Marketing
Today we can see the first pattern from the long-awaited (by some) Chiagu.
Go on. Check it out.
For $4.95, you can have the pdf file to knit this sweet little creation. Lest I begin to sound like an ad, let me get to the real point of this post.
I found out about this through a post at the LiveJournal Knitting community. The usual (and valid) enthusiastic discussion ensued about the pattern, how cute it was, how various knitters wished they had a baby to knit for, when it dawned on me.
How much of the pattern's cuteness resides in its singularity and the long-anticipation of something from this site? Is it a cute pattern because it's cute, or because it's the first offering from a site that has been in pre-launch stage on the Net (and still is, as far as I'm concerned) for what seems like a year now?
Which leads me to the larger question: does the simple act of focusing in our attention on a particular pattern generate desire to knit that pattern? It seems, for example, that each issue of knitty spawns 1 or 2 "must knits" that everyone seems to gravitate toward. There are other, equally worthy patterns, but they get little, if any, web face time. If knitty released, say, 1-2 patterns per month, would each pattern look better in its singularity?
No flaming, please. I don't mean to disparage anyone's patterns or knitting tastes. I'm just wondering about what draws in our eye, and how much the isolation of one element generates buzz about it.
Comments
I'm on the mailing list for notices for Chiagu, so I saw the pattern this morning. I think it's an ok pattern. I wish they'd included the recommended yarn in the description, instead of just the gauge.
I do think that discussion on the Internet *does* spark interest in patterns. I never considered knitting Clapotis till I saw a bunch of other folks knitting it, and till I saw the one Jane knitted in person. (Well, I still haven't actually knitted it, but I'm Seriously Considering it.)
I don't think that releasing patterns a few at a time is really what makes them look better. Why a particular pattern grabs the internet community's collective imagination seems like a fruitful subject for research. I suspect that the reasons run something like this: 1)pattern's not too difficult 2)your favorite blogger(s) are knitting it. Or maybe vice-versa. :-)
Interesting thoughts!
Posted by: Janice in GA | March 30, 2005 05:24 PM
I agree with Janice --- I too wasn't all that taken with Clapotis when I first saw it on Knitty. But then seeing everyone's yarn substitutions changed my mind and I'm now on my second one.
I had never heard of Chiagu (until I read your site) and I think the pattern is adorable. So there you have one person who was anticipating nothing and thought the design to be cute, cute, cute! --- although I think it might be more practical to have little cap sleeves on a baby's dress ...
Posted by: ann | March 30, 2005 09:59 PM