I think that you are putting yourself under a tremendous amount of pressure and additionally this time of year is, as you know better than anyone, absolutely ruthless in terms of illnesses and bugs and you want to be doing the best you can to look after yourself physically and mentally as bug season ramps up, the sub squad ticks all the boxes in terms of building community, something that has always been a huge part of hgdc so maybe this pattern not performing to your expectations is a good thing to take stock as you have done in this video and think let's build the sub squad community without the distraction and pressure to release patterns on a schedule xx i am sending you so much love and i know that this is all going to work out for you xx
Hay , been following you for a while now i love your bag designs they are so cute, i have read some of the other comments and i would mostly agree but on the other hand as a crochet creator please dont forget about the beginners..... granny squares and cushions is were it all started for me so i think its a great little pattern ....just keep being you ....take the hits,fall down once in a while it will humble you and you will carry on because its what you love .......here supporting you and cheering you on and wishing you all the best 😊😊😊❤
Oh Heather I’m so sorry to hear this pattern release hasn’t gone as you’d hoped, it’s such a lovely pattern 🫶🏻😊 I do agree it is probably a pattern that I could do similar, which I have done my own versions of granny square cushions, however, I also am a massive fan of your patterns and I like to support small business when I can. Are there any small business Facebook pages you can join to advertise on? How about doing pattern release quarterly or even 6 months rather than trying to do bi-monthly? I’ve no idea as I’ve not even got as far as you on the business front, and with my family I don’t know if I ever will!! I think from the people I’ve followed on instagram a lot are saying it’s not working for them the way it used to. I personally look at posts more than stories, other than those I closely follow. Quite a few also put on instagram when they post a new video on RUclips. Big hugs to you 🥰🫶🏻
I have purchased several of your patterns for clothes and bags but personally I would not purchase a granny square cushion because I could work out how to do that myself. Also we've seen this cushion on your Insta feed for awhile so it doesn't feel 'new' I found you via Instagram and now watch you on the Tube, please don't give up on Instagram I'd miss you on there x
Heather, I love all your work BUT I bought a pattern for one of your jumpers because I couldn’t make it without your guidance. I wouldn’t buy a pattern for the cushion because I can make something similar just by looking at it as I am sure can most crocheters can. I am sure you did well with your bag patterns because again guidance would be needed. Would you consider going back to the fashion designing and releasing just one collection? These are only my thoughts and are meant very kindly. Take care, Lynette X
Hey Lynette, thanks so much for your input. I might use this cushion pattern as a freebie for people, I really like that suggestion. As for the collection, I LOVED designing it and the photoshoot. I like the idea of releasing a collection every year. However it was a lot of work and that's been tough to fit in around Teddy/illness etc. Also, the bigger the item (like a jumper) the more time needed AND they need tech editing which is more of a cost to me. So lots of factors to consider. It may be that whilst I have young children I stick to my bags knowing that one day I will get back to bigger fashion design 🤩💖
I think your collections have been big hits so it might be worth focusing on building a collection once a year while doing the Sub Squad. Ideas are always going to pop up so maybe it would allow more time to work on a yearly collection. Especially if you can get ahead with designing for the Sub Squad.
Hey lovely, I haven’t got any answers for you I’m sorry but totally agree with you about Instagram it’s not like it used to be. For me and I’ve followed you since the beginning and support you as and when I can but money is tight atm and with that particular pattern I could make a cushion without having a pattern but I’d struggle potentially with a clothing item so if I had spare money that I could spend, it would go towards something that I would need help doing if that makes sense so a pattern that would support with that. Stick with it as it’s your dream and you love doing it. We’re here in the background cheering you on, I’m sorry that’s not much help with your thoughts at the moment though. Sending love ❤ xx
I'm afraid I don't gave any answers for you and i wish that i did. But hopefully it helps knowing that I watched this crocheting granny squares for my own comfort cushions. Good luck with it all. We are all rooting for you ❤
I'm not an expert at all, but I follow a couple of other creators that do patterns and interactive crochet alongs and such. One of them has a very active community, were folks can come in and just show pictures of their finished items and ask for help. Along with that, she has a website where she has free patterns, where she makes most of her money from ads. Every so often she goes live to do a part of a pattern, but it sounds like the majority of her revenue is from ravelry, her version of the sub squad and RUclips. You can totally do this! We are all cheering for you
I'm so sorry your pattern release is flopping, I'm also a pattern designer and I know how hard it is to deal with that :((( Sometimes my patterns flop on release but end up gaining traction over time. Maybe you can either half the price, or you could even make it free? I don't know your business at all, this is my first video of yours I've watched so I might be saying somethig you've already done. People love free stuff, so you could use this pattern as a way to get people to your site! That would also help with your email marketing if you set up a link in your Linktree where you need to add your email to get the digital download. For me, using the pictures and videos my pattern testers send me is the best way to create hype for my new patterns. It helps because when I post them, it doesn't feel like i'm screaming ''BUY MY THING TOMORROW!!'', it's more like ''here's what this cool person made with my pattern, imagine what you could do!''. People probably follow you because you make cool crochet stuff and they want to look at it. Stories kind of suck for selling (for me anyways), but reels reaaaally help (and picture posts too). Honestly I'm sure you'll do fine over time, it's sad to say but some patterns just don't do well and we don't really know why :( i feel like patterns that can't be worn don't do as well, I guess it depends for everyone. You're really cool so I'm sure you'll find a way to turn this around. Also, maybe the PATTERN is a flop but your video about the flop might bring attention to your channel!
I hope this doesn't sound rude, but any crocheter can make that pillow without a pattern. Unless you have something new and original it's going to be hard to sell patterns.There are literally thousands of free patterns out there. We all want to make money doing something we love, but in reality it isn't always feasible.
Oh also I don't know if I'm correct, but the fact that you're releasing it right before halloween might be part of why it's not doing well?? People already bought halloween patterns for their costumes, so right now instagram is flooded with everyones costumes. That's what a lot of people wanna see right now, so maybe a cushion that isn't halloween related isn't what they wanna see? I don't know
I think that you are putting yourself under a tremendous amount of pressure and additionally this time of year is, as you know better than anyone, absolutely ruthless in terms of illnesses and bugs and you want to be doing the best you can to look after yourself physically and mentally as bug season ramps up, the sub squad ticks all the boxes in terms of building community, something that has always been a huge part of hgdc so maybe this pattern not performing to your expectations is a good thing to take stock as you have done in this video and think let's build the sub squad community without the distraction and pressure to release patterns on a schedule xx i am sending you so much love and i know that this is all going to work out for you xx
Hay , been following you for a while now i love your bag designs they are so cute, i have read some of the other comments and i would mostly agree but on the other hand as a crochet creator please dont forget about the beginners..... granny squares and cushions is were it all started for me so i think its a great little pattern ....just keep being you ....take the hits,fall down once in a while it will humble you and you will carry on because its what you love .......here supporting you and cheering you on and wishing you all the best 😊😊😊❤
Oh Heather I’m so sorry to hear this pattern release hasn’t gone as you’d hoped, it’s such a lovely pattern 🫶🏻😊 I do agree it is probably a pattern that I could do similar, which I have done my own versions of granny square cushions, however, I also am a massive fan of your patterns and I like to support small business when I can. Are there any small business Facebook pages you can join to advertise on? How about doing pattern release quarterly or even 6 months rather than trying to do bi-monthly? I’ve no idea as I’ve not even got as far as you on the business front, and with my family I don’t know if I ever will!! I think from the people I’ve followed on instagram a lot are saying it’s not working for them the way it used to. I personally look at posts more than stories, other than those I closely follow. Quite a few also put on instagram when they post a new video on RUclips. Big hugs to you 🥰🫶🏻
I have purchased several of your patterns for clothes and bags but personally I would not purchase a granny square cushion because I could work out how to do that myself. Also we've seen this cushion on your Insta feed for awhile so it doesn't feel 'new' I found you via Instagram and now watch you on the Tube, please don't give up on Instagram I'd miss you on there x
Heather, I love all your work BUT I bought a pattern for one of your jumpers because I couldn’t make it without your guidance. I wouldn’t buy a pattern for the cushion because I can
make something similar just by looking at it as I am sure can most crocheters can. I am sure you did well with your bag patterns because again guidance would be needed. Would you consider going back to the fashion designing and releasing just one collection? These are only my thoughts and are meant very kindly. Take care, Lynette X
Hey Lynette, thanks so much for your input. I might use this cushion pattern as a freebie for people, I really like that suggestion.
As for the collection, I LOVED designing it and the photoshoot. I like the idea of releasing a collection every year. However it was a lot of work and that's been tough to fit in around Teddy/illness etc. Also, the bigger the item (like a jumper) the more time needed AND they need tech editing which is more of a cost to me. So lots of factors to consider. It may be that whilst I have young children I stick to my bags knowing that one day I will get back to bigger fashion design 🤩💖
I think your collections have been big hits so it might be worth focusing on building a collection once a year while doing the Sub Squad. Ideas are always going to pop up so maybe it would allow more time to work on a yearly collection. Especially if you can get ahead with designing for the Sub Squad.
Hey lovely, I haven’t got any answers for you I’m sorry but totally agree with you about Instagram it’s not like it used to be. For me and I’ve followed you since the beginning and support you as and when I can but money is tight atm and with that particular pattern I could make a cushion without having a pattern but I’d struggle potentially with a clothing item so if I had spare money that I could spend, it would go towards something that I would need help doing if that makes sense so a pattern that would support with that. Stick with it as it’s your dream and you love doing it. We’re here in the background cheering you on, I’m sorry that’s not much help with your thoughts at the moment though. Sending love ❤ xx
I'm afraid I don't gave any answers for you and i wish that i did. But hopefully it helps knowing that I watched this crocheting granny squares for my own comfort cushions. Good luck with it all. We are all rooting for you ❤
I'm not an expert at all, but I follow a couple of other creators that do patterns and interactive crochet alongs and such. One of them has a very active community, were folks can come in and just show pictures of their finished items and ask for help. Along with that, she has a website where she has free patterns, where she makes most of her money from ads. Every so often she goes live to do a part of a pattern, but it sounds like the majority of her revenue is from ravelry, her version of the sub squad and RUclips.
You can totally do this! We are all cheering for you
I'm so sorry your pattern release is flopping, I'm also a pattern designer and I know how hard it is to deal with that :((( Sometimes my patterns flop on release but end up gaining traction over time. Maybe you can either half the price, or you could even make it free? I don't know your business at all, this is my first video of yours I've watched so I might be saying somethig you've already done. People love free stuff, so you could use this pattern as a way to get people to your site! That would also help with your email marketing if you set up a link in your Linktree where you need to add your email to get the digital download.
For me, using the pictures and videos my pattern testers send me is the best way to create hype for my new patterns. It helps because when I post them, it doesn't feel like i'm screaming ''BUY MY THING TOMORROW!!'', it's more like ''here's what this cool person made with my pattern, imagine what you could do!''. People probably follow you because you make cool crochet stuff and they want to look at it. Stories kind of suck for selling (for me anyways), but reels reaaaally help (and picture posts too).
Honestly I'm sure you'll do fine over time, it's sad to say but some patterns just don't do well and we don't really know why :( i feel like patterns that can't be worn don't do as well, I guess it depends for everyone. You're really cool so I'm sure you'll find a way to turn this around. Also, maybe the PATTERN is a flop but your video about the flop might bring attention to your channel!
This is gold! I will be back later to answer in full. Thank you so much 💖
I hope this doesn't sound rude, but any crocheter can make that pillow without a pattern. Unless you have something new and original it's going to be hard to sell patterns.There are literally thousands of free patterns out there. We all want to make money doing something we love, but in reality it isn't always feasible.
Oh also I don't know if I'm correct, but the fact that you're releasing it right before halloween might be part of why it's not doing well?? People already bought halloween patterns for their costumes, so right now instagram is flooded with everyones costumes. That's what a lot of people wanna see right now, so maybe a cushion that isn't halloween related isn't what they wanna see? I don't know
Here in the US, the economy is just awful right now so I'm sure that's at least part the problem.