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mk.carroll
New Pal
4 Posts |
 Posted - 03/14/2005 : 2:52:39 PM
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After some discussion on what knitting pattern designers get paid (or don't), I'm curious: how much do you spend on patterns, magazines, and books? Say every 6 months or so. What do you think an ideal price range is? Where do you purchase most of your patterns (LYS, bookstore, online store, etc.)?
[If there's an existing thread covering this subject that I've missed in my search, my apologies - please point me in the right direction. The Would You/Could You Photocopy thread includes lots of discussion of copyright and some discussion of what designers and book authors may get for their work - what I'm interested in, for this thread, is a focus on how much individual knitters spend on patterns, magazines, and books.]
My purchases in the last 6 months:
downloaded from Kate Gilbert's site: Bunny and Shining Star, total $9.90
from KnitPicks.com: Debbie New's Unexpected Knitting and Barbara Walker's Treasuries vols. 2 and 4, total $95.
Large chain bookstore: Reader's Digest Ultimate Sourcebook of Knitting and Crochet Stitches, $26.95. First issue of Knit1, $5.99. Holiday VK, $5.99.
Red Lipstick webshop: KnitKnit #4, $9.00
Domestic Affair blog: Take Back The Knit zine, $5.00
Well-concealed cash in envelope to Aimee: Slave to the Needles zine, issue 2, $3.00
By my reckoning, that's $160.83. Over the next 6 months, I plan to spend roughly $30 - $50, depending on what the magazines look like. The biggest purchases (the stitch pattern books and Debbie New's book) were "investment" buys for me, so I'm not likely to be making large purchases like that again anytime soon. |
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Lissa
Permanent Resident
USA
4942 Posts |
Posted - 03/14/2005 : 3:00:19 PM
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Several years ago, I was returning to knitting-in-earnest, and was spending a couple hundred a month on books and patterns. Now, it varies. I have dozens of books, and only buy the new ones that really interest me, especially since I started designing my own sweaters and jackets a couple of years ago.
If you have the $$ and it makes you happy, go for it. Just think - it could have been crack...
Lissa
"Expecting the world to treat you fairly because you are a good person is a little like expecting the bull not to attack you because you are a vegetarian." --Dennis Wholey
Oh, and I now have a blog:http://knittnlissa.typepad.com/knittnlissa/ |
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Boogie
Permanent Resident
USA
3073 Posts |
Posted - 03/14/2005 : 3:11:20 PM
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I go on kicks of buying a ton of patterns/books and then I stop for a while. It seems silly because I create a lot of my own patterns or change the commercial ones, but I can't help it. I agree with Lissa, if you can afford it, go for it. Then again, I'm a pretty good enabler.
amy
http://theboogerblog.blogspot.com
http://www.spunkyhats.com |
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jaymeKnits
Permanent Resident
USA
1326 Posts |
Posted - 03/14/2005 : 3:25:01 PM
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| I don't really spend money on patterns at all. I subscribe to Interweave Knits and have made one item from a pattern there. I have books but mainly buy things as resources for techniques, not as patterns. I either design things myself or use online patterns. |
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knitz2
Permanent Resident
USA
1800 Posts |
Posted - 03/14/2005 : 3:38:37 PM
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| I subscribe to Creative Knitting and occasionally (rarely?) buy other magazines at bookstore. My sister gave me a pattern book for my birthday last year, haven't made anything out of it but swatched one of the afghans and am going to do a variation of it. Most of my patterns come from free internet sites or free at my LYS. |
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amandaCO
Gabber Extraordinaire
USA
530 Posts |
Posted - 03/14/2005 : 3:48:35 PM
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| My best answer to this question is "it depends". Some months I buy nothing, some months I spend $200. On average, over the last ten years I probably spend approx $200/6mo. I try to buy most of my patterns/books/magazines at LYS. Except for the three subscriptions I already have. I do not buy many pattern leaflets (ie: Fiber Trends and the like). At $4-$7 each these patterns seem so expensive when I can buy a whole magazine at the same price. That said, I will buy highly innovative leaflet patterns. |
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Momma78239
Permanent Resident
USA
4859 Posts |
Posted - 03/14/2005 : 3:56:38 PM
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I rarely spend anything. I can usually figure it out with just a picture. I also spend LOTS of time at the library, and will use patterns from the books there.
However, if I see a pattern with really unique shaping or stitches that I can't figure out on my own, I'd be willing to pay up to $15 for it.
-Wendy
¸...¸ __ ____ ____
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"But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD."
-Joshua 24:15b |
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blazfglori
Permanent Resident
USA
1333 Posts |
Posted - 03/14/2005 : 4:21:39 PM
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I LOVE books and magazines!
I probably spend about $100 PER MONTH on them...they make me happy. :)
~Lori
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busygirl
Permanent Resident
Australia
1672 Posts |
Posted - 03/14/2005 : 4:40:32 PM
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I don't spend much on patterns, as many of my old favourites are patterns which have been cut out of magazines like the English Woman's Weekly, and filed.
I occasionally buy knitting magazines and pattern books; as I don't do this on a regular basis, I really can't say exactly how much I would spend.
Leslie |
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mokey
Permanent Resident
15375 Posts |
Posted - 03/14/2005 : 5:12:17 PM
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If I include my monthly sock kit, anywhere from $50.00 to $150.00. On average, including all books and magazines purchased it's about $70.00
"I firmly believe the Bible is the misinterpreted word of God." Mokey
www.femiknits.blog-city.com |
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azknitter
Honorary Angel
5539 Posts |
Posted - 03/14/2005 : 5:31:33 PM
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| blazfglori: Me too, Me too, Me too. Books make me happy when I'm feeling down. It's great to get lost in them, daydreaming and planning a "someday when I win the lottery" project (or 50 or 60). |
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midnightskyfibers
Gabber Extraordinaire
579 Posts |
Posted - 03/14/2005 : 6:09:36 PM
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I spend maybe 100 in 6 mnths, not counting my interweave subscription and other mags i pick up. banus points though if i can get someone to give it to me as a gift!
http://www.midnightskyfibers.com handspun and handpainted yarns, fibers, and kits. |
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Martheme
Sustaining Member
USA
1565 Posts |
Posted - 03/14/2005 : 7:09:22 PM
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HI,
LOL! I'm a collector (had a huge book collection before I started knitting, now its worse!) When I worked full time outside the house I'd spend somewhere between 50-100/mo on knitting books, magazines and patterns (in addition to other books and yarn).
Now that I work from home and have a more limited income and a baby on the way, I don't buy as much. Also I have a lot of pattern, technique and stitch books including a small collection of rare/out of print or old books.
I do have subscriptions for Vogue, Interweave knits, Spin off and a few other things. Plus, with the business I get copies of all the latest knitting and spinning books from Interweave and I've started carrying the Fiber Trends Patterns . . . This job does have its perks ;)
For my own shopping though, I'm spending maybe $100/quarterly on books/patterns now. Depends on what I find . . .
I had read your question, originally to be asking what people think is a fair price to pay for an individual pattern so I'll answer that also, just in case it was the question. I generally will spend between $3.50 and $7 on an individual pattern, provided it has something really interesting or teaches me something.
Hope that helps!
Martheme
visit my sites:
http://www.inspirationsyarn.com & http://martheme.blogspot.com/ |
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JaniceV
Chatty Knitter
USA
338 Posts |
Posted - 03/14/2005 : 7:27:50 PM
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Books Books Books, Magazines Magazines all my big down fall. I have a huge bookcase full of them. I love books period so knitting just gave me another area to shop in at the book stores. I have bought individual patterns at my LYS, but never paid more than $5.00 for one. I don't even want to add up what I have spent just this week. 
Janice |
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Diva Ree
Gabber Extraordinaire
537 Posts |
Posted - 03/14/2005 : 7:44:40 PM
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I'm a book ho and I'm the type that will buy buy buy, then go for a while without buying any at all. I do the same with patterns. I'll have a stint where I buy a lot in a short time, then I go into hibernation for a bit.
I don't want to know how much I have invested in books....it might make me face the fact that I have an addiction. LOL |
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llamafiber4
Chatty Knitter
USA
110 Posts |
Posted - 03/14/2005 : 8:03:26 PM
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Oh this is my favorite place in the bookstore,I love knitting books, I too used to spend maybe 50>100. in 6months but since we've retired and moved to the country where the stores are far far away. I don't spend that much at all. and for patterns maybe 3.50 or more if I really will use. My problem I get it home and in the files it goes with my stash. Debbie
Debbie |
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knit_cookie
Gabber Extraordinaire
388 Posts |
Posted - 03/15/2005 : 02:18:11 AM
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| Oh geez. I binge and fast when it comes to shopping for pretty much anything. Except yarn where there's always a steady inward flow. :) I probably spent over $500 on knitting books in the past 6 months. But I've been on a massive binge. On average, it's hard to say. Maybe $100? Knitting books are easier for me to justify than yarn. |
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fmarrs
Guardian angel
USA
9776 Posts |
Posted - 03/15/2005 : 02:29:25 AM
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I used to spend lots but now only buy an occasional knitting magazine. I doubt if I spend even $5 a month. But, for me, that is not a fair question because I can knit anything I want without a pattern. I would not hesitate to buy one if it had a new element or unique design. I would spend a lot for a pattern I really wanted but for a pattern just because I don't want to bother to figure it out...only about $5.00.
fran |
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homebodyknits
Seriously Hooked
USA
713 Posts |
Posted - 03/15/2005 : 05:16:20 AM
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I used to buy something everytime I went shopping. Now I have so many patterns in my files and you can find so many on line I don't need to spend money on patterns, just yarn. I also look at many patterns and then end up doing my own thing. I buy an occasional magazine to look through, but that's about it.
Homebody Knits
Life is like a roll of toilet paper. The closer you get to the end the faster it goes.
http://www.picturetrail.com/knitsbykathy |
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jade
Permanent Resident
USA
1543 Posts |
Posted - 03/15/2005 : 07:48:18 AM
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I subscribe to 3 magazines - Vogue, Interweave K and Knitter's. Other than that I like the Vittadini publications and the Jamieson's shetland books. I have shelves of other books - the Folk series (Folk Shawls, Folk Bags, Folk Vests etc.), designers I like (Alice Starmore, Jean Moss) and specialized topics (Scandinavian knitting, lace knitting). But I have a fairly complete library and other than the magazines seldom buy new books.
Cheryl |
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RachelKnitter
Permanent Resident
USA
2995 Posts |
Posted - 03/15/2005 : 08:46:53 AM
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Oh dear. I don't even know how to quantify this one. I own a bookstore, and lets just say that there is a fluid relationship between the store and my house. In that respect, pretty much any book from a general publisher that has at least one pattern I would consider making does not hesitate to come home with me. Then I subscribe to several magazines, but will probably let all of them run out except for IK, VK and Rowan. Then I always buy every new issue of Rebecca, every issue of Phildar that includes English translations, many Rowan books, many Jaeger books, the occasional Vittadini book, and pretty much any other pattern book that has at least one pattern I want to make. I hear a lot of people say they won't buy a pattern book for only one pattern, but to me, if I want that pattern, then I want that pattern!  I guess I'm not much into depriving myself of things. I certainly don't have time to knit all of these patterns, but looking through them and dreaming about my next projects is worth the investment to me. I don't think I could possibly pin down an exact dollar amount, and I'm kind of afraid to try.
"Of all tyrannies, a tyranny sincerely exercised for the good of its victims may be the most oppressive. It may be better to live under robber barons than under omnipotent moral busybodies. The robber baron's cruelty may sometimes sleep; his cupidity may at some point be satiated: but those who torment us for our own good will torment us without end, for they do so with the approval of their own conscience." C.S. Lewis |
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