I actually got my YOL project rather quickly this time around. I guess makes up for last time’s seemingly forever delay.
I knew going into this lace club that I wasn’t going to like everything they put out. In fact, the first kit was a bit of a disappointment for me. I didn’t love the pattern and the yarn crocking got me a little intimated to use it. While I’ve a new plan for the yarn, I’ll likely never make up the pattern. Who knows how my tastes might change going forth?
However, I love the second kit, and ever since getting it, immediately cast on and have been working on it with a bit of fervour.
While I love this kit and think that the club is a fun way to get to try new yarn and designers, I am very disappointed by the spirit of the club. I was looking forward to blog rings and forums and websites. Instead, the second package has been sent out (half club year has past) and there’s been no blog rings. Any websites and forums has been moved onto Ravelry. (which I don’t really mind since I’m a member, but what happens to those who don’t want to join?). But most importantly, the atmosphere has been anything be supportive and fun and sharing. And don’t think I didn’t notice how you’ve cheaped out on your own website forum development!
No matter how nice people are and how much people want to share projects and discuss the knitting successes and struggles, it’s been totally undermined by the atmosphere from the top. Both by Make 1 studios and by the official group for the club on Ravelry. I take a lot of issue with the fact that there is the policing and general condemnation of people who want to post photos, discuss etc the club projects when not everyone has gotten theirs yet. Hello? This is a using the post office as delivery system. Some people may be months before getting their projects. (another PO grip all together).
By the time everyone has their projects
(and how the heck they determine that, is anyone’s guess! And btw, no one’s come around to start telling people that everyone’s got theirs and you can start discussions now!) some of the quicker knitters and those lucky enough to get their projects earlier would have finished their projects, all the time unable to participate or share in their process. Part of the FUN in any KAL is to Knit-it-along-side-everyone-else-and-discuss-and-share. Not secretly-knowing-I’m-knitting-this-with-everyone-else-but-I’m-condemned-to-discuss-or-share-and-must-do-it-all-on-my-own!
I do my own little protest by not hiding my projects in progress. I put up my photos on flickr and on my blog.
And yes, I’m knitting it all on my own and not KAL at all.
I guess for those running the club, it’s more of a surprise purchases club than a KAL. I saw it as both a purchases club and a KAL since, I quote from their website:
Stay tuned for an enhanced website featuring interactive features such as a blog ring, flickr pool, and online forum. We’ll also be announcing a great weekend Year of Lace Retreat for late 2008, where you can meet some of the designers, and your fellow lace knitters.
But perhaps that’s my own disappointment due to my misunderstanding. So, while I read the forum(rav link) and also the Year of Lace Unchained, the how ideal of the KAL is defeated for me. I look it at purely as a club for purchases only. Seriously, what’s the point of a forum if there’s do be no discussion of the projects!? Is the idea of the forum only to discuss customer service and post office problems?
In terms of value for money, so far, the projects are lovely and materials as well. It’s hardly very expensive given the yarn and patterns so far as I can see. But if you’re looking for more than just the projects, you’re better off going elsewhere.
I’ll be keeping this all in mind as they get ready to open up the sign ups for next year. I was once really keen on the club and the idea of it. Now, I’m unsure if I’ll sign up again. I’ll take it one club kit at a time and see how things go from here.
For now, back to knitting on the project. Photo above is from days ago and I’ve made much more progress. I’m too distracted to get another photo of it again, maybe in a day or two 
Popularity: unranked [?]
Tags: bitching · KAL · Knitting · year of lace4 Comments
4 responses so far ↓
That’s disappointing
Can’t they start a spoiler thread, so the people who are already working on it can share stuff? It should be a pretty simple thing to do, and if people want to be surprised then they don’t have to look, nobody is going to FORCE them to look at pictures.
People are strange.
You’d think so! the first project, they did that! and people complained!! And that’s what started the whole don’t post anything about anything.
then someone out of protest started a new group!
I think it’s strange too. And this time around, someone mentioned the name of the project (not any detailed, granted the name does suggest details) they were told that they were spoiling it for others.
see why I’m so annoyed?
Not that you feel strongly about it or anything…
Just kidding. I don’t care how you look at it, it’s a bum deal when you’re promised one thing and handed another. Oh well. Enjoy the yarn and the pattern… I’ll be watching to see how it turns out. What you’ve posted so far is incredibly lovely.
I like the idea of knitting along with other knitters. In that way, we can swap ideas, and it’s more fun to do it together. However, I don’t like the surprise factor. I prefer knowing what I am getting myself into. That’s why I didn’t join.
I don’t understand why it is important to keep the projects a secret when all members are going to do the same projects sooner or later.