A feature I love is a button at the bottom of a pattern that says “People who like this pattern also like…” It’s great if a pattern is close to what you want but just not quite it!
One feature I really like is: when looking at a particular pattern, I click on “yarn ideas”. If someone has knit the project in the yarn that I was planning on using for it, I can look are their finished project and see if I like it in that yarn. Sometimes even the loveliest yarn doesn’t suit a particular project. I am learning so much from your channel Nicole. Even though I am 73 and have been knitting since I was 8, there is always something new to learn! Margaret in Surrey, B.C.
I also do a backward version of this. If I have a yarn in my stash and don't know what I want to do with it. I pull it up in the yarn feature of Ravelry and if they have my color in the database, I pull that up, and see what others have used that yarn for.
This was a really helpful video for me. First it confirmed what I had already figured out (which is basic stuff) and then you opened up a whole new world. I didn’t know how to effectively use the pattern search feature or the stash library or the queue and how Favourite anything worked. It really is an amazing site. I have been looking at projects to help me decide if I really want a pattern but with your tips I can now filter just the finished ones and find the notes. It will make me want to actually post my own projects and add helpful notes so other people can refer to them because I love it when people do that. Another thing is I have a love of colourful yarn but find it doesn’t always suit the patterns I want to knit, so it is so helpful to see if a speckled or striped yarn makes texture or lace disappear. Thank you Nicole for your wonderful videos and your quirky knitting brain. Hope Oscar enjoyed his supper! We appreciate his wait. 🦴
Excellent video. As you suggested, when I find a pattern I like, I always look at the projects done by others who have used the same pattern, and also read the comments to see if there are any useful suggestions. When I post my projects, I include the YEAR in the tags. Very helpful to keep track of one's annual output.
So totally agree Nicole, the projects page is a must when picking patterns. I love the honesty and helpfulness of the knitter who have attempted the pattern before me. And absolutely their experience has influenced whether I go ahead with the pattern. Just this afternoon last!
I really like the “tab” button when adding a pattern to my favourites. If I like the pattern for a specific person, I will add their name as a tab. I always add the type of yarn the pattern calls for, what the design is, like shawl or socks, or sweater…whatever. When I click on my favourites, all those tabs are listed alphabetically on the left side of the page. It is very helpful.
I watched the whole video, hoping to hear something that is new to me (I am on Ravelry every day too 🤭). Since I have a small stash, it is not on Ravelry. I add a new project, and put the yarn information there. You had to type the store 3 times, that seems a bit too much to me, you could use that time for knitting 😉. When I see a pattern to looks nice, first thing I do is watch the finished AND the frogged or hibernating projects, to see how the garment looks on other people, and to read their notes. So I can decide whether this would be a pattern I would like to knit. I was thinking, that is how everybody does it. But reading the comments, apparently not everybody does that. Lesson learned for me: things that are a routine for myself, could be an useful tip for somebody else 😄. So 👏👏👏 for you !!!
That's what I do too. I tend to buy only the yarn I want for a particular project as I don't really have room for a stash. If I do see a good sale, I might look at yarn then see what people have made with it and reviews.
I had no idea that Ravelry had so many useful features - I've always used it as a resource for patterns, and that's about it. Now I have an organizational tool that I never knew was already at my disposal. Thank you so much - you've really opened my eyes here, and I'm grateful!
Excellent overview. I have a few other tips. Stash- select a color family in addition to the color name. This lets me find all my Blues in one search, whether they called sky or navy or azure. Stash - add in the dye lot, if there is one. It will help you find people who might sell or swap the same version of the color you’re using. Projects - by adding tags you can quickly sort your projects in ways useful to you. For instance, I am a designer so I tag all my designs (my-design) so that I can find them all quickly. You can use the Organize feature to create clickable subsets of projects that display along the top of your project page.
i dont use the stash feature but i absolutely do look through projects for a pattern before and during knitting it! thats by far the most valuable aspect of ravelry to me. other makers sharing their finished objects helps me out so often which motivates me even more to share good photos and information about my projects. for instance, being able to look at other people's actual yarn amounts used for projects is so useful so i always include that when I've finished my project, even if i dont really *need* to keep track or know how much i used
This is genius, and I haven't even watched the whole video yet! I have not used any of these features on Ravelry, I just search for free patterns and put them in my library! I will definitely be using these tips going forward. Thank you so much for putting this video out there. I will definitely be using these tips and features in the future.
I haven’t used that link before, I usually go up to the projects button and, like you, I look for finished projects. It’s such a good tip. 💛I really appreciate people who put notes for themselves and that any person can take into account when deciding. I do love Thea Colman’s patterns too.
I am amazed every time I see a Ravely How to video. it is such a powerful program. I was kinda forced into using it the first time and I know I don't use it as fully as I can. Next on my project list is putting all my yarn in the Stash portion. Thanks for the great tips!
I completely agree about how helpful projects are in my decision making. I’m short with (as the Yarn Harlot describes) “ample awning over the front porch.” Positive ease does not work for me the way it works for someone with a more proportionate awning, as it were, so I always look for finished projects that have 1) followed the size recommendation for people with a similar (to my) full-bust and 2) those who (apparently) used high-bust measurement for the size selection. Another thing that would be helpful, but I don’t see very often, is the knit size *and* the wearer’s size, even in notes, especially among the test knitters (obviously only if the pattern was test knit in a variety of sizes). That’s something I intend to start including in my own project notes.
Hi Nicole, I really appreciate using all the Ravelry features you've conveyed. Thanks for a clear summary. I love keeping my yarn details up to date in 'Stash'. A tip I picked up from somewhere else on youtube when adding to Stash, is to click the dropdown box (under the Colourway space I think) where you can select from various other options to do with the yarn features/attributes e.g. speckled, heathered, tonal etc, etc. This detail can be helpful later using searches by colour and attribute.
thanks for the video. I also use the projects page to search by size to see what it would look like in my size. I also love Ravelry to search stashes. I tend to purchase yarn now that others are selling rather than buying new.
This video was so helpful in so many ways. I’m on Ravelry every day but had only scratched the surface of the the ways I can use it as I found watching your video. Thanks so much!
Wow! Thank you for this super helpful session. I like many others have been using Ravelry for many years but never took the time to get very deep into it. Your CLEAR details was what I needed. The helps in Ravelry themselves can be a bit daunting and I’ve gotten frustrated more then I like to say. I love Ravelry and feel so blessed to have it available. Could you do another session on more items?
I just was doing this process at the moment your video popped up and I was deciding against a pattern that I love in the photos and as I read the pattern that I already bought. But yeah the majority of the projects have some common elements that I didn't love about the fit. So I decided nope this one is not for me unless I make a lot of modifications so I will probably find a different pattern I could encorporate the bits I like with a better fit for me. I love your videos. You are refreshingly quirky and your brain is soooo full of everything I didn't even know I wanted to learn about knitting thank you
Very interesting. That opened my eyes about how Ravelry can be used and how many services it offers. I've only used it to find patterns, and knew nothing about being able to see finished projects. Thank you, that was super-useful!
This was an amazing video. I had no idea how to use ravelry other than buying a knitting pattern here and there. I am amazed at your stash. Thank you for all the great videos
I have made a habit of checking the Projects for the very reasons you outlined. Keeps me from leaping into a project I will regret later. However, I find there are so many features to Ravelry, which are all great features, but if I let myself go down those rabbit holes, I would spend more time on Ravelry than I would actually knitting/crocheting. Maybe someday I will make the transition from my paper journal to Ravelry and I do appreciate your showing us what is available there. I'm not very good at stumbling around the website and finding these things on my own. So, thank you.
The yardage I use when I want to knit a shawl/scarf with whichever yarn/colour I particularly want to use. The project pictures are so helpful, it really helps to see the design on real people!
You don't need to fill in category unless you are making something different from what the pattern says, such as when combining multiple patterns or when changing pattern category (sweater to sleeveless, adding hood, turning to dress or vice versa etc). If you leave it blank it will auto-fill from the pattern you used. BTW do you know how to search for patterns that call for a particular yarn? I know how to search for suggested patterns, but that's based on projects that use that yarn versus what the pattern calls for. I find this is useful if I want to search for patterns for new yarns, where the manufacturer has created patterns but no one might have knit them yet.
Thanks for the info about the category field! I do indeed search patterns based on a specific yarn brand/type. I'll be including that info in part two 😀💖
Who knew that almost all the questions about a particular pattern could be answered in one site. Thanks for the test drive! Now I know what to do on a rainy day. addng projects, stash etc.
Thank you so much. I've had a Ravelry account for decades now and I definitely get sucked into the looking at every pattern black hole too often. I also had never dug deep enough to know to add due dates for projects and ordering them like that. This video was exactly what I didn't know I really needed to get my projects and stash in order to actually have the time to make things, not get lost in the process.
Because I have (many) WIPs, when I add an in progress picture I have begun adding the current date at the bottom of that picture. You can do that when you upload the picture and clicking the pencil icon. It shows how many times I have picked up the project so having a 3-18 month WIP doesn’t necessarily mean I was working on it all that time.
I list my yarn in a big book every January (after my Christmas knit/crochet projects). I'm going to use the Ravelry stash section from now on! Thank you for all these great tips! Karen 😊
Great tips for using Ravelry, especially for those who want to take advantage of what Ravelry can keep track of, and how useful itcan be, when fed accurate and consistent information. ☺
I used to have a really hard time searching for patterns on Ravelry and creating my projects page. Your video was really helpful to me in how to use Ravelry for my benefit. Thank you so much for this detailed video.
I feel like I knew most things! Whoo! But digger deeper in the projects is genius! Thank you for the amazing video! I love Ravelry and its capabilities!
I really enjoy looking through projects on ravelry for patterns I am interested in for colour ideas, gauge, fitting, any complications with the patterns etc. Project notes and images have been so helpful for me that it motivates me to document not only for my own records but so that it can help other makers shape their expectations of a pattern. Great video! Thanks Nicole!
Brilliantly done! I particularly liked the incorporation of PROCESS from dream to finished project using Ravelry. I tend to be a project knitter, so have not really used the stash features, but now I am tempted to organize my stash online as well. 👍💕
Thank you for explaining the choices on the advanced search topic. I will rewatch your video when I input my first PROJECT.. I’ve never documented my process thinking it was too complicated. Not now. Your method is very easy to follow. Thank you.
I’ve been a Ravelry member for years and knew none of these tips. So helpful….thank you so much. This will not only help me to get more out of my account but will save me time and money once I get my projects corralled and organized. I have so many forgotten projects on the go, it is overwhelming. I start something and then I don’t like how it’s feeling or looking. Or I get bored and start another project and forget what the other one was for. What a waste of time, money and good intentions. Thank you again. I am going to find your second video now.🎉❤
Thank you. I never thought of connecting purchased yarn to projects in the queue; I've only added projects to the queue that I knew I wanted to knit. I've been on a hiatus from knitting for most of the year so I can get other things fixed around the house. I have a scarf project I take with me to knit on in the waiting room when I go to doctor's appointments. Enjoyed the tour of Ravelry and your short-cuts. Very, very helpful. Thank you.
I did some major modifications on my current wip after reading why others had frogged their project. I made more modifications based on where the texture changes hit on different bodies. Thanks for motivating me to get my finished projects into ravelry and using the queue!
I use that all the time! As a fairly new knitter, I don't know yet exactly what construction suits me the best. But this video made me realise that the computer makes it a lot easier than using my phone! So thanks from Sweden 😊
I also use Ravelry to see what other prec5s a knitter is working on. I click on their name, add them to friends page. In upper right i can view all their WIPs, etc. It's like shopping with someone who has similar taste! Suggestion - screen shots would be helpfil😊
I've been on Ravelry for 15 years and use the Advanced pattern search, and view the projects made all the time. I also search yarn colors and view projects made with them. What I haven't been good at is documenting my yarn stash and using my favorites and queue properly. Thanks for such a great video. I don't like the hassle of having to take a picture of all my yarns, but if done just after being purchased, it might not be too awful. I wish, since they have all the yarn colorway names anyway, that there would be access to just use a stock picture of the color yarn picked.
@@Knicoleknits Think so? I'll try to then. I was able to save online pics of a couple yarns from the online stores I purchased them. But that doesn't always work for in-store purchases or older yarns that are out of stock.
I really enjoyed this video and had no idea that I could do all of these things on Ravelry. You have inspired me and now I have new tools to explore and use. Thank you.
I need all the help I can get on how to roam around in Ralvery. I thank you so much. You have been very helpful. Keep them coming to help more. So, so helpful. this was my first time here with you. I’m gonna go back watch all your other podcast. Thank you so much.
OMG When searching patterns I would go into projects looking for body type fit, yarns etc but I never used the filters. I would go into each project looking for notes and pictures of bodies. You have opened up my world and saved me huge amounts of time! I can't wait to put your knowledge to work! Meri T in South Dakota
I really liked this video! Ravelry has so many useful features, and I'm aware of many of them (including your Projects tip), but I never thought of looking at editing a Queue entry before. I will definitely try to identify any suitable stash yarns I might have when starting a project from the queue. The Projects feature has also been helpful in identifying projects with useful notes on modifications I'm considering. I've even reached out to knitters when I wanted more information about the changes they've made. Most folks have been happy to help (assuming they remember what they did.)
Ok, now im geeking out over my yarn stash for new reasons. I have only used ravelry for pattern searches. I didnt notice all this organizational function. Thanks for expanding my craft world even more!
I would have never considered myself a Ravelry expert, but I already knew your “secret”😊. I also knew most, if not all of the other tips. It was still an enjoyable video and I’m looking forward to part 2! Thanks for the video.
I've purchased patterns off of Ravelry, but I didn't know you could use it like you have show. Thank you for doing this video. I may now start using to for this.
Great tutorial. I use all the features you showed. I also use the notes of other knitters and type in a word eg " collar" or "short rows" if I'm having an issue with the pattern. That feature has been invaluable. Sometimes a knitter will answer my problem in their notes. This narrows the notes search to those I want to read rather than reading all the projects with notes. Entering my stash on Ravelry is the best thing for many reasons. Perhaps you could follow up on this excellent tutorial with the benefits of doing that. Thanks again Nicole
This was great! I already use your big tip all the time and, YES, it is tremendously helpful in deciding whether to use a pattern. What you showed me that I didn’t know is that I can filter my pattern search by yarn in my stash! Awesome! Don’t know how I missed that before, so thank you very much! I’m sure I will find that very helpful. Up until now, I only knew to put a pattern in my queue and then link to my stash, but starting in the search will be so much better when I’m just looking for a pattern to consider. Just found you today for the first time, and will be sure to check out more of your videos.
your big tip section helps target my project searches. I've learned about tall cards and pattern filter drop down menu. during project searches on pattern pages, those buttons would blend into the background. I would look for size-adjacent, helpful, finished projects manually. some project homework could take an evening! (a joy more than a complaint) but you have quicken my searches. thank you! your video shows me I'm closer to a ravelry expert than I realize. I tool around on the site, but never sure if I am using it to its potential. I see I AM using the stash, queue, bundles and searches correctly. yeay!
I absolutely love that part! I have a lot of variegated yarn and seeing the images from others’ projects is a great way to tell if I want to use my sweater quantity of variegated yarn with that particular pattern.
Thank you! Been on Rav for a long time and never really explored all this. I added you as a friend over there and all. I'm slowly adding to my stash because this is going to help me so much in keeping up with what I have in stock.
Absolutely concur about looking at completed projects being (1) a match to pattern model photo, and (2) "looks like my body shape." Thanks for teaching me about he "life jacket" feature. I've never recorded my yarns - perhaps I will start after your wonderfully detailed tutorial. Thank you, Nicole
This is incredibly helpful. I had no idea what all these features did before. I'm excited to start using them. The top about logging stash for insurance was super insightful.
Thank you for a most informative video. I use the projects finished photos and read over notes often, but you certainly helped me get better use of all the fields to keep up with my own projects. Ty. 🦋
this was a great video... what wonderful information - I have been a member of Ravelry for years and have also been UNDER USING it and all the wonderful attributes. THANK YOU SO MUCH... Can not wait for your 2nd video.
This was great! I would love to watch a video about how you use the bundle option-how you organize your patterns. I noticed you have designer bundles, I never thought of that.
Great tips. I didn’t know much about the advance search. My stash is so large it would take me way too long to add it all to Ravelry, but I think I will start adding any new years I get to my stash. Thanks for all the tips
Hi Knicole, that was lovely. I'm saving this in my "watch later". I just taught 2 of my grand daughters to crochet and this will be helpful as they get much further along. The only thing I have not done is add my stash. I have too much to start now, however I pretty much know everything I have.
Great information. You helped me a lot. I did not know all of those features you shared within advanced search and all of those tips within finished projects.
Something I am explicitly looking at is what yarns others have used to knit or crochet the pattern. That's helpful in various ways: For those patterns that do not list a particular yarn (often blankets or other home accessories), it's interesting to see at a glance what sort of yarn most people have used. If I need to substitute the yarn in the pattern, it helps to know if others have already done so (my intent most often being to substitute a US yarn with one that's easier available in the EU) giving me a starting point for my research. If my chosen yarn is actually listed, I can easily look at the projects using this particular yarn, maybe even see my colour choice in practice before committing myself.
Very useful information, thank you! I wish I'd been keeping track of my stash, but now there is so much....maybe I'll do so from here on out. My pet peeve is people who don't make notes, since I find them so helpful...but I guess I should be thankful that they've included a picture 😊. I do search for projects on similar body types as mine...good tip! An extra thing I like on projects is the "yarn ideas".
I find the stash SO helpful but it is a challenge to keep it up. I try to catch up every month or so. I agree about the yarn ideas feature! I'll add that to part two 😃
This video was a really good review of a few features that could be new to some Ravelry users. I personally have at one point used all of these features, so none of the information was new for me. It was really interesting to see how someone else uses it and reminded me to get back into using Ravelry to organize my projects. Thanks for making the video!
I adore Ravelry. I really miss being connected daily. Try to get my daughter to use it but she’s not that into it. I love to knit and crochet patterns that have lots of completed projects, so that I know I can do it as well. And I once did an advent scarf knit along and the group was awesome on the daily.
Great tips! I wish I knew to look at project notes when knit my Ferris Wheel Fade. The armholes were really big and turned out oversized, and this was noted in many comments. Sadly, I knitted to pattern and don’t like how it looks now. But, mistakes are how we learn! Thanks for sharing!
I love the projects page too! Very inspiring and with good tips. Another thing I like to do when I have yarn I don't know what to do with is look it up then view projects using that yarn. Found some great patterns that way.
Thanks for sharing! I've been on Ravelry since 2011 (and already am in the habit of doing your special tip) but never got around to adding yarns to my stash! You've inspired me to slowly but surely start adding my yarn (since I already had a lot of yarn when I joined Ravelry and only have more now)
Thanks for those tips! I always use the advanced search & favs, but I think it’s time to add my stash. The fire example puts things in perspective! My insurance company wouldn’t believe me, either! You are fun to watch!
THANK YOU for this video. I wanted to know more about Ravelry, and this was very helpful. I may have to view it a few more times to remind myself of what I remember that can be done, but don't necessarily remember exactly how to do it. Again - THANK YOU!!!
ive only just started using ravelry and watching this video but i love the little popups youve added of your dog! theyre so cute! im loving ravelry so far as well. ok this video has comvinced me to upload all my yarn to ravelry and really get unto using it to organise my knitting and projects too because this all seems so handy!
A feature I love is a button at the bottom of a pattern that says “People who like this pattern also like…” It’s great if a pattern is close to what you want but just not quite it!
Oooo...yes! I forgot about that one - definitely going into part two 😀
One feature I really like is: when looking at a particular pattern, I click on “yarn ideas”. If someone has knit the project in the yarn that I was planning on using for it, I can look are their finished project and see if I like it in that yarn. Sometimes even the loveliest yarn doesn’t suit a particular project.
I am learning so much from your channel Nicole. Even though I am 73 and have been knitting since I was 8, there is always something new to learn! Margaret in Surrey, B.C.
Thank you, Margaret! I hope to meet you at a knitting event sometime 😊
I also do a backward version of this. If I have a yarn in my stash and don't know what I want to do with it. I pull it up in the yarn feature of Ravelry and if they have my color in the database, I pull that up, and see what others have used that yarn for.
I do that too! I clip images and save on my page for that project, too
This was a really helpful video for me. First it confirmed what I had already figured out (which is basic stuff) and then you opened up a whole new world. I didn’t know how to effectively use the pattern search feature or the stash library or the queue and how Favourite anything worked. It really is an amazing site. I have been looking at projects to help me decide if I really want a pattern but with your tips I can now filter just the finished ones and find the notes. It will make me want to actually post my own projects and add helpful notes so other people can refer to them because I love it when people do that. Another thing is I have a love of colourful yarn but find it doesn’t always suit the patterns I want to knit, so it is so helpful to see if a speckled or striped yarn makes texture or lace disappear. Thank you Nicole for your wonderful videos and your quirky knitting brain. Hope Oscar enjoyed his supper! We appreciate his wait. 🦴
Ha ha! Oscar ALWAYS enjoys his supper - he's the most food-motivated dog on the planet 😋
Excellent advice. I almost never knit or crochet a new project before looking at "Projects" and "All Helpful Projects".
Excellent video. As you suggested, when I find a pattern I like, I always look at the projects done by others who have used the same pattern, and also read the comments to see if there are any useful suggestions. When I post my projects, I include the YEAR in the tags. Very helpful to keep track of one's annual output.
So totally agree Nicole, the projects page is a must when picking patterns. I love the honesty and helpfulness of the knitter who have attempted the pattern before me. And absolutely their experience has influenced whether I go ahead with the pattern. Just this afternoon last!
Perfect! 💖
I really like the “tab” button when adding a pattern to my favourites. If I like the pattern for a specific person, I will add their name as a tab. I always add the type of yarn the pattern calls for, what the design is, like shawl or socks, or sweater…whatever. When I click on my favourites, all those tabs are listed alphabetically on the left side of the page. It is very helpful.
Great use of tabs! I'll definitely add that to part two 😄
Wow! I had NO IDEA that you could use ravelry that way! I’ve only searched for patterns on there! This was very helpful!
I watched the whole video, hoping to hear something that is new to me (I am on Ravelry every day too 🤭). Since I have a small stash, it is not on Ravelry. I add a new project, and put the yarn information there. You had to type the store 3 times, that seems a bit too much to me, you could use that time for knitting 😉. When I see a pattern to looks nice, first thing I do is watch the finished AND the frogged or hibernating projects, to see how the garment looks on other people, and to read their notes. So I can decide whether this would be a pattern I would like to knit. I was thinking, that is how everybody does it. But reading the comments, apparently not everybody does that. Lesson learned for me: things that are a routine for myself, could be an useful tip for somebody else 😄. So 👏👏👏 for you !!!
Thanks for watching! You're clearly a smart cookie (and knitter!) 😘
That's what I do too. I tend to buy only the yarn I want for a particular project as I don't really have room for a stash. If I do see a good sale, I might look at yarn then see what people have made with it and reviews.
I had no idea that Ravelry had so many useful features - I've always used it as a resource for patterns, and that's about it. Now I have an organizational tool that I never knew was already at my disposal. Thank you so much - you've really opened my eyes here, and I'm grateful!
You are so welcome!
Excellent overview. I have a few other tips.
Stash- select a color family in addition to the color name. This lets me find all my Blues in one search, whether they called sky or navy or azure.
Stash - add in the dye lot, if there is one. It will help you find people who might sell or swap the same version of the color you’re using.
Projects - by adding tags you can quickly sort your projects in ways useful to you. For instance, I am a designer so I tag all my designs (my-design) so that I can find them all quickly. You can use the Organize feature to create clickable subsets of projects that display along the top of your project page.
Thanks for these! I’ll add them to part two 🥰
I second both of the stash suggestions!
Also, project tags are really useful for me too!
The “stash” part was really helpful. Had no idea how it worked before.
i dont use the stash feature but i absolutely do look through projects for a pattern before and during knitting it! thats by far the most valuable aspect of ravelry to me. other makers sharing their finished objects helps me out so often which motivates me even more to share good photos and information about my projects. for instance, being able to look at other people's actual yarn amounts used for projects is so useful so i always include that when I've finished my project, even if i dont really *need* to keep track or know how much i used
This is genius, and I haven't even watched the whole video yet! I have not used any of these features on Ravelry, I just search for free patterns and put them in my library! I will definitely be using these tips going forward. Thank you so much for putting this video out there. I will definitely be using these tips and features in the future.
Yay! 😃
I haven’t used that link before, I usually go up to the projects button and, like you, I look for finished projects. It’s such a good tip. 💛I really appreciate people who put notes for themselves and that any person can take into account when deciding. I do love Thea Colman’s patterns too.
Amazing ! Loads learnt here thank you x. And great to hear of somebody who has more WIPs and a bigger stash 😝. You go girl ! Thank you
Thanks so much 😊
I am amazed every time I see a Ravely How to video. it is such a powerful program. I was kinda forced into using it the first time and I know I don't use it as fully as I can. Next on my project list is putting all my yarn in the Stash portion.
Thanks for the great tips!
What a wonderful video! Already used Ravelry a lot but you certainly added more indepth detail especially in the Stash segment.
I completely agree about how helpful projects are in my decision making. I’m short with (as the Yarn Harlot describes) “ample awning over the front porch.” Positive ease does not work for me the way it works for someone with a more proportionate awning, as it were, so I always look for finished projects that have 1) followed the size recommendation for people with a similar (to my) full-bust and 2) those who (apparently) used high-bust measurement for the size selection.
Another thing that would be helpful, but I don’t see very often, is the knit size *and* the wearer’s size, even in notes, especially among the test knitters (obviously only if the pattern was test knit in a variety of sizes).
That’s something I intend to start including in my own project notes.
Hi Nicole, I really appreciate using all the Ravelry features you've conveyed. Thanks for a clear summary. I love keeping my yarn details up to date in 'Stash'. A tip I picked up from somewhere else on youtube when adding to Stash, is to click the dropdown box (under the Colourway space I think) where you can select from various other options to do with the yarn features/attributes e.g. speckled, heathered, tonal etc, etc. This detail can be helpful later using searches by colour and attribute.
That's a great suggestion for adding more detail to your stash. Thank you!
thanks for the video. I also use the projects page to search by size to see what it would look like in my size. I also love Ravelry to search stashes. I tend to purchase yarn now that others are selling rather than buying new.
This video was so helpful in so many ways. I’m on Ravelry every day but had only scratched the surface of the the ways I can use it as I found watching your video. Thanks so much!
Wow! Thank you for this super helpful session. I like many others have been using Ravelry for many years but never took the time to get very deep into it. Your CLEAR details was what I needed. The helps in Ravelry themselves can be a bit daunting and I’ve gotten frustrated more then I like to say. I love Ravelry and feel so blessed to have it available. Could you do another session on more items?
I’ll be posting more tips tomorrow! 😁
I just was doing this process at the moment your video popped up and I was deciding against a pattern that I love in the photos and as I read the pattern that I already bought. But yeah the majority of the projects have some common elements that I didn't love about the fit. So I decided nope this one is not for me unless I make a lot of modifications so I will probably find a different pattern I could encorporate the bits I like with a better fit for me. I love your videos. You are refreshingly quirky and your brain is soooo full of everything I didn't even know I wanted to learn about knitting thank you
@@karenalbery2773 Ha ha! Thank you 😊 My brain is REALLY full of knitting. I’m glad there are people like you who want to hear about it 😋🥰
Very interesting. That opened my eyes about how Ravelry can be used and how many services it offers. I've only used it to find patterns, and knew nothing about being able to see finished projects. Thank you, that was super-useful!
You're welcome! So glad it was helpful 😊
This was an amazing video. I had no idea how to use ravelry other than buying a knitting pattern here and there. I am amazed at your stash. Thank you for all the great videos
I have made a habit of checking the Projects for the very reasons you outlined. Keeps me from leaping into a project I will regret later. However, I find there are so many features to Ravelry, which are all great features, but if I let myself go down those rabbit holes, I would spend more time on Ravelry than I would actually knitting/crocheting. Maybe someday I will make the transition from my paper journal to Ravelry and I do appreciate your showing us what is available there. I'm not very good at stumbling around the website and finding these things on my own. So, thank you.
It's definitely a balancing act to keep the Ravelry explorations in check! 😋
Ummm Nicole I didn't see a cashmere dog bed in your queue 😄
Great video...this was so informative, thank you!
Ha ha! Believe me, Oscar reminds me often 😂
The yardage I use when I want to knit a shawl/scarf with whichever yarn/colour I particularly want to use. The project pictures are so helpful, it really helps to see the design on real people!
You don't need to fill in category unless you are making something different from what the pattern says, such as when combining multiple patterns or when changing pattern category (sweater to sleeveless, adding hood, turning to dress or vice versa etc). If you leave it blank it will auto-fill from the pattern you used.
BTW do you know how to search for patterns that call for a particular yarn? I know how to search for suggested patterns, but that's based on projects that use that yarn versus what the pattern calls for. I find this is useful if I want to search for patterns for new yarns, where the manufacturer has created patterns but no one might have knit them yet.
Thanks for the info about the category field! I do indeed search patterns based on a specific yarn brand/type. I'll be including that info in part two 😀💖
@@Knicoleknits Looking forward to it!
Who knew that almost all the questions about a particular pattern could be answered in one site. Thanks for the test drive! Now I know what to do on a rainy day. addng projects, stash etc.
Have fun! 😃
Thank you so much. I've had a Ravelry account for decades now and I definitely get sucked into the looking at every pattern black hole too often. I also had never dug deep enough to know to add due dates for projects and ordering them like that. This video was exactly what I didn't know I really needed to get my projects and stash in order to actually have the time to make things, not get lost in the process.
Hooray!
wow! I'm always on ravelry but did not know all these things it can do! Thanks for this video it was So ,So helpful !
Because I have (many) WIPs, when I add an in progress picture I have begun adding the current date at the bottom of that picture. You can do that when you upload the picture and clicking the pencil icon. It shows how many times I have picked up the project so having a 3-18 month WIP doesn’t necessarily mean I was working on it all that time.
Great idea! I should start doing this 😋❤️
Great video! Thanks for all the tips!
I list my yarn in a big book every January (after my Christmas knit/crochet projects). I'm going to use the Ravelry stash section from now on! Thank you for all these great tips! Karen 😊
Very helpful video. I’m fairly new to using Ravelry and can use all the tips you’re willing to share. 🎉
Great tips for using Ravelry, especially for those who want to take advantage of what Ravelry can keep track of, and how useful itcan be, when fed accurate and consistent information. ☺
So helpful! I am starting a shushi shrug, and having trouble. Just go look for the life preserver! So grateful
I used to have a really hard time searching for patterns on Ravelry and creating my projects page. Your video was really helpful to me in how to use Ravelry for my benefit. Thank you so much for this detailed video.
I feel like I knew most things! Whoo! But digger deeper in the projects is genius! Thank you for the amazing video! I love Ravelry and its capabilities!
I really enjoy looking through projects on ravelry for patterns I am interested in for colour ideas, gauge, fitting, any complications with the patterns etc. Project notes and images have been so helpful for me that it motivates me to document not only for my own records but so that it can help other makers shape their expectations of a pattern. Great video! Thanks Nicole!
Thanks for watching!
I am a relatively new to ravelry and your information was amazing thank you.
You are so welcome!
Brilliantly done! I particularly liked the incorporation of PROCESS from dream to finished project using Ravelry. I tend to be a project knitter, so have not really used the stash features, but now I am tempted to organize my stash online as well. 👍💕
Yay! 💖
Thank you for explaining the choices on the advanced search topic. I will rewatch your video when I input my first PROJECT.. I’ve never documented my process thinking it was too complicated. Not now. Your method is very easy to follow. Thank you.
You're very welcome!
I’ve been a Ravelry member for years and knew none of these tips. So helpful….thank you so much. This will not only help me to get more out of my account but will save me time and money once I get my projects corralled and organized. I have so many forgotten projects on the go, it is overwhelming. I start something and then I don’t like how it’s feeling or looking. Or I get bored and start another project and forget what the other one was for. What a waste of time, money and good intentions. Thank you again. I am going to find your second video now.🎉❤
Thank you so much! Don't look to hard for a Ravelry part two video because I haven't made it yet 😋
You just keep getting better with every video, so much information!❤
Thank you so much! ☺️
Thank you, thank you, thank you. This video is incredibly helpful. I am entering my stash right now.
Thank you so much! I learned so much. This was incredibly helpful!
Thank you. I never thought of connecting purchased yarn to projects in the queue; I've only added projects to the queue that I knew I wanted to knit. I've been on a hiatus from knitting for most of the year so I can get other things fixed around the house. I have a scarf project I take with me to knit on in the waiting room when I go to doctor's appointments. Enjoyed the tour of Ravelry and your short-cuts. Very, very helpful. Thank you.
You are so welcome! Thanks for watching 😊
Thank you so much. As a newbie to R, this has taught me much!
I did some major modifications on my current wip after reading why others had frogged their project. I made more modifications based on where the texture changes hit on different bodies. Thanks for motivating me to get my finished projects into ravelry and using the queue!
I use that all the time! As a fairly new knitter, I don't know yet exactly what construction suits me the best.
But this video made me realise that the computer makes it a lot easier than using my phone!
So thanks from Sweden 😊
You are so welcome!
I also use Ravelry to see what other prec5s a knitter is working on. I click on their name, add them to friends page. In upper right i can view all their WIPs, etc. It's like shopping with someone who has similar taste! Suggestion - screen shots would be helpfil😊
I've been on Ravelry for 15 years and use the Advanced pattern search, and view the projects made all the time. I also search yarn colors and view projects made with them. What I haven't been good at is documenting my yarn stash and using my favorites and queue properly. Thanks for such a great video. I don't like the hassle of having to take a picture of all my yarns, but if done just after being purchased, it might not be too awful. I wish, since they have all the yarn colorway names anyway, that there would be access to just use a stock picture of the color yarn picked.
Yes! That's a fantastic suggestion. You should send that in to Ravelry - it could become a new feature 😃
@@Knicoleknits Think so? I'll try to then. I was able to save online pics of a couple yarns from the online stores I purchased them. But that doesn't always work for in-store purchases or older yarns that are out of stock.
I really enjoyed this video and had no idea that I could do all of these things on Ravelry. You have inspired me and now I have new tools to explore and use. Thank you.
I need all the help I can get on how to roam around in Ralvery. I thank you so much. You have been very helpful. Keep them coming to help more. So, so helpful. this was my first time here with you. I’m gonna go back watch all your other podcast. Thank you so much.
I'm so happy you're here! We've been waiting for you 😉😋
OMG When searching patterns I would go into projects looking for body type fit, yarns etc but I never used the filters. I would go into each project looking for notes and pictures of bodies. You have opened up my world and saved me huge amounts of time! I can't wait to put your knowledge to work! Meri T in South Dakota
Hooray! 😀
I really liked this video! Ravelry has so many useful features, and I'm aware of many of them (including your Projects tip), but I never thought of looking at editing a Queue entry before. I will definitely try to identify any suitable stash yarns I might have when starting a project from the queue.
The Projects feature has also been helpful in identifying projects with useful notes on modifications I'm considering. I've even reached out to knitters when I wanted more information about the changes they've made. Most folks have been happy to help (assuming they remember what they did.)
Absolutely! There's so much valuable information to be gained from the projects and notes shared by others. What an amazing community we are 😃
Thank you for such an informative podcast.
Ok, now im geeking out over my yarn stash for new reasons. I have only used ravelry for pattern searches. I didnt notice all this organizational function. Thanks for expanding my craft world even more!
Hooray! 😀
I have hit favorites button too often without really looking at all the details. I’m going back to my favorites and re visit them. Thank you so much!
This was a great video! I’ve been using Ravelry for soooo long and you just gave me more helpful tips I really didn’t know about. Thank you!
Glad it was helpful!
I would have never considered myself a Ravelry expert, but I already knew your “secret”😊. I also knew most, if not all of the other tips. It was still an enjoyable video and I’m looking forward to part 2! Thanks for the video.
Thanks for staying and watching! 💖
I've purchased patterns off of Ravelry, but I didn't know you could use it like you have show. Thank you for doing this video. I may now start using to for this.
Great tutorial. I use all the features you showed. I also use the notes of other knitters and type in a word eg " collar" or "short rows" if I'm having an issue with the pattern. That feature has been invaluable. Sometimes a knitter will answer my problem in their notes. This narrows the notes search to those I want to read rather than reading all the projects with notes. Entering my stash on Ravelry is the best thing for many reasons. Perhaps you could follow up on this excellent tutorial with the benefits of doing that. Thanks again Nicole
Thanks for this great tip! I'll definitely add this to part two 😃
This was great! I already use your big tip all the time and, YES, it is tremendously helpful in deciding whether to use a pattern. What you showed me that I didn’t know is that I can filter my pattern search by yarn in my stash! Awesome! Don’t know how I missed that before, so thank you very much! I’m sure I will find that very helpful. Up until now, I only knew to put a pattern in my queue and then link to my stash, but starting in the search will be so much better when I’m just looking for a pattern to consider. Just found you today for the first time, and will be sure to check out more of your videos.
Yay! Welcome 😊
Thank you! Amazingly helpful and informative!
your big tip section helps target my project searches. I've learned about tall cards and pattern filter drop down menu. during project searches on pattern pages, those buttons would blend into the background. I would look for size-adjacent, helpful, finished projects manually. some project homework could take an evening! (a joy more than a complaint) but you have quicken my searches. thank you!
your video shows me I'm closer to a ravelry expert than I realize. I tool around on the site, but never sure if I am using it to its potential. I see I AM using the stash, queue, bundles and searches correctly. yeay!
Whoo hoo! Way to go 😃
Wow! Yes I learned alot. Apparantly I have just used ravelry in the most basic way. Very helpful thank you. Probably will save me money along the way!
Glad it was helpful!
Looking at others finished patterns helps figure out if a variegated or speckled yarn will play okay with the pattern.
Yes! There's lots more I could have talked about relating to yarn choices. I'll have to add them to part two 😉
I absolutely love that part! I have a lot of variegated yarn and seeing the images from others’ projects is a great way to tell if I want to use my sweater quantity of variegated yarn with that particular pattern.
Thank you! Been on Rav for a long time and never really explored all this. I added you as a friend over there and all. I'm slowly adding to my stash because this is going to help me so much in keeping up with what I have in stock.
Absolutely concur about looking at completed projects being (1) a match to pattern model photo, and (2) "looks like my body shape." Thanks for teaching me about he "life jacket" feature.
I've never recorded my yarns - perhaps I will start after your wonderfully detailed tutorial. Thank you, Nicole
Thanks for watching!
This is incredibly helpful. I had no idea what all these features did before. I'm excited to start using them. The top about logging stash for insurance was super insightful.
Thank you for a most informative video. I use the projects finished photos and read over notes often, but you certainly helped me get better use of all the fields to keep up with my own projects. Ty. 🦋
Great tip! Saves me the heartbreak and frustration. Thank you!
Thank you so much. This was EXTREMELY helpful🤩
this was a great video... what wonderful information - I have been a member of Ravelry for years and have also been UNDER USING it and all the wonderful attributes. THANK YOU SO MUCH... Can not wait for your 2nd video.
You are so welcome!
I really enjoy your videos they are so informative and fun! 😊
Thank you!
This was great! I would love to watch a video about how you use the bundle option-how you organize your patterns. I noticed you have designer bundles, I never thought of that.
I will show how bundles work in part two 😀
Great tips. I didn’t know much about the advance search. My stash is so large it would take me way too long to add it all to Ravelry, but I think I will start adding any new years I get to my stash. Thanks for all the tips
You are so welcome! 😊
Hi Knicole, that was lovely. I'm saving this in my "watch later". I just taught 2 of my grand daughters to crochet and this will be helpful as they get much further along. The only thing I have not done is add my stash. I have too much to start now, however I pretty much know everything I have.
This was so helpful! Thank you so much!
Great information. You helped me a lot. I did not know all of those features you shared within advanced search and all of those tips within finished projects.
Something I am explicitly looking at is what yarns others have used to knit or crochet the pattern. That's helpful in various ways: For those patterns that do not list a particular yarn (often blankets or other home accessories), it's interesting to see at a glance what sort of yarn most people have used. If I need to substitute the yarn in the pattern, it helps to know if others have already done so (my intent most often being to substitute a US yarn with one that's easier available in the EU) giving me a starting point for my research. If my chosen yarn is actually listed, I can easily look at the projects using this particular yarn, maybe even see my colour choice in practice before committing myself.
Absolutely! I will delve deeper into this search when I do part two 😃
I am an avid ravelry user, but you did show somebthings I didn't know. Thank you.
Well the big tip proved very useful and the rest was great too
Glad to hear that! 😊
Very useful information, thank you! I wish I'd been keeping track of my stash, but now there is so much....maybe I'll do so from here on out. My pet peeve is people who don't make notes, since I find them so helpful...but I guess I should be thankful that they've included a picture 😊. I do search for projects on similar body types as mine...good tip! An extra thing I like on projects is the "yarn ideas".
I find the stash SO helpful but it is a challenge to keep it up. I try to catch up every month or so. I agree about the yarn ideas feature! I'll add that to part two 😃
This video was a really good review of a few features that could be new to some Ravelry users. I personally have at one point used all of these features, so none of the information was new for me. It was really interesting to see how someone else uses it and reminded me to get back into using Ravelry to organize my projects. Thanks for making the video!
Thanks so much for watching 😊
I adore Ravelry. I really miss being connected daily. Try to get my daughter to use it but she’s not that into it.
I love to knit and crochet patterns that have lots of completed projects, so that I know I can do it as well.
And I once did an advent scarf knit along and the group was awesome on the daily.
Great tips! I wish I knew to look at project notes when knit my Ferris Wheel Fade. The armholes were really big and turned out oversized, and this was noted in many comments. Sadly, I knitted to pattern and don’t like how it looks now. But, mistakes are how we learn! Thanks for sharing!
I love the projects page too! Very inspiring and with good tips. Another thing I like to do when I have yarn I don't know what to do with is look it up then view projects using that yarn. Found some great patterns that way.
Yes! I've done that too. I will add that tip to part two 😃
Thanks for sharing! I've been on Ravelry since 2011 (and already am in the habit of doing your special tip) but never got around to adding yarns to my stash! You've inspired me to slowly but surely start adding my yarn (since I already had a lot of yarn when I joined Ravelry and only have more now)
It's a bit of a chore when you've got a lot to enter, but trust me it's worth it! 😊
Can’t wait to use your tips! I’ve found patterns, but that’s it
The “secret” tip is one I’ve used for a while. It has saved me from disappointment one more than one occasion.
You're such a cute person, it's such a pleasure to listen to you talk :) I love the passion and excitement u bring into your content
Aw, shucks. Thanks so much! 😊💖
Thanks for those tips! I always use the advanced search & favs, but I think it’s time to add my stash. The fire example puts things in perspective! My insurance company wouldn’t believe me, either!
You are fun to watch!
Ha ha! Thanks for watching! 💖
THANK YOU for this video. I wanted to know more about Ravelry, and this was very helpful. I may have to view it a few more times to remind myself of what I remember that can be done, but don't necessarily remember exactly how to do it. Again - THANK YOU!!!
You are most welcome, Reta! 💖
ive only just started using ravelry and watching this video but i love the little popups youve added of your dog! theyre so cute! im loving ravelry so far as well. ok this video has comvinced me to upload all my yarn to ravelry and really get unto using it to organise my knitting and projects too because this all seems so handy!
Yay!
Great information.