The provided source material details a specific promotional event hosted by a designer on the Ravelry platform, known as a Mini Mystery Create-A-Long (Mini MCAL). Unlike traditional free samples of physical consumer goods such as beauty products or pet food, this event offers digital knitting and crochet patterns. The event structure relies heavily on community participation to unlock rewards, functioning as a tiered incentive program rather than a standard no-cost trial. The documentation outlines specific eligibility requirements, a timeline for participation, and a unique delivery method for the free clues.
Event Overview and Structure
The Mini MCAL is described as a condensed version of the designer's full Mystery Create-A-Longs. While the full events typically last 3 to 5 weeks and involve 10 to 20 clues, the Mini MCAL is designed to be "short and sweet," lasting only 2 weeks and consisting of 4 clues. The event is free to join, but participation requires specific actions to secure the digital patterns and potential discounts.
During the last event, participants received 3 free patterns from the designer's shop in addition to the Create-A-Long pattern. For the current Mini MCAL, the designer has implemented "group incentives" that are contingent on the total number of participants.
Tiered Reward System
The rewards for the Mini MCAL are structured based on participant milestones. The source material outlines the following tiers:
- 800 Participants: Participants receive a code for 50% off any order from the designer's Ravelry shop.
- 1,200 Participants: Participants receive a code for 75% off any order from the designer's Ravelry shop.
- 1,600 Participants: Participants receive a code for one free pattern from the designer's Ravelry shop.
- 2,000 Participants: Participants receive a code for two free patterns from the designer's Ravelry shop.
The designer notes that because the goal numbers for the free event are much larger than previous paid events, the thresholds are set higher.
Eligibility and Participation Requirements
To participate in the event and be eligible for the rewards, specific actions are required. The designer explicitly states that participants must "pay for your place" by sharing the blog post with friends. Acceptable methods of sharing include:
- Favoriting the listings for the event on Ravelry (specifically the knit and crochet versions).
- Using the social sharing buttons provided at the bottom of the blog post.
Furthermore, to be entered into the sweepstakes for Etsy Gift Cards, participants must create a Ravelry project page and share final photos by January 31, 2016.
Sweepstakes and Prizes
In addition to the tiered discount codes and free patterns, the event includes a sweepstakes component. The designer plans to give away Etsy Gift Cards valued at $25 each. The number of gift cards awarded increases with the number of participants:
- General Entry: Everyone who creates a Ravelry project page and shares final photos by the deadline is entered to win.
- At 800 Participants: One $25 Etsy Gift Card is added to the prize pool.
- At 1,200 Participants: Two $25 Etsy Gift Cards are added.
- At 1,600 Participants: Three $25 Etsy Gift Cards are added.
- At 2,000 Participants: Four $25 Etsy Gift Cards are added.
Delivery Method and Pattern Access
A significant change in this Mini MCAL is the delivery method for the clues. While the designer's normal events deliver clues through the Ravelry library, this event tests a new system where clues are sent directly to the participant's email inbox. The designer intends to offer both delivery methods in future events to ensure participants do not miss clues.
Regarding the final pattern, the source material clarifies that because the event is free, the full pattern PDF will not be sent at the end. Instead, participants will receive a 75% off coupon code to purchase the full PDF from the designer's Ravelry shop if they wish to have it in one document. Participants can continue to access the individual segments to make the project again without purchasing.
Ravelry Platform Features for Participants
The source material includes information regarding Ravelry's features that facilitate participation in such events. Users can find and join groups to participate in knit or crochet alongs by searching the groups tab by location or category. Once a group is joined, discussion threads appear under the user's forums tab.
Ravelry also offers features to organize patterns, which is useful for participants tracking the clues:
- Bundles: Users can organize favorites into "bundles." This can be done when favoriting an item or later by editing the favorites list.
- Remember and Compare: Users can star patterns in a search result to create a temporary list that can be shared with others.
Conclusion
The Mini Mystery Create-A-Long is a digital promotional event that leverages community sharing to unlock free patterns and discounts. It differs from standard free sample programs by requiring social action to "pay" for entry and by offering tiered rewards based on collective participation volume. The event utilizes email delivery for clues and offers a discount for the final compiled pattern, providing a hybrid model of free access and optional purchase.