Paying for patterns should be a foundational belief for knitters and crocheters. My husband and I used to own a yarn shop, and we had some free patterns from yarn companies to help sell a particular line of yarn, but we also sold hard copies of patterns. We very strongly discouraged people sharing patterns. Now that we don't own the shop, we make sure to purchase our own patterns. I've written a couple of patterns for myself, and I know the importance of paying pattern writers - Yikes! that's a hard job! A pattern I just purchased was $15 for a 32 page pattern. I haven't started it yet, but it's very complicated, and I imagine I'll be glad for all 32 pages of instructions. All that is to say that, yes, we must pay for our patterns to keep our pattern writers in business and because it is the right thing to do. Keep writing! (Essays and patterns)
Thank you so much for your kind and encouraging words. And thank you for sharing your experience. I am so glad to know about you standing by your belief as well making your community aware of it.
I have noticed there has been a recent buzz around this issue, it's true, Kavitha! I've reflected on this paid vs free patterns here on Substack once, and one of the thngs I think it's important to point out, even if it seems quite obvious, is that nobody is entitled to any pattern for free. It's not food, not water, not shelter or any basic right, and as you point out, there are many free knitting or, in my case, crochet patterns to go around. Unfortunately, there's only so much a designer can do against it, but I do think it's worth pointing the problem out and also be grateful for the many people that do appreciate all the work involved and are willing to support it in any way, and even jumping in to defend a designer's work.
PS: About vintage patterns, I recently listened to an episode from The Long Thread podcast where the interviewee mentioned that one of the challenges with old written patterns had a lot to do with there being no standardization and with variations in terminology, where even the needles had different names depending on a country's region (he mentioned a funny example: "pricks" for knitting needles... 🤣).
Thank you so much for your appreciation, Ana. I love how you said it's not a basic right. It's kind of taken for granted that way and it is very discouraging. he he!!! That's a hilarious alternate name for a needle. 🤣 🤣
I would love to know your take on transforming another person's pattern. I've often wondered - if there's a pattern I mostly like, but end up changing it to my liking, how much change needs to occur before it would be considered my own? I've paid for many patterns, and I don't share paid ones, but once I've learned a pattern and it becomes part of my knitting knowledge, if I write one based on what I've learned, is that still stealing if I've created something along the same lines, but different enough?
The short answer is : Unfortunately, that would be stealing.
Long answer: Starting with another person's pattern is a big NO. Changing any part of it wouldn't make it your own. The idea has to come from your head, ideally. Looking at another pattern and learning for example, how they solved a particular grading problem is normal and acceptable.
There is a lot to talk about in this topic and I may not be articulating this well, I apologize in advance. But here's my central thought: Someone aspiring to do creative work, will have to cultivate the habit of generating ideas. Inspiration for your ideas can come from various sources, but the idea should be generated by you. It should be your story to tell.
A good place to start is the book : Steal like an artist by Austin Kleon. He explains everything beautifully in the current setting.
I wonder if people who download pirated patterns would steal from a person. It’s the same thing! Thank you for talking about this. I imagine that some communities consider it normal to make copies and “share.” The discussion can help make it clear that it’s stealing, and hopefully get more people to pay for patterns.
I do get free patterns, not of wearable but for the stitch work. To learn from. If I plan on making a particular pattern and it is a payed pattern, I buy it.
I see myself as a copycat. I have never written a pattern. I am in awe of what these creators do. I can read their instructions and most times come up with a copy of their work.
Just because I don't write patterns doesn't give me the right to take the work of others. I also refer people who admire what I hooked back to the artist. It's the same with any art form. I admire and appreciate the artists work.
Thank you so much for all the thought you put into your work and your appreciation for pattern writers. Btw, stitch patterns are written to become part of a finished work. As far as I know, you can use stitch patterns in websites or books in your own patterns. It is encouraged and not considered copying.
Yes, I understand about the stitch patterns. When I make exactly what someone has written a pattern for, I buy the pattern for sure. Learning different stitches just helps me to be able to buy patterns as I can finally make them.
I love the way people manipulate yarn with two pointy sticks and basically a knit and a purl stitch. Or one hooked stick and loop de loops. How clever to twist and turn and voila! A beautiful fabric is born. Sorry machines, you cannot duplicate this. I want to thank all pattern creators for still creating. It isn't done very much anymore.
Theft is so common now. A designer put a pattern of hers, that is similar to mine and is selling the pattern, whereas mine is free. A friend mentioned this in her comments and the designer wasn’t bothered. Even her followers weren’t.
The patterns may have different numbers, but I felt it was wrong. If she wasn’t selling I may not have felt bad. Anyway, I feel that if someone feels the need to change the pattern, I would appreciate if they didn’t call it their own and also sell the pattern as theirs. It was just one instance for me, but I have seen many change the numbers and call a pattern their own.
I am so sorry it happened to you Vidya. That's horrible. When I said "numbers, images, words" belong to the designer in this post , it is only to indicate where the boundary begins. It doesn't imply that one can change the numbers and call it their own. These things are so complicated. If it feels wrong, it probably is - I wish more people would adopt this mindset.
Interesting post Kavitha. The knitting market has so many variables. And that's not even considering how most knits are made on machines by manufacturers! I would love to know how that group of 'knitters' develop and share their patterns! :-)
I found your piece in conversation with an AI more than a little creepy and yet educational. Love to know more about who it thinks it is and who developed its warm and fuzzy personality.
One of my more surprising moments since being online was discovering that someone had copied my entire website! This was in the early 2000's. I had to threaten a law suit to get them to take it down. Luckily that worked and I think they had not realized how difficult the work I was doing might be and discovered they didn't want to do it. phew!
When it comes to making a living from creating patterns it totally depends on there being a market for your patterns. Examples of the market can be the general public, yarn providers or publications. One way to enter those markets is to make a name for yourself. This can happen by serendipity, think of when when Oprah hired Rosie to be her private home cook. Rosie was able to share her recipes in books and articles in various media. In that type of market, perhaps teaching a celebrity to knit might provide a certain spotlight on you and your patterns. Thus creating a market. To some extent the appreciation of hand knits is subject to locals and certain trends in fashion. Be ready to take advantage of such trends with ways to get you and your patterns noticed. In the meantime, teaching knitting and crocheting are excellent ways to build skills and contacts and to get a feel for what is becoming popular.
Another way to create a market is to focus on a particular type of knitting pattern. That can be an actual style of knitting like say, Fair Isle or, it can be something like knits for children or even pets! Getting connected to a type of knitting can give you a name. Just make sure it is something you want to stick with for a while.
Sandy, thank you so much for sharing your take. I so appreciate your various suggestions on "standing out". I agree about creating a niche market rather than catering to the general market. Teaching knit / crochet was a step I took in 2022 and have absolutely loved it since then. :) And, I better get off the computer now and get ready for today's classes. :))
ETA: The chat with AI is someone else's article, not mine. The title looks confusing, sorry.
Paying for patterns should be a foundational belief for knitters and crocheters. My husband and I used to own a yarn shop, and we had some free patterns from yarn companies to help sell a particular line of yarn, but we also sold hard copies of patterns. We very strongly discouraged people sharing patterns. Now that we don't own the shop, we make sure to purchase our own patterns. I've written a couple of patterns for myself, and I know the importance of paying pattern writers - Yikes! that's a hard job! A pattern I just purchased was $15 for a 32 page pattern. I haven't started it yet, but it's very complicated, and I imagine I'll be glad for all 32 pages of instructions. All that is to say that, yes, we must pay for our patterns to keep our pattern writers in business and because it is the right thing to do. Keep writing! (Essays and patterns)
Thank you so much for your kind and encouraging words. And thank you for sharing your experience. I am so glad to know about you standing by your belief as well making your community aware of it.
I have noticed there has been a recent buzz around this issue, it's true, Kavitha! I've reflected on this paid vs free patterns here on Substack once, and one of the thngs I think it's important to point out, even if it seems quite obvious, is that nobody is entitled to any pattern for free. It's not food, not water, not shelter or any basic right, and as you point out, there are many free knitting or, in my case, crochet patterns to go around. Unfortunately, there's only so much a designer can do against it, but I do think it's worth pointing the problem out and also be grateful for the many people that do appreciate all the work involved and are willing to support it in any way, and even jumping in to defend a designer's work.
PS: About vintage patterns, I recently listened to an episode from The Long Thread podcast where the interviewee mentioned that one of the challenges with old written patterns had a lot to do with there being no standardization and with variations in terminology, where even the needles had different names depending on a country's region (he mentioned a funny example: "pricks" for knitting needles... 🤣).
Thank you so much for your appreciation, Ana. I love how you said it's not a basic right. It's kind of taken for granted that way and it is very discouraging. he he!!! That's a hilarious alternate name for a needle. 🤣 🤣
It's a great episode and a great podcast!
Found the "pricky" one, in case you want to listen. It's with Franklin Habit.
:)
https://open.spotify.com/episode/7LY1rKoIxbHCplWeGqiivf?si=BgxUbMs_Sxybmob26N8THg
I am currently listening and popped in here to thank you again. Wow! That’s such a lovely conversation. 😍😍
So happy you enjoyed it! Love the podcast. Worth exploring other episodes. <3
Thank you so much! 🤗❤️
I would love to know your take on transforming another person's pattern. I've often wondered - if there's a pattern I mostly like, but end up changing it to my liking, how much change needs to occur before it would be considered my own? I've paid for many patterns, and I don't share paid ones, but once I've learned a pattern and it becomes part of my knitting knowledge, if I write one based on what I've learned, is that still stealing if I've created something along the same lines, but different enough?
I am so glad you asked this.
The short answer is : Unfortunately, that would be stealing.
Long answer: Starting with another person's pattern is a big NO. Changing any part of it wouldn't make it your own. The idea has to come from your head, ideally. Looking at another pattern and learning for example, how they solved a particular grading problem is normal and acceptable.
There is a lot to talk about in this topic and I may not be articulating this well, I apologize in advance. But here's my central thought: Someone aspiring to do creative work, will have to cultivate the habit of generating ideas. Inspiration for your ideas can come from various sources, but the idea should be generated by you. It should be your story to tell.
A good place to start is the book : Steal like an artist by Austin Kleon. He explains everything beautifully in the current setting.
I wonder if people who download pirated patterns would steal from a person. It’s the same thing! Thank you for talking about this. I imagine that some communities consider it normal to make copies and “share.” The discussion can help make it clear that it’s stealing, and hopefully get more people to pay for patterns.
Thank you. I hesitated to write about it but then, it is what I do and I need to speak for it. Your note makes me feel heard.
I do get free patterns, not of wearable but for the stitch work. To learn from. If I plan on making a particular pattern and it is a payed pattern, I buy it.
I see myself as a copycat. I have never written a pattern. I am in awe of what these creators do. I can read their instructions and most times come up with a copy of their work.
Just because I don't write patterns doesn't give me the right to take the work of others. I also refer people who admire what I hooked back to the artist. It's the same with any art form. I admire and appreciate the artists work.
Thank you so much for all the thought you put into your work and your appreciation for pattern writers. Btw, stitch patterns are written to become part of a finished work. As far as I know, you can use stitch patterns in websites or books in your own patterns. It is encouraged and not considered copying.
Yes, I understand about the stitch patterns. When I make exactly what someone has written a pattern for, I buy the pattern for sure. Learning different stitches just helps me to be able to buy patterns as I can finally make them.
I love the way people manipulate yarn with two pointy sticks and basically a knit and a purl stitch. Or one hooked stick and loop de loops. How clever to twist and turn and voila! A beautiful fabric is born. Sorry machines, you cannot duplicate this. I want to thank all pattern creators for still creating. It isn't done very much anymore.
❤️
I crochet and pay for my patterns and appreciate the amount of work that goes into them
Thank you! I appreciate it so much.
Theft is so common now. A designer put a pattern of hers, that is similar to mine and is selling the pattern, whereas mine is free. A friend mentioned this in her comments and the designer wasn’t bothered. Even her followers weren’t.
The patterns may have different numbers, but I felt it was wrong. If she wasn’t selling I may not have felt bad. Anyway, I feel that if someone feels the need to change the pattern, I would appreciate if they didn’t call it their own and also sell the pattern as theirs. It was just one instance for me, but I have seen many change the numbers and call a pattern their own.
I am so sorry it happened to you Vidya. That's horrible. When I said "numbers, images, words" belong to the designer in this post , it is only to indicate where the boundary begins. It doesn't imply that one can change the numbers and call it their own. These things are so complicated. If it feels wrong, it probably is - I wish more people would adopt this mindset.
Interesting post Kavitha. The knitting market has so many variables. And that's not even considering how most knits are made on machines by manufacturers! I would love to know how that group of 'knitters' develop and share their patterns! :-)
I found your piece in conversation with an AI more than a little creepy and yet educational. Love to know more about who it thinks it is and who developed its warm and fuzzy personality.
One of my more surprising moments since being online was discovering that someone had copied my entire website! This was in the early 2000's. I had to threaten a law suit to get them to take it down. Luckily that worked and I think they had not realized how difficult the work I was doing might be and discovered they didn't want to do it. phew!
When it comes to making a living from creating patterns it totally depends on there being a market for your patterns. Examples of the market can be the general public, yarn providers or publications. One way to enter those markets is to make a name for yourself. This can happen by serendipity, think of when when Oprah hired Rosie to be her private home cook. Rosie was able to share her recipes in books and articles in various media. In that type of market, perhaps teaching a celebrity to knit might provide a certain spotlight on you and your patterns. Thus creating a market. To some extent the appreciation of hand knits is subject to locals and certain trends in fashion. Be ready to take advantage of such trends with ways to get you and your patterns noticed. In the meantime, teaching knitting and crocheting are excellent ways to build skills and contacts and to get a feel for what is becoming popular.
Another way to create a market is to focus on a particular type of knitting pattern. That can be an actual style of knitting like say, Fair Isle or, it can be something like knits for children or even pets! Getting connected to a type of knitting can give you a name. Just make sure it is something you want to stick with for a while.
Sandy, thank you so much for sharing your take. I so appreciate your various suggestions on "standing out". I agree about creating a niche market rather than catering to the general market. Teaching knit / crochet was a step I took in 2022 and have absolutely loved it since then. :) And, I better get off the computer now and get ready for today's classes. :))
ETA: The chat with AI is someone else's article, not mine. The title looks confusing, sorry.