Are you seeing all the posts on socials from designers taking part in the Ravelry gift-a-long? I am, and it’s weighing on me. After all the work we’ve done to highlight just how hugely problematic the Ravelry redesign was for many users, and how their responses did nothing to fix it and actually caused a lot more harm, my heart sinks every time I see a designer continuing to support Ravelry.
That’s why I’m so thrilled to be able to take part in the Fasten Off Yarn-a-Long. Debuting last year, it’s an alternative to the giftalong with accessibility in mind that’s platform agnostic, meaning you can take part wherever suits you. The hashtag is the same across Instagram and Twitter, and there’s a Discord channel for chat, too.
Accessibility
Fasten Off was created with accessibility at its heart. Designers who offer patterns in accessible formats and inclusive sizes are highlighted, and the organisers are always hugely open to suggestions and feedback from designers and participants alike.
One kind of accessibility that doesn’t get talked about enough is financial accessibility. December is an expensive time of year for many, and it’s never fun being excluded. So I wanted to remind you all that the Pay It Forward fund is there if you need it. It’s no questions asked, and nobody knows you got the pattern for free except you.
The Event
There’s 3 key parts to it: the discount period, the stitchalong, and the games / prizes.
The Discount Period
This runs from 9pm EST on 30th November until the end of 6th December. Every participating designer will have a selection of their patterns discounted. The discount is the same for every pattern – 25% – and so is the code, FO2021.
All of my patterns, including the collections and Pay It Forward, will be discounted during this time.
The code will work on my website and in my Payhip store. (LoveCrafts does not allow designers to use discount codes at this time.) Kathleen has once again put together a fabulous database of all the participating designers’ eligible patterns.
The Stitchalong
This runs from 30th November until 31st December. All you have to do to take part is to make any of the eligible patterns during the stitchalong timeframe and post about it using the hashtag on Instagram, Twitter, or Discord.
Easy peasy!
Games and Prizes
All designers donate a number of patterns to be given away as prizes. To be in with a chance of winning one, all you have to do is fill in a quick form to say that you’ve completed an FO during the stitchalong.
There are also pop-up games, puzzles, etc during the stitchalong – make sure you’re following Fasten Off on socials to hear about them and take part!
