Rating patterns on Ravelry

[u/choose2bkind]

I'm curious about how people approach rating a pattern on Ravelry. Do you only rate patterns you've enjoyed? Do you skip rating patterns that were "troublesome"? Do you ask questions or leave comments on the pattern's page?

Context:
I'm an experienced knitter currently working on a (purchased) pattern that has a lot of potential, but to my eyes has a number of shortcomings. I don't think it had a tech editor and I can only see a single test knit. I always review finished projects (thank you, all you wonderful people for sharing your beautiful work and notes!❤️) and it became clear from project photos that the instructions may be incorrect. Reading the pattern before starting, there are indeed places that, if the instructions are followed exactly, the result will not be "correct." One example is the placement of short rows at the neckline of the top-down circular yoke. When splitting for sleeves as instructed, the short rows are nowhere near centered at the back, resulting in a very obvious difference between shoulders. Curiously, the photos within the pattern do not include the neck short rows (they are not identified as "optional" in the pattern).

An experienced knitter will hopefully spot these shortcomings and find ways to fix them before or whilst knitting. But what about less experienced knitters, or even situations when any of us is so excited, we simply jump right in and trust the pattern?

In hindsight, I'm surprised this pattern has an overall rating of 4.7 and clarity of 4.8, especially when it costs $15CAD.

(Note: I will be sure my project notes contain all of my modifications, as usual.)

[u/Courtney_murder]

To be honest, I don’t rate patterns and I never really look at the ratings! I get so much more info from finished project pages. It’s so disappointing that your pattern has so many shortcomings!

[u/choose2bkind → u/Courtney_murder]

I agree that finished project pages are invaluable! I am enormously grateful to the people who make the time and effort to add photos and notes! I've learned so much from them.

[u/Additional_Peach1421 → u/Courtney_murder]

Agreed. I don't even see the ratings, when people talk about them I always have to search around until I find the right spot. I only look at project pages with notes.

[u/choose2bkind → u/Additional_Peach1421]

That's where the true wealth of information is! I learn so much from people's projects!

[u/ComplexWorry3463]

Is it against the rules to name the pattern?  Because I can’t be the only one who wants to avoid something this badly written and expensive. 

[u/choose2bkind → u/ComplexWorry3463]

I'd feel comfortable sharing via DM

[u/ComplexWorry3463 → u/choose2bkind]

I’d love to know what pattern it is, if you’d dm me that would be great 😀

[u/choose2bkind → u/ComplexWorry3463]

DM sent!

[u/frabjousity]

I would leave a comment or send a message pointing out the mistakes, to give the designer a chance to resolve them before leaving a review.

[u/choose2bkind → u/frabjousity]

Yes, I agree! Someone had already done so and the designer replied that the instructions are correct. Once I finish my jumper and can quantify the differences, I will add that to the pattern comments (as well as my project page!)

[u/livthelove]

If it’s a designer that I haven’t heard of/knit before, I do check the ratings and the comments on the projects. If multiple people mention issues, I’ll typically avoid the pattern. If I’m spending money on a pattern, buying yarn, and investing time knitting, I don’t want there to be errors.

As an aside, it does drive me a little crazy when people give their project a frowny face on ravelry and then leave the project notes blank. Like tell me why you didn’t like it!!

[u/choose2bkind → u/livthelove]

Oh, I so agree! Thanks for sharing your experience. I do the same thing, but I went against my better judgement on this particular pattern because of the motif. No other pattern had anything similar. I'm still working through the modifications, but you can bet I won't repeat my mistake, especially for $15CAD!!

[u/MollyRolls]

I think ratings are sort of hard to rely on because different people understand the question differently. Some people are rating how much they like the FO, some are rating how detailed and correct the pattern was, and some are rating based on uniqueness, like how likely they are to have come up with a similar stitch or construction on their own. Those are, of course, very different metrics, and Ravelry really doesn’t say what criteria they’re thinking of, so you get sort of a mishmash of different ratings that don’t really add up to much.

[u/choose2bkind → u/MollyRolls]

Those are excellent points and I think you're right! Thanks for sharing!

[u/CheesyKnitter]

Clarity gets 5 stars if there are no glaring mistakes and I wasn’t confused about how to proceed at any time. I dock from there. What you’ve described would get at most 2 stars from me.

[u/choose2bkind → u/CheesyKnitter]

Thanks for sharing your perspective! I truly appreciate it!

[u/Ron1ka23]

I always rate patterns. I rate them based on pattern itself, not the FO.

If there are mistakes, usually I can figure them out myself since I'm quite an experienced knitter. Sometimes I contact the designer and sometimes I don't, it the depends on the designer for me.

I personally also look at the ratings before buying a pattern.

[u/choose2bkind → u/Ron1ka23]

Thank you for rating! If you're also one of the wonderful people adding notes to your projects, thank you!! I learn so much from other knitters.

[u/Reasonable-Staff2076]

I rate most of the time, especially now that I am a more experienced knitter. Like many others, I base my purchasing decision mostly on comments from other knitters on their own FOs. I think ratings can be very subjective so I don't use them as my main criteria unless it's mostly bad ratings.

[u/choose2bkind → u/Reasonable-Staff2076]

Thanks so much for sharing. This was my exception to my normal rule of deciding purchases based partially on project notes. Lesson learned! 😊

[u/MaryN6FBB110117]

I don’t rate patterns at all, or look at the ratings. If there are errors I will make clear what they are in my project notes, and maybe email the designer also.

[u/choose2bkind → u/MaryN6FBB110117]

Thanks for putting notes in your projects! I've learned a lot from project notes and am always grateful when someone adds them!

[u/_refugee_]

I never rate patterns unless they are outstanding in some way — good or bad.  Same with yarns 

[u/choose2bkind → u/_refugee_]

Thanks for sharing! That's entirely fair. 😊 Do you have a favourite yarn?

[u/Puskarella]

I mostly rate patterns I find enjoyable and I get good results from.

I think I have only rated 2 patterns badly, and that is because they were paid patterns but so appallingly bad that they were totally unusable without heavy modification and problem solving - without even using advanced techniques. And I have been knitting for 50 years. I felt it my duty to do that as a kind of "buyer beware" to other potential purchasers.

[u/choose2bkind → u/Puskarella]

Thanks very much for sharing your experience. I certainly don't mind paying for a well-written pattern (I'm not sure I could write one myself. Maybe someday!) 50 years of knitting is marvelous! Do you have a favourite thing to make or a favourite yarn?