Yesterday the English language files for the 5 Elemental single patterns - Azula, Katara, Korra, Opal and Toph - had written instructions added.

Azula pattern from the Elemental collection

Katara pattern from the Elemental collection

Korra pattern from the Elemental collection

The patterns were all originally presented as short row maps only as written instructions for this many short rows increased the risk of errors, and made the pattern much longer. The short-row maps were a new method of charting I developed that are simpler than traditional charts, and more concise and straightforward than written instructions. Now that I’m moving over to the new pattern template and am able to break out of the previous 4-page template that had been set for print patterns, I have the room to allow longer patterns. The panel maps are staying, I’ve just added written out instructions to go with them.

They’ve been in progress for some time, as I needed help in both transcribing the short row maps and in tech editing, and that’s all done now! The few other patterns that are presented as maps only - e.g. the Lateralis patterns and the Rhinebeck Hat - have been transcribed and are in the tech editing queue.

You’ll also notice that the maps have all been converted to greyscale. One of the aims of the new website build, and subsequent great pattern reformatting, has been to improve accessibility and consistency. If all of my patterns have greyscale charts, which most of them did anyway, they’re both colourblind friendly and black and white printer friendly.

Furthermore, if all of my patterns have written instructions and some charted, instead of some either or both, it’ll make for a smoother database and clearer pattern searches. I know I’ve said elsewhere how I’ve made changes to the charts generally so I won’t talk on that for too long today!

Opal pattern from the Elemental collection

Toph pattern from the Elemental collection

Right now, only the English language versions have had the written instructions added. The files have now gone into the queue for translation, and I hope to have most languages switched over in due time. That said, it’s possible some of the translations may not get updated, as it’s been a while since I worked with some of the translators, but we’ll do what we can. Translation on this level, with hundreds of patterns and more than a handful of languages, can get complicated very quickly so we have to take our time!

I’ve no plans yet to update the eBook or print versions, as that will require huge layout changes. On Ravelry you have the option of using the bundle discount to get the single patterns as well, i.e for the full price of the eBook you can add the singles to your cart and checkout for free, otherwise it’ll ask you to pay the difference. The other platforms don’t offer that same kind of feature but I’m hoping to offer something along those lines on the new website, and I may be able to transfer your purchases then - that’s not a promise but it something I’m looking in to!

If you purchased any of the single patterns via Ravelry you’ll have received an update notice already. Folks who purchased any of them through Payhip can use their original download emails to get the latest version. LoveCrafts hasn’t been updated yet. Etsy has, but I don’t know if you can access the latest files - if you purchased through Etsy message me there with your email address and the names of the patterns you bought and I’ll find a way to transfer your purchase to Payhip so you can get the latest versions that way.

Phew! It’s been an incredibly busy few weeks. Few months and years, to be honest. Can you believe it’s almost 5 years since these patterns were published? Blimey.

Posted
AuthorWoolly Wormhead

It’s been a long while since any of my publications were available in print, and I’m proper excited to be sat here writing a post about new print options!

These 6 collections, from top-left - Circled, Elemental, Inversion, Convergence, GS The Remixes and Imperceptions - are now all available in print to purchase wholesale from Deep South Fibers.

Some of you may remember that many years ago my patterns used to be available in print through DSF, and that I used to go to TNNA to help promote them. I always had a good working relationship with DSF and used to enjoy going to the shows, but it was hard work and didn’t really pay off, so I stopped working with them because it was time to try different things.

Then when I moved my business to Estonia to brexit-proof ourselves I had to pull away from the print-on-demand systems I’d been using as it wasn’t compatible with the new accounting system. Late last year that changed and I was able to open up my Magcloud shop again, but it really felt like these collections needed a print push that I couldn’t give them.

I’ve personal copies of a couple of them in print and they very much have that zine-like feel that Zab and I first envisaged when we started working together on Circled. I wanted to take things in a different direction and we totally pulled it off - these collections, and the designs obviously, completely changed how my business was structured and that made me mighty happy.

Then one day I’d received a friendly email from Deep South Fibers about royalties for old stock they still had, like I often did, and I just thought - this is what I need to do, this is what these books need.

Their business has changed so much since I last worked with them, likewise mine. The print market is no different to the digital market in that it’s a constantly changing beast, but I know that DSF know their stuff. They know their market and I know I’m in safe hands.

After several months back and forth sorting out the various details, not to mention the great reformatting and getting everything ISBNs, the first 6 collections are ready to go.

If you’d like to see your local yarn store stocking my books then do let them know that they’re now available through Deep South Fibers! They ship worldwide, too - it isn’t just US shops that will benefit from this.

There will be more titles to follow, we’re currently polishing up Get Garter and Lateralis for print. And it’s possible that once the great reformatting of the single patterns is done - I’m almost there! - that some of my most popular individual patterns will make it into print, as some pretty big hints have been dropped about that! I can’t focus on that right now though, there’s enough to be done, but if you’d like to see more titles in print please encourage your local yarn stores and I’ll see what I can do.

Yey for the return of print! These really are rather special on paper.

eta/ I’m not listed under the ‘D2’ section on Deep South Fiber’s website because I can’t in good conscience provide download links to Ravelry only, given how inaccessible their new site is and the problems many users continue to experience. Once my new website is up and running I’m going to look into what options I have in terms of single use codes but for now, they don’t come with a digital download.

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AuthorWoolly Wormhead
2 CommentsPost a comment

You'll know that over the years my relationship with print hasn't always been straightforward. I've never wanted to hold tangibles - the idea of having boxes of dead trees around fills me with dread, and I've never wanted to have money tied up in those boxes. That's not a criticism of anyone else's business model, as we all do things the way that suits us best and I know that if I was a big book person myself I would probably push the print side more. But I'm not - I prefer digital books and am never keen to have too much stuff.

Despite this, I've always tried to keep print options open. POD (print on demand) has served that area, as have print distributors of my patterns. But slowly, those areas have slipped away for various reasons, the biggest of which is the low level of sales compared to the amount of work preparing items for print takes.

And now, for a slightly different reason, I'll be closing that last remaining print option.

Blog.Print.Goodbye.jpg

As I'm sure many of you are aware, Brexit leaves us in a very difficult position... one that will cost us a lot and see us jumping through too many hoops just to try and hold onto what we have here. Yesterday the stress of it all broke me but today I picked myself up and carried on, because I have to.

One of the most important things I need to do is separate me and my business. In the UK I'm a sole-trader, which means me and my business are the same thing. It's the simplest way to do things (it should surprise no-one that I like to keep admin simple!) and it means I'm not officially a registered business. Truth be told I never wanted to be, and one of the few original aims I had was to not be enough of a business to get VAT registered!

But that all has to change. I'm also not very far away turnover wise from the UK VAT threshold so I know the time to change is here whichever way you look at it.

I did think to get incorporated in the UK, as it would make sense to not have to learn a whole set of new tax laws, but we have to do the latter anyway if we're to move our residency to Italy (and nope, I'm not moving my business there - the tax laws are eye watering).  And it's daft to keep my business in a currency that we're not using daily - the drop in the value of Sterling has made the cost of our daily living much more expensive.

There are fortunately options for micro businesses to incorporate abroad, and Estonia is leading the way on this with it's e-residency program. And the companies that offer accountancy services also help set up the business and get you through the process quickly and efficiently for a very reasonable fee (you see why I went this route, yes?). The whole set up is progressive and streamlined and has been very popular with freelancers, digital nomads and the like.

Having done some research and talked to a few companies, I think I've found a company (agency?) to work with who sits well with me. The downside is no tangibles in terms of sales. Having discussed how the Magcloud set up works they're still not keen to support that and rather than lose the opportunity, I've decided to close the POD door for good.

What I earn through Magcloud - both on eBook and print book sales combined - comes to less than 1% of my turnover. So POD sales would be about 0.5%-0.6% of my turnover. And considering how much time and extra effort it takes to prepare for print, and how much I need to reduce and streamline admin, it doesn't make sense to try and fight to keep POD on the table going forward. I closed POD wholesale last month and had been toying with the idea of shutting POD across the board, and this move of business has been the deciding factor.

I know I have a few customers that prefer print and I hope you can appreciate that I've tried to keep that option open but do need to move with my needs and my business.

I'll leave the print option open for as long as I can but I suspect it'll be shut within about a week. If you'd like to get a print copy of any of the books I offer on Magcloud, you may wish to do that sooner rather than later! (I will though try to keep the eBooks on Magcloud, though I'm not sure that's an option without the print side...)

Thanks for your understanding :)

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AuthorWoolly Wormhead
6 CommentsPost a comment

Trying to think ahead and make things easier all round, I've now uploaded press packs for bloggers and reviewers or anyone wishing to talk about either Circled or Elemental - you can find them on the books' pages.

And talking of reviews.... I'm starting to get in touch with reviewers and editors and bloggers and podcasters - who are your favourites? Leave a comment and let me know? ta!

(this is the bit I *always* find really difficult... emailing strangers and sayin' "hey, you wanna talk about my work?". Requires a stiff drink each time :/)

Posted
AuthorWoolly Wormhead