafting still has this sort of “hobby” status, which is why many people think that creating a pattern is just a fun thing to do and that it should be offered as cheaply as possible. But unfortunately, creating patterns not only takes a lot of work and effort, but, as osaki wrote, it’s also not exactly cheap…
With that in mind, have a wonderful day!
Karin

Hi Karo,

I can definitely understand where you’re coming from.
I also buy patterns for jackets or sewn items every now and then. I do have a “pain threshold” when it comes to that.
For more than 4 €, I’d have to really like it or be totally curious about how it works. I generally don’t buy anything over 6 €.
Maybe it’s also because you can get craft magazines for that price.

That’s why I try to offer my patterns at relatively affordable prices.
Of course, I’m also aware of the costs involved, which Osaki has already described in detail. And let’s not forget the considerable amount of time it takes to try out the pattern several times in different sizes, have others test it, and then write it all down.
Even after a sale, the work isn’t always done—I often receive follow-up questions from customers that need to be answered...

Unfortunately, you can never tell in advance which pattern will sell well. If I could, it might be easier to charge a lower price—because if I knew I’d sell it a few hundred times, the costs would be covered. If, on the other hand, it only sells 5 times, the costs involved are naturally much higher.

Of course, you should also consider how time-consuming a pattern is. In my opinion, charging €5 for a simple knitted scarf, for example, would be excessive.
But for a fairly elaborate jacket in different sizes, that would be quite affordable.

Best regards

Nici

 

Karin and Osaki - I can only agree with your opinion. Anyone who has ever put together a pattern knows how much work and time goes into it. If they're too expensive for someone, they don't need to buy them.
Also, have a lovely day
from
Luise

Of course, I completely agree with my colleagues—it takes an immense amount of time to develop and realize an idea, and naturally, there are costs involved for us as well. But I also understand Karo very well; after all, you usually buy a pattern to crochet it once. From that perspective, I do think some patterns are a bit pricey. But we shouldn’t compare our patterns to craft magazines, since those are usually very simply designed and, in my opinion, not always very clear. 
I try to look at my work as objectively as possible once it’s finished and ask myself how much I’d be willing to spend on it if I wanted to buy it. That price is then set as the selling price.
Man, when I think about how many pairs of shoes I’ve seen that I didn’t buy because they were just too expensive for me ;o)

Best regards, Melle


 

It really depends on the pattern—with my small pension, I have to think twice before spending money on it.
I’ve seen some here where the difference from free ones isn’t very big. But of course, it depends on your own “skill level” whether you can manage it. Magazines in stores are also getting more and more expensive and full of ads, so I really have to think hard about whether I can afford them.
I’d rather spend a little more on yarn and knit from an old pattern—after all, it looks different with a different kind of yarn.

I should also add that I make a real effort with my patterns to ensure that everything is explained clearly and in detail, and documented with photos. Where necessary or helpful, I create crochet charts on the computer, and each pattern comes with additional photo tutorials that explain specific techniques and tips. And of course, I’m always available to assist every buyer with advice and support—even multiple times and in detail, if needed—until everything is perfect.
I believe the prices must be justified by the quality of the pattern. And as a designer, I’m fully behind that! I see this as my duty.
A good pattern thus offers much more “service” than those found in books and magazines, which simply can’t be as comprehensive...
That’s perhaps all I’ll say by way of explanation regarding the price....

Hello,

First of all, a heartfelt thank you to everyone who posts such lovely patterns. This gives me more choice here than in a thick craft book. So far, I’ve only bought patterns that I’ve actually made. My pain threshold is about 4.00 euros. But when I really think about it... how many craft magazines have I bought just to leaf through them and never made anything from them? How many books are on my shelf that I’ve only knitted or crocheted one item from, and how does the price then compare to that one pattern? 
I’m happy to pay for a good pattern, and I think the service described and the online help are great.

Hello,

thank you for all the replies. What should one do about the price if the pattern isn’t selling?

Best regards, Karo

Hi Karo,

I see it myself every day: a pattern on Crazypatterns doesn’t sell very well, but it sells very well on other platforms. In this case, it’s not about the price (which is the same everywhere) but about the audience. Since I’ve found that, for example, discount promotions here didn’t lead to more purchases anyway, the price will stay as it is.

Best regards, orimono

Hi
I also buy patterns every now and then, and when I like something, I don’t look at the price either
because I know I’ll always have them. But what sometimes annoys me is that some patterns are written so strangely
that I can’t make sense of them.
Then of course it annoys me when I’ve spent so much more on them; otherwise, complaining about prices is not an issue for me.
Best regards, ilonabo

@ Ilonabo, if you’re not satisfied with a pattern, you should definitely let the designer know. If you don’t get a positive response, then you should leave your review accordingly. I myself have bought patterns before that made my hair stand on end.
Best regards
Petra

Hi
Prices in the 2–3 euro range are acceptable to me. Anything above that is excessive. Yarn and supplies for making the projects aren’t free, either. Unfortunately, my girlfriend sees things a bit differently and shops here regularly, more or less without worrying about the price. The patterns are all very nice. Those overly saccharine-cute patterns aren’t really my thing, but you can always scroll past them. When it comes to baby booties, I always scroll past them. I’ll leave the “oh, that’s so cute” to the female half of the world’s population. Our kids are past the baby stage and don’t need mini booties anymore. But scarves, gloves, maybe even a hat, and practical items are fine with me as a crocheter. In any case, there won’t be any decorative stuff on my crochet hook.
Richard

hi, I also think that if you’re unhappy with the writing style or something like that, you should definitely say so, because otherwise the designer can’t change it; if no one tells you, how are you supposed to know?

prices

it simply depends on what it is; for a pattern that’s well made and up to 20 pages, I’m happy to pay up to €4...... if the pattern has more pages and is therefore more extensive, then it’s clear that it will cost more, and you’re happy to pay more for it

but recently I paid €9.85 for a poorly made pattern - 10 pages - .... I complained about that; that really wasn’t okay at all

for the pattern as it was, €9.85 was too much

************

I also sell ebooks myself, and I calculate my ebooks based on the number of pages: €0.20 per page + a 30% surcharge because of the fees and costs you have

then I already have a point of reference for myself, and then I look at it or ask myself: would I, as a customer, pay this price? If YES, then the price stays as calculated; if NO, I sometimes leave out the surcharge and only calculate the €0.20 per page

e.g. my pattern for the Christmas Grandma would, according to my calculation (I have a program for that where I only have to enter the number of pages and the program does the rest), have been priced at €7.70; I then lowered the price because no one would pay that

the only question is, with costs slowly getting higher and higher, whether I can continue to offer things in the same price range as before...... I hope so, but I’ll see in my full annual accounting whether it works out or not

Hi Karo,

I happened to come across your post about my pattern last night. I don’t usually spend much time on forums because I just don’t have the time—I only check in sporadically. That’s why I’m only responding now. If someone messages me directly, I usually reply within 24 hours.

First of all, I’d like to point out that my pricing is my business and no one else’s. I’m sure you don’t go to your baker and ask for his breakdown of how the prices for his rolls are calculated if they seem too expensive to you.

Second, you yourself noted that I make very beautiful and professional items. Beauty is a subjective matter and lies in the eye of the beholder. But you’re right, I do create professional patterns—though I’m quite certain you haven’t purchased any of my patterns yet and therefore don’t know what they look like. I believe that if you deliver high-quality work, you’re entitled to charge a corresponding price. No one is forced to buy my patterns—and I’m not more expensive than most other sellers. Since I have a lot of customers who buy patterns from me time and again, I assume that my value for money is just right.

Good, easy-to-understand patterns—especially for beginners—aren’t something you can just whip up in an hour or throw together on the fly. There’s quite a bit of work, stress, and expense involved. Most people who’ve written a pattern before will agree with me on that. No one works for free—and I’m sure you don’t either. Why should our work be worth so much less than, say, that of a tradesperson? If we charged our hourly rate plus sales tax, our work would be unaffordable.

Third—your claim that the pattern isn’t being bought because it’s too expensive is complete nonsense. Whether a pattern sells better or worse depends on many factors. It’s just like me claiming that anyone who’s shaking is going through alcohol withdrawal. Just as an aside: the ratio of page views to purchases is higher for this pattern than for my “snowmen.”

Fourth, I’d like to ask you to make sure my image is removed. This might seem petty, but I didn’t give you permission to use it.

Finally, I’d like to thank everyone who stood up for me. Thank you very much, especially to you, osaki, and Karin from Kreativhaekelshop—you hit the nail on the head.

Best regards, Petra

Mod.Edit: At the seller’s request, the image and link in the first post above have been removed.

Hi, I only just noticed that there’s a chat area, which I think is great. As for the prices of the patterns, I don’t agree that they’re too expensive; they really are very beautiful patterns. When I go to a bookstore and want to buy patterns, I pay far more for a magazine or a book and only get one pattern. Here, I can choose exactly what I like. There’s one creator who makes the patterns really well, but when I print them out and end up with 40–50 pages, that’s too much. And what I think is really great about crazypatterns is that being able to pay and download immediately is fantastic. Many thanks to all the women and men who create these patterns. Best regards, Andrea

I can never quite understand why buyers absolutely want short patterns. If I buy a book online, for example, I'm happy when the book is as long as possible. It's the same with ebooks, though I don't print them out either; I read them on the screen.

@Stricklady and all the other buyers who find the patterns too long.
Is it about the cost of printing for you? I'd really like to understand. I'd be grateful for any info. Welcome to the forum and have fun. :-)

@Josefa: I guess I’m one of those slightly old-fashioned types who prefers a printed version for evenings on the sofa. I remember that one of the first patterns I bought was by Natalija—it had over 100 pages. I didn’t realize that, so I started printing and left the room. Fifty pages and two empty printer cartridges later, I came back ;-) ....

I also find it impractical to flip through 100 pages, and if I ever lose track of the page number... I have to search through 30 pages just to find where I left off.
Besides, it’s not the actual pattern that’s so much more detailed than the others—it’s the pictures. If I remember correctly, the pattern back then had illustrations of almost every crochet stitch in A5 size. That might still be helpful for beginners, but by the second time you’re crocheting, a rough description is enough. And if the pictures are good, they work just fine even if they’re a bit smaller.
That’s just my personal opinion, though.

That’s why I always try to get by with about 10 pages.

You can’t really compare a book to a pattern. A book tells a story, and if it’s great, of course you don’t want it to end—as long as it stays exciting. But with patterns, it’s exactly the opposite… I want to finish the project, and when I see 40–50 pages, my first thought is: Oh my gosh. Especially since some people—myself included ;0)—do sometimes overlook things because they’re only skimming through it.

I also think a pattern should be detailed and easy to follow, but as concise as possible. Depending on the pattern, sometimes a lot of photos are needed to illustrate it, which of course makes the whole thing longer.

Kind regards 



 

Thanks @Nici and @MellesDeZign—now I get it, too. :-)

When I mentioned the bookstore, I didn’t mean a book to read—bookstores do sell patterns, but I’ve found them too expensive for me these days, which is why I prefer to buy specific patterns that I really enjoy.
Yes, exactly—it’s not about printing out lots of pages, as Sternenwelt already pointed out; for me, it’s about reaching my goal in short, simple steps. I’ve since put together my own book from all the patterns that are even shorter (that’s just my personal preference)—when I’m doing my needlework, I can’t turn a page or scroll on the computer after every stitch, so I lay out my pattern and work. Best regards, Andrea

I’ve already bought patterns from you—they’re great, exactly the way I like them, and the little shoes look fantastic. Thanks

I wanted to send my last post to Sternenwelt. The patterns are great. Best, Andrea

There’s one thing I really don’t get: If a pattern has too many pages for you, why don’t you just print the ones you actually need? You can set that on any printer by specifying which pages to print. (I once had a customer complain about paper waste regarding a shoe pattern. However, she couldn’t tell me why she absolutely had to print out the pattern pieces for all sizes! ;-) )

Especially since there are so many customers who can’t get enough detail. So it’s always better to make patterns very detailed; then experienced people can print selectively and save on pages.

There are also good, concise patterns that are 4–10 pages long, and they still explain everything you need in detail, which is perfectly fine. But when a pattern is 40–60 pages long, I can’t even just print the odd page or two if there are only two steps on one sheet to help me get where I want to go. I’ve decided not to buy from this seller anymore, even though their items are really great. And if anyone has problems with a pattern, they’re very welcome to contact that person directly. And if a seller here happens to read this, it’s up to each person whether they want to change anything or not. You offer us patterns, and we decide what we want to buy. So far, no one in this thread has said they think patterns that are sooooooooooooo long are great. Best regards, Andrea

Sure, Osaki, with sewing patterns, that only works if you print out the size you need.
But with knitting and crochet patterns where every step is described individually, that doesn’t work. I can’t start with the sole of the shoe, skip the next page, and then end up at the cuff—then important steps would be missing… just to give an example. It’s probably the same with amigurumi.

 

Thank you Andrea, @ Stricklady I’m glad you like my patterns :))

Dear Karo, it’s quite simple. Sit down, think of an item, knit or crochet it, and then write a 9- or 10-page pattern for it—with text, pictures, and detailed instructions so that no questions arise and everything is clearly explained to the buyer. Do that, and then think about what price you’d like to charge for the time and effort you’ve invested. Then come back here to the forum and tell us about the effort you put in. And please don’t forget to keep track of the hours you spent working on the patterns. Best regards, KreativesHandwerk 

@kreativeshandwerk
welcome to our forum.

@everyone:
please remember that this thread is old / was created in 2014. The prices for patterns have changed quite a bit since then. 

....and still... the patterns here aren’t expensive!!!!
I don’t know where other users look, but in my opinion, here I get patterns (very good, detailed patterns) at a fair price...
  For printing... some patterns are really long... and sometimes one author or another goes a bit overboard—at least that’s how it used to be....
  I also much prefer to have my clipboard with me along with a printed pattern.... If there are “too many” pictures, I print out the essentials and then add handwritten notes for steps that are important but don’t necessarily need to be printed....
But really, it’s hardly worth getting upset about....
  Every now and then, you get questions like, “Why isn’t there a free pattern for ‘this and that’? Could a designer maybe make one…?”
Of course, they’d also want the finished knitted or crocheted object of their desire mailed to them right away—for free, of course 😉😁😉

I’ve been noticing this “stinginess is cool” mentality in other areas for quite some time now. And especially with handmade crafts, I think it’s terrible—it shows zero appreciation.
Of course, it’s extreme right now because prices are really skyrocketing, but this thread started long before inflation.
When I look at what people are asking for hand-knitted socks made from good brand-name yarns on swap sites, it’s almost nothing—it’s barely enough to cover the cost of the yarn itself, even if it was on sale. Not to mention the labor involved.
People sit down here, put their minds to it and work out something—something I end up liking—and then they’re supposed to get nothing for their idea, their time, and the materials they used?

I realize that everyone has to calculate their prices and cover their costs.

I just don’t understand why you often get free patterns that are absolutely top-notch in terms of layout, illustrations, and page count, and then you come across a pattern that costs €5–6 and is just terribly done.
You don’t have to take a new photo for every stitch. Spelling mistakes don’t make a good impression either.
If you write to an author because it just says “M” there, and she replies and then later corrects her answer again, I find that concerning as well.
I also think it’s terrible when a pattern has obviously been run through a translation program. Often, you’re left guessing what you’re supposed to do.

For the most part, I’ve bought very good patterns here at CP, but you can also end up with a total dud.