A little honest talk about my most and least popular patterns...I really hope you will join me in this conversation and I would love to hear your opinions about what you love or don't in a knitting pattern? 🤗
Hi Laerke! I really don’t think people don’t buy your patterns because they don’t like them, but because they might not see them. This world of algorithms and connectivity is very unfair, especially when some people end up taking all the space because of their birthday sales, and moving sales, solstice sales (x2!), anniversary sales, summer sales, winter sales… I am knitting the Nordlig right now, the Loppe and the Perikon are in my library and next in my cue, I just have to drive two hours to get the Manchelopi for them, and I’m going to knit another Bregne with the yarn from a frogged sweater. It’s a shark’s world and I much more appreciate the humble, hard working and honest minnows. Never stop creating!
Hello Laerke, I get so much nourishment from listening to you and your podcasts. As above says, we live in a super charged world with everything a click away. So much thought, planning, arithmetic and artistry goes into each and every one of your designs. It's also good for my sound to hear someone speak honestly ab out the realities of what they're doing. Again today I find so many are spewing BS about how fast or how much or how much bigger, better they are or something they are associated with is. Everything and many, many people are turbo-charged. Your thoughtful, rustic and slower pace are refreshing to me. I am going to go back in to look at the 6 patterns you shared today. I think people ( myself included) are looking for smaller projects that require less material and take less time to make. This should not detract from your squishy, warm sweater designs.
We hear all the time that designers get lost amongst all the big wigs whose designs completely take over everywhere! It's a shame that some of the most wonderful designers have to struggle to be seen and get sales. Keep sharing your designs they are absolutely lovely and you are so sweet. All the best!
I love all your patterns and love the ones that you say are not the most popular. They are gorgeous! Don’t give up. I think this podcast will bring a spotlight to these patterns.
Hi Laerke please don't let sales represent the beauty of your patterns. Give it time and people will see them because they are too beautiful to go unnoticed for much longer. We just live in such poly zeitgeist world at the moment so lovely things such as yours in some cases take longer to catch on. Please keep going and doing the amazing knitwear design work that you do. You have a beautiful sense of style so please don't change it for anyone or sales. Love your content ❤
I myself am a big sweater knitter. It’s what I love to make the most. I can understand why people are drawn to accessories though. They take less time and money to make, and new techniques can be less intimidating when tackled in a small project first. I agree with another poster that sells reflect the designs exposure. I actually found out about you a few years ago because TH-cam recommended one of your videos. Without that I probably wouldn’t have heard about your designs until the Humlebi knit along with Youngfolk Knits. I continue to follow you and knit your designs because I love that you create with natural fibers in colors and designs that reflect nature. As a knitter living in the U.S. inundated with designs in indie super wash yarn, your creations are a breath of fresh air. I also appreciate how well written and translated your patterns are, they are very easy to follow even though you and I have different first languages. Thank you for all your designs, and I do believe you will be able to find a balance between indulging your creativity and running a viable business ❤
Hello Laerke💕 You have so many beautiful, original, inspiring projects that encourage me to knit them all⭐ For now, I have one pattern (Rotur Sweater) and I will start a beautiful adventure with it in a moment🍁 I will definitely buy a few more of your projects in the near future, because they are beautifully designed. I think that popularity (in this crazy world of excess) is influenced by many factors. It is enough for some blogger or TH-camr to reach for a project and everyone starts knitting it. For example, I do not understand the phenomenon of the Snow Crocus sweater at all. It is very pretty. The pattern is supposedly written out on about 60 pages... But is it some super unique project? In my opinion, no more than other similar ones. You should definitely not give up and continue creating what is in your soul and heart🌷 I know it is so easy to say, but there is huge potential in your work. Your projects are wonderful. The popular ones sell to other knitters because they are promoted, made fashionable, desired. Various KALs, cooperations give them the power to break through. The only thing that your ideas may still lack is just this "breakthrough". Because they certainly do not lack charm, creativity, beautiful colors, good energy, interesting and tasteful solutions. I apologize for my English. I do not feel very confident in it, but I really wanted to encourage you and convey my belief, that you will achieve great success. I support you with all my heart. We will stay in touch🌺💌 Ania
Hi Lærke! As so many already wrote - I love your style of designing, pattern writing and presenting the pattern. Every time there is a new one, I‘d love to make it. Don’t get discouraged by low sales and keep promoting your older patterns in your podcasts and on your instagram feed - I‘m so intrigued by that shoulder construction of the loppa sweater…
Hi laerke, you were one of my first podcasters I've followed and have always been inspired by your life and knitting, your patterns always are different from the previous, with a fresh idea and construction. This is pure inspiration from within yourself. Be kind to yourself and continue with your creations as I'm positive when your patterns are recreated by knitters it's choice, not popularity. 😊
Your designs are beautiful, Laerke ! Infortunately there is so little time… one has to make choices. And also, there is the algorithm of the internet, I think. You are one of the first podcasters I discovered and followed, and I will continue. I really like your aesthetic, the rustic, simple and natural designs. ❤
Dear Laerke, you are one of the very few podcasts i love to follow along - the atmosphere, your colour choices, the overall vibe you and also your pattern give- i just love it. And i think it is something so unique which we all love your work for! And i think that is also your biggest selling point - cozy, slow and calm living & knitting. And yes it makes sense it cant keep up witht he big and quick players, but honestly the appreciation is so much more! I personally love all your designs, yarn choices and how the patterns are written. I do love especially garments! An honest feedback though: Sometimes i hestitate to knit your designs because i am worried that the armhole depth and shape does not suit my body shape (i am quite tall), that the wide fits are sometimes a bit unpractical (for outdoorsy work) and also it can be hard to find the recommended yarn, eventhough i live in europe aswell! So maybe those aspects could be factors for other knitters aswell? Nonetheless i love to support your work and can't wait for the cable cardigan to come out
I love your patterns. When I see your patterns, I know they’re yours. So you do have a signature that is recognizable. I love your summer top! I’m sure in time it will do well. I would love to make it.
So many beautiful patterns ❤ I can’t believe the Perikon Sweater is on the least popular list, it’s one of my all time favourites - I wear mine all the time, it’s so soft and warm, and I get so many compliments on it 🥰
@@ouineque It really is a wonderful design 😊 And all of Lærke’s patterns are so well written, and also contain links to help videos for any unfamiliar techniques 😊 I knit mine in Rauma Fivel, which is a spun woollen yarn, instead of an unspun yarn, and that also worked really well 😊 I wish you the best of luck 😊
@@CoffeesoakedKnits thank you! This really helps me to take the step! 💕I want to do it in the same yarn combination with would be the first time knitting unspun yarn as well😊
Thank you for being brave and continuing to put your designs out into the world, they are all so beautiful. I also want to tell you that I knitted the Humblebi shawl last year while recovering from an operation. It truly helped comfort me through my recovery, the sweet bees cheered me up every time I looked at them, and it was not too challenging while I was feeling tired. So thank you. Also, I know you have the Humblebi socks pattern, but as suggested above, a jumper design, mittens, hat etc with the darling bumble bees would be lovely. Many thanks for your beautiful designs, and your podcasts, and your wonderful photography. It must be a lot of work and we appreciate you.
Don’t feel too discouraged for too long: you have many balls in the air: your knitting designs, your podcasts, your home design and improved, your photography business. You have small children, a partner, parents, their sheep! You get wool dyed the way you want it and speak with local farmers….. you are one very busy woman leading a beautiful full life! Your designs are stunning, unique and inspiring. Just keep putting your ideas out there with love. They will get some back eventually 😊❤. I am currently working on the second mitt of the Hiedra pattern. They will be a gift for a dear friend. They are absolutely charming, even if the magic loop knitting in pattern occasionally drives me crazy.😅 Next up: Bregne sweater (for my son), then a Gro shawl eventually for me… I only buy what I know I’ll get to.
I actually ❤your sweaters! I think you could make a sweater with the bee motif around the yoke (basically your humble shawl design in sweater form). I wouldn't be too concerned abt popularity bc ppl tend to buy trendy items (rt now, cropped very big) but yours are CLASSIC (very wearable for all) and yours will stand the test of time.
I think your designs are lovely. As some others have mentioned, many people may not see your designs, they get lost. This is world of hype too, so a handful of designers seem to get lots and lots of publicity and everyone rushes to knit up the same things. I love all of the so called "least popular" ones. They are very special! Keep on designing!
Hello Laerke, I fell in love with your humlebi pattern and I wish you could create more pattern with it in the future.❤ I Love your style and your Podcasts.
I have been looking for a pattern to use Manchilopi for the first time. So pleased to have been reminded of the Perikon sweater. I bought it straight away.. You could feature an older pattern each time you podcast to bring them back into the spotlight to shine again and to get noticed a fresh
This was very interesting to listen to. I'm quite surprised that the Pelicon is the least popular. The design is stunning and something I bought the minute it was released. Although it has the similar concept to the Gro Hat, as in a beautiful visual motif, maybe the cables look more intimidating to do, so it might put people off? That can happen sometimes, when something looks so pretty and intricate that some people might think it's out of their reach. Even though doing the actual calliper cable isn't the most difficult, if they just try it. Also I noticed when the Gro motif was copied by the other designer. It was very disappointing to see and on top of that she brought out a whole slew of patterns using that motif very quickly. But that shouldn't put you off from exploring it further. I love your patterns with this motif a lot more (I've not bought any of her patterns using that motif just for the principle of the matter). It would be nice to see you using the motif you invented and not let the money grabbing tendencies of others crush your creativity. Your patterns have a lot more soul to them and using the motif again is something I hope you consider doing
I was today years old when I found you here, thanks to the algorithm. Subscribed right away because I like your designs. Also went to Ravelry and gave them all a like and placed several in my que. Keep up the great work. It will happen!!
Thank you for sharing your thoughts behind your designs. I think unless one has actually designed a pattern (grading/testing) to sell, it’s hard to imagine the time, attention and patience that goes into it. As a creative/artist, I believe creating from the heart is the place to begin. And you clearly have. I’ve so enjoyed knitting your designs and look forward to more!!
Hi Laerke. I think all your patterns are beautiful including those least purchased ones, and I agree with the comments that indicate maybe they sometimes get lost in the buzz of the internet world. Another thought on the garments is that I notice the second two least purchased garment patterns are for quite heavy/warm sweaters. Although I live in Canada, I live in the more southern areas and as much as I love the sweaters themselves, I would rarely (if ever) be able to wear something that warm unless it was strictly as an outerwear garment, and I don't have much call for that given I wouldn't want to pull a sweater on and off over my head arriving at work. Yet when I lived further north those are exactly the types of sweaters I would want to wear. So perhaps in part for those two it's because the warmth of them doesn't necessarily suit more moderate temperatures/indoor lifestyles and therefore don't get made as much as others.
Wow I love your designs…. I’m gonna buy the last two sweater designs to make, they are beautiful……I only just found you so I will look out for more of your work. Please keep doing what your doing your work is lovely.❤
Hi :) I really love your patterns! I think they are classic and timeless, with a touch of whimsy. I have the humblei shawl pattern and plan to cast on next month. I do really like your sweaters a lot, but I don’t tend to gravitate toward them because they are usually knit in a heavier yarn. I live in Florida so anything heavier than DK would be way too warm to wear. I do have an eye on your summer patterns ❤ I agree that the algorithm plays a big part on IG especially. I follow you, but honestly I find out about or see a lot more of your patterns on TH-cam before IG. Your designs are beautiful, I honestly can’t believe that they are underproducing due to any reason other than exposure.
Thank you! The algorithm has become so difficult to work with on instagram for my type of content. I have more than 50.000 followers but only a few thousand sees what i post 🫠 Just an fyi: You can subscribe to channels you like to see when they post 🤍
Laerke, I agree that the popularity of your designs has less to do with the design itself as the marketing behind it, as others have said before me! Your designs are beautiful and unique and worthy of anybodies time but getting them noticed among all the other new pattens probably takes a commitment to marketing, collaborating, using other podcasters as test knitters etc etc that is a full time job in itself!
All the patterns you’ve just shown are very, very beautiful. I am surprised to learn that some of them were not very popular. I’ve knitted your Bregne sweater pattern and love it. I noticed you always add the most beautiful details❤
Hello! I made two of your most popular items and I am not a fan of knitting accessories at all, but I loved knitted them. And about the not so popular patterns….my thoughts on these are: you are right about summer knits. Most knitters I know really don’t like knitting with plant fiber. the Loppe ist really one I want to knit. I don’t know why I didn’t, to be honest. Maybe it is because it is very thick and you released it in March🤷♀️ it is beautiful and I am thankful you reminded me of this, because it is a perfect sweater for a gloomy day to just throw over. I really like the design. And the Perikon might also have shared the sad fate of the Loppe. Very thick for March when most people watch out for thinner items? Maybe a lot have absolutely no use for such thick sweaters anyway? Cardigans might be different. Both are beautiful. It’s not about the design. Both are thick winter sweaters with a larger gauge. Just my thoughts. Kind wishes❤
Thanks so much! Haha you have a good point about warm sweaters in march and it is one of my problems when designing. I always get the ideas for sweaters once fall hits but a pattern can easily take 6 months to make so then it comes out in march 🫠 i hope i can be a bit faster with my cardigan 😅
@@FiberTales I absolutely get it. I would have the same problem being a knitwear designer. Your work is a work of joy and a way to express yourself, which leads you to designing winter sweaters in winter. And I love your podcast for the authenticity it reflects. Maybe you simply try to release the pattern some months later. And show some pictures of the design from time to time. Wearing it after a morning swim or in the evening beside a camp fire. To hold the excitement high. And to show the versatility of a garment. It would definitely work for me. And there is nothing wrong with wanting to get paid for the work you put into it. And I guess the first release hype is even important for the long run. Cardigans are different because you can wear them the whole year around. I hope you find a way that works for you.❤
Larke! I think your designs are some of the most lovely and artistic designs out there. I would buy them all if I could and hopefully one day I will be able to make them all. I am so grateful for the work and the heart you pour into your patterns. They are so beautiful. The Due Tee is one of my favorites ever! So sweet. So simple.
Thanks for the episode! It was so interresting. Perikon sweater went to my queue because I liked it a lot when you were designing it, but I forget it afterwards. I have the right yarn for it in my stash too! ❤
Thank you so much for talking about this, Laerke! It can be so disheartening to design something that you love, only to not see that reflected back, and don't get me started about other designers copying patterns. I'm so sorry you've had to deal with this - your lovely designs are always so unique and they're a joy to make. I hope things look up in the design world soon
hello Laerke, I know you had a lot of beautifull response to this video but i wanted to ad mine to the list. You are a wonderfull designer. I love each and every pattern you put into the world. The reason (for myself) for not buying every pattern, is that i'm a young knitter, and i don't have the confidence to knit such intricate and beautifull pattern. I 'am waiting to be a bit more experienced before starting with one of your garment. But has i watch this video i'm actually knittnig your Hyedra Mitts and i love it!! I still have a lot to learn but i aslo already bought 5 of your patterns :) keep going and designing beautifull things. If this bring you hapiness, you should do it for sure!! happy knitting. valentine.
I LOVE all of the patterns youve just shown. And good on you for being so honest, thats rare on YT! Im off to check your ravelry now. Im just a beginner knitter but id love to make that colourwork sweater.
hi. I love your patterns. I am just going to make the hat for the second time. I love my bee shawl and keep an eye on your patterns regularly. Don’t get discouraged. Some designers r in your face and I personally get tired of them
Having read a lot of the comments here I can feel the love … I hope it helps ❤. I have two of your patterns and I can honestly say they won’t be the last 😊
Como sé que hablas español, te escribo en mi idioma. Tus diseños son muy bellos y especiales, me gusta mucho que muestras el proceso, con sus aciertos y sus errores. Estoy de acuerdo que en gran medida puede deberse a que tu trabajo es menos conocido. Muchas veces me pregunto por qué hay diseños que son tan populares y casi todo el mundo los quiere hacer cuando no son la "gran maravilla", pero las personas son asi, si hay algo que está en boca de todos, lo quieren hacer porque es la moda y no siempre es lo mejor. Sigue con tu creatividad y nosotros continuaremos admirando tu trabajo. Saludos de una mexicana viviendo en Hungría.
Hej Lærke, thanks for being vulnerable to us. Your designs are beautiful, smart, thoughtful and elegant. Some of them don’t fit my bodyshape, but I am very happy with my groshawl 🤎
I love all your least popular patterns. I would love to knit them if I lived in the right climate to knit them because they are all warmer knits than I need in the southern US. I love them so much though. I hope you grow and get more popular Because I love your designs.
I also wanted to add that on Ravelry, if you favorite the designer, not just a pattern, or add the designer as a friend, Ravelry will notify you of new pattern releases on your home page. I just found this out and wanted to share it because I know it's so easy for new designs to slip by.
I love your humlebi shawl and socks! Bees are so popular right now. I would love a humlebi hat, a yoke pullover, and a cardigan. I would buy the whole collection! Thank you for sharing your inspiration with us and for following your heart with your designs.❤🧶
I can relate to this so much! Thank you for sharing such an open and honest video. Your hat patterns are so pretty and I can see why they're so popular! It's SO impossible to predict how designs will be received - I've had patterns that I thought would be successful totally flop, and others have sold way more than I expected. I guess all you can say is that human behaviour is impossible to predict. But it's super annoying when people say 'just make what you love' when your pattern sales pay the bills - I'm sure you know the feeling 😅 I can only imagine how much work went into the colourwork & shaping of the Loppe sweater - it's beautiful!
I really appreciate your insight into your patterns; it’s very clear that you love them and are very proud of them, and that’s a big part of why I love the patterns you create! Please keep creating; the community will keep supporting you! (And I have plans to make the Loppe sweater soon! It’s been in my pattern library for a little while, but I’m excited to have a big, cozy addition for the winter!)
your designs are beautiful ! Due tee and pericon sweater are on my to do list. Love the bees ! It is a mystery why some patterns are more popular than others.But your heart and your joy in creating something is so much more precious ! Wishing you all the best and if this is your wish, the success will come inevitably !!!
Laerke thank you for sharing this video with us 😊 I favourited the Due tee or Ravelry as I love to combine knit and crochet in a pattern and hope to make it this summer ☀️Your patterns are beautiful and always original ❤
Dear Learke, love, love your patterns. Just start with the Bakker scarf. So, one day I will knit them all. Happy to notice your beautiful patterns in different podcasts. I cannot believe that the patterns you just showed, are the least favorite, they are so beautiful. Keep up the good work, hope to see more of your patterns, cannot wait for your beautiful cardigan in progress. Inga from Knitting Traditions is also knitting a stunning pattern of you. So show your patterns also in the Netherlands in November. Enjoy your knitting journey. One day the world will wake up, if they understand what they are missing. Lots of love ❤🥰 Time to buy these three patterns 🎉🎉🎉🎉
I don’t think your sweaters are unpopular! I have never seen your channel. I happened to search unpopular knit sweater patterns and this popped up. I LOVE the Perikon sweater! It is next up on my needles! Thank you!
I love your unique style of patterns as well as the yarn choice and color combination. It actually makes it special that it is appeals to a smaller group. I have currently the Bakker scarf on my needles and I love it. I have made a sample with plotulopi + suri silk. Then made a sample with Nutiden in a very beautiful mustardy color pairing with silk mohair. However after putting them next together, I didnt like the drape of nutiden. It was too soft and delicate. While plotulopi is less soft, but it holds its shape and compliments the pattern. That’s when I thought, trust the designer. Stay true to yourself and design what makes you happy. ❤
Awe, you shouldn`t judge your makes in that way, My heart was bleeding. In my opinion, all the garments are out of this world beautiful. I am a garment knitter and almost never knit accessoires. I am not a hat person and I almost never knit socks either. Sometimes I make shawls. So, just keep on designing what you love. It has to suit you. It`s o.k., to look around a bit for the general taste, I understand, but in the end I think: If you love what you make, there will always be people out there who love it too. Those are the customers you want! They will show up, they will buy and love your pattern. I love all your stuff. The reason I do not have a lot more of your pattern is because I have to save up the money first, lol. But Sometimes the waiting period has it`s wonderful moments too. It would be boring, if we would manifest everything we want in seconds. 🙂
Du laver simpelthen de flotteste designs. Jeg har så mange af dine opskrifter og endnu flere på min ønskeseddel. Dit woodlarksjal er mit mesterværk. Det er SÅ flot og jeg er mega glad for det
Please don't stop making garments. I've not knit a sweater of yours yet bc I live in an area that has 3 levels of summer and a 2 week "winter" but this weekend we are moving to a 4 season area so I'm very excited to start knitting your sweaters.
Thank you for such an interesting insight into the life of a designer. I love all of your designs that you have shown. I guess for me, I am often drawn to the yarn choice for the pattern. Unspun is not the easiest for me to get, and I find I am sensitive to it. And whilst I know I can substitute another yarn I sometimes find it difficult to imagine what it would turn out like. Please don't be disheartened, you have a beautiful aesthetic ❤
I just added the Perikon sweater to my favourites list. It may be a couple years before I get to it (I have a few sweaters lined up and I knit slowly) but it looks like such a good everyday piece.
Hi Laerke, I love your designs! You're so creative and talented! I currently have WAY TOO many projects on needles right now, but I will be checking out your patterns on Ravelry. Especially the Humbeli Shawl, and the Perikon sweater. Take care.😊
Your designs are so so beautiful! It truly is a labor of love though. I think part of the problem is even a prolific knitter can probably only make one garment per month and there are literally hundreds of beautiful new designs published every month! I wish I could buy and create them all, but alas it is a slow craft.
I love the Perikon Sweater, and have had it in my favorites for a few months! I will definitely make it in the future, but at the moment I want to use up some stash yarn with your Bakker Scarf.
This was actually a very interesting video, Laerke! I had a look on Ravelry and see that your least popular pattern has 23 projects listed, the second least popular one has 14… that to me as a consumer already looks like the patterns are pretty popular. Very often when I‘m browsing patterns to knit, there are lovely patterns with maybe only 2 or 5 projects, even if they‘ve been out some time, and even from designers who have a „name“. Obviously, sales and number of projects don‘t necessarily correspond, I realise that. I think the fact that you are being published in some popular magazines will probably help longer-term and having other podcasters knit your patterns will also help viewers to notice and consider a pattern (like Inga making the Favo!), however you can‘t influence others‘ choice to do that! For me personally, I own a few of your patterns. I made two Bellis tees and have earmarked the Due tee to make next spring. I bought Favo when my daughter made hers (she bought it herself, too, of course!) but then decided against it for two reasons, it would be too warm for me and i didn‘t feel like doing the work at that point although I adore the look of the honeycomb stitch - doesn‘t mean I might not make it at some point! I made Camilla Vad‘s Field cardigan and found I don‘t like doing the textured stitches very much even though it looks good, and I feel the same about elongated stitches like Perikon - I made Melody‘s Skogur and it put me off the long stitches, even while I love the shawl (took forever!). So seeing these kinds of stitches and bobbles I don‘t like doing could prevent me buying other beautiful patterns because I‘m too lazy to knit them, I guess. Also, while I‘ve been intending to make the Lumi sock-slippers for ages, I don‘t tend to make fancy socks because nobody else sees them. I have made so many shawls and hats that I rarely make any more at all 🫣 I think your rustic romantic aesthetic is beautiful but not so much my own style and the warmer designs are too heavy for my climate, which I have realised since spending some time around your climate zone where I can wear jumpers in the summer that I can‘t even wear in Switzerland in the winter!! We don‘t have the damp wind of a sea climate, it gets a little colder but it‘s a drier cold and I find thinner knitwear and cardigans work better for me, garments I can wear under a warm jacket and discard in centrally heated indoor spaces. Knitwear is a no-go here from May-September, it‘s too warm day and night - I only use it when I‘m in Atlantic/North Sea/Baltic areas (which I am most summers, luckily!). Sorry for such a long comment and I don‘t know how typical I am, but I hope you aren‘t too discouraged and continue to put your creativity out there 🤗
Your Loppe looks so cosy and gorgeous. I am adding to my favourites and will be knitting once I learn how to do colour work, and how to work with unspun yarn. Thank you for this podcast or I never would have come across the design. I have only been knitting for about a year so don't have too much to say about what I like or dislike in a knitting pattern, other than I really enjoy a concise short pattern that gives me just enough direction but remains simple to follow. Hate those 20 pagers where you have to skip all over to follow your size. Your designs are very beautiful and I can't wait to add some to my queue.
My husband and I have Lopi sweaters. In the United States winters just aren’t as cold as they used to be. I live in North Carolina. I rarely knit anything heavier than a DK weight sweater.
Love all of your designs,especially your sweaters,i am surprise they didn't do well on Ravelry. I was looking for simple and beautiful designs and yours check all the boxes 😍. Thank you so much for sharing 🤗
I love all of your designs! I have some Manchelopis in my stash and am going to add your Perikon to my queue. Stunning, and I am not sure how I missed it initially!
I have to knit Perikon sweater for my husband who is always cold. I remeber when you were working on its pattern I already thought I need to knit it. What stops me is: the price for everything has gone up so much I have to really plan everything to be able to buy the yarn. Greetings from Latvia! 🤗
Good evening Laerke! A very interesting podcast and you were brave to talk about those patterns still in the shadows, bizarrely! I guess that we can all relate to how you feel up to a certain extent of course, because we are not all designers with such a fabulous talent as yours! I have knitted a number of your patterns but I am yet to knit the cute little tee! If you haven’t been yet, I wish you a wondrous time in the Netherlands! 🍄🦔🧶
Thank you! I made this episode exactly because it is an interesting topic for me and something that sometimes puzzles me. I can’t wait to go on my little yarny adventure to the Netherlands 🥰
Wow, I cannot believe Perikon is on the “least popular” list!!! It is my favorite of your designs and I’ve been waiting to knit it until this winter… but I will wait no longer and will show it some love immediately 😍 keep going please! I love your designs 💜
Hello, I think your tee pattern is beautiful, and I love knitting and crocheting. :) At the same time, I think it would be very interesting if you said what your three most popular garment patterns are. I think accessories might be more popular overall. I hope you are not going to be discouraged. I think your style is unique and interesting. Good luck!
You are visible on ravelry ( I've favortited your designs, particularly the sweaters) many times from browsing the patterns by popular. You are also recommended by my favorite podcasters knitting traditions and melmakesstuff. Still i have not bought a pattern yet, so in my case (and maybe others!) it's just a question of time :) this winter I will for sure knit the perikon, which is a very original design
I knit your Woodlark shawl and Hiedra mitts, and I love love love them! The Gro hat is on my list. The reason I'm not making any of your larger garments is that their shape does not really work well with my body type. That is not a matter of size (I tend to knit S or M), but of my (apparently somewhat unique?) proportions and shoulder shape. I've recently been very disappointed in several wide-sleeved, boxy/oversized garments, somewhat similar to yours, that look great on other people, but not really on me...
Hi Lærke - what made me write a comment was you wondering about putting the gro-pattern in other items of clothing, for example a sweater. Maybe it’s just me but looking at some other designers and their approach: after two or three patterns that all feature the same “special” thing, this does have a taste like ready-to-wear-clothing. Like going into H&M, looking for a skirt with that fabric because you saw a blouse in the same one. Individually, it’s still pretty… but again at least for me it has a “weird taste” to it. I understand the reason - selling patterns to make a living - but still to me as a consumer it feels kind of cheap buying a sweater pattern with a basic construction and a sprinkle of a special stitch pattern put in that the designer also used on a sock, a vest, a hat, a shawl, mittens… I love the easy wearability of your patterns and patterns in general. Looking forward to new work flying off your knitting needles. Since I used manchelopis on another sweater and loved-loved-loved the feel of the garment, your Perikon is on my to-knit-list 👌❤️
A little honest talk about my most and least popular patterns...I really hope you will join me in this conversation and I would love to hear your opinions about what you love or don't in a knitting pattern? 🤗
Hi Laerke! I really don’t think people don’t buy your patterns because they don’t like them, but because they might not see them. This world of algorithms and connectivity is very unfair, especially when some people end up taking all the space because of their birthday sales, and moving sales, solstice sales (x2!), anniversary sales, summer sales, winter sales… I am knitting the Nordlig right now, the Loppe and the Perikon are in my library and next in my cue, I just have to drive two hours to get the Manchelopi for them, and I’m going to knit another Bregne with the yarn from a frogged sweater. It’s a shark’s world and I much more appreciate the humble, hard working and honest minnows. Never stop creating!
Hello Laerke, I get so much nourishment from listening to you and your podcasts. As above says, we live in a super charged world with everything a click away. So much thought, planning, arithmetic and artistry goes into each and every one of your designs. It's also good for my sound to hear someone speak honestly ab out the realities of what they're doing. Again today I find so many are spewing BS about how fast or how much or how much bigger, better they are or something they are associated with is. Everything and many, many people are turbo-charged. Your thoughtful, rustic and slower pace are refreshing to me. I am going to go back in to look at the 6 patterns you shared today. I think people ( myself included) are looking for smaller projects that require less material and take less time to make. This should not detract from your squishy, warm sweater designs.
We hear all the time that designers get lost amongst all the big wigs whose designs completely take over everywhere! It's a shame that some of the most wonderful designers have to struggle to be seen and get sales. Keep sharing your designs they are absolutely lovely and you are so sweet. All the best!
I love all your patterns and love the ones that you say are not the most popular. They are gorgeous! Don’t give up. I think this podcast will bring a spotlight to these patterns.
Hi Laerke please don't let sales represent the beauty of your patterns. Give it time and people will see them because they are too beautiful to go unnoticed for much longer. We just live in such poly zeitgeist world at the moment so lovely things such as yours in some cases take longer to catch on. Please keep going and doing the amazing knitwear design work that you do. You have a beautiful sense of style so please don't change it for anyone or sales. Love your content ❤
I myself am a big sweater knitter. It’s what I love to make the most. I can understand why people are drawn to accessories though. They take less time and money to make, and new techniques can be less intimidating when tackled in a small project first.
I agree with another poster that sells reflect the designs exposure. I actually found out about you a few years ago because TH-cam recommended one of your videos. Without that I probably wouldn’t have heard about your designs until the Humlebi knit along with Youngfolk Knits.
I continue to follow you and knit your designs because I love that you create with natural fibers in colors and designs that reflect nature. As a knitter living in the U.S. inundated with designs in indie super wash yarn, your creations are a breath of fresh air.
I also appreciate how well written and translated your patterns are, they are very easy to follow even though you and I have different first languages.
Thank you for all your designs, and I do believe you will be able to find a balance between indulging your creativity and running a viable business ❤
Thank you so much! Yes exposure can be super tricky today with algorithms and me focusing more on pictures than short video content 🙃
Hello Laerke💕 You have so many beautiful, original, inspiring projects that encourage me to knit them all⭐ For now, I have one pattern (Rotur Sweater) and I will start a beautiful adventure with it in a moment🍁 I will definitely buy a few more of your projects in the near future, because they are beautifully designed. I think that popularity (in this crazy world of excess) is influenced by many factors. It is enough for some blogger or TH-camr to reach for a project and everyone starts knitting it. For example, I do not understand the phenomenon of the Snow Crocus sweater at all. It is very pretty. The pattern is supposedly written out on about 60 pages... But is it some super unique project? In my opinion, no more than other similar ones. You should definitely not give up and continue creating what is in your soul and heart🌷 I know it is so easy to say, but there is huge potential in your work. Your projects are wonderful. The popular ones sell to other knitters because they are promoted, made fashionable, desired. Various KALs, cooperations give them the power to break through. The only thing that your ideas may still lack is just this "breakthrough". Because they certainly do not lack charm, creativity, beautiful colors, good energy, interesting and tasteful solutions. I apologize for my English. I do not feel very confident in it, but I really wanted to encourage you and convey my belief, that you will achieve great success. I support you with all my heart. We will stay in touch🌺💌 Ania
Hi Lærke!
As so many already wrote - I love your style of designing, pattern writing and presenting the pattern. Every time there is a new one, I‘d love to make it. Don’t get discouraged by low sales and keep promoting your older patterns in your podcasts and on your instagram feed - I‘m so intrigued by that shoulder construction of the loppa sweater…
Hi laerke, you were one of my first podcasters I've followed and have always been inspired by your life and knitting, your patterns always are different from the previous, with a fresh idea and construction. This is pure inspiration from within yourself. Be kind to yourself and continue with your creations as I'm positive when your patterns are recreated by knitters it's choice, not popularity. 😊
Your designs are beautiful, Laerke ! Infortunately there is so little time… one has to make choices. And also, there is the algorithm of the internet, I think. You are one of the first podcasters I discovered and followed, and I will continue. I really like your aesthetic, the rustic, simple and natural designs. ❤
Dear Laerke, you are one of the very few podcasts i love to follow along - the atmosphere, your colour choices, the overall vibe you and also your pattern give- i just love it. And i think it is something so unique which we all love your work for! And i think that is also your biggest selling point - cozy, slow and calm living & knitting. And yes it makes sense it cant keep up witht he big and quick players, but honestly the appreciation is so much more!
I personally love all your designs, yarn choices and how the patterns are written. I do love especially garments! An honest feedback though: Sometimes i hestitate to knit your designs because i am worried that the armhole depth and shape does not suit my body shape (i am quite tall), that the wide fits are sometimes a bit unpractical (for outdoorsy work) and also it can be hard to find the recommended yarn, eventhough i live in europe aswell! So maybe those aspects could be factors for other knitters aswell? Nonetheless i love to support your work and can't wait for the cable cardigan to come out
I love your patterns. When I see your patterns, I know they’re yours. So you do have a signature that is recognizable. I love your summer top! I’m sure in time it will do well. I would love to make it.
That is such a compliment! Thank you 🥰
I love wearing your Loppe Sweater, it's so cozy and was a really fun knit! And definitely so so warm and toasty!
The perokin and loppe sweaters are gorgeous! I’m a beginner knitter but definitely want to knit them! Keep up your courage
So many beautiful patterns ❤ I can’t believe the Perikon Sweater is on the least popular list, it’s one of my all time favourites - I wear mine all the time, it’s so soft and warm, and I get so many compliments on it 🥰
It seems intimidating to me, but I really would like to make one next year! It's so lovely.
@@ouineque It really is a wonderful design 😊 And all of Lærke’s patterns are so well written, and also contain links to help videos for any unfamiliar techniques 😊 I knit mine in Rauma Fivel, which is a spun woollen yarn, instead of an unspun yarn, and that also worked really well 😊 I wish you the best of luck 😊
@@CoffeesoakedKnits thank you! This really helps me to take the step! 💕I want to do it in the same yarn combination with would be the first time knitting unspun yarn as well😊
Thank you for being brave and continuing to put your designs out into the world, they are all so beautiful. I also want to tell you that I knitted the Humblebi shawl last year while recovering from an operation. It truly helped comfort me through my recovery, the sweet bees cheered me up every time I looked at them, and it was not too challenging while I was feeling tired. So thank you.
Also, I know you have the Humblebi socks pattern, but as suggested above, a jumper design, mittens, hat etc with the darling bumble bees would be lovely. Many thanks for your beautiful designs, and your podcasts, and your wonderful photography. It must be a lot of work and we appreciate you.
Don’t feel too discouraged for too long: you have many balls in the air: your knitting designs, your podcasts, your home design and improved, your photography business. You have small children, a partner, parents, their sheep! You get wool dyed the way you want it and speak with local farmers….. you are one very busy woman leading a beautiful full life! Your designs are stunning, unique and inspiring. Just keep putting your ideas out there with love. They will get some back eventually 😊❤. I am currently working on the second mitt of the Hiedra pattern. They will be a gift for a dear friend. They are absolutely charming, even if the magic loop knitting in pattern occasionally drives me crazy.😅
Next up: Bregne sweater (for my son), then a Gro shawl eventually for me… I only buy what I know I’ll get to.
I actually ❤your sweaters! I think you could make a sweater with the bee motif around the yoke (basically your humble shawl design in sweater form). I wouldn't be too concerned abt popularity bc ppl tend to buy trendy items (rt now, cropped very big) but yours are CLASSIC (very wearable for all) and yours will stand the test of time.
I think your designs are lovely. As some others have mentioned, many people may not see your designs, they get lost. This is world of hype too, so a handful of designers seem to get lots and lots of publicity and everyone rushes to knit up the same things. I love all of the so called "least popular" ones. They are very special! Keep on designing!
Thank you for sharing your most and least sold patterns. They are all lovely🧶
Hello Laerke, I fell in love with your humlebi pattern and I wish you could create more pattern with it in the future.❤ I Love your style and your Podcasts.
I have been looking for a pattern to use Manchilopi for the first time. So pleased to have been reminded of the Perikon sweater. I bought it straight away.. You could feature an older pattern each time you podcast to bring them back into the spotlight to shine again and to get noticed a fresh
Your beautiful Pericon Sweater is on my to-knit-List. It is very gorgeous. ❤
This was very interesting to listen to. I'm quite surprised that the Pelicon is the least popular. The design is stunning and something I bought the minute it was released. Although it has the similar concept to the Gro Hat, as in a beautiful visual motif, maybe the cables look more intimidating to do, so it might put people off? That can happen sometimes, when something looks so pretty and intricate that some people might think it's out of their reach. Even though doing the actual calliper cable isn't the most difficult, if they just try it. Also I noticed when the Gro motif was copied by the other designer. It was very disappointing to see and on top of that she brought out a whole slew of patterns using that motif very quickly. But that shouldn't put you off from exploring it further. I love your patterns with this motif a lot more (I've not bought any of her patterns using that motif just for the principle of the matter). It would be nice to see you using the motif you invented and not let the money grabbing tendencies of others crush your creativity. Your patterns have a lot more soul to them and using the motif again is something I hope you consider doing
I was today years old when I found you here, thanks to the algorithm. Subscribed right away because I like your designs. Also went to Ravelry and gave them all a like and placed several in my que. Keep up the great work. It will happen!!
Thank you for sharing your thoughts behind your designs. I think unless one has actually designed a pattern (grading/testing) to sell, it’s hard to imagine the time, attention and patience that goes into it. As a creative/artist, I believe creating from the heart is the place to begin. And you clearly have. I’ve so enjoyed knitting your designs and look forward to more!!
Loppe Sweater added to my Ravelry queue :) it's so gorgeous I'm so grateful to you for your time and efforts! A new year make to look forward to ❤
I love your patterns and have knitted more of yours than anyone. I’m a slow knitter so it takes me some time.:)
I just bought your Gro hat pattern this morning! I bought your humblei sock pattern and made them this summer...I love love them!!
❤
Hi Laerke. I think all your patterns are beautiful including those least purchased ones, and I agree with the comments that indicate maybe they sometimes get lost in the buzz of the internet world. Another thought on the garments is that I notice the second two least purchased garment patterns are for quite heavy/warm sweaters. Although I live in Canada, I live in the more southern areas and as much as I love the sweaters themselves, I would rarely (if ever) be able to wear something that warm unless it was strictly as an outerwear garment, and I don't have much call for that given I wouldn't want to pull a sweater on and off over my head arriving at work. Yet when I lived further north those are exactly the types of sweaters I would want to wear. So perhaps in part for those two it's because the warmth of them doesn't necessarily suit more moderate temperatures/indoor lifestyles and therefore don't get made as much as others.
I loved all the patterns. And they will be now on my wish list. Thank you
Wow I love your designs…. I’m gonna buy the last two sweater designs to make, they are beautiful……I only just found you so I will look out for more of your work. Please keep doing what your doing your work is lovely.❤
Thanks for your thoughts. I love your designs ans they are very special and detailed:)
You are such a beautiful maker! All of your designs and photos are gorgeous. Would love to see a Cloudberry Christmas stocking!
Thank you for your lovely designs. You inspire my knitting. I love wooly wool garments. Keep on designing.
Hi :)
I really love your patterns! I think they are classic and timeless, with a touch of whimsy. I have the humblei shawl pattern and plan to cast on next month.
I do really like your sweaters a lot, but I don’t tend to gravitate toward them because they are usually knit in a heavier yarn. I live in Florida so anything heavier than DK would be way too warm to wear. I do have an eye on your summer patterns ❤
I agree that the algorithm plays a big part on IG especially. I follow you, but honestly I find out about or see a lot more of your patterns on TH-cam before IG. Your designs are beautiful, I honestly can’t believe that they are underproducing due to any reason other than exposure.
Thank you! The algorithm has become so difficult to work with on instagram for my type of content. I have more than 50.000 followers but only a few thousand sees what i post 🫠
Just an fyi: You can subscribe to channels you like to see when they post 🤍
This was a really interesting episode. Thank you for sharing! I just bought the flea sweater because of this. I can’t wait to knit it this winter!!!
Laerke, I agree that the popularity of your designs has less to do with the design itself as the marketing behind it, as others have said before me! Your designs are beautiful and unique and worthy of anybodies time but getting them noticed among all the other new pattens probably takes a commitment to marketing, collaborating, using other podcasters as test knitters etc etc that is a full time job in itself!
Your designs are absolutely beautiful 🩵 and unique. Perhaps is a matter of more exposure
I agree always have more energy in the beginning of the project so that’s a very good pattern for sure. 👍
All the patterns you’ve just shown are very, very beautiful. I am surprised to learn that some of them were not very popular. I’ve knitted your Bregne sweater pattern and love it. I noticed you always add the most beautiful details❤
Hello! I made two of your most popular items and I am not a fan of knitting accessories at all, but I loved knitted them. And about the not so popular patterns….my thoughts on these are: you are right about summer knits. Most knitters I know really don’t like knitting with plant fiber. the Loppe ist really one I want to knit. I don’t know why I didn’t, to be honest. Maybe it is because it is very thick and you released it in March🤷♀️ it is beautiful and I am thankful you reminded me of this, because it is a perfect sweater for a gloomy day to just throw over. I really like the design. And the Perikon might also have shared the sad fate of the Loppe. Very thick for March when most people watch out for thinner items? Maybe a lot have absolutely no use for such thick sweaters anyway? Cardigans might be different. Both are beautiful. It’s not about the design. Both are thick winter sweaters with a larger gauge. Just my thoughts. Kind wishes❤
Thanks so much! Haha you have a good point about warm sweaters in march and it is one of my problems when designing. I always get the ideas for sweaters once fall hits but a pattern can easily take 6 months to make so then it comes out in march 🫠 i hope i can be a bit faster with my cardigan 😅
@@FiberTales I absolutely get it. I would have the same problem being a knitwear designer. Your work is a work of joy and a way to express yourself, which leads you to designing winter sweaters in winter. And I love your podcast for the authenticity it reflects. Maybe you simply try to release the pattern some months later. And show some pictures of the design from time to time. Wearing it after a morning swim or in the evening beside a camp fire. To hold the excitement high. And to show the versatility of a garment. It would definitely work for me. And there is nothing wrong with wanting to get paid for the work you put into it. And I guess the first release hype is even important for the long run. Cardigans are different because you can wear them the whole year around. I hope you find a way that works for you.❤
Larke! I think your designs are some of the most lovely and artistic designs out there. I would buy them all if I could and hopefully one day I will be able to make them all. I am so grateful for the work and the heart you pour into your patterns. They are so beautiful. The Due Tee is one of my favorites ever! So sweet. So simple.
Hi Lærke! I love to knit sweaters and that's why I'm knitting your beautiful Røtur right now. It's a wonderful and easy to follow pattern. ❤
Thanks for the episode! It was so interresting. Perikon sweater went to my queue because I liked it a lot when you were designing it, but I forget it afterwards. I have the right yarn for it in my stash too! ❤
Thank you so much for talking about this, Laerke! It can be so disheartening to design something that you love, only to not see that reflected back, and don't get me started about other designers copying patterns. I'm so sorry you've had to deal with this - your lovely designs are always so unique and they're a joy to make. I hope things look up in the design world soon
hello Laerke, I know you had a lot of beautifull response to this video but i wanted to ad mine to the list. You are a wonderfull designer. I love each and every pattern you put into the world. The reason (for myself) for not buying every pattern, is that i'm a young knitter, and i don't have the confidence to knit such intricate and beautifull pattern. I 'am waiting to be a bit more experienced before starting with one of your garment. But has i watch this video i'm actually knittnig your Hyedra Mitts and i love it!! I still have a lot to learn but i aslo already bought 5 of your patterns :) keep going and designing beautifull things. If this bring you hapiness, you should do it for sure!! happy knitting. valentine.
I love your patterns. Am currently knitting your Bakker scarf it's beautiful 💖
I LOVE all of the patterns youve just shown. And good on you for being so honest, thats rare on YT! Im off to check your ravelry now. Im just a beginner knitter but id love to make that colourwork sweater.
hi. I love your patterns. I am just going to make the hat for the second time. I love my bee shawl and keep an eye on your patterns regularly. Don’t get discouraged. Some designers r in your face and I personally get tired of them
Having read a lot of the comments here I can feel the love … I hope it helps ❤. I have two of your patterns and I can honestly say they won’t be the last 😊
Como sé que hablas español, te escribo en mi idioma. Tus diseños son muy bellos y especiales, me gusta mucho que muestras el proceso, con sus aciertos y sus errores. Estoy de acuerdo que en gran medida puede deberse a que tu trabajo es menos conocido. Muchas veces me pregunto por qué hay diseños que son tan populares y casi todo el mundo los quiere hacer cuando no son la "gran maravilla", pero las personas son asi, si hay algo que está en boca de todos, lo quieren hacer porque es la moda y no siempre es lo mejor. Sigue con tu creatividad y nosotros continuaremos admirando tu trabajo.
Saludos de una mexicana viviendo en Hungría.
Hej Lærke, thanks for being vulnerable to us. Your designs are beautiful, smart, thoughtful and elegant. Some of them don’t fit my bodyshape, but I am very happy with my groshawl 🤎
I love all your least popular patterns. I would love to knit them if I lived in the right climate to knit them because they are all warmer knits than I need in the southern US. I love them so much though. I hope you grow and get more popular Because I love your designs.
I love & purchased your two least purchased patterns. I haven’t knit them yet but I’m planning to this upcoming year
I also wanted to add that on Ravelry, if you favorite the designer, not just a pattern, or add the designer as a friend, Ravelry will notify you of new pattern releases on your home page. I just found this out and wanted to share it because I know it's so easy for new designs to slip by.
I love your humlebi shawl and socks! Bees are so popular right now. I would love a humlebi hat, a yoke pullover, and a cardigan. I would buy the whole collection! Thank you for sharing your inspiration with us and for following your heart with your designs.❤🧶
I can relate to this so much! Thank you for sharing such an open and honest video. Your hat patterns are so pretty and I can see why they're so popular! It's SO impossible to predict how designs will be received - I've had patterns that I thought would be successful totally flop, and others have sold way more than I expected. I guess all you can say is that human behaviour is impossible to predict. But it's super annoying when people say 'just make what you love' when your pattern sales pay the bills - I'm sure you know the feeling 😅
I can only imagine how much work went into the colourwork & shaping of the Loppe sweater - it's beautiful!
I love all of your designs. They are beautiful. I wish that I was a better knitter. Because, I would love to make a few of your designs. ❤
I have only just discovered you and I think your designs are beautiful.
I really appreciate your insight into your patterns; it’s very clear that you love them and are very proud of them, and that’s a big part of why I love the patterns you create! Please keep creating; the community will keep supporting you! (And I have plans to make the Loppe sweater soon! It’s been in my pattern library for a little while, but I’m excited to have a big, cozy addition for the winter!)
your designs are beautiful ! Due tee and pericon sweater are on my to do list. Love the bees ! It is a mystery why some patterns are more popular than others.But your heart and your joy in creating something is so much more precious ! Wishing you all the best and if this is your wish, the success will come inevitably !!!
Laerke thank you for sharing this video with us 😊 I favourited the Due tee or Ravelry as I love to combine knit and crochet in a pattern and hope to make it this summer ☀️Your patterns are beautiful and always original ❤
Hi, I really like your patterns and will be making them once my test knit is completed. You are a great designer so continue inspiring us knitters!
Dear Learke, love, love your patterns. Just start with the Bakker scarf. So, one day I will knit them all. Happy to notice your beautiful patterns in different podcasts. I cannot believe that the patterns you just showed, are the least favorite, they are so beautiful. Keep up the good work, hope to see more of your patterns, cannot wait for your beautiful cardigan in progress. Inga from Knitting Traditions is also knitting a stunning pattern of you. So show your patterns also in the Netherlands in November. Enjoy your knitting journey. One day the world will wake up, if they understand what they are missing. Lots of love ❤🥰 Time to buy these three patterns 🎉🎉🎉🎉
I don’t think your sweaters are unpopular! I have never seen your channel. I happened to search unpopular knit sweater patterns and this popped up. I LOVE the Perikon sweater! It is next up on my needles! Thank you!
Wow i cant believe your unpopular patterns are unpopular i want all of them 😅 excited to give you my money!!
I love your unique style of patterns as well as the yarn choice and color combination. It actually makes it special that it is appeals to a smaller group.
I have currently the Bakker scarf on my needles and I love it. I have made a sample with plotulopi + suri silk. Then made a sample with Nutiden in a very beautiful mustardy color pairing with silk mohair. However after putting them next together, I didnt like the drape of nutiden. It was too soft and delicate. While plotulopi is less soft, but it holds its shape and compliments the pattern. That’s when I thought, trust the designer. Stay true to yourself and design what makes you happy. ❤
Awe, you shouldn`t judge your makes in that way, My heart was bleeding. In my opinion, all the garments are out of this world beautiful. I am a garment knitter and almost never knit accessoires. I am not a hat person and I almost never knit socks either. Sometimes I make shawls. So, just keep on designing what you love. It has to suit you. It`s o.k., to look around a bit for the general taste, I understand, but in the end I think: If you love what you make, there will always be people out there who love it too. Those are the customers you want! They will show up, they will buy and love your pattern. I love all your stuff. The reason I do not have a lot more of your pattern is because I have to save up the money first, lol. But Sometimes the waiting period has it`s wonderful moments too. It would be boring, if we would manifest everything we want in seconds. 🙂
Du laver simpelthen de flotteste designs. Jeg har så mange af dine opskrifter og endnu flere på min ønskeseddel. Dit woodlarksjal er mit mesterværk. Det er SÅ flot og jeg er mega glad for det
Please don't stop making garments. I've not knit a sweater of yours yet bc I live in an area that has 3 levels of summer and a 2 week "winter" but this weekend we are moving to a 4 season area so I'm very excited to start knitting your sweaters.
Thank you for such an interesting insight into the life of a designer. I love all of your designs that you have shown. I guess for me, I am often drawn to the yarn choice for the pattern. Unspun is not the easiest for me to get, and I find I am sensitive to it. And whilst I know I can substitute another yarn I sometimes find it difficult to imagine what it would turn out like. Please don't be disheartened, you have a beautiful aesthetic ❤
I love that shawl and am going to give it a go. I live in a warm/hot climate so like slipover/vest tops.
I love your Perikon sweater! I never saw it before. Please don't give up and maybe just collaborate more to get some more exposure. ❤
I just added the Perikon sweater to my favourites list. It may be a couple years before I get to it (I have a few sweaters lined up and I knit slowly) but it looks like such a good everyday piece.
Hi Laerke, I love your designs! You're so creative and talented! I currently have WAY TOO many projects on needles right now, but I will be checking out your patterns on Ravelry. Especially the Humbeli Shawl, and the Perikon sweater. Take care.😊
Your designs are so so beautiful! It truly is a labor of love though. I think part of the problem is even a prolific knitter can probably only make one garment per month and there are literally hundreds of beautiful new designs published every month! I wish I could buy and create them all, but alas it is a slow craft.
Very interesting episode, thank you! I must ask, is the field sweater a copy of your gro design? I feel bad for buying it now :(
I love the Perikon Sweater, and have had it in my favorites for a few months! I will definitely make it in the future, but at the moment I want to use up some stash yarn with your Bakker Scarf.
This was actually a very interesting video, Laerke!
I had a look on Ravelry and see that your least popular pattern has 23 projects listed, the second least popular one has 14… that to me as a consumer already looks like the patterns are pretty popular. Very often when I‘m browsing patterns to knit, there are lovely patterns with maybe only 2 or 5 projects, even if they‘ve been out some time, and even from designers who have a „name“. Obviously, sales and number of projects don‘t necessarily correspond, I realise that. I think the fact that you are being published in some popular magazines will probably help longer-term and having other podcasters knit your patterns will also help viewers to notice and consider a pattern (like Inga making the Favo!), however you can‘t influence others‘ choice to do that!
For me personally, I own a few of your patterns. I made two Bellis tees and have earmarked the Due tee to make next spring. I bought Favo when my daughter made hers (she bought it herself, too, of course!) but then decided against it for two reasons, it would be too warm for me and i didn‘t feel like doing the work at that point although I adore the look of the honeycomb stitch - doesn‘t mean I might not make it at some point! I made Camilla Vad‘s Field cardigan and found I don‘t like doing the textured stitches very much even though it looks good, and I feel the same about elongated stitches like Perikon - I made Melody‘s Skogur and it put me off the long stitches, even while I love the shawl (took forever!). So seeing these kinds of stitches and bobbles I don‘t like doing could prevent me buying other beautiful patterns because I‘m too lazy to knit them, I guess. Also, while I‘ve been intending to make the Lumi sock-slippers for ages, I don‘t tend to make fancy socks because nobody else sees them. I have made so many shawls and hats that I rarely make any more at all 🫣
I think your rustic romantic aesthetic is beautiful but not so much my own style and the warmer designs are too heavy for my climate, which I have realised since spending some time around your climate zone where I can wear jumpers in the summer that I can‘t even wear in Switzerland in the winter!! We don‘t have the damp wind of a sea climate, it gets a little colder but it‘s a drier cold and I find thinner knitwear and cardigans work better for me, garments I can wear under a warm jacket and discard in centrally heated indoor spaces. Knitwear is a no-go here from May-September, it‘s too warm day and night - I only use it when I‘m in Atlantic/North Sea/Baltic areas (which I am most summers, luckily!).
Sorry for such a long comment and I don‘t know how typical I am, but I hope you aren‘t too discouraged and continue to put your creativity out there 🤗
I'm obsessed with the T! just added it to my favourites so I can knit it next year
Your Loppe looks so cosy and gorgeous. I am adding to my favourites and will be knitting once I learn how to do colour work, and how to work with unspun yarn. Thank you for this podcast or I never would have come across the design. I have only been knitting for about a year so don't have too much to say about what I like or dislike in a knitting pattern, other than I really enjoy a concise short pattern that gives me just enough direction but remains simple to follow. Hate those 20 pagers where you have to skip all over to follow your size. Your designs are very beautiful and I can't wait to add some to my queue.
My husband and I have Lopi sweaters. In the United States winters just aren’t as cold as they used to be. I live in North Carolina. I rarely knit anything heavier than a DK weight sweater.
Love all of your designs,especially your sweaters,i am surprise they didn't do well on Ravelry. I was looking for simple and beautiful designs and yours check all the boxes 😍. Thank you so much for sharing 🤗
I love all of your designs! I have some Manchelopis in my stash and am going to add your Perikon to my queue. Stunning, and I am not sure how I missed it initially!
I think all your designs are beautiful, Laerke.
All of your designs are gorgeous! Great job 😊
I have to knit Perikon sweater for my husband who is always cold. I remeber when you were working on its pattern I already thought I need to knit it. What stops me is: the price for everything has gone up so much I have to really plan everything to be able to buy the yarn.
Greetings from Latvia! 🤗
I love the fleas sweater, but for wearability, it would work better for me as a cardigan as I run warm at times. I love your designs! 🙂
Love the Due Tee! Don't know how I missed that.
Good evening Laerke! A very interesting podcast and you were brave to talk about those patterns still in the shadows, bizarrely! I guess that we can all relate to how you feel up to a certain extent of course, because we are not all designers with such a fabulous talent as yours! I have knitted a number of your patterns but I am yet to knit the cute little tee! If you haven’t been yet, I wish you a wondrous time in the Netherlands! 🍄🦔🧶
Thank you! I made this episode exactly because it is an interesting topic for me and something that sometimes puzzles me. I can’t wait to go on my little yarny adventure to the Netherlands 🥰
Wow, I cannot believe Perikon is on the “least popular” list!!! It is my favorite of your designs and I’ve been waiting to knit it until this winter… but I will wait no longer and will show it some love immediately 😍 keep going please! I love your designs 💜
Pattern downloaded! Also the “flea” sweater cause it’s also great and we keep our house at 16c in the winter 😅
Hello, I think your tee pattern is beautiful, and I love knitting and crocheting. :) At the same time, I think it would be very interesting if you said what your three most popular garment patterns are. I think accessories might be more popular overall. I hope you are not going to be discouraged. I think your style is unique and interesting. Good luck!
thank you for sharing ❤
Just bought three more 😊 is there enough time in the day … probably not but I can always hope 🥰
You are visible on ravelry ( I've favortited your designs, particularly the sweaters) many times from browsing the patterns by popular. You are also recommended by my favorite podcasters knitting traditions and melmakesstuff. Still i have not bought a pattern yet, so in my case (and maybe others!) it's just a question of time :) this winter I will for sure knit the perikon, which is a very original design
Thank you for sharing these observations with us. Have you considered making a vest pattern? You have a wonderful eye for color and design!
Beautiful, beautiful socks… I made a few pairs so far!
I knit your Woodlark shawl and Hiedra mitts, and I love love love them! The Gro hat is on my list.
The reason I'm not making any of your larger garments is that their shape does not really work well with my body type. That is not a matter of size (I tend to knit S or M), but of my (apparently somewhat unique?) proportions and shoulder shape. I've recently been very disappointed in several wide-sleeved, boxy/oversized garments, somewhat similar to yours, that look great on other people, but not really on me...
Hi Lærke - what made me write a comment was you wondering about putting the gro-pattern in other items of clothing, for example a sweater. Maybe it’s just me but looking at some other designers and their approach: after two or three patterns that all feature the same “special” thing, this does have a taste like ready-to-wear-clothing. Like going into H&M, looking for a skirt with that fabric because you saw a blouse in the same one. Individually, it’s still pretty… but again at least for me it has a “weird taste” to it. I understand the reason - selling patterns to make a living - but still to me as a consumer it feels kind of cheap buying a sweater pattern with a basic construction and a sprinkle of a special stitch pattern put in that the designer also used on a sock, a vest, a hat, a shawl, mittens…
I love the easy wearability of your patterns and patterns in general. Looking forward to new work flying off your knitting needles. Since I used manchelopis on another sweater and loved-loved-loved the feel of the garment, your Perikon is on my to-knit-list 👌❤️