Grumbling about CO&K tutorials

I know this is really petty of me, but I'm getting quite grumpy about the number of tutorials on CO&K that don't actually show you how to make a project.

There's two types in particular.

The first is the "How to make item x" where the instructions are:
1) Buy item x
2) Decorate item

And the second is the "How to make a designer clone" where the instructions are:
1) Be an awesome artist
2) Paint an awesome design on the item

With the first, I wish the creator would call the tute "how to DECORATE item x".
And with the second I wish they'd make a template/stencil or give general advice on how to get the look.

Am I being uncharitable here?

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12 replies since 2nd July 2011 • Last reply 2nd July 2011

Reply #1:

I agree a bit there. Its a little annoying. like Ohmigosh I want to do that!

and you read the tut and its like... T>T

I second you.~

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Reply #2:

I know how you feel I also hate when on recipes it will say "Buy cake mix" and I'm thinking I COULD THINK OF THIS ON MY OWN >.<

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Reply #3:

hey pandora, you´re not uncharitable, you´re just honest!
i think a lot of people here think it´s annoying when you see these fabulous how-tos and you´ll be disappointed when they want you to buy stuff from their shop first to make it...
i have to say i even feel bad when i create how-tos saying you need a basic pattern for a skirt/trousers instead of explaining how to make one yourself...

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Reply #4:

I don't think that's unreasonable at all.
I mean, it's not that hard to put stickers on shoes (and I honestly don't think it's tutorial worthy, either), but when it comes to painting specific designs on them or using a unique method of stylizing them, I can see how it's rough on people who aren't a master with a paintbrush or can't draw that well.

I'm a lover of very thorough tutorials. When details get left out or the person who wrote them was just looking to quickly post a project, it's less likely that I'll favorite it or anything. Tutorials with missing information are easily forgettable.

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Reply #5:

i completely agree!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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Reply #6:

I also agree. I try really hard to make my tutorials as thorough as possible. When I see something that I want to make, I expect the author to explain it to me as if they were sitting right next to me.

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Reply #7:

I completely agree. I come on here looking for projects that I dont know how to do and that I want to learn how to do and its very frustrating when the tuts are not thorough. most of the time I am very pleased tho. Happy And I dont think u are uncheritable at all. Just expressing how u feel. thats what this board is for.

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Reply #8:

I agree very much so.

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Reply #9:

I agree, and I'd like to add how some tutes seem very disjointed, as though the person writing it has clicked somewhere else in the sentence and started typing, or forgotten to use punctuation so it is one big really long sentence/paragraph that is hard to follow like this one.
I thought the tutes were checked before they were published?

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Reply #10:

Is that what they check the tutes for? I thought they were just checking that you didn't say anything offensive? Has anyone had a project that hasn't gone through?

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Reply #11:

Ahh.... I hate tutorials where they don't punctuate anything!

"Hi this is how you make this first take fabric and cut it like this and then sew it like this thirdly you can decorate it like with bows and stuff like that however you want to do tada you're done"

>.< That really irks me!

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Reply #12:

its hard sometimes to find the words to describe how you did something though. esp if you are just doodling or crafting by yourself and really love the finished piece so put it up here, then try to remember what you did and in what steps if you know what i mean? im only new to the site so i found the tutorial writing very hard as i have never had to describe step by step what i did before. some tutorials are a bit annoying but i think everybody worked equally hard on theirs to make it the best they can Happy

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