I saw a newly published pattern on Ravelry one Friday afternoon, and decided to buy it and cast on. It was a cute pattern, I had the called for yarn and I knew that my PinkyD would love it. Printed the pattern, wound the yarn and cast on.
[Long story short, worst pattern I've ever knit. Pattern needs to be fixed/updated but the designer can't be arsed to do it. Upside, love the yarn!]
A funny typo, a flawed chart and a symbol that was not in the key. I really should have known at that point. However, I'm stubborn and not very bright. It was easy enough to figure out the set up chart and move on to the increases and all that st st.
I had started a project page and mentioned being less than thrilled with the pattern issues. The designer messaged me and offered to refund the $5 for the pattern. I told her what the issues were and that a refund was unnecessary. Not the first bad pattern I ever bought on Ravelry. Sort of doubt it will be the last.
She was very sweet, took my feedback well and refunded me all the same. She fixed the issues I mentioned but did not know how to post an update to a pattern. I told her what other designers have done, and she figured it out. We messaged and emailed a bit. She had me look at another pattern for her, told me how she was looking at Craftsy info on writing patterns, and even made me an editing assistant...
For about ten minutes.
Then I messaged her about the edging chart. The edging chart was utterly unknit-able because it did not include the NO STITCH boxes that sort of made the whole thing workable.
Or would have if the chart was otherwise correct, which it wasn't. Btw, she told me that the edging chart was wrong but has STILL not updated the pattern. I think this is about the point where I lost my job as her editing assistant. Along with my shit.
I was so frustrated and angry that I did something I've never done before. I put the scarf in-progress in a bag with the yarn and pattern, and shoved it all into the Ottoman of Shame. I moved on to other well done patterns and tried to forget about the mess under my feet.
If you know me, you know that didn't last long. I pulled it out, ripped back to the start of the edging chart and gave it another go. Thankfully, we can zoom in on pattern photos on Ravelry or I might still be working on it. Yes, that chart is so bad I needed to look at a photo to figure out what I needed to do. Decreases going the wrong way for a start.
Once I figured it out and had done a lot of swearing, I finished it, soaked, blocked and nailed it to a fence.
If the pattern was actually updated with charts that would work, I think it could be a cute little project. However, as is, it's a hot mess. Honestly? I am outraged that someone would publish a paid pattern that is not knit-able and clearly had not been test knit. This may be my biggest pet peeve about Ravelry. ANYONE can publish ANYTHING and call it a pattern.
If it has been test knit, I would love to know who did it and WHY has the pattern not been updated with a fixed workable chart.
There is so much what the fuck in this mess.
For the record, I actually like the designer. I think she's really cute and has a lot of potential if she could actually produce patterns that are in fact workable. Right now, I would warn folks to steer clear. Not worth the frustration.
As a friend mentioned yesterday, life's too short...
*snort* there's now a line on the project page "this pattern has been tested".
Notice it says nothing about corrected after the test ;-)
Did I mention I'm knitting again? Slowly, and just a scarf, but I have a project on the needles!
Posted by: Datagoddess | Sunday, August 24, 2014 at 01:38 PM
This is the reason I stopped buying patterns that have no ratings/reviews, or aren't by certain designers I already know and love. EVERY OTHER PATTERN I buy needs fixing, sometimes major, sometimes minor, but always something... if I wanted to design something I'd do it without paying for it!
Posted by: Hattie | Sunday, August 24, 2014 at 03:06 PM
I'm leery of patterns with few projects and free ones in particular but this is a paid for pattern...you'd think she would have put more effort into it.
So you are saying that I shouldn't do the square shawl that she has... ;)
xoxo
Posted by: Marilyn | Sunday, August 24, 2014 at 04:45 PM
Well. You certainly made the best of it . . . because that it a cute little accessory! Ravelry has its plusses and its minuses, that's for sure!
Posted by: Kym | Sunday, August 24, 2014 at 05:53 PM
FU but not FUBAR. I would have ripped that out long, long before completion.
Posted by: claudia | Sunday, August 24, 2014 at 06:45 PM
Because there is no way I could have figured that edging out from the picture and fixed it. Wow.
Posted by: claudia | Sunday, August 24, 2014 at 06:47 PM
Ottoman of Shame. I love it! :)
You sure do have perseverance...
Posted by: Mo | Monday, August 25, 2014 at 05:22 AM
That fence is getting quite the workout! Beautiful job girl, of course!
Posted by: Patty | Monday, August 25, 2014 at 06:54 AM
You're intrepid. I would have taken the refund and fled, taking my time and money to a well-known designer. However, you made it work and you have a shawl to show for your time. It's darling! Good work, my friend.
Posted by: margene | Monday, August 25, 2014 at 09:21 AM
You have more patience and smarts than I do--I wouldn't have been able to figure out that lace!
Posted by: Joan | Monday, August 25, 2014 at 03:04 PM
You've done more lace than most, of course you figured it out! For Pete's sake, you've done Neibling! You did get a cute little number out of it, but I too would have walked and not been so patient with the designer. Even if she did refund your money, life is too short to have to put all that work into a pattern just to make it work.
Posted by: Stacey | Monday, August 25, 2014 at 03:08 PM
WoW.
Good on you for figuring it out.
I guess you're the "test knitter", ffs.
Posted by: Marianne | Monday, August 25, 2014 at 03:33 PM
It is a cute shawl and you did an excellent recovery with the given resources! The designer certainly has potential but if the people buying her design are thwarted by a poorly written pattern, the designer will have a very short career as a designer---- no matter how cute the knitted thing looks. You did her a favor by giving her straight feedback and assistance. I hope the designer uses this experience to her profit. You did a good thing by helping, as well as giving us a heads up.
Posted by: Angie | Monday, August 25, 2014 at 03:41 PM
It's a cute shawl-it's a shame there were all those problems with the pattern. You shouldn't have to be a test knitter. Good thing you're more than experienced enough with lace to figure it out.
Posted by: Cheryl S. | Monday, August 25, 2014 at 06:32 PM
I thought you called it the Ottoman of Shame for other reasons...
Too bad about the pattern quality. It's cute so hopefully it'll get updated so it'll be knittable by the masses.
Posted by: silvia | Tuesday, August 26, 2014 at 01:40 PM
I will never, ever, purchase a pattern that does not post new with at least 5 projects. And that is also why I may love more than a few Twist C. patterns, but will never buy another. I don't understand the lack of testing, especially when multiple sizes are involved, or alternate yarn options.
Posted by: Bev | Tuesday, August 26, 2014 at 08:39 PM
You are so kind to offer so much assistance to this new designer. I hope she takes the feedback to heart, makes the changes to this pattern, and employs testers in the future. Taking the Craftsy class would probably be a good idea, too.
You have done a wonderful job, and this is so cute. I hope your PinkyD loves it. xoxo
Posted by: Sarah | Monday, September 01, 2014 at 09:27 AM