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| Decision field | Free accountRavelryGlobalRemove | Free + paidPatternReviewGlobalRemove | Open accessYarnSubGlobalRemove |
|---|---|---|---|
| Decision fit | |||
| Primary job | Choose materials | Find patterns & fit | Choose materials |
| Also useful for | No additional job recorded | No additional job recorded | No additional job recorded |
| Area | Yarn | Patterns & fit | Yarn |
| Best for | Broad pattern, yarn, and project research | Finding member reports about a named sewing pattern | Building a substitution shortlist for a discontinued or unavailable yarn before checking quantity, availability, and a representative swatch |
| Know before using | An account is required and community, publisher, designer, shop, yarn, and project records can vary in currency and accuracy. Search results, ratings, favorites, and project examples do not establish pattern accuracy, yarn availability, seller reliability, fit, gauge, or project suitability. Confirm current files, errata, license, purchase and refund terms, measurements, yarn details, and shop information with the responsible source. | PatternReview combines community reports, membership, education, advertising, and retail, so it is not a neutral or complete pattern index. Reviews are individual experiences rather than standardized fit tests. Confirm the exact pattern version, size range, measurements, fabric, format, errata, licence, seller terms, and current availability with the designer or publisher. Paid catalogue and search features do not establish an export route or continued access after membership ends. | A suggested match is a data-based shortlist, not proof that the yarn suits the pattern or maker. Records can be incomplete or wrong, price bands are approximate, availability varies by country and seller, and shade-level matching is unavailable. YarnSub says affiliate status does not change suggestions, but equally rated matches are ordered by brand popularity. Confirm required gauge, total length, fibre behavior, construction, care, colour, dye lot, accessibility, price, availability, and seller terms, then make and assess a representative swatch before committing. |
| Practical access | |||
| For | Makers | Makers | Makers |
| Location or jurisdiction | Global | Global | Global |
| Access | Free account | Free + paid | Open access |
| Format | Community | Community | Reference |
| Source type | Community database | Community database | First-party platform |
| Account, payment, and exit | |||
| Access scope | Knitter or crocheter researching patterns and yarns while keeping notebook records. | Sewer reading community pattern reports, participating in discussions, or keeping a personal pattern catalogue and wishlist. | Maker comparing a replacement for a named yarn before buying. |
| Before an account | Official about, login, and signup pages are public, but the useful database, notebook, and community route requires sign-in. | Browse recent pattern reviews, the review gallery, shop, classes, blog, and public help pages without creating an account. | Search a named yarn, inspect suggested substitutes, and filter by fibre and approximate price band without creating an account. |
| Free-account boundary | A free account requires a valid email signup link and enables the database, notebook, directories, groups, and forums. | Free membership requires email activation. The account FAQ says most participation and member-only areas require sign-in. | The checked core substitution route does not require an account, and the FAQ does not offer user-entered yarn records. |
| Payment boundary | The core platform account is free. Individual patterns and other marketplace items may have separate provider-set prices; those purchases are not a user subscription. | Friends of PR costs $34.95 per year and adds advanced search, a personal pattern catalogue and wishlist, bookmarks, classifieds, discounts, and other features. | No subscription is presented for the core route. Affiliate retailer links and optional donations help fund the site; equal-rated matches are ordered by brand popularity. |
| Cancellation or exit | The checked public about, login, and signup pages do not establish cancellation, deletion, or post-exit access. Verify the current in-account help before contributing records. | Friends of PR recurs on its plan cycle. The account FAQ says an advance email includes cancellation instructions and also publishes an email cancellation route. | There is no account or recurring plan to cancel for the core route. The newsletter has a separate unsubscribe link. |
| Saved work and data | The personal notebook can hold projects, stash, tools, and a pattern library, but the checked public pages do not establish a complete export route. Keep source files and critical records locally. | Paid tools can hold a pattern catalogue, wishlist, bookmarks, and photos, but the checked pages do not establish a complete export or post-membership retention route. Keep critical records elsewhere. | YarnSub does not expose an API and does not accept user-entered yarn details. Use the data-issue link on a yarn page for corrections. |
| Source and review | |||
| What the source establishes | Ravelry's official description identifies a user-driven database of knitting and crochet patterns and yarns, searchable directories for designers, pattern sources, local yarn stores and yarn brands, and a personal notebook for projects, stash, tools, library items, queues, and favorites. Community members and volunteer editors add and maintain the database records. | PatternReview's current site exposes recent pattern, sewing-machine, and store reviews, forums, contests, classes, classifieds, a pattern shop, and a searchable review gallery. Its account FAQ says most participation requires a free activated account. Friends of PR adds advanced search, a personal pattern catalogue and wishlist, bookmarks, classifieds, a photo album, discounts, and other features through a recurring paid membership with a published email cancellation route. | YarnSub's official FAQ says its matching software compares gauge, texture, yarn weight and density, fibre content, and fibre qualities such as drape and softness. Discontinued yarns remain searchable as starting points but are excluded from suggestions. Result filters can exclude animal, animal-derived, synthetic, or plant fibre groups and use a subjective $ to $$$$$ price indicator. The site does not accept user-entered yarn details, individual shade cards, or expose an API. Each yarn page provides a data-issue route. |
| Linked page reviewed | Jul 28, 2026 | Jul 28, 2026 | Jul 28, 2026 |
| Next review due | Jan 24, 2027 | Jan 24, 2027 | Jan 24, 2027 |
| Inspect | |||
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