So, does Knittinghelp have an official relationship with Ravelry, or is it more that people cross both websites?
Just curious. I’m still pretty new to both, but so far I’ve preferred this place to Ravelry for the forums though I like the stash, queue, and database of patterns at Ravelry.
I noticed that Ravelry has an option in the profile for people to list their username here and that there are a lot of people here who have links in their signatures to their Ravelry profiles or blogs or whatever. So I was just curious…
I’ve preferred this place to Ravelry for the forums though I like the stash, queue, and database of patterns at Ravelry.
That’s the relationship. As far as I know we have no other one. Even though those of us here prefer KH for the forums and our homely friendly feel most of us use Rav for the reasons you listed.
Thanks for telling us about being able to list our user name for KH on Ravelry! I didn’t now about that so I’ve just updated mine! I often get friend requests, but so many people change their user name that half the time I have no idea who they are! Mine is similar, but not exact because Rav didn’t allow spaces at least at the time I joined.
The same people use both websites. I’ve also encountered people on Ravelry from the craftster and knittyboard forums as well.
We’re something like your local yarn shop where you can sit down and chat and feel comfortable, while Ravelry is more like a convention. You do meet people there, including well known pattern designers, and chat with them, but it’s huge.
I’ve mostly only poked around at Ravelry, but I’ve found a lot of the how-to questions there for beginners like me get a lot of answers that are like, “sigh. Don’t you get it by now?” or just unhelpful. Maybe it’s better for more experienced knitters requiring some specific help with a complex pattern, or maybe I’m poking around the wrong forums.
I don’t mean to make this a Ravelry-hate post because it’s not. I do like a number of their features, but I haven’t yet figured out how best to make Ravelry work for me, though I was pointed to a specific group for another website I belong to (not a knitting website) that I expect will be fun.
Viewing Ravelry as a convention and KH as the local yarn shop is a really excellent way of looking at it. Thanks!
I’m on both boards, and love Ravelry! For me, both boards work well off of one another, as Ravelry has all the different groups to join, and KH has videos, etc.
Yes this! I love getting lost on ravelry looking at patterns and yarns but this is where I come when I have a question. I don’t care for the forum set up on ravelry and find it very confusing actually. Here everything is pretty neatly organized and there’s lots of regulars.
I think comparing it to a convention is a perfect example. LOTS of yarns and patterns to ogle, and lots of people to cross paths with but because there is so much it’s impossible to carry on a good conversation or get detailed help… so you come back home your local yarn store at KH and get the help you need.
can’t live a day without at least eavesdropping here.
The analogy that Rav’s more like a convention really works for me. I tend to be the quiet, stick to myself type (until you get to know me! then, I won’t shut up!) I get lost and overwhelmed by the “too much” of it all. Here at least, I can sort things out better, and communicate when I feel like I have something to share.
I’m so glad for this place! It makes my day! consistently!!
I have been on Ravelry for several years and really like it very much. I love the different interest groups and yes, the Newer Knitters forum/group is very friendly - I have not ever seen anyone be anything but helpful to posts in that forum.
I also love the Notebook/Projects/Stash tracking and I use that extensively.
Anyway- glad to be here too! This seems like a very nice website and forum.
Same here! Another feature I use extensively is my QUEUE feature! When I ‘queue’ a project…I can ‘pair it’ with a yarn in my Stash by using the edit feature (the pencil icon) of the queued item. The by clicking ‘use stash’ I can view a list of my stash, hit ok, and it’s ‘paired’. Now the double bonus is when I revisit my Stash…and click on any yarn…it will tell me what queued project the yarn is paired with! Sometimes you forget what you were gonna use a yarn for!
Anyway, I mostly use Rav to assist me in my knitting…projects, stash, patterns, help with projects by reading the notes shared by dozens (or maybe hundreds) of other knitters when THEY knit it. That is one of the greatest tools! When you look up, or begin, a project you can see how many other knitters are knitting it, too…or much of the time have finished it! Hardly anyone ever uses the signature yarn of the model…so you can see how different yarns make it look! That information is invaluable. Plus, many knitters (in their own project notes) share their modifications, perhaps their problems and what they wish they’d done differently. I always take care to read every note made by all those who blazed the trail. It helps me in avoiding pitfalls and derailing!
Anyway, I will agree…KH is a great forum for HELP, and warm friendship! Everyone knows everyone else, and cares about you!
I agree with the convention vs. LYS analogy. I love KH and Rav for different reasons. KH provides info, tips, companionship, etc. while Rav is a great place to document your stash, look up patterns, and something I do often…get inspiration by looking at other peoples’ projects. I love to walk through other folks projects (like ArtLady1981’s) as they inspire me to broaden my knitting project horizons, work on my techniques (like blocking), and explore yarn/project combinations. And the comments on patterns from others who have used the pattern are incredibly useful. Also, as I have limited ability to move around, having my stash recorded is a blessing…for both me and my family as I no longer have to say “run and get my yarn boxes” several times a week because I can’t remember what I have in my stash!
