Welcome to the Knitternet

Kristine Howard
Kristine HowardDirector of Developer Relations at YOW! Australia
••
Blogs, podcasts, Ravelry, and more!
Welcome to the
Knitternet
Knitters Guild NSW - Inner City Group
How this presentation will work:
Leaflets are available with all the links, hints,
tips, etc.
Information will also be emailed to the group and
posted on our website.
Please leave laptops aside for now; we’ll talk first
and then play!
Topics for today:
Introduction - my history with the “knitternet”
Definitions - what do all these weird words
mean?
Examples of useful sites on the “knitternet”
Search tips - how to find what you’re looking for
Security - staying safe when buying online
Ravelry - a guided tour
My Knitternet History
Working in IT and
blogging for 10 years
Moved to Australia in
2001
Learned to knit in 2002
Discovered crafting
messageboards and went
to my first SnB
Worked at Tapestry Craft for 3 years
Involved in blogging, social networking, Ravelry,
Twitter...
Some examples...
“web-log” - articles, links, and essays in
chronological order
So what’s a blog,
anyway?
Yarn Harlot
http://www.yarnharlot.ca/blog/
The Panopticon
http://the-panopticon.blogspot.com/
Wendy Knits
http://wendyknits.net
There are loads of knitting podcasts...
a radio show you download and listen to
on your computer or mp3 player
Then...
what’s a podcast?
Welcome to the Knitternet
Requires a feed reader...
a way for blogs and podcasts to notify you when
there’s something new available
RSS - "really simple
syndication"
Google Reader
http://www.google.com.au/reader
Think FaceBook, MySpace, LinkedIn...
a community website that allows users to create
and identify, define relationships, and collaborate
Social Networking Site
Ravelry
http://www.ravelry.com
Lots of knitters are tweeting...
a cross between a mini-blog and a chatroom;
like people watching at a party!
Lastly... “Twitter”?
Twitter
http://www.twitter.com
What are some useful
knitting websites?
Retailers
Everything from big
corporations to small
LYSes to independent
spinners/dyers
If you want it, you can
probably find it.
Be careful with the
exchange rate!
Patterns
Free patterns are
everywhere if you look!
More and more online
knitting magazines.
Technical Resources
Look up tutorials and
videos for new
techniques
Get tips and tricks
delivered to your inbox
Translate new pattern
symbols and acronyms
Search Tips
How to find what you’re looking for...
Use meaningful keywords that you think might
appear on the page
Add a location or limit it to a country if necessary
Use “double-quotes” to highlight an exact phrase
Use a minus sign -before any words you want to
leave out.
Use OR for words that are optional.
Remember - computers aren't as smart as people!
Security
Staying safe when buying online...
If it’s a shop... do they have contact details listed?
If it’s a person... do they have good feedback?
What are the policies for shipping and returns?
SSL - “Secure Sockets Layer”
Look for https and a padlock on your browser
Be wary of computers you don’t own or trust
Remember to log out!
Use credit card instead of debit if you can
Sign up for a generic email address
Where to start?
It can be overwhelming when you first get in.
Ravelry - A Guided Tour
Set up a
Flickr.com
account
It’s free.
This is where you’ll
store all your photos.
Set up your Ravelry profile
Upload an avatar.
Tell everyone who you are!
Now what?
Start filling your
notebook...
...and list all the details.
Add photos. Record needles and yarn used.
Note errors and modifications.
Look up a pattern...
Double-check the requirements.
Maybe even download the pattern!
...then see finished versions.
Compare yarns and modifications.
Add to your queue.
Bookmark patterns you’d like to knit later.
Research yarns.
Check meterage and gauge, review colours, find
suitable patterns, see where to buy.
Set up a friends list.
Befriend anyone you like!
Leave comments on their finished projects.
See what your friends are
knitting and queueing.
Keep track of the books you own.
Add to your virtual library.
You can even flag items for sale or trade.
Upload your stash.
There’s a group for EVERYTHING.
Join a group (or several)...
Swaps, events, rants, chats, everything.
...and wade into the forums.
Perfect for small businesses.
Advertising
That’s pretty much all of it!
Any Questions?
Then let’s have a play!
Special thanks to group members who sent
feedback, tips, and favourite sites.
1 of 43

More Related Content

More from Kristine Howard(20)

Knitted Disruption - Build Stuff Ukraine 2019Knitted Disruption - Build Stuff Ukraine 2019
Knitted Disruption - Build Stuff Ukraine 2019
Kristine Howard•355 views
Building Software That LastsBuilding Software That Lasts
Building Software That Lasts
Kristine Howard•504 views
Traversing the Org ChartTraversing the Org Chart
Traversing the Org Chart
Kristine Howard•226 views
Knit One Compute One - For Knitters!Knit One Compute One - For Knitters!
Knit One Compute One - For Knitters!
Kristine Howard•390 views
Knit One, Compute One - Software Art Thou?Knit One, Compute One - Software Art Thou?
Knit One, Compute One - Software Art Thou?
Kristine Howard•627 views
Knit One, Compute One - YOW! Night PerthKnit One, Compute One - YOW! Night Perth
Knit One, Compute One - YOW! Night Perth
Kristine Howard•243 views
Knit One, Compute One - YOW! 2016Knit One, Compute One - YOW! 2016
Knit One, Compute One - YOW! 2016
Kristine Howard•811 views
Granny Was a Hacker - TEDx MelbourneGranny Was a Hacker - TEDx Melbourne
Granny Was a Hacker - TEDx Melbourne
Kristine Howard•345 views
Taking the Management LeapTaking the Management Leap
Taking the Management Leap
Kristine Howard•230 views
Intro to RavelryIntro to Ravelry
Intro to Ravelry
Kristine Howard•913 views
Granny Was a Hacker (CampJS Version)Granny Was a Hacker (CampJS Version)
Granny Was a Hacker (CampJS Version)
Kristine Howard•6.7K views
The Tyranny of the Business CardThe Tyranny of the Business Card
The Tyranny of the Business Card
Kristine Howard•1.4K views

Welcome to the Knitternet