Hello everyone! Recently I released my first pattern, Boo-Beary. I didnt feel as though I’d be fair to charge for something my very first time…I made Boo-Beary in summer of last year, and I’ve grown a lot as a crocheter in that time…With that being said my next patterns, im thinking of starting to charge for. So this is where I need YOUR help. If you are comfortable answering, please do!
Do you get more “sales” on your free patterns? I wonder if the sales on Boo-Beary is almost decieving, as in future patterns wont sell 
Do cheaper patterns give you a higher income overall compared to higher priced patterns?
How do you determine whether your pattern is 5 dollar’s vs 2 dollars? Or how do you know if a pattern should be free vs paid?
I wanted to thank all the people who “bought” boo-beary for showing me my pattern is something YOU want to make…I finally can help support my family if this does well, and for that I cant thank you enough 
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Free is definitely going to have a lot more traction than paid patterns. Its likely always going to have significantly more involvement. However, it you treat your free patterns like your paid ones in terms of quality, you may see that it entices more people to check out paid patterns.
The pricing is a difficult one as it very much is determined on the pattern makers preference. For instance, I personally wont usually pay more than 5 USD for a single amigurumi pattern (different if its bundled) but I dont balk at 10 + USD for garment patterns or large detailed blankets. It really comes down to what would you pay - how long it took you - details and help included, etc.
Ill add more of my thoughts once im on PC!
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For me it depends on the pattern. All of my free patterns do much better than my paid patterns but I have gotten a few sales before. As for the price, I usually go off of what my pattern has in it, if it has more details or parts and took more effort I usually make it cost more.
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I’ve been wondering the same things, so I am very curious what everyone has to say!
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Same! Im thinking I may charge for Boo-Beary to see how that goes before straight up charging for patterns, since she’s been free for a while and she seems to be doing well
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As a consumer and someone who sells physical items on Etsy however, I will add that the more stuff you have for sale, the more likely you’ll get a sale!
I tend to check out people’s shops and if they have a number of items, it entices me more. Also, just statistically, the more items you have available, the higher chance someone will come across your patterns when they’re browsing.
So I would definitely recommend putting your next pattern up as a paid pattern, but I wouldn’t get discouraged if you’re not getting much traction until you have several patterns up. You gotta start somewhere!
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Boo-Beary did really well! Her “sales” slowed down over the past day or so, But i figured no better way for me to find out then jump in head first…
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I meant traction with paid ones, but yes, I totally agree it’s worth trying!
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Its quite complex.
I base on many factors.
As a seller:
Are there similar patterns for free? Then mine will be free.
Did I put a shocking amount of work into it? Then I’ll save to be paid
As a buyer:
What is it?
Are there good photos?
I tend not to spend more than ÂŁ5 on most single patterns because I can go buy a book of patterns for ÂŁ10 or less.
I’ll pay a bit more for bundled patterns I’d use most of.
If someone changes the price often, had a pattern that was chargable become permanently free shortly after I bought it or suddenly jack up prices from previously free prices, I won’t buy from them going forward.
If I’ve inteacted with a person, I’m more inclined to pay for a pattern
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It depends what it is. Wearables are more expensive simply becausw testing has to take at least a month, ane even writing the pattern itself takes a lonnnnng time compared to amigurumi and such. You makers might not realize this.
Plus, the more time you put into a design, the more expensive it gets. I have charts that are more expensive on some platforms than others cause I had to convert them, and work out how to change them into a different type or project etc. And yeah that sounds unfair, but in the end I ended up putting more hours in so I have to pay myself, ya know?
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