Hi, so basically I want try and make my own crochet pattern shop/business and I’m not really sure what the best way to go about it to get the best results. I want to start on Ribblr and possibly expand onto other spaces but not sure if I should start a page on those at the same time as a shop on here or once I’ve made several patterns and have some customers first. Also is there any tips or advice in general you would give to people starting out doing something like this?
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Personally I’d start with one platform for selling at a time as you adjust to it, but use social media to advertise your shop, for now only patterns can be sold on Ribblr (that may change again later but for now only patterns) so you’d need to sell makes elsewhere or in person at markets, but you’d wanna boost the viewership by showing makes on social media platforms at the same time as building your shop
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Thanks! Yeah I was thinking of just starting with patterns first and then maybe selling the physical items later on. So maybe start the pattern sales on here but show the makes on socials as like advertising? Do you think that would be a good start? Again thanks so much for helping me out!
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Ribblr has a ton of minors (possibly a majority?) who don’t and/or can’t purchase patterns. I have only sold 2 patterns, personally, which even then felt like a (happy) miracle.
All of my patterns include PDF downloads and extensive directions, extra YouTube linked tutorials for techniques, and pictures. So it’s hard to say if others have a lot of success here.
I haven’t opted to try Etsy because of their fee model and new shops being buried and not getting views. There has also been a lot of pattern theft there (someone buys and resells it as their own).
It seems hard to gain momentum selling patterns, but that may just be me. I also don’t really write amigurumi, which is popular here.
That’s all to say, my advice is to write patterns because you enjoy it, and if they sell it’s icing on the cake. 
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I was just wanting to try it out and if I make sales that’s great but not a big deal, I will probably do some free ones to start off and see how it goes from there. Thank you so much for letting me know about your experiences and thoughts! I have also heard Etsys fees are crazy so I was thinking of trying kofi just to see if it’s an option. I hope your able to make more sales!
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I would say it depends on what you design. I have never sold a pattern but the shops that have sold a lot seem to have a mix of unique patterns that have something that makes them different than other patterns and free patterns that everyone has a version of that are easy to find free.
The free patterns draw people in and once people try your pattern and decide they like your design style they are more likely to buy a pattern from you.
And don’t get discouraged if you don’t sell right away, it took even the biggest designers a long time to build their businesses to where they are.
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I agree with all of this.
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