If there were a series of sock patterns - say, as many as ten, or perhaps as few as five, that had a common theme, would you prefer to buy them as a booklet-type format with all the patterns, or would you prefer to buy single patterns? (The booklet of patterns would probably cost less than if you were to buy all the patterns singly; it might even be such that if you bought the booklet, it would be as if you were getting a pattern or two free over the cost of the single-sheets).
I have an idea - an inspiration - for two sock patterns that share a common theme and I think with a bit of thought and research I could come up with a bunch of others. (I'm being intentionally evasive here; the idea might change as it develops and I also have a tiny fear of being "scooped" by someone else, although the idea probably is something others could come up with).
I don't think I could do BOTH. And I'm not sure if I'm computer savvy enough to do them as for-pay downloads, like I know some pattern sellers do. I will say the idea of a booklet appeals to me more than the idea of single-sheets, because there's less chance for me screwing it up (only one type of item people can order rather than ten; so I don't wind up doing things like sending Pattern #3 out to someone who really ordered Pattern #5).
(Or, for that matter, this might all be moot, depending on how much of a PITA getting a pay-pal account set up is).
I will say this is a long-term project, it would take a year or more for me to develop it successfully. And at some point in that process I might just say, aw, to heck with it, and put the patterns up online for free, if it seems to be more hassle than it's worth to arrange for payment. (I'm envisioning something like a book of 10 patterns for $8 plus postage, or maybe $5 plus postage depending on how much it costs to print). Or maybe, considering the theme of these patterns, I'd offer them for free but request a donation be made to a particular group I support, if the person using the pattern enjoyed it.
I'm rather excited about the two sock ideas I have, and hopefully there are others out there who'd be excited, too. I don't want to go the Knitty submission route, partly because there would be multiple patterns in the "series" that worked together, and a one-off wouldn't have the same impact, but mainly because I think they're a little too geeky for Knitty, or that I'm not hip enough as a designer for Knitty.
I don't particularly care about making tons of money off of the patterns; I'm more attracted to the idea of my patterns, out there, in some kind of published (even if it's just self-published and printed at the Kinko's) format. But of course, I'd have to make back AT LEAST the cost of printing the books and mailing them out.
(One little hint for people: if I went the route of asking for donations to a group in lieu of payment to me, the group would be The Nature Conservancy.)
And here's another one of those quiz thingies:
YOU ARE CATNIP
What herb are you?
brought to you by Quizilla
No, I didn't "tweak" my answers to get something other than "chamomile" (which seems to be what everyone else is getting).
5 comments:
i was catnip, too. interesting.
as for your sock idea, i love it! go for it! i would say, to figure in costs of shipping materials, as well as actual postage, if you go that route. you could also do a pdf file, and just email the patterns. that would save printing & shipping costs. i have a friend that made up a hat pattern that knitty wouldn't take because it had "religious" connotations (it was a christmas tree hat), so she decided to sell it on her own, and donate part of the proceeds to charity. she did the pdf thing, and it works well. i've also gotten the rogue pattern that way.
I'd say it depends on a couple of things.
1)If someone that likes one pattern would be much more likely to also enjoy the rest of the patterns, then I'd sell them as a clump. There'd be more of that "Ooh, look at that one. And THAT one! Wow, and that one!" effect that would make it worth it.
2) If an average knitter with one of the patterns would be easily able to figure out the rest of them, I'd sell them individually. I've seen a few pattern books with one clever idea (or one clever idea that gets used over and over again) and when it's a 40$ book I just look at one version and file the idea away for later. On the other hand, if the clever idea was on a 4$ pattern, I'd probably buy it and do the permutations myself.
I tried to tweak my answers to become basil but couldn't. Kept being chamomile - so sooooothing - so booooring.
I like the idea of the book too; having all the variations grouped together would make me more likely to try out several.
That quiz was fun. I am an unfailing romantic who is good for dandruff or Rosemary...I hear a song, think I'll go find parsley and sage now :)***CV
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