As Tracy pointed out, with the start of Hurricane season, Dish Rag Tag should be right around the corner! And it is, at least I want it to be, but I’ve got a problem to solve. Well, a couple of problems, but one is more difficult.
There has been a little bit of an economic downturn. The Miracle Economy is not quite as booming as it was this time two years ago – or even last year*. The cold, hard fact of the matter is that I either need to figure out a way to offset DRT expenses or I can’t run the race this year.
This is where I need your help, ideas and input. My current plan is two-fold:
A) Charge a $1 participation fee to cover postage. This also should help with the other problem: the people who sign up and then are never heard from again. Too many folks left their teammates in the lurch last year.
B) Design two patterns, one priced at $1 and one priced at $5. All the income from this “Knitting Bake Sale” will be used for the 1st, 2nd and 3rd place team prizes.
I consider Dish Rag Tag to be a gift to the knitting community, and it really bothers me that I just can’t do it that way this year. Do you think there will be a major objection to the $1 “fee”? I wish I had more confidence in pattern sales alone, but I’m afraid that they won’t total enough to cover both shipping and prizes. Can you help a knitter out with some feedback?
*Thanks to the generosity of Kate, Alaina and Lisa and my Mom’s mad sewing skills, last year turned out wonderfully well!
Newsflash: I just had a great idea for the $5 sock pattern – you knew the patterns would be a dish rag and a sock, right?
I think this is an EXCELLENT idea and all of us that love the DRT will be more than happy to contribute!!!
I think that you should put up a donation button on your site to allow those of us that wish to donate money to the cause (with or without purchasing a pattern) to do so. In the event that you get more money than you need for actual postage, you could either hold in reserve for the next DRT…..or donate to a charity, etc.
Ohhh…..and a sock pattern too???? SIGN ME UP!!
I think that’s a good idea. I would be glad to help with postage. I don’t have a Paypal account (and would prefer not to get one) but I would snail mail you the cash if that is all right with you.
I’ve done DRT both times and just had a ball with it! Thanks for all your hard work.
I don’t think you’d have a problem using the $1. Secret Pal has a fee of $5.00 and people pay it with no real complaints. We use the money from the fee to create an angel fund for people who’s partner crapped out on them. Anything left over is donated to a knitting related charity. Perhaps you could do somethng similar.
I think both ideas are great, and I don’t think you should feel a bit bad about a $1 fee to help with expenses. I’ve had tons of fun with dish rag tag and even in a not-so-great economy, $1 shouldn’t be a problem for anyone participating in a swap.
I’d be more than happy to pay a fee, too. Or just donate money to help with postage, prizes, etc.. 🙂
I’d pay a fee also! I’d even donate to the prize pool!
I don’t knit dishrags, so I never play, but you know how I feel about socks and I’d happily buy any pattern you came up with.
I’d be more than happy to pay a fee to play. I’d also buy a pattern or two if they became available. Maybe you should do both 😉
I’d be more than happy to pay to participate in Dish Rag Tag!
I think a $1 would be in keeping with keeping the swap cheap for those interested in participating, while raising some capital for the capital expense to you.
I would be happy to donate again this year! Probably won’t be joining the fray but I love to watch from the sidelines. It’s more fun than Nascar (well, so are a lot of things, but you know what I mean).
I’m game!! I’d pay the cash! sign me up too! I’d pay $5
I’m game!! I’d pay the cash! sign me up too!
A one dollar fee is pretty inexpensive for SO MUCH FUN !!!! For those of us who have played in the past and have made great friends through our teams….and so loved the sport of DRT, a fee is really not a problem. We would be glad to pay.
I would L-O-V-E to offer a vintage-style apron to the winning team captain this year if you plan to play. Something different to go with those wonderfully useful dishrags.
I think $1 is more than fair, and it also might help cut down on the people who sign up and then flake out on their team. I also think including a donation button on the DRT site would be a terrific idea.
Would gladly pay the fee to participate! It was fun 🙂
I think your ideas are more than fair. I had a great time last DRT!
I would be absolutely delighted to pay the little fee, to buy patterns, whatever!
You did such an amazing job hosting this last year.
Can’t wait!
I have paypal and would not mind one tiny little bit to contribute funds for such a good cause.
I think $1 for DRT is way reasonable and should cut down on the flakes. and having patterns too? wow!
definately do a donate button too, remember shipping went up again in May!
will do whatever you need!!! No toy patterns????
I don’t think that $1 is a big deal to play. I’d pay it with no problems at all. And offering both would be a good deal too. $1 to participate & offer the patterns for $5 for those who want to contribute more. 🙂
better odds than the lottery! count me in! $1 is a better deal than you can get just about anywhere!
I’m with everyone else! Great idea and $1 is nothing to pay for all the fun we had last year.
Love to pay for the fun, just so I can BEAT MY SISTER!!! Payback for last year! It’s the most fun I know of that you could have for a dollar.
P.S. If you asked for donations for prizes, you might be surprised at what you’ll get . . .
I think $1 is very reasonable as an admission fee. I don’t expect you to absorb all of the costs to run DRT and from the previous comments, I don’t think many knitters do.
Please let me know what I can do to help.
Oh yeah, you’re onto something here!
A little fee may just kill more than one buzzard with one stone. 😉 We don’t use paypal, however, but I would gladly send my fee by snail.
Hurricane season would not be the same without the DRT. I think $1 is more than fair and a great way to keep it going!
Ummmm….the collection of this money would not at all be connected to the fact that you “mysteriously” cannot respond to emails, would it???? Hmmmmm?
*insert shifty eyes*
Oh, and by the way, I’d pay $10 just to sub for DRT!
Like everyone else, I would do anything for DRT. I’m in! Oh gawd, shaky chihuahua emerges just from the mere mention of DRT!
You know, I wondered how you offset the cost last year. I think it is very reasonable to have a one or two dollar sign up fee. Maybe this will discorage those who sign up and then disappear, that was very irritating. I can’t wait!
I’d pay,for sure. What- paying to knit with cotton? Crazy. Must really love you (and DRT too). I would be thrilled to donate prizes. STR from the stash anyone?
I would gladly pay or contribute a dollar. Seems like a small price to pay for fun. I can contribute a prize if needed.(I have too much sock yarn)
I would happily contribute! I loved last year’s DRT and am really looking forward to it this year.
Only $1 for DRT???? I’m in!!! It was a lot of fun last year and was looking forward to joining in again this year!!
I wouldn’t have a single problem donating $1 to offset costs of DRT. And even if I can’t participate due to schedule conflicts (ya never know!) I would probably still purchase a pattern. I’ve enjoyed the last two DRT races and completely benefited from the fun. Purchasing a pattern would be a fun way to support the race.
I loved participating in Dish Rag Tag last year and would be more than happy to pay to participate this year. I agree that this might help with those few folks who signed up and then disappeared. I can’t wait for this to start. I’d be thrilled to be mailing my cash off to you so we can do this again.
I totally agree with everything everyone above me has said!! Count me in! I can hardly wait!
Total agreement here. I would happily donate to play again this year.