I do not want to discuss Ravelry and NuRav.  Not really.  I mean nothing has changed since my videos on it, and likely nothing is going to change. Ravelry continues to be ableist while claiming they are inclusive.  But, their latest blog post has triggered such a hard eye roll it's distracting me from my sprained ankle.  

Since Jess's letter when Ravelry threw Cassidy under the bus and sort of apologized, Raverly has proceeded to do nothing substantial to address the situation.

A group of designers sent a letter asking for Ravelry to hire a consultant and assure the fiberverse they are working to fix their problems.  There were four asks:

• Hire an outside consultant to advise on fixing accessibility issues
• Make Classic Rav default until seizure risks were resolved
• Make accessibility changes default rather than force users to toggle features on or off
• Offer a heartfelt apology 

Below is the Instagram post sharing Ravelry's response to the letter.  I would summarize Ravelry's response as: "think we covered it with Jess's later that was non-committal about a consultant. But, thanks a bunches. byeee" â€‹

Raverly released a new Beta function on Raverly called Swatches. It's only accessible through NuRav, so people who can't use Ravelry can't be part of Beta Testing. When announcing Swatches on twitter, Ravelry utilized twitter's new safety features to turn off comments. And on Facebook, they deleted comments from people discussing disabilities. Yes, they able-washed their announcements.

A person on Twitter reports they saw a comment on a Ravelry forum regarding an interaction with Raverly TPTB.  Basically, the person used Swatches and sent feedback that brought up issues for people experiencing migraines due to NuRav. 

So, yea, that letter from Jess that threw Cassidy under the bus and gave some people a glimmer of hope that Raverly was going to make a meaningful pivot? 🤷🏻‍♀️. 

My interpretation is that Jessica's letter was for show, and the team's intention is  to forge ahead believing that people experiencing migraines, vertigo, eye strain, and seizures, are not real? Making it up? Insignificant? And that leads us up to today.​

​Today, the first of September Raverly has a new announcement. 

Ravelry is so proud of this step.  They are so excited to talk to Ravelers about emPower People that they have again shut off comments on Twitter. I mean, of course, it makes sense that Ravelry is sharing emPower People and craftivism. They are, after all, the inclusive space for yarnies to get together. Well, inclusive for everyone except people who inconveniently experience migraine, vertigo, and eyestrain when using NuRav.   

I believe Raverly would promote emPower even if NuRav had never happened. But, the fact is, NuRav did happen. It's still happening. For Raverly to wrap themselves in the cloak of craftivism while they silence and erase disabled crafters is tone deaf and hypocritical. â€‹

I want to take a moment to plug the emPower People project. It is a craftivism project "aimed at uniting crafters across all mediums to engage people across communities to spark conversation, engagement, and action in the political process to uphold social justice and human rights." â€‹

I have nothing but positive things to say about emPower People and joining in with craftivism to effect positive change. The fact is, we are living in a perilous time. So many marginalized people in the fiberverse are being actively harmed by racism, homophobia, transphobia, antisemitism, ableism, and prejudice of all kinds. (FYI: If you are a White Trump supporter, you're not marginalized. I'm not talking to you. Buh bye.) 

​I really encourage you to check out the emPower People website, raid your stash for purple yarn to make your own emPower People Purple Bandana. Or if you don't have purple yarn, buy some.

emPower People is a group of BIPC indepenent dyers. If you can afford to purchase yarn from them please do so.   On their page is a list of indepedent dyers.  

Personally, I've had some purple yarn in my stash waiting for its moment. I believe its time has come!

NOTE: I have updated this blog and removed some affiliate links.  It was thoughtless of me to include them in the first place, and I centered myself when I should have been amplifying the message and cause behind emPower People. I am truly sorry. 

But, don't just knit or crochet a purple bandana.   Make a plan to vote.  Your vote matters.  Don't miss out.

Again I sincerely encourage you to check out emPower People and take part in the Purple Bandana Project. Also, consider how Ravelry fits into your craft life and craftivism. If you are not prepared to leave Ravelry all together, please consider not buying patterns through Raverly. If there is a pattern on Ravelry you want to buy:

• Check to see if the designer offers the pattern on Etsy, Lovecrafts, Payhip, or their own website. For a list of designers who sell their work on Ravelry alternatives, visit The Fiber Indy List.
• If the pattern is only available for purchase on Ravelry contact the designer and kindly ask if you can pay them through Paypal or another method. Let them know you support accessibility for all knitters and crocheters. 
• If the designer will not accommodate you, choose another pattern. Support designers who support accessibility and inclusivity.

Not spending your money on Ravelry lets TPTB know that ableism is not profitable. 

This is how it happened: If you've been following the Ravelry NuRav debacle, you know that many Indy fiber artists who have previously relied on Ravelry for their business, are setting up alternative platforms to sell their work. (If you do not know about what's going on with Ravelry please check out my YouTube videos on it) 

And another glass - okay three glasses in - I thought, "You know Carrie, you can't build a NuNuRav, but you can put together a list of sites. You've been talking to designers on Twitter. Why don't you ask them for some links."  And the  The Indy List was born. 

This is a simple directory listing designers, their links, and short blurb by me. My goal is to make this list accessible and help designs and makers find each other outside of Ravelry. No designer is paying me. I am doing this to support designers who are standing with the disability community, often at cost to themselves. It's truly a labor of love. If you would like to leave me a tip to help support this effort, it would be greatly appreciated.  

It started with a tweet. But, it's growing.  If you would like to be added to The Indy List please fill out this form.  I am building this list by myself with whatever free time I have, so be patient as I make my way through.  

Due the nature of my life and my videos I don't know if that will get up in a timely manner so I want to address some of it here.  

Ravelry has recently posted an update about the NuRav (nickname for the New Ravelry look) and say Ravelry has taken some steps to address their accessibility issues.    I will link to their offsite blog post if you'd like to read it, but be warned it is in the NuRav format.  (Someone put up a link to the update on a google doc. But, I forgot to copy the link.  If I find it I will give an update)

As for the post itself, in my opinion, it leaves a lot to be desired.  I go into detail on this in the upcoming video, but, in short I find it minimizing and ableist.  And believe me it gives me no pleasure to write this about Ravelry.

Although my personal use of Ravelry has always been love/hate, I've always held the site itself and the team behind it in high regard.  Ravelry has played an important, vital role in the Fiber community. There would be a huge void left behind if Ravelry were to go down.  I want Ravelry to succeed.  Truly.   But, in order for it to thrive, Ravelry needs to get over whatever issues are holding them back and fix their problems. 

Again I want Ravelry to succeed.  I want us all to be able to enjoy and use the site. 

Thank you for reading and as Always Happy Knitting!
Carrie CraftGeek
​

It's not easy.  It definitely takes a mental toll. Simple things like going to the grocery store now take on much greater significance.  I actually insisted that I was the one going to Costco because I needed to get out of the house and have some alone time.  

I do believe it's important in times like this to find joy, and crafting has always brought me joy.  Like a good crafter I have a stash.  It should, hopefully, last through this period in time.  

My latest video was a tough one for me.  I didn't plan it.  I was upset hearing Kamala Harris was out of the race and wanted to talk about it, in addition to racism and issues in the crafting community.  I turned out far more emotional than I expected and there's footage I didn't use because well...reasons.


But, I'm proud that I not only said what I had to say, but that I posted the video.  These are hard times right now. I know for me knitting is not just a hobby but an act of self care and yes temporary escape.  However, I do think we need to be careful of confusing self care with denial.  When we deny that the knitting world is just as susceptible to racism, homophobia, transphobia, ableism, and other prejudices we allow those things to fester.


The knitting world is a wonderful world. But, it does not exist in a bubble.  And I hope that we can have open, honest conversations that allow all of us to grow as people. 

​