27th Nov 2007
knitting copyright debate
I’ve recently been quite interested in an ongoing debate over copyright and knitting patterns. To sum it up, it’s technically illegal to sell something knit from a pattern without consent from the designer.
The even wackier thing is I think this applies to free patterns that have a copyright note on the bottom… it seems especially silly to be controlling over something you don’t even request money for. I’ll have to look further into this one.
Here’s my view as an avid knitter who likes to make some money on the side: I believe designers absolutely deserve to receive credit and compensation for a pattern. I will happily buy a pattern - somebody took the time and effort to write up instructions to create something beautiful. However, I think it’s equally fair for the knitter, who put their time and skill into making said pattern, to be able to sell the end product.
In my research I stumbled across author/knitter Donna Druchunas’ blog where she basically reiterates my perspective but from a designers point of view. She simply requests that credit is given on the price tag of the item if it’s created from one of her patterns. I’ve only recently started reading up on the debate so it’s nice to see there are people out there who agree with me.
In a lot of instances I will learn how to make a general item from a simple pattern once, then from that point on make it my own with the general instructions in mind. At what point does it become “my idea?” When it comes down to it a hat is a hat, a scarf is a scarf, and so on no matter if you make it from a pattern or not. Furthermore, if I get an idea from a picture and am able to replicate it without reading the pattern is it still copyright infringement?
To ease my conscience, from now on I plan to include a pattern credit on all of my tags. I honestly can’t see myself going out of the way to get special permission everytime I try a new pattern. At least it’s a step in the make-everyone-happy direction.
Hi thanks for the note and the interesting message on copyright. I agree with your general ideas, but I think you should contact designers and ask them for permission to sell items made from their patterns or you may get into some legal tangles if you run into designers who feel proprietary about their designs. I’m not a lawyer or anything so I’d hate for my opinions to be used to make legal decisions that might get you into trouble in the future.
That said, since you are obviously comfortable modifying designs and sometimes even knitting from photos without having the instructions, you might want to consider using your own designs for items to sell. Ann Budd’s books “A Knitter’s Handy Book of Patterns” and “A Knitter’s Handy Book of Sweater Patterns” could be invaluable resources to you for starting with a basic “recipe” and adding your own flare to make your own unique designs.
Good luck with your endeavors!
Donna