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Give us your thoughts & help build our new community!
You guys might recall that we had a nifty little forum for a while, but had to close it due to the amount of spam we were getting.
Unfortunately, since the forum used popular software, spammers were quite adept at gaming it. So we decided to close it for remodeling; and that’s what we’re doing, from the ground up.
We want to build something totally custom and even better this time around. We have such an awesome community of sewists here, we’d really like to give you guys a site that fits your needs.
To do that, I need your help. I need to hear about your experiences on other communities. Please take about five minutes (more or less), and click the link below to let me know about your experiences and feedback.
ETA: There was an issue with a few of the questions (mentioned by a couple of you in the comments) but it’s been fixed now!
Comments
kristy
August 20, 2013 #
i have just tried to take your survey but cannot answer thequestions truthfully as there is not the correct option…it asks how many times posted a photo on pattern review/burdastyle…no ‘never’option…ive visited the sites but never posted. i dont think you will get many answers -truthfully without this option-hope this helps
Sarai
August 20, 2013 #
Thanks for letting me know, Kristy! I’ve fixed the survey now. Sorry about that!
Anne-Marie
August 20, 2013 #
I agree with you Kristy. I answered ‘strongly disagree’ or ‘neither agree nor disagree’ when I’d like to have answered ‘never’ or ‘not applicable’
Claire (aka Seemane)
August 20, 2013 #
I think that a good group of voluntary forum moderators (who are able to delete and ban spammers) are key :)
Claire (aka Seemane)
August 20, 2013 #
^i.e. I mean un-paid existing forum members who’ve shown a mature-minded sensible outlook to their interactions with other users, and whom can be trusted to make reliable judgements in tricky cases.
Sanne
August 20, 2013 #
Hi, I have the same problem as kristy – I do visit the sites sometimes, but don’t post there… I didn’t complete the survey, since I don’t want you guys to get wrong results :( (But I’d gladly take it again if you change the answer options!)
Klm
August 20, 2013 #
Just completed the survey ( though incorrectly selected posted once since there was no never option). Of the comparison forums, ravelry is just miles beyond any of the sewing sites. Would love to have a sewing site ala ravelry!
Gavi
August 20, 2013 #
Ravelry is definitely the site to emulate.
jane
August 20, 2013 #
I ABSOLUTELY agree with this!!
Mandy
August 20, 2013 #
The main difficulty with the sewing sites is that Ravelry has been going for quite some time now. It has got over the early glitches it had when it started and has matured into a really useful site. The sewing forums really have a lot of catching up to do.
I completed the survey earlier today. My answers will be slightly skewed because of the lack of a “never” button. However, this only really affected my answers about Burdastyle – it is a site I have never really got into, not really being able to give the time to sorting out how to add projects.
One question, though. If and when Colettorie has a forum, would it be purely for Colette patterns?
Signe Marie
August 20, 2013 #
I have used Rav and patternreview+burdastyle more or less since the beginning, and in my opinion, Rav has always been WAY ahead of any other craft community, even when it first launched. When Rav first started, the databases (yarn, patterns) where very small, but adding to them was functioning via volunteer editors – not mods. This is key. I am a potential contributor to a sewing community, but if I am not allowed to contribute or that function doesn’t work the first, second and third time I visit, I will quit visiting all together :-(
I would love if you set out to make a Rav for sewing, Sarai. And like I wrote in my survey, put it on Kickstarter, I am sure you will get a lot of support!
Sarai
August 20, 2013 #
I also think sites like Pattern Review have been around longer than Ravelry, haven’t they? Or is that just my impression?
Signe Marie
August 21, 2013 #
Yes, archive.org has records of patternreview going back to december 2001, so I think it’s safe to say it’s one of the oldest dedicated craft communities around.
I don’t think Rav is better because it’s been around longer. I really think Casey and the team behind Rav made some excellent choices when they launched, and that has played a pivotal part in the site’s popularity. Chosing to trust its users from the beginning. Chosing to make it open to anyone with no restricted areas for premium users. Chosing to build a bridge between budding designers and knitters worldwide.
They make money on the site, but not at the user’s expense. Very big deal, I think.
Lauren
August 20, 2013 #
I go in a number of directions with fabric and lately I’ve returned to sewing clothes for both myself and for a 7 year old great-niece. I find that the patterns identified as for girls are often either terminally cute (that means ” cute to an aunt or grandmother”, not to the child!) or lacking in any individual flair or detail. I remember the great clothes my mother made me for grade school that would still translate well with current Wonder Fabrics and I recently bought a terrific pattern from Olive Ann Designs: “Classy Cargo” but hope to find more – any ideas?
Shelley
August 20, 2013 #
On the PR frequency of posting it has 2-3 times a month listed twice. Perhaps one of these was meant to be 2-3 times a week instead?
Sarai
August 20, 2013 #
Thanks, I fixed!
Donna
August 20, 2013 #
The survey is on a loop! When you finish the last question, it goes back to number 1!!
Plutomeisje
August 20, 2013 #
I’m still having troubles filling in the questionnaire. When I answer “no” for ” Have you ever visited the site Pattern Review?” it accepts, then later after answering the next set of questions it brings me back to question 1 stating I did not select a valid option.
I’m also wondering why you didn’t include The Sew Weekly, since I think something like that site & community is what you should aim for, it was after all a wonderful place on the web, sadly it lost a lot of it’s charm after one of the founders quite. It’s also the only sewing community where I’ve ever posted something, just because the vibe was so nice. Other places feel much more distant.
Sarai
August 20, 2013 #
I’ll investigate the loop issue. I have no idea why that is happening for some people.
I thought about including The Sew Weekly, but it seems quite inactive these days so I thought it might be hard to get a good sample and compare.
Heike
August 20, 2013 #
The survey doesn’t seem to take my answers and after answering the same questions four times have given up. My favorite site is also Ravelry. Burda is pretty good too.
patternreview I’ve only used so far to get answers to sewing questions. Sometimes very helpful, other times not so, but I understand you will always have to sift through answers to find one that suits your particular issue.
I tend to google my questions and then am willing to look at different sites for help. That is how I discovered Colette and have been on the mailing list ever since.
Coco Savage
August 20, 2013 #
Sarah,
The survey monkey won’t accept any of my answers.
I think everything you do is FAB. Keep rockin’ on with your bad self.
Coco
Tamara
August 21, 2013 #
A site like Ravelry but for sewing is an awesome idea!!
ContinentalCat
August 21, 2013 #
I’d love a Ravelry-type site for everything sewing – one of the things I love about Rav is that I can see what others have made from a certain pattern.