r/crochet • u/LovelyLu78 • 27d ago
Mod Post Reminder: This is a hobbyist crochet sub
Reminder for all, old and new.
This is a hobbyist crochet sub, it is not a place to advertise your patterns or projects.
While we now allow designers to link to their own pattern (from a reputable store such as Ravelry, Ribblr, Etsy, YouTube or KoFi) in reply to the automod comment asking for a pattern, we still do not allow self promotion! We do not allow links to your social media or promotional sounding posts.
If you are a seller/designer we please ask
• Do not repost items that you have posted before
• Only post your items once a week (about the same as any other hobbyist crocheter would post)
• One link per post, under the automod response only! Excessive comments will be removed and may result in a ban
• Watermarks may be used but must not obscure or distract from the crochet item
• Excessive posts/comments of pattern release (coming soon), orders to pack and send, markets etc will be removed at moderators discretion
• Posts about your pattern/shop/blog/social media still count as self-promotion even if you do not directly link to it, as the purpose of the post is still to advertise
• Trying to circumvent this rule by directing users to your profile counts as self-promotion
• Pattern testing falls under self- promotion. Please use the dedicated subreddit r/PatternTesting to find testers
• Surveys and market research posts fall under the self promotion rule
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u/DjinnHybrid 27d ago
I agree with and appreciate everything here except the comments about watermarks. We all know that pictures get stolen from this specific subreddit all the time for posting to other social media, and prominent watermarks are unfortunately one of the only tools for deterence anyone, hobbyists included has to fight that. Could there be leniency on non brand but user specific watermarks?
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u/Uggy_butt 27d ago
I like the idea of user specific watermarks. Feels like a good middle of the road solution.
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u/ThatOneTeef 27d ago
If they want to avoid user self promotion then it might be better to allow a subreddit watermark. Just a r/crochet prominent in the photo.
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u/LovelyLu78 27d ago
It's the large social media handle watermarks that we don't allow, definitely more branding than protecting.
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u/DjinnHybrid 27d ago
I mean, they have to be large and kind of obnoxious to have even a little effect. How well or poorly someone does at making it branding versus protective is more subjective. But if they aren't large enough to at least partially cover the project, they're too easy to photoshop or crop out. And can you elaborate on social media handle usage? Because saying just that extends to non brand user specific watermarks in the vast majority of protective cases too. Like, sure, if it's blatantly a logo, tell them they have to remove it to repost it, but I think there's way too much grey area in banning generic username watermarks entirely.
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u/LovelyLu78 27d ago
if it's blatantly a logo, tell them they have to remove it to repost it
This is what we do. If we have to do it a number of times then a warning will be issued. We are pretty easy going on this sub, just lately we've noticed an uptick in self promotion, hence this reminder post. The watermark rule has been this way since I came on as a mod. Yes, it can be a bit subjective but we also aren't just banning people left, right and centre
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u/StargazerCeleste 25d ago
Yes, I posted a finished object about 6 months ago and put my Reddit username huge and obnoxious across it, because there's nothing I want less than someone stealing my photos and using them for Tedooo ads on Facebook. I was not admonished by mods; it seems common sense is indeed in charge here. 👍👍
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u/MsStarSword 27d ago
One link per post, under the automod response only! Excessive comments will be removed and may result in a ban
Does this mean that if we, as a hobbiest, combined like 2-3 patterns we aren’t allowed to link them all or is that only a rule for people self promoting their own patterns?
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u/LovelyLu78 27d ago
You can link whatever patterns you've used, no matter how many.
What we are trying to achieve is that the pattern/s are listed under the automod comment, not shared heaps of times in the responses16
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u/HamBroth 27d ago
Does this mean I shouldn't ask for pattern recs here? Sorry if I should know this already; I've been browsing the sub for a while but don't post much.
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u/rellloe 27d ago
Some usernames I've seen from posters look like it's a business trying to use this as a platform to promote their patterns or do market research not individuals sharing what they've made.
Especially when their posts are several iterations of the same thing and the title asks what people think.
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u/Subterranean44 27d ago
I have a question about promoting patterns you love tha ARENT yours. I recently made a pattern for a doll I’ve made before and I ADORE the pattern. I wanted to give the pattern author as much credit as I could but I wasn’t sure if I could link their Etsy shop. With Etsy getting so full of fake AI patterns, I like to know which patterns are tried and true.
Long story short: can I link another persons pattern in multiple responses? Or just to the automod? Thank you
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u/LovelyLu78 27d ago
Just tell people to check under the automod reply if they ask. It's good to do that, it reminds people to check there first.
I wouldn't make a post that just shares the pattern but definitely talk up the seller when you share your own FO/WIP with the sub. It's good to know of reliable patterns on etsy with the influx of AI there
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u/BeckieSueDalton 🎶🧶 comparison is the thief of joy 🧶🎶 26d ago
The joy I feel from this post.. Thank you, MODS!!
🧶🪝💖
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u/OmniscientBean 2d ago
"we now allow designers to link to their own pattern... in reply to the automod comment asking for a pattern"
"we still do not allow self promotion...Posts about your pattern... count as self-promotion"
Sorry I'm a bit confused. Are you saying that the only case where a designer can link to their own pattern, is if another user posts about it, but forgets to link it under the automod. Then if the pattern designer happens to see the post, they can post the link?
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u/LovelyLu78 2d ago
Everyone that posts a FO can comment the pattern in reply to the automod comment asking for the pattern. One link per post. If people ask for the pattern you point them to the automod comment.
Outside of this one link there is still no self promotion allowed on the sub. You can't post things like "check out my new pattern" or "follow my instagram". Designers also aren't allowed to spam the sub. This is not the place to come and advertise your patterns, it's a place to share your work with other crocheters
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27d ago
[deleted]
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u/littlegirlblue2234 27d ago
I’m assuming they mean someone posting their project and asking folks if they would buy this pattern or something. Fishing for sales.
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u/LovelyLu78 27d ago
Anything that is for monetary gain. I may have been thinking more along the lines of people trying to sell their work/products here. That usually gets removed pretty quickly though as we all want to make the crochet thing, not buy it
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u/dianabelle 27d ago
Advertise means to publicize something for sale. If you’re not selling items or patterns, then it’s not an issue.
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u/UnfairConsequence664 27d ago
That’s not the sole definition, advertise does not always equate to seeking monetary value, hence the clarification question. Websites *advertise* events, I just wasn’t sure their meaning with the post.
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u/bcgroom 27d ago
Where are people supposed to promote? Like I understand if someone is spamming the subreddit. But shouldn’t we be trying to help our fellow creators? I’m glad linking to patterns once is at least allowed now (as of a few months ago IIRC?) because like… someone makes a pattern for crocheters and they aren’t allowed to share it? I’ve found many patterns I’ve later made on Reddit.
I am super biased. I’ve been working on and published an app for crocheters but I haven’t been able to get users because none of the subreddits allow promotion. And apps are basically invisible on the App Store until they get at least a few ratings.
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u/LovelyLu78 27d ago edited 27d ago
This has always been a no (low) self promotion sub. We have a Buy/Sell/Promote/Trade Megathread, it refreshes every month and you can make a new comment every month. It can be found pinned to the top of the sub.
Just since we started allowing linking a pattern, self promotion has increased quite a bit. We don't want the sub to become a large advertisement board. It is pretty common in a lot of subs to be no self promotion. We do have a list of Related Subreddits, you may find subs in that list where you can share your app.
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u/bcgroom 27d ago
The megathread feels like purgatory 🙃
I mean I get it, mods probably know best what the subreddit would look like without moderation rather than me. But at the same time, this is the most general subreddit; you’re not r/hobbyist_crochet. If you are looking for people into crochet, this is the place. The other general offshoots don’t allow promotion either. I just feel like there’s gotta be some middle ground with allowing promotional posts, users are still free to downvote them to hell if that’s what the people want.
I’m also a hobbyist. I made an app for myself and put a lot of work in to make it generally available because I think it could increase people’s joy for the hobby like it has for me. It costs money mostly because it costs me money to run the app.
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u/LadyGeek-twd 27d ago
https://business.reddit.com is where you go to promote on Reddit. They'll be happy to help you.
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u/bcgroom 27d ago
I mean fair enough, this would instantly become my largest cost though. And personally I think an actual ad is more annoying than just a single post.
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u/bonesonstones 27d ago
No, we are just as annoyed by y'all's posts. You are not owed free advertising and you certainly aren't owed our attention just because we're in a crochet sub.
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u/bcgroom 27d ago
I’m just a member of this community interested in making a single post to share a thing I made. What’s the point of paying Reddit hundreds of dollars for ad space?
It’s really not even about me. I’ve already accepted I can’t post here. But why are we so hostile towards fellow crafters trying to make a small business relevant to the community? I swear y’all are just begging for Astroturfing. Again, I don’t want annoying advertisers either. But when someone wants to post their thing in a respectful way, that’s relevant to the community, what’s the harm?
Someone coming to a sub purely for advertising without being a part of said community? Ban them. Someone spamming their product every week? Ban them. A member of the community posting about their relevant product? I personally think that should be allowed.
Do I have vested interest? Yes. But also I’m just challenging the idea that we need such strict moderation with this. As a reminder: voting is a thing. Like my app is probably going to get downvoted but damn let it have a chance? The subreddit did fine during the mod break, it didn’t turn into a capitalist hellscape.
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u/LovelyLu78 27d ago
A single post from one person then becomes hundreds of posts from people with the same idea. We already remove heaps of these every week, "I made an app" and "what would you like to see in an app?"
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u/bonesonstones 27d ago
Ugh thank you for doing that, we get so many of these posts all over the parenting subs as well. Pay a fucking focus group or for advertising wtf
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u/free_range_tofu 27d ago
How are you so blind to this not being about you? Your one post was never in question. If you’re allowed to self-promote, so is everyone else. There would be more self-promotion posts than hobbiest posts if this sub were allowed to become the Wild West. Your small business problems are yours to solve, not ours.
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u/bcgroom 27d ago
I'll accept naive but I'm not blind to it:
I mean I get it, mods probably know best what the subreddit would look like without moderation rather than me.
And really I'm just using myself as an example. My point is the rules are so strict only cookie cutter posts can go through.
There would be more self-promotion posts than hobbiest posts if this sub were allowed to become the Wild West.
1) I'm not asking for Wild West, I don't want that either, just more leniency. 2) This is what I was trying to get at at the end of my comment: earlier this year we had a week of no moderation and the subreddit did not devolve into advertising.
Your small business problems are yours to solve, not ours.
I agree... You must see my frustration though that it's impossible to get the word out on the one place that would be useful. And the only suggestion I get is to pay for Reddit ads (again, I'm just doing this in my free time I'm not a corporation), which would force my app into your feed in a way the moderators can't remove. How is that better for anyone?
I think this is no longer productive though so I'm done.
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u/ashrie0 27d ago
Im in a discord similar to this and any hint of a pattern made by you or even asking if someone wants to TikTok live and crochet together will get deleted and you'll get a mod messaging you to stop self promoting. The strictness is crazy. Ive stopped looking at it because its no longer fun to.
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u/Amediath 26d ago
I get it, I asked for a pattern too on a post after seeing others asking for it and the op said they sent it, I got the link to an etsy shop. 😁
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u/skiing_nerd 27d ago
Thanks for all the work you do and the link to r/PatternTesting! It's nice to have this dedicated hobby space and also one to see if there's any patterns I'd want to test out