RavelryReviews 510

The site is what I wish the world was: a true microcosm, with good and bad, but the leaders are always doing everything they can to make it better. More inclusive, more safe for everyone, more just and honorable. Ravelry is undoubtedly the best fiber arts database, and the best forum design I've ever seen, but they also always seem to be aiming for that homey and welcoming vibe. Incredible, all the way around.

The database of pattern is second to none. All patterns linked and cross referenced to user submitted projects, yarns used, comments and recommendations, blog posts, and so on. A brilliant piece of work, and the best possible resource for the beginner and expert alike.

The communities at the cherry on top, a safe place to meet people and positively contribute to the community.

I joined when the site was still in beta, and I can say I have made so many friends and learned so much. I wouldn't be without Ravelry.

Meets all my needs and more, from project tracking to patterns, yarn information to connecting with other fiber users. With every decision the owners make about where to take their business I find the site becoming better and better!

After being a long time member I now find myself unwelcome and degraded. I am so sad that a wonderful community has turned on a large group of it's supporters and called them names all in the name of inclusion. Guilt by association and even then the accusations are unfounded or untrue. Unfortunately, it's was a sad day in the fiber community when this happened and it has only gotten worse in the last 2 weeks.
Prior to this new policy i would have given Ravelry a rave review with 5 stars across the board. Now I feel that my best friend has turned on me and is encouraging everyone to gang up on anyone that doesn't agree.

I've been a member since 2007. It's a fantastic resource for people in the fiber arts. You're looking for a pattern? Need some info on a brand of yarn? You can even keep track of your projects! Casey has built an amazing site over the past 12 years. Nothing else compares to Rav.

And yes, there are forums for groups. You can join/post at you want and read at your own discretion. As for those who are all "no politics in mah knitting," well, you don't understand the history of politics and fiber arts. BIPOC have the right to be able to participate, and to feel welcome, and the site owners have taken additional steps to ensure that. If you have issue with that, then you might need to do some self-evaluation.

I've been a member of Ravelry since 2008. This is the fourth purge of dissenting voices from the site, the second one this year. During that time, all 11-1/2 years, trolling, stalking, harassing of those dissenting voices has been the norm. That norm, if not actively encouraged, is given tacit approval by Ravelry admin.

Technically, if the website looks mostly like an early 90s bulletin board, that's because it is. Ravelry's archetecture is piggy backed and modified from a 1980s game site. The Rav message boards only added emoticons a couple of years ago and you still have to link off-site or pay Rav a fee to imbed a photograph in a message board post.

The pattern database was limitless, as was the ability to inventory your personal stash.

However, Ravelry's apparent disdain for a large portion of their members is the very antithesis of inclusion and tolerance. Certain Rav members have compiled, passed around, and published on Google docs a list of users, designers, dyers, and bloggers who support Ravelry's intolerance of dissenting views--and they have targeted those who don't. Nice, that. No, not really. My account was suspended for 120 days for daring to point out the hipocrisy. So I downloaded my patterns, cleared out my projects, and deleted my account. Sorry, not sorry.

Finally, about THIS site: why are you UNDERCOUNTING or deleting unfavorable commentary? This morning, there were over 90 1-star reviews. As if this posting, the are fewer than 30. Methinks someone's cooking the books.

I was a member for over 10 yrs until recently. I left because they don't want my kind there. Don't miss the site at all. Too bad I can't give them zero stars.