Alison and Pam have been talking about the benefits of an online knitting and crochet community called Ravelry for months, but it's taken until now to convince us to join. Now we are hooked, and think you should join, too.
What is Ravelry? Simply put, it's a comprehensive database for knitters, crocheters, designers, spinners, dyers and other needlework enthusiasts. Use it to keep track of your yarns, tools, books and pattern information, and look to others for ideas and inspiration. It's a great search tool, and can be used to find out the specifics of yarns past and present, pattern ideas, and information. It's easy to see what other members are making, what patterns they have chosen, yarns they have used, pictures of finished projects, and more. You can even get ideas for how to use up leftover yarn, or look for that elusive ball or two needed to finish up a project. The possibilities are endless, and given the massive scope of the site, it's very user-friendly and relatively easy to navigate.
Ravelry is also a great online community, with hundreds of groups that members are free to join and explore. Look for groups by region, interests (i.e. lace-knitting), favorite designers, and more. Find groups that will help you deistic, join a yarn or project swap, knit-along, and more. You can search by key word or tag, and membership is free (as is membership to Ravelry). If you can't find a group to meet your needs, you can even start your own.
Another great feature is the ability to network; meaning you can easily find other needle enthusiasts or groups in your area, or those with similar interests. It's easy tocontact other members as well, either by posting in-group forums or using the private message feature to write to other members directly. There's also a great yarn store database, so you can find stores to visit on vacation, or find new ones in your area. The possibilities are endless!
Ravelry is also a great place to find pattern ideas and information, and you can search for patterns by yarn, yarn weight, style or craft. Alison found this great neckwarmer, the Darkside Cowl, as a free Ravelry download, and made a version for the store using just less than two skeins of BerrocoJasper (see earlier post below). This is just one of several hundred free downloads available on Ravelry.
So have we convinced you to join yet? If you want to learn more, or are ready to join, visit their website, http://www.ravelry.com/. To join, look for the "request an invitation" link on the homepage. Depending on how many people are waiting to join it will take anywhere from a few days to a week to get an invitation. Once you're on, be sure to visit our store's group, Needle & Arts Centre(http://www.ravelry.com/groups/needle--arts-centre). We'd love to have you join our group.
