Thursday, December 20, 2007

On RAVELRY!

On Ravelry! If you've yet to get into this Beta-status site, just know what you have to look forward to. The place is every bit as fabulous as I'd heard and a terrific place to connect knitters to knitters, of all interests. Groups exist for every possible sub category from knitters who love to travel to knitters who specialize in socks. How about knitters who love Morocco or knitters who scrumble? There's even a Jane Thornley group. Gee, I've never had my own group before.

 Unlike other knitting forums, this one is very much a place for individual expression. Though moderated by a humorous and savy team, Ralvery does not come across as controled by a Big Mother personage who secretly desires to mold the participants in her image. No fighting in the aisles, please, and be sure to play nice, but otherwise, if you want a group specifically about knitting socks while flying to Siberia, go for it.

Each Ralvery participant sets up his or her own project page linking each item to patterns in the database. hen, as knitters work the patterns, they connect with the designer's page and share ideas and comments about each project.

It is, however, a huge time sucker. We all say this. The morning may begin by checking on group messages before sliding on over to our individual project pages to see if anyone's left us fan mail or maybe a heart to designate approval but, before you know it, you're off visiting your friends, old and new, checking out their projects, admiring some great new yarn they've found. Oh, it's addictive all right but so much fun.

My project page

Pattern page for Feather and Fan

Haven't put your name down yet? Don't hesitate despite the size of the waiting list. You'll get there soon enough and it's well worth the wait!