mystery lace kal - no more....

I joined a KAL group on yahoo called Mystery Lace, and was excited when it started, cause I think I am the only one in the group who will be using a size-10 thread, while most are using laceweight merino yarns... (i envy them! )

However, some of the members where I guess not satisfied on how the KAL is going so they bombarded Susan of negative emails and criticisms...which prompted the owner to first make the yahoo group set in "no-mail" for awhile.

Today, as I was scanning my inbox full of digest mails from my various groups, I was delighted to get a bulk message from Mystery Lace, and immediately read it first. I was relieved when on the first message, a member or should I say moderator, had written that the clue 2 will be up soon and we should just be patient, as Susan - the owner is trying to think of ways on how to present in a better way the kal should go.

Then I scanned again, and saw Susan's post...this where I got really sad, because the owner has decided to put the pattern on sale and another extra for tutorial. The reason is because she didn't forsee that by creating a KAL group will take-up much of her time from her child and from her financial work. To understand more..this is what she had written...

......
I wanted to share this for free, and though I thought I was prepared
for it by allowing a few hours a day to the list and more to the
knitting, there has been an intense onslaught of emails and some
negativity which is unwarranted and taken all my waking hours. If I
am to put more into explaining the fundaments of lace knitting, then
I can't give up everything to share and then not be able to afford to
live, or provide the basics for my child, etc. This is just the
reality of life. Most who design are married and have a buffer but
that is not my situation. I feel I have wonderful designs to offer,
but I have to create balance, as many will understand

Most of you who have participated in other KAL's know that I am
giving much more information than is standardly done, (and I also
help if I can on other lists, as my "giving back" but limit it to one
hour a day). In all honesty I do feel that free KAL's can attract a
mentality of wanting more and more, and I need to open this up to a
give and take or things going full circle. As noted, many feel they
learned more the first week than they did in a long time. That
thrills me as that is a part of what I am about, helping others, and
making the world more beautiful (through lace knitting). I also must
say that the number of personal emails I have received insisting that
I charge for this service has been astounding, so I know that I am on
the right track.

Unfortunately news of my potential decision about this was leaked,
and so I am again inundated with emails, and I have also been
answering them from 10-12 hours a day since I went to no mail on the
list, so this message is rushed (in spite of it's length). LOL
(Incidentlly when I changed the group to "no mail" it evidently
limited access to the Clues, which will be OK, as you will have more
with Clue 2, and there are more options with the pattern in the new
group also). I have to say that the love and compassion in the
personal emails is astounding and so heart touching!
So, my decision (and the suggestions), was/were that I would have to
charge $10 for the Mystery Clues and Class and the Full Pattern with
extras at the end. It is about the price of a movie or lunch out,
and so $5 for the Class and $5 for the pattern, so to speak; if you
planned to "tip" the designer at the end of the KAL and purchase the
full pattern with it's esthetics, tips and pics, etc. I hope that
those in extenuating circumstances will talk to me too. Because of
the extra work and tone the list took I just can't give it 100% of
me, and there are those who love my designs, want to be supportive,
and feel it is more than worth it. This change will also give me
time and focus to not be rushed with Clues, which was what caused the
transfer from handwritten charts to Excel to have error, and I hope
to be able to have some pictures with visuals to demonstrate some new
stitches or innovations.

I am so disappointed, as I am really looking forward to this KAL, and now, there is no way I will be able to continue the KAL since I can't purchase her pattern online (no credit-card).

I would like to just air-out my 2 cents on this I am not ranting mind you, but more of letting my sentiments known.

She should have at the beginning to let everyone know how the KAL will go, like if it's intermediate, beginner or for advance lace knitter. So far I think the KAL is fine with even if I'm a beginner. And if a beginner still wishes to join the KAL, they have to do their own research if they should encounter some complex stitches, and not expect the owner to conduct a tutorial while the KAL is going on. It's that simple...

Also she can ask the group to help out if there are some queries on how to read charts, or they don't like how their swatch came out any suggestions, or tips and techniques...that sort of things.

*Sigh* I guess I just have to let this one go and look for other KALs, which I guess there will be alot more. I just wish I will not encounter another one like this.