Etsy vs Ravelry
Etsy: marketplace where thousands of designers sell digital patterns. Ravelry: the largest database of knitting and crochet patterns and yarns.
| Etsy | Ravelry | |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Shop | Community |
| Category | Pattern Libraries & Marketplaces | Pattern Libraries & Marketplaces |
| Crafts | Knitting, Crochet, Sewing, Quilting, Cross Stitch, Embroidery, Machine Embroidery | Knitting, Crochet |
| Pricing | Shop | Free |
| Free option | — | — |
| Free patterns | No | Yes |
| Beginner friendly | Yes | Yes |
| Ships internationally | — | — |
| Platforms | — | — |
| Formats | — | — |
| Based in | — | — |
| Visit | Visit |
Etsy
Etsy is a general marketplace, but it is also one of the biggest places to buy digital craft patterns: PDF sewing patterns, cross-stitch charts, crochet amigurumi, quilt patterns and machine embroidery files.
Quality varies a lot between sellers, so read reviews and check what file formats you get.
- Huge choice of digital patterns
- Reviews from buyers
- Instant downloads
Ravelry
Ravelry is a free database and community for knitters and crocheters. It lists hundreds of thousands of patterns, many of them free, along with a yarn database, project notes from other makers and discussion forums.
Its pattern search filters by craft, yarn weight, yardage, garment type and price, which makes it the first place most knitters look for a pattern.
- Huge pattern database with free and paid patterns
- Advanced filters by weight, yardage and garment
- Yarn database and stash tracking
- Project pages from other makers
- Forums and groups
Based on public information. Check each site for current prices and terms.