Sore feet & free pattern review

Slightly random blog - firstly the good news that Alex has done her walk, albeit she didn't quite make the end due to her feet looking like this:

Which is excusable. She has already signed up for next year, so Bob's Beanie will continue to be on sale to fund next year's trek...

Rather foolishly, I'm considering joining her. However before I do anything rash I'm seeing the podiatrist on Saturday (I have "foot issues") to see if this is simply crazy or actually suicidal.

I've also been reviewing some of my free pattern offerings. Basically when I started designing I was just doing it for fun and hadn't imagined a point where I would be having patterns published or be worrying about free patterns affecting my "brand". However it's now got to the point where I don't think having interesting but untested patterns out there is a good idea, and I've also been reading some interesting views from other designers about pattern pricing, so what's going to happen is this:

I will get all of my paid patterns (both existing & patterns moving from free to paid) tested. I've been using the Free Pattern Testers group on Ravelry to test patterns for the new e-book & so far have been pretty pleased with it, albeit I know some users have had problems with the strict group rules - haven't violated any yet! So as soon as the current tests start coming to an end I'll be getting my existing paid patterns tested.

I've already decided to withdraw Monserrat from free download at the end of June & will be considering whether the various problems with this pattern are solvable.

On 30th July (Not 31st as this is my wedding anniversary, so I may have to do something other than faff about on Ravelry!) I'll withdraw Asparagus Lace Scarf, Black Beacon Hat, Black Beacon Scarf, Cavendish, Pendleton and Sparrow Grass as free downloads. These will all be revised if appropriate & tested then re-released as paid patterns.

Bantam's Beanie, Barbara, Beaujolais, Dorothy bag, Pandora and Radcliffe Camera Bag will remain as free downloads.

So, if you would like to knit any of these & are happy to knit from an untested pattern, make sure you download it by the deadline - or alternatively, keep checking Free Pattern Testers on Rav & sign up to test!