Boring? Off-putting? When do you definitely not buy a pattern?

Dear users, dear authors,
I’d like to know when you click away from a pattern, or why you don’t click on a pattern at all.
Is it the images? The design? The colors? The difficulty level? The price? The title / text?
Which patterns are “absolutely not for you”?
What kind of product presentation do you (not ) like?

It would be great if you would share your thoughts on this.
Our authors appreciate feedback here in the thread / through comments and reviews in their shops, and they’re always happy to learn.
Thanks :- )

Author ruthk asked me to include these questions in the thread as well:
- What crafts do you prefer making: clothing, accessories, home decor, amigurumi?
- Do you look for very specific patterns, or do you
come across something by chance that you then absolutely want to make?
- Which patterns are you missing?

For me, both product photos and product descriptions play an important role in my purchasing decisions.

What puts me off are extremely blurry photos as well as clutter in the shot.
If I see half the apartment in the background of a product photo—sometimes even full laundry baskets or dirty dishes on a table—it makes me uneasy.

I also get skeptical when the product description is just one line long, the grammar is terrible, or it contains completely wrong information... (For example, when a crochet pattern mentions knitting.)

--> If the product preview is poor, I worry that the pattern itself will be just as bad. 

I would never spend more than 4 € on a pattern.
What some professionals charge—and by that I mean patterns from publishers—is outrageous!

I always read the comments, too, and if an author doesn’t answer the questions asked, I won’t buy it.

Sometimes I search for specific topics—right now, shawls. Often, I also get hooked by the promotional emails you send and then really want to make something right away. :)

I feel the same way. If the pictures are poor quality and you can’t tell right away what it is, I’m not interested. Spelling mistakes aren’t good either. If the amount of yarn needed isn’t specified, I don’t like that either.

I also consider whether I have the right kind of yarn in my stash, and I pay attention to the price. It’s great that there are sales too—I’m happy to take advantage of those.

Sometimes I search specifically for certain patterns. I’m mainly interested in clothing and home decor.


Some authors (publishers) have magazines that I already own, so I’m surprised by the prices here.

Personally, I need “my colors” in the photo—that grabs me right away :-)

Of course, the photo should also be good, and the description informative and (as much as possible) error-free.

I’ll also spend more than 4 euros if I’m getting a very good pattern for it, one that’s written so that I ideally don’t have to ask any questions or watch any help videos to understand what is meant.

@Libelle11: but that’s sometimes not very fair either—because only here do customers ask questions in the comments. You can’t conclude from that whether the questions may have already been resolved by PM or email. I also rarely answer specific stitch questions in the comment field; instead, I explain it to customers by email or by PM if needed ;-)

What I sometimes find difficult is recognizing a good pattern in advance based on photos and brief descriptions.

If the preview has really terrible photos and/or spelling mistakes, I assume the rest isn’t any better.

Could you please share this thread on Facebook, Twitter, etc., so we can get as wide a range of opinions as possible?

Personally, I don’t think it’s good when the type of craft isn’t mentioned in either the title or the product description. For sewing patterns or craft patterns, this might not be such a big deal in itself, but not everyone can tell the difference between crocheted and knitted items just by looking at photos. Also, not everyone knows that you can check the type of craft by clicking “More” in the bottom right corner of the product page.

Including the craft type in the title or description is quick and easy. It offers significant benefits, especially for beginners, and it’s simply necessary information.

The idea or product has to “grab” me—purely based on how it looks and feels. Then I take a closer look. If I then read only a very short description, just a short paragraph, I definitely won’t buy it. For example, I need to know what kind of yarn I need, what the yardage is, and how much of it.

The type of craft is also important.

Price plays a role too, though I don’t set a fixed limit. For a pattern I absolutely want and that’s very comprehensive, I’m happy to pay a good price. Because I know firsthand how much time and work goes into it.

However, the price has to match what’s offered. For a simple hat, for example, I wouldn’t pay more than 3 euros.

I’m just like mowi19.
Sometimes I search specifically for a pattern, but most of the time I get tempted by a pretty picture, a cool piece, or a cute little animal! So far, I’ve actually had almost nothing but good experiences with purchased patterns, but I also don’t like buying “a pig in a poke.” I think it’s great when alternative material suggestions are provided, since not every type of yarn is available everywhere.

Yes, I’d like to add that too. The yardage of the yarn is very important. That way, it’s easy to substitute.

I already wrote quite a bit in the recent poll about the topic of "when a pattern does (or doesn't) appeal to me." I just can't find the old thread on my phone right now to copy or link it.
I would like to emphasize again, though - also because quite a few users seem to feel the same - that the description should include information about the yarn used and the approximate amount needed before purchase. Personally, I already lose interest in buying if there's no information about that at all. 

Author ruthk asked me to include these questions in the thread as well:
- What do you prefer to make, clothing, accessories, decor, amigurumi?
==> I look for clothing, and accessories too.
- Do you look for very specific patterns or do you see 
something by chance that you then absolutely want to make? 
==> I follow about a dozen designers, but I also browse now and then and come across authors I don't know yet. I rarely buy directly after searching, more on impulse. And from my wishlist, which I go through often by now, I either remove things or buy them.
- Which patterns are you missing? Overall, I find there are few sweaters/ long-sleeved tops.

Another thing that just came to mind about searching for patterns: I only recently looked for a scarf. Quite a few were actually shown, but at the same time there were huge numbers of triangular shawls and also "miscellaneous". I do understand that patterns get stuffed with keywords so they'll be seen, but it's a bit annoying ...

You really hit the nail on the head for me with the scarves and shawls, Michaela. 

Also to ruthk: 
I think amigurumi are wonderful, but I don’t really like crocheting them. 
I miss long-sleeved sweaters here too. 

I like patterns best where it doesn’t matter what yarn you use... like this: knit 2 rectangles from upper arm to upper arm :)

I’m surprised that some people list triangular shawls under “scarves.”
To me, those are two different things.

Well, I’m always looking for patterns that are very easy to knit—ones that already show this in the product photo, are written clearly and understandably, and ideally fit on 1–2 pages. I don’t need 20-page booklets. And the yarn has to be suitable, not just vaguely so.
So, in the end, I always come back to authors who’ve already proven to me that they meet these requirements.

If a project description is very complicated or confusing, I usually stop reading, because if I don’t even understand that part…
Color is important; if I don’t like it, I have to remind myself that I can easily change that aspect. If the color is too dark, it’s harder to see the pattern or stitches.  I usually check out what’s new once a week, though my preferences can change pretty quickly—for example, when I’m looking for a new project for a specific type of yarn.

Best regards, Chris

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I just saw a really nice knitting pattern! For details on the yarn used: you can find it in my online shop. Sorry, that already put me off buying it...

Would anyone else like to add something?

Yes: Peep :-)

OK. :-)
Would you like to add anything else about the topic of this thread? ;)

....oh, and one more thing: it would also be nice if the product photos showed the item from both the front and the back.

Yessssss, the back view is often missing! Great post ♡

And the finished project should also be shown completely, with all corners, etc., visible. That would be very important.
Any additional decorations shouldn’t cover up the finished project shown.

Personally, I definitely wouldn’t buy a pattern if it doesn’t even show me the finished result. It seems to have become somewhat of a trend to crochet pattern swatches and show half-finished product photos where quite a bit is still missing and the ends haven’t been woven in yet...
That always makes me wonder whether the pattern was written just as carelessly and in such an abbreviated way. If you want to sell something, you should put in a bit more effort, in my opinion.
I want to see the projects in all their glory, and if at all possible, I’d also like to see them in other colors (maybe from test crocheters).

I’m done — have a nice Wednesday!

Yeah, I think that’s weird, too. 28 identical front views and not a single back view isn’t ideal for a top.
And when it comes to a jacket, at least one photo of the jacket itself would make sense—not just a close-up of the pattern. 

Sorry, I haven’t been here in a long time.
Well, I like to crochet decorative items, like the mouse in the old shoe (brilliant) and things like that. Unfortunately, there are far too few patterns for those. I just love crazy patterns.
But I also look at patterns, and if they’re too vague, I do think twice about whether I should buy them. 

For me, it depends on what I feel like making at the moment whether I take a closer look at a pattern or click away from it. Since my main focus is sewing, I tend to look more for sewing patterns, but since I once learned pattern drafting myself, I look at them quite differently. For example, I don’t see the point in spending a lot of money on a pattern that’s so simple. I have to adjust every pattern for myself anyway because of physical limitations (my right shoulder area is about 4 cm shorter than my left), so I usually make them myself.
Since I do a wide range of sewing, I also partly design my own teddy bear patterns or lingerie patterns. There are only two or three store-bought items hanging in my closet; everything else is sewn by me.
When it comes to knitting, it’s a bit different. I do look for patterns that suit me, but they mustn’t be too complicated, because knitting complicated stitch patterns isn’t really my thing. Unfortunately, I can’t crochet anymore because of osteoarthritis in my right thumb joint, but knitting works quite well.

@Schneckenkind: Sorry, I only just saw this now...
Some authors then write in the comments that they’ll contact you via PM or that you should send them a PM.
For me, that also counts as “taken care of.”
But if, after questions have been asked, the buyer still writes underneath that no one is getting back to them and that they’re frustrated or disappointed... that’s just not okay.