The Benefits of Hooking Up With An Online Craft Community Part 1

One of the best things about being crafty today is that you don't have to craft alone – a subculture of crafters just like you is as close as your computer.

As a knitter and crocheter, it's been amazing to see how crafters have taken the net by storm. Stephanie Pearl-McPhee, otherwise known as The Yarn Harlot, and Laurie Perry of Crazy Aunt Purl, are just two examples of knitters who enjoy almost cult-like status in the online crafting world, having parlayed their knitting blogs into book deals.

While you may not be looking for fame and fortune, you can still reap many benefits from getting involved in your online craft niche. In the knit and crochet world, one of the hubs is Ravelry.com. When Ravelry first started, it was by invitation only, so I didn't know what to expect. Various bloggers were talking about this "new thing" and it sounded like a crafter's dream.

I joined in July 2007 after waiting a few days for my invitation to arrive via email. These days there is no waiting list and it's free to join, but you do need to submit a valid email address and wait for your invitation to arrive. There are now nearly half a million knitters and crocheters on the site, which goes way beyond your typical community forum. You can use Ravelry to:

• Organize your projects with photo evidence
• Organize a queue of future projects you'd like to tackle
• Keep track of your yarn stash
• Take stock of your crafting books library
• See the finished results of a particular project from many different crafters (with a popular pattern like Clapotis, you can view over 13,000 projects)
• Join groups for your particular interest. They can be political, such as the Knitting on the Left or Conservative Discussion groups; or your group may reflect favorite TV shows, like the knit-diddly-ittin'- neighborinos group for fans of The Simpsons. There are literally hundreds of subgroups in Ravelry. If you can't find the group for you among them, create your own!
• Many designers have used Ravelry as a platform for publishing and selling their patterns directly through the site.

What are the benefits of belonging to a craft community?

For me, it's the inspiration I get from viewing other crafters' work and seeing how they approach projects. You can't even begin to imagine how different crafters will take the same simple project and make it their own.

Besides being inspirational, crafters are incredibly helpful and encouraging. More than once, I've gotten stuck on a pattern. Case in point: I couldn't get the cuff right on the Fancy Silk Sock from the book Knitting Vintage Socks.

I logged onto Ravelry and searched for the pattern in the forums. Not surprisingly, I wasn't the first person who'd had trouble. Someone had already asked the very question I had, and another helpful knitter had responded. I was able to figure out what I was doing wrong and continued on with the sock, ending up with a beautiful pair as a result.

Online contacts can turn into lasting friendships. At events like the Rhinebeck Sheep & Wool Festival and Sock Summit, crafters come face-to-face with people they've "met" via blogs and websites. Many knitters and crocheters proudly talk about these meetings on their blogs. One-time meet-ups turn into a yearly event, where you can't wait to see your favorite bloggers-turned-buddies again.

Stay tuned for my post next week that offers 10 tips for breaking into online craft groups. And, in the meantime, please share your stories of how Ravelry or other craft communities have influenced your hobby or business!

Del Sandeen blogs about her beautiful knit and crochet projects over at Cozy's Place.