Monday, May 16

Does anyone read blogs anymore?

I'm wondering how many people still read blogs? I seldom have the time anymore.

With the advent of Ravelry on the scene and all the new electronic ways to stay in touch, I'm wondering if the time has come to close down my blog.

One of the reasons I have held onto my blog is for non-Ravelry members to have access to my designs. That is no longer true. Recently, Casey has made designers store pages visible to non-members and allow anyone to purchase pattern downloads. Here's a direct link to my Simple Knits pattern store on Ravelry:

Simple Knits Store click here

I maintain a Simply SimpleKnits group on Ravelry where I post notices about my new designs at the time I add them to the Ravelry pattern database for sale or download. Finding time to post about them on my blog is getting harder to do. I have a couple of new designs that I have not been added to my blog.

When I began my blog in December 2006, Ravelry did not exist. As of today it has 1,367,433 registered members. That's incredible! It's also a testament to what Casey & Co. have created free of charge for all knitters and crocheters (spinners, quilters, etc.). The pattern and yarn databases alone are wonderful! If you're making a certain design you can see what others finished projects look like, she how it works up in different yarns, or what modifications or problems people have had with the pattern. I love to browse my designs to see what people have made from them. Or ask permission to use a photo of their finished objects on the pattern page for that design.

There are forums for almost anything you might be interested in. I know that some people had issues with not nice people on Ravelry forums. Sadly, this happens in Yahoo groups or even in groups that meet in real life. Ravelry does have strict community guidelines and they do ban people who cause trouble. Spammers are kept out of the site. They rely on members to report when there are problems that need to be addressed.

For Simple Knits fans, the benefits of joining this online community are:

1) If you have a question or problem with a pattern, you can easily get in touch with me through a PM or by posting in my SSK group.

2) If a revised copy of the pattern becomes available, you will receive it.

3) If you friend me, you'll see what I'm currently working on that might become future designs.

4) You could help test new designs for me or other designers on the Free Pattern Test group on Ravelry.

So comments please, on how valuable my blog is to you and if you think I should shut it down.

17 comments:

Anonymous said...

I'm a member of Ravelry and Facebook but I still blog and still read blogs, they are so much more individualistic and personal and I enjoy blogs. I have made several good friends through the blogs and for now I plan to continue.

Sara said...

I'd rather see a blog than Ravelry, especially for designers I like. I mean it is nice to see both and you hear more of a personal notes and conversations from the designers on Ravelry forums. But the overall of a blog is preferable to me.

AdrieneJ said...

I love blogs. It's such an interesting way to find out what ideas are out there, not just about knitting, but about any of my personal interests. I go out of my way to try to comment on a couple of blogs every day, because I think part of the reason we blog is because we want to be heard!

Ann said...

Yes, I do read blogs regularly. I may go days without going to Ravelry, but I check my blogs daily. I would hate to see them go.
Ann

Dawn Miller said...

I read blogs daily. I visit Ravelry infrequently.

Bishop Stone said...

I still like reading your blog. Even if ravelry takes up some of my time.

Brenda said...

I enjoy reading your blog, as well as a few others. I am also a Ravelry Junkie. Quite often I find a new pattern thru Rav, then if I know that person blogs, I'll go to their blog to get the "whole" story on the pattern. It's interesting and will often give me that little push to purchase.

Bibliocat said...

I read a lot of blogs...including yours. I read a variety of blogs.... knitting, SciFi, News, history, just interesting people, and a lot more.

MUDNYC said...

I still read your blog! Not only to hear about your knitting, but personally it's a way to keep up on my Indiana friends. Also, I don't go on Ravelry too often, due to lack of time. I have all of my frequently read blogs listed on bloglines and I can see whenever one of them is updated without going to each one. So, if it's not too much trouble for you, I say keep the blog!

Owl Chick said...

I'm a member of your Rav group. I've also been reading your blog for a long time.

Rav is great for a sense of larger community, but your blog is a much more personal reflection of you. And there are still so many knitters/crocheters who don't use Ravelry or even know about it.

I have you on my google reader, so while I will rarely actually come to the blog site, I read your every update. :) Please keep the blog!

Hofacre HEN House Blogs said...

I still write on my blog. I don't know if anyone is reading or looking, but I do this for me, somewhat. But I also use it as a way to track blogs that I enjoy. I may not check daily, but I don't always look at Ravelry daily and as summer gets closer, I will be looking at the computer less and less. Blogs are nice, they give a picture of what is happening at any given time. I also tend to read a lot at once, while I knit in front of my computer.

claude said...

I'm too a member of Ravelry and Facebook but I still blog and still read blogs : I check them every day ! but I may go days without going on Revelry .

peony said...

I still" love and do read blogs...Sure Iam a member of Ravelry and FB, but that is just not the same...

Nancy said...

I read blogs more than I check out Ravelry. I see a blog as a personal journal. Even if no one reads my blog I have a record of what's going on in my life. It's nice to look back at my archives once in awhile.

Corinn said...

Hi! I met you at the Clark's house last weekend. I just wanted to say "hello" and I found your blog! Haven't figured out ravelry yet.

Pablo Johnson said...

I have a Facebook and a Ravelry, but I still do read blogs. They seem more personal and individual.

Meghan said...

I also blog in addition to ravelry. I think that blogging allows you to say more about a FO than you might on ravelry. Also, your one post about "653 patterns to knit with 1-285 yards of yarn!" is one of my favorites because it has sooooo many ideas for those leftover pieces that I don't have the heart to throw away. If you do shut it down, make sure I know in time so I can save all of those links! =P