Download patterns?

[Bomthecrocheter]

Hewo guys! This time I’ve got an idea, hear me out. What if we could download patterns for like when we’re going on a trip or like going somewhere without any WiFi BUT we wanna crochet? So I know when we have no WiFi/internet ribblr says we can’t get into the app but maybe we can change that to only be able to see downloaded patterns? Just like downloading videos on like Netflix and YouTube.

Do you think this is a good idea?

ps if there’s anything confusing ,which I know there will be, you can ask in the comments

[SugarSTUDIO]

Oooh this is an amazing idea! I really need this when I go to trips

[IMadeIt]

I completely understand where you’re coming from, however, I can see this option being abused. There is no way for Ribblr or a designer to really know if someone is going on holiday or not. Many people would likely take advantage of this functionality.

Several designers already offer their patterns in a pdf format so you can download and print these. If a download option were to be made available, it too would have to be totally up to each individual designer as to whether they want to offer this option.

One of the main reasons designers use Ribblr over other platforms, is due to Ribblr’s protection afforded to designers in the form of e-patterns.

I think there are so many patterns out there on the internet, in books etc that you could quite easily choose to work on whilst you were on holiday. Print them out or write them out before you go away.

[GotenkslovesmeCraft]

Downloading from youtube was a good example from OP because the actual file isn’t downloaded for you to do what you want with, but rather a key to allow access through the account its linked to.

I see a lot of people on facebook saying they don’t use ribblr because they can’t access the patterns when they need them, holidays, live rurally with poor signal etc. They access key can also be time limited so access is halted after 30-90 days.

I do understand wanting people to not download and redistribute but I also know people who screenshot the patterns anyway and others who have lost access to patterns they paid for due to losing access to ribblr.

[IMadeIt]

Thank you for providing an alternative view. Everything you said is completely valid and I agree with your comments regarding accessibility.

I completely understand those who live in some rural areas might suffer with poor signal.

However, I don’t feel accessibility is an issue for a majority of people.

As you state above:

@GotenkslovesmeCraft

the actual file isn’t downloaded for you to do what you want with, but rather a key to allow access through the account its linked to.

I completely agree. In an ideal world this is how things would operate and everyone would do the right thing. Unfortunately, in this day and age, time and time again, we see a designer’s patterns photocopied and handed around to friends, or made available on someone else’s etsy shop or youtube channel and even mass produced by Temu, Alibaba, Shein and the like, so they can make money off someone else’s hard work.

I understand people also screen shot patterns and even write them out, for a variety of reasons, including to use when not online, therefore they don’t need to be able to download them.

@GotenkslovesmeCraft

others who have lost access to patterns they paid for due to losing access to ribblr.

If they only lose access temporarily, because they have traveled to a location that has poor wifi, then that is just a temporary issue.

@GotenkslovesmeCraft

people on facebook saying they don’t use ribblr because they can’t access the patterns when they need them

I’m curious as to ‘when’ it is that they ‘need’ them, that they can’t access them? Is it when they travel to a location that has poor wifi or something else?

I think that as long as people are aware of Ribblr’s ‘structure’ and acknowledge that they can only access their patterns when online, there shouldn’t be an issue about accessibility. If someone doesn’t like Ribblr because they can’t download a pattern or purchase a pdf, that’s okay, many designers here, also have their patterns available on other sites as well as Ribblr.

Ribblr has a unique offering and it is the one thing that sets Ribblr apart from other platforms. If Ribblr were to change and offer downloads and pdfs, it becomes just like every other platform.

[RoseClover]

This makes total sense! So I think that there should be an option as the designer uploads their pattern to do this. So some patterns will have the PDF and others wont. But I think that some is better than none!

[balony2012]

I love this idea but there is so many people who will abuse it. Maybe they can put a ribblr watermark over the entire download so we know when people are selling it.

[Tatertotscrochet]

YES YES YESSSS! I live in an rv and travel the us, this would make Ribblr so much better because I almost never have WiFi!
If y’all could seriously please consider this, it’d make Ribblr so much better!

[craftsbyevette]

Definitely

[Bomthecrocheter]

Mmm yes I see what your saying.. I might get what ever you mean wrong buttt like a person already said maybe if it was still the normal format and not a pdf and was only downloaded for a few days.

Also maybe to fix you’re problem like you said of stealing maybe just maybe This feature can have Like the same features as regular patterns(like I said) so they’ll won’t have a chance of being stolen but also have a small chance of being stolen

Answering your question(other comment) you asked like when will they need the patterns, mm maybe when they’re going in like a road trip or maybe a long train ride or just wanna crochet in the wild and they need a pattern for a project they might come to ribblr hoping to use the patterns but if they have to WiFi…. You can’t crochet so..

your idea of using books or like a different website or something is a very very good idea lol

[Sisukalat]

I’m genuinely curious as to how it could be abused. This isn’t to discredit the very realistic concerns about theft, however making our “patterns” tab available offline, or even one pattern at a time that you can download to the app itself to be able to view offline should still have the same protections that Ribblr offers while online, wouldn’t it? You still wouldn’t be able to copy paste etc.

I think being able to download locally to the app is a fantastic idea. Not download externally to a phone or computer, but to the app itself!

If I’m misunderstanding how @Ribblr’s protection would work differently between staying connected to the internet while viewing a pattern and being offline viewing a pattern downloaded locally to the app itself, please let me know!

[Tatertotscrochet]

The only thing that wouldn’t then work is that the app itself works as a browser. The app page. needs to load as if it were in Safari.
So then, having the off-line setting where you could have patterns that are downloaded onto the app, then would solve the problem.

[Strawberryrib]

I WAS LITERALLY JUST THINKING ABOUT THIS AND YOU BEAT ME TO IT

[Strawberryrib]

I feel there should be like a downloaded tab of the app, which has all patterns that can be downloaded. I crochet on the road A LOT. and my screen shots are Fillleeeeddd with ribblr patterns

Everything in yellow is ribblr pattern screenshot

[KayKrochet]

This is my only concern when buying on Ribblr. It’s similar to buying an e- movie on Amazon. You “own” the license to watch whenever but if Amazon no longer has that license, neither do you. So you spent money but the item will no longer exist on Amazon. It’s same with e-books. You can “buy” the book but unless it’s a physical copy there’s always a risk of losing it.

[CosmikEluminatedC]

One reason I gift a PDF copy to all my testers as well as the epattern. I know some prefer printed some prefer epatterns. One reason Ribblr has just epatterns is to cut down on theft. Which is a awesome reason.
Have you reached out to designers to see if they’d share a pdf copy with you?

[CosmikEluminatedC]

If any designer chooses to delete their patterns anyone who has purchased actually keeps the epattern from what I understand. Weather purchased or free.

[KayKrochet]

I did not know that! That’s a relief! I do buy on Ribblr but that worry has always been in the back of my mind because there’s so many great patterns on here

[Ribblr]

Thanks for sharing all!

For the time being if you really are in a place with no online connection for days- we have no real solution for that, as Ribblr relies on internet connection. If you are talking about a few minutes or even longer, say your train goes into a tunnel - the pattern will stay on, and will update as soon as you regain connection. Just don’t close it (you’ll be alerted just in case you do try!)

[IMadeIt]

Oh now that’s a great idea. Yes, I completely agree with you on having access to your patterns whilst off line. That would be a great alternative and provide the required access to your patterns when needed.

So what I mean, regarding it being abused is that, people could claim to be going on holiday but not actually be going on holiday. They get multiple patterns to download on to their computer and then those downloaded patterns are ‘outside’ the app and can be more easily used for nefarious purposes.

I know that most of us here on Ribblr are good people and wouldn’t do anything like this. However, we have new people joining every day and we have already seen a small number of people try to use other people’s patterns, from other platforms, and try to pass them off as their own. Fortunately our community is very quick to spot and report.

If you could have access to your patterns tab whilst offline, that would be a great alternative to downloading.

It’s when the pattern is no longer in the app that it’s a potential target for theft and misuse.