Talk Back!
i think requests from strangers for patterns should go in the same category as requests from strangers for hand-knitted items: if you aren't comfortable with the fact that it will probably go completely unappreciated, just politely say no. you could also offer to write the custom pattern for a fee.
happy monday!
p.s. if panda likes mr. bunny-pants, check out pasha from the new knitty; i just made one this weekend, and it's absolutely adorable =)
I feel for you Marnie! I feel the same way when people ask me if I play in a symphony! There are more jobs and interests for us artsy people than the general norm! Besides, you do it for love and not $$! 
HI Marnie, first-time commenter on your blog. I don't write patterns at all and I've had the same experience. I've had strangers ask me for patterns and I actually spend time searching the web, send them links, and then not get even a thank you! I think it's rude. the least they could do is reply and say thanks. I would be really annoyed, though, if someone asked for a specific pattern created especially for them. I don't blame you at all for feeling the way you do.
Since this is my first time commenting I wanted to tell you how much I love your patterns. You have great style. I knitted up a pair of your "nearly gloves" over the weekend Thanks for providing posting them for free on your site.
Thank you for posting those comments- if it's happening to you then it's probably happening to others, and hopefully some of the culprits will read your message and realise the problem.
As for your scarf, why don't you make a nice flower out of the same yarn and put it at one end? Sure it would all be monotone, but it would be elegant.
Hello. I've never commented on your blog before, but I have been reading it for a while now. I say forget about those rude people who can't spend a few seconds to give thanks for your efforts to help them out! You're EXTREMELY generous just offering up your awesome patterns for free. There's no need for you to go out of your way to help these people. Personally, I've only been knitting a year now, if I see something I want to knit but can't find a pattern for it, I try to create my own pattern. Even if it comes out all wrong...at least then I learn from the experience and it will only help me to become better at knitting. People like the ones you're refering to aren't in it for learning beyond a pattern that's written out for them. So why waste your time? Of course it's gonna go unappreciated. You have every right to feel the way you do!
And yes, THANK YOU sooooooo very much for providing your patterns for free. I actually first found one of your patterns at Artfibers website and fell in love with your designs. And even if your patterns weren't free, I'd fork over the money for them. Your designs have a very classy style to them that I like.
I'm sorry that you have to deal with inconsiderate people. Your patterns are beautiful, and I agree with Shannon. I would pay for them. Perhaps the problem (and blessing) is just the volume of people that you reach. With the good, there always comes the bad, inconsiderate, and the "you owe me". Honestly if I were you, I would just ignore the requests that you feel are unreasonable - since responding to an unreasonable person would never get you a reasonable response. Otherwise, start charging for your custom designs and services. Most people would understand that you have a life to lead that does not include serving them for free. I hope that your problem lessens with your current post, but I don't hold out hope. For every 100 great people, there is always one ready to ruin it. I am not pessimistic, just realistic. Don't let it get to you!
ooOOOOo that yarn looks snugglable!
As for poopy pattern demanders. I agree that you shouldn't be putting effort into it. If someone asked me where they could find a pattern and I knew, I would tell them happily. But someone who I feel no emotional connection with or who just wants to use me is not going to get my time. Of course, that doesn't mean that I wouldn't suggest how they might alter a previously existing pattern to suit their needs. I'm not a total bitch 
I want to join the voices saying good on ya for offering your snazzfab patterns for free. I haven't knitted any of them, but a nautilus hat is on the knit-list for myself. Just have to get some really good yarn.
M
Hey Marnie, I think it is a good idea to voice [write] how you feel about the 'entitlement' issue. Too many people make a habit of asking others for assistance when they haven't attempted to figure it out themselves. This has always amazed me. I have a co-worker that does the same thing and after a year of it I just flat out tell him to figure it out himself.
On another note... I want to crawl up and get snuggly with that scarf! The yarn looks so wonderfully cozy and warm [it's 20 degrees in Boston, we need 'cozy and warm']!
I think your site is really clear about offering beautiful patterns and a fun blog. Of course, that won't stop people from begging for custom designs. You might want to draft up a standard response that politely says your free designs are limited to those on the site and directs the person to google or yahoo for the design of his or her dreams.
Like a lot of people who have commented today I am a long time reader first time commenter. I have emailed you one time to ask you where you got some yarn that you used for a hat pattern and you so kindly sent me the link to where you found it and i replied with a "Thank you" much like I think anyone should do when someone is kind enough to help out a fellow knitter. You are very kind and I hate the fact that people are taking advantage of such a nice girl. Keep up the good work with your wondeful blog!!
Hi Marnie! I think the downside to the internet/e-mail is that people forget common courtesy and how to be polite. I am sorry that your efforts have gone un-thanked, there is no excuse for that. But hopefully what goes around comes around - which means you should be expecting great things soon!
Marnie,
It is not just you. I own two pattern-link websites. They're fun. Yes, I also have met so many nice people through them. Some people e-mail "nice" requests...they only take me a minute to answer...and then a receive a polite and very much appreciated "thank you" reply.
And then...not to put anybody down...there are a fair amount of other people who are very specific in what they want. I spend a lot of time trying to help them and sometimes never get a reply back.
Just wanted let you know you're not alone. :o)
I cant begin to tell you how many people ask me for the same things you spoke of. I ignore the emails because there are so many. I too used to take the time but not any more because I got the same no thanks response. I want to say "did you google it?" but instead I ignore.
I love your stuff!! Your generosity is appreciated.
You are not at all alone. Wendy is so plagued by these types of requests that she has regularly posted about it and has a section on her blog directed at etiquette. Personally, I've only had a handful of inappropriate requests (thank goodness!) and I simply don't reply. If somone won't do their own research why would I be interested in doing it for them?
yikes. i'm another frequent reader but i don't think i've posted before...you do such beautiful work; i'm sorry people -- especially other knitters -- take advantage of it, or don't appreciate it!
i can relate in a tiny way -- i'm not (at all) a knitwear designer, but i like to experiment with hats and it does rub me the wrong way when a stranger or someone i barely know says imperiously "i should have you make a little hat for me." blech.
anyway, you have every right to be annoyed. thanks for your generosity -- i learn a lot from your blog and patterns. i hope some of the culprits read your post!
I really like that scarf. Its really beautiful dont change a thing about it!!
Wow, I never staop being surprised at some people. I mean, if you baked a cake for a pot-luck dinner, would you accept someone coming up to your house the next day saying " I really liked what you did but I want one that's a bit more lemony and with more frosting. Can you make it for me?" You are already more than generous providing your stunning patterns for free, and I think it would be perfectly fair to sweetly tell these people that you don't do custom work for free given the amount of time it takes to develop each pattern. If they're miffed as a result, that reflects badly on them, certainly not you. You are a stellar person for doing what you do!
"I'm wondering if others of you out there have this same experience?"
The short answer? YES! I usually suggest that people google for a free pattern for what they want. Sometimes I wonder what people think my blog is and if someone "out there" is paying me to be a free knitting help service for them. And I average 1 follow-up thank you email to 100 requests. I used to try to answer all emails. Now I only answer a few per day. It's enough to burn a girl out, I tell ya!
Hi Marnie, People are weird, they are probably the same type of folks who feel that you should give them some money when you win the lottery. I don't even have any free patterns on my blog (I'm not so creative when it comes to making up anything new) and I've gotten weird requests (how to knit stars for a flag, for example). I just ignore them. That's what Google is for.
Hey, I'm going to make your Yeah for Me gloves! Thanks for your awesome patterns!!!
I think it's really sad that you are so sweet as to spend your own time helping strangers and they don't have the kindness to just reply with a simple "thank you". I can barely knit from a pattern let alone write one so I can't say whether this is normal or not, but I can understand your feelings.
Marnie, thanks so much for your fabulous blog. I look forward to each new entry. You are very generous with yourself. Sorry about those folks who expect something for nothing.
Marnie, I emailed you once to ask when you were going to add the pattern for your gothic lace sweater. You had pictures on the site with a note that the pattern would be published later. I loved the pictures and would visit every day to look if the pattern was up yet. I dreamed about the sweater. I know I'm a little obsessive. I didn't get a email reply but I was having lots of computer trouble, and I wasn't sure if it even sent the email. My computer crashed and a month later when I was up and running again the sweater pattern was on your site. I don't know if my email was recieved, and if it was and I fall into the category of ungrateful requester I am so sorry. I love your patterns, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you for posting them. I've made the gothic lace pattern, the dragon hoodie, fun flapper hat and hooray for me gloves. I'm almost done with my fuzzy valentine sweater. Your designs are such high quality. Thank you for sharing your talent. And if you though I was an ungrateful requester again I apologize.
I used to, all the time. Ever since I put a little disclaimer underneath my email address that sort of email has dwindled to none. But I still get the occasional "I can't find the pattern anywhere so please give me a copy of yours" or "I want to use another yarn for [insert pattern name here] tell me what yarn I can use and explain to me how to adjust the pattern to fit me like you adjust the patterns you knit" or "I can't find Phildar pattern books here. Can you buy one and send it to me?" from absolute strangers. Lots of times they don't even come with a greeting or closing. I completely ignore those mails and don't answer them anymore.
I left the previous comment! I forgot to include my name and URL.
I get so many requests to write free patterns for people that it's become a real drag. To keep my sanity, I just ignore most of them now. When I was knitting and designing one particular sweater for myself, I got several emails telling me to hurry up and finish it because they wanted the pattern!
The most humorous/offensive one was a person telling me they didn't like the skull I had on my skull tote bag, so could I please chart out the skull in the photo they snagged off some clothing designer's website and figure out how to put that on the bag instead? The nerve!
Well, my gracious! I can't imagine the gall of people demanding your services for free. Quite frankly, you do enough to provide your lovely free patterns and also the entertainment of your blog. Don't even reply to people who aren't polite.
Sorry to hear that you have people demanding your services for free. Have been reading your blog for a little while and have found you to be an inspiration. Love your patterns! Glad that you have them available to all. That should make people happy enough.
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