First I want to say that this post is not about me tooting my own horn, I do not for one instance think I am better than anyone.........BUT..........I have been really frustrated as to what people think they have a right to say to me about my patterns.
I still consider myself a new designer......I think all of us will continue to learn as we go. We are not perfect. I admit that when I first started designing, that I didn't know what I was doing. I know as a beginner to crochet, it took some time in learning what abbreviations meant on patterns, and also learning the style of designers. One thing I did learn about writing out a design.....is that a lot of us do it differently. Some use their own abbreviation styles, some use the standard. For me when starting out, I had seen in many patterns, "SS" which meant Slip stitch. So I used the SS myself........I have heard from some people that it was not the normal SS.........so I decided to start using the standard, more used, "Slst" abbreviation. I also learned that some will never be satisfied with how you write something out and I cannot change that.
My frustration comes from the comments I get from some people. Some of them I know were genuine in not understanding something I had written out, and I could totally relate and understand as I am in that position with other patterns a lot. To this day I still see how my own patterns can be re-written out to make it more easier. Some comments though, can be very rude. I have had some people tell me I have no right to have a, "Terms of Use" on my patterns, while others don't understand the need as they are offered free online. well I do have a right to use them, and I do see how hard it can be to enforce it so to speak. Even though I offer my patterns free online, does not mean or give anyone the right to say it's their own pattern. They do not have a right to take my pictures and say it's their own work.......they do not have a right to take my patterns and change one round/row and then say it's their own work.......they do not have a right to tell me how and what I can add to my patterns pertaining to copyright, or terms of use.
I also get comments from others about my own style of writing.........they act as if they have a right to tell me it's wrong and I need to write it out the way they think it needs to be done. Below is an example of a comment I just received today on a post. Now it's not as rude or outright as some of the others, (which I don't approve) I did, however, choose to post this one. They made the comment as "Anonymous" I will say the only thing I changed in the pattern from the post, was I took out the special notes on beg corner and corner and just added them into the round instructions. I also changed the SS to Slst, as it was one of the many patterns I have yet to change. It's a time consuming process to go back and change all the patterns, but eventually I will get it done. I think my response was also rude, but I am so frustrated as I took this comment as being rude. To me I took it as they are saying, I don't know how to write, as they have "never" seen them like that. Well I have seen instructions like it, and I have seen them even worse. Some of those patterns were actually printed in a magazine/book I paid for. But I would never think to write the designer with such a comment. Why do I have to be the same as someone else? Why can't I write in my own style?? Why on earth does someone think they have a right to tell this? It's rude and very inconsiderate of my own feelings. My patterns are offered for free. They take time to make, write out, rewrite, test, rewrite, redo and so on..........and I am both upset and saddened that people out there just don't seem to care enough to be decent. This person was more than welcome to ask for help. She could have left a comment or emailed me about a question she had. Maybe she is a beginner......or even not a crocheter at all. As I do not understand how she didn't understand it at all. The only other comment I have received is someone not knowing what ++ meant. I admit that ++ is not the normal, but it was my way of writing it out, and maybe it should have been in the notes that ++ means to repeat instructions between the ++ signs. I have seen other designers use the ++ and so I know it's not that uncommon to see in a pattern. Even as I write this out I see that I didn't add the definition to that in the notes section. But had I seen something in a pattern I didn't understand, I would first see if instructions were offered online.........if I still couldn't find it, I would then email/message the designer. I would NEVER say the comment below to a designer.
I hope this person reads this and sees how this comment was taken, and hopefully next time she will ask if she doesn't understand something, and hopefully not make another designer feel this way. I am hoping it was not her intention, but seeing the comment is really hard not to see that it's written out exactly like it was meant to be taken.
I don't expect everyone to like my patterns, there are plenty I have seen from others that I don't like but you know what? I still respect them, and I just don't work the pattern. I was raised to respect people, even when you don't agree/like them. IF you don't like my patterns, that is fine .....don't visit my blog, don't make my patterns, but please don't try to insult me.
