It’s been said before but the people who would buy handmade knit and crochet items and people who will knit for themselves don’t overlap much. They aren’t losing sales because you sold something you made. It grinds my gears. Also the physical vs digital copyright systems bugs me too.
I hadn’t thought about it before but that’s such a good point about selling pieces made from a pattern, especially if you can’t enforce the copyright, I’m sure a lot of people copy and paste that in without thinking about it
I agreed with a number of your opinions, especially about the fonts, the lack of schematics and the lack of other information provided on the intro page of a pattern (so you can decide if it is really for you). I think it's amusing about the copyright issue because, as you said, it is not at all enforceable - anyone could sell a handknit item with impunity. As mentioned, what are designers losing by this? It's free advertising! It's promotion! But that's my opinion, too. Great video, interesting comments on your list of peeves 🙂
I agree about the pictures. I just knit a cardigan with a full lace design on the back, and there were no pictures of the lace on the actual pattern lol just one full page picture of the stockinette front. Such a weird choice by the designer.
This is one of my pet peeves too! The only reason I could possibly think of is that maybe they're afraid that someone will "steal" their lace design just by looking at it?
There's a difference between a patent and pattern copyright, and I think a lot of designers think they are bringing out patents lol. Like obviously credit to the designer is important, but banning people from selling finished products made with a pattern is ridiculous.
regarding copyright, the designers who state you cannot sell their finished garments are ill informed or naive. It is not illegal or unethical to sell items you knit/crocheted themselves. Plus clothing cannot be copyrighted.
Your Inge Sweater Solo is stunning! 💜My pattern pet peeve is when the model's hair is covering an important lace detail or shoulder construction in all the pictures. And don't get me started on made to measure patterns!
Thanks so much!! 🥰 Hahaah, very valid indeed! I like patterns especially as a way to challenge myself with certain techniques and design features, but bruh -- sometimes I feel like I'm getting tested too much 😂😂
Oh I agree so much with the copyright issue, there's too many people with an insecure, possesive attitude towards the art they make and the mediums/traditions they interact with.
Oh my gosh yes!!! I think that is my biggest pet peeve when it comes to knitting op Japanese needle sizes specifically because they never mention the size in millimetres anywhere else 🥴 On top of that these sizes don't match one-to-one with standardised needles. They sizees have like 3.2mm and 3.6mm haha. Makes me consider getting a set of Japanese needles at some point.
All of these, but especially the "made to measure" ones. Are they made to measure or are they just rectangles? Some people can wear rectangles, no problem, but others have curves that are not served by a bunch of straight lines. Which is why grading and addressing all the issues you bring up takes so much time and energy. Which means that as a designer you have two options - do it right, but publish a couple of garment patterns a year, or do it poorly, but churn out many patterns and ignore all the feedback from the few folks who are disappointed, since there's a new shiny thing coming up next week. I hope other designers see this, but honestly I have very little hope that they will listen and/or care. Each of us chooses a path and rarely does that path change significantly. That being said, love your sweater. Am making a lacy raglan now and figuring out the short rows at the neckline was something else. Did you add short rows to the colorwork?
I agree about pdfs with pictures! I am also someone who prints out patterns and i get pretty annoyed about having to waste ink and paper! For the copyright thing, i think that is less intended to stop individuals from selling a couple FOs on etsy and more so to stop big corporations from taking a person's hard work on a pattern and cutting the designer out to make tons and tons of money. Copyrighting basic raglans might go a little too far, but i have a hard time seeing how that could possibly be enforced anyway so im like eh about it 🤷♂️. Im all for anything that helps protect small designers from exploitation by big companies
I've definitely changed my opinion on copyrighting. I was on the fence about it cause I understood what designers felt like, but more people opened my eyes to the conversation about it, that a designer only 'owns' the instructions and not the finished piece, that's for the knitter to do what they want with it. What I would say is, if someone is selling an FO, it would be nice (but not necessary) to credit who the designer is and what the pattern is in the case where other people would like to make the stuff. My unpopular pattern pet peeve is I do not like patterns that are just 1 singular column on a page lol. I much prefer a pattern that is 2 or 3 columns on a page cause it's much easier on my eyes to read through and saves me a lot more paper in the long run.
Yes I definitely agree that credit is something that should be given -- that's why I think Dot Pebbles has a great approach when it comes to her copyright disclaimer. From reading pattern writing books, I've found that the reason singular columns are preferred is because it helps in terms of accessibility. A tip for if you want to save printer paper, you can go into your printer settings and change the setting to booklet format or change the number of pages you would like per page. I've done this a number of times and it's super convenient :D
My pattern pet peeve: calling itself "size inclusive", but it includes only bigger sizes. I'm almost always under the smallest bust size, and even when they do have my bust size, everything else is off: shoulder width, short row back height, arm circumference, torso length, waist. All of that with no indication for resizing, and/or no measurements of the finished garment. I once tried asking some designers for my size/ tips to resize, they said: just don't cast on underarm stitches. Hm? Hello???? I have a 3d body, I'm not a cartoon, I need underarm stitches!!!!!!!!!
Yup!! I've been knitting more garments this year and am surprised at seeing how many mainstream/popular designers leave out smaller sizes. It's definitely interesting seeing a pattern labelled as size inclusive and not going lower than an 80 cm bust :/ The 'just take out the underarm stitches' comment is absolutely sending me 😂😂
I saw a girl that wouldnt release a pattern on instagram (it was really basic and easy to recreate) so she could sell it. She got very mad that people were making patterns inspired by hers. I cant even say copied bc they likely didnt do it stitch by stitch. I think its astounding.
I do think that someone making and selling items with another person’s pattern should credit the designer in some way. Honestly, I could go either way on that debate (I am neither a designer or a seller). I mean, I can’t just write a whole book using characters created by someone else, even though I’m the one doing the writing work. But also, a person who would buy a finished object isn’t likely to buy a pattern regardless. The reason I say I think the designer should be credited by the FO seller is that maybe someone who WOULD buy the pattern but not the FO would see it and want to know where the pattern can be bought. That’s the designer and the seller in harmony. Win win.
@@succmoipp1362 I was thinking about fan fiction turned into books like City of Bones, 50 Shades of Grey and The Love Hypothesis (and also more derivative art). These characters have changed from the original that have copyright into something different through the writer of the fan-fiction. But regardless, it's a bit of a wonky analogy as with pattern writing the medium that these designers are trying to claim copyrighted over is completely different from the actual medium they have ownership of.
Hi! The copyright laws for clothing, food, and other esencials are different from books, movies, and music. Patterns are considered something like a user manual. The written instructions you yourself as a "designer" wrote are your intellectual property, as are the pics you took, but that's it. You don't own the design itself. And you need to register it (the pattern) in the corresponding "agency" for it to be enforceable. Is it ethical or morally correct? That's another thing.
I agree with every single one of these peeves 😄. You had me from the outset with the photo peeves. I’ve seen pattern listings with 40 photos (not an exaggeration) and because I’m usually on my phone I have to tap through maybe HALF of them before I get a view of the back of the garment 🥵. Just endlessly tapping through photo after photo of near-identical poses, in the hope that the designer has included something useful. 🤯 A similar pet peeve of mine is sample photos shown only in black or very dark yarn. Maybe I’ll give the designer a pass if the fabric is just stockinette, but if there’s texture and we can’t see it because they haven’t included a sample in a lighter colour? Unforgivable. Ditto samples knit only in very variegated yarns. And lastly, further to both the points on sizing and lack of information generally, is a lack of information on ease. Like, I understand that different people like to wear different ease, and some designs suit that idea (raglan shoulders, for example), but designers should at least tell us the amount of ease their models are wearing - my heart sings when I see that a designer has included all of that information. ❤🧶
Yup I totally agree with you!!! Also with the ease information. I've seen a good amount of patterns where there is a recommended amount of ease in the description, but then the model is wearing a sample that is two sizes larger. Like????
I completely agree with all of your points! Especially the weird gatekeeping and excessive copyrights I also prefer concise patterns as opposed to over explaining-but that doesn’t bother me as much as the gatekeeping! I love your videos btw tho this might be the first time I’m commenting 😬
Oh man I have the same feeling about patterns that are way too lengthy that also seem to have unnecessary steps... I gravitate toward succinct patterns with charts and schematics vs. walls of text/line by line instructions. Another recent pet peeve I have is the addition of many strands of yarn, like I can figure out the actual weight but it feels like if you actually used the called for fibres, you're spending $$$ Beautiful sweater btw!!
Oh my gosh!! I completely agree with you -- I've been working up the Isager Archives collection so patterns from all the popular Danish knitwear designers and it has been so much trial and error trying to find a substitute for all the 2 yarns held together patterns :/
My pet peeve is just plain bad pictures. They knit what looks to be a lovely cable in a dark yarn and then take pictures in the shadows. One that I recently saw had three of the five pictures where you couldn't even tell the sweater had cables (and the other two pictures you couldn't see the pattern well). I too won't look at a pattern if I can't see all around it in full pictures. Including the underarm area. A multitude of sin can happen below the arm area, like too loose and the bra would show.
The voice of reason! Honestly I don’t know how a designer would enforce a non selling of made goods, especially when changes have been made to the pattern. When you’ve made changes, is it even the original pattern any more?
I totally agree with you on bad pictures. It's infuriating. *I also hate when a pattern is listed but it's just missing basic info in it's listing, LIKE - sizes, yardage for each size (in yards and meters, NOT balls of X), schematics, construction, techniques, the gauge (of all things!!!).* This is information that determines whether or not I even want to buy the pattern! It's especially annoying when there's a huge paragraph describing the pattern in a really artistic way, but this basic info is missing. I don't want to read 2 paragraphs about why you named the pattern 'The Dawn of Hope Sweater', I want to know how much yarn I'll need or what the bloody gauge is lol! And honestly *as much as I get overwhelmed by line by line instructions, i'd rather that than incredibly scarce info* . When there's a wall of text at least _somewhere_ in there, there's the answer of how to do something. But I've read patterns that were so bare bones they just said 'do this' without telling you _how_ to do it. And it wasn't something I could easily google, it was like the rate of decreases for the armhole or how to keep a lace pattern with changing stitch counts. Yes I could do the math myself, but then...why am I buying a pattern if I have to figure it out anyway? Sometimes they'll even give a later instruction assuming you've done something earlier that they didn't tell you to do, because it was apparently very obvious. That to me is far more infuriating than wordy instructions. *At least with wordy instruction I can just trim the fat. With bare bones instructions there's literally nothing there to work with* . I bought a pattern that was almost entirely incomprehensible because it clearly assumed you already knew how to do X, so half the instructions were missing. It's basically useless to me lol.
Yeaah I totally agree with you! I think there definitely is an art to being succinct when writing a pattern. I've been working with a lot of bare bones vintage patterns and the struggle has really helped me get a lot better at knitting, but these patterns are either free or super cheap -- it's not like I'm paying 8 euros just for someone to tell me to go figure it out on my own 😂😂. What I think is super helpful though is when they tell you at the start what they expect you to already know before starting the pattern.
Oh my gosh the “balls of X” thing for yardage! So frustrating!!! I live in NZ so the chances that I’m going to be able to source the suggested yarn are minimal, and even if I can, the chances that I’m gonna *want to* do all that searching and shipping are even less. I don’t mind maths but that extra step of finding the yarn’s yardage info and calculating it out is just an unnecessary pain in the bum.
@SejiFields yeah I've noticed that at least some of the people who dislike wordy patterns also tend to knit from vintage patterns with barely any instructions so they probably have a higher tolerance for figuring things out themselves lol. Like you said, it's down to preference. For me if I'm buying a pattern I just want to be told what to do. It's fine if someone links tutorials for more detailed instruction, or just says 'knit 2×2 ribbing for 4 inches' instead of describing the entire ribbing line by line. But I don't want to have to figure out things I can't easily Google on my own. I don't particularly care about becoming a better knitter (at least not by struggling to figure things out with vague instructions). I just want to make a thing as simply and easily as possible. I have too much stress on my plate to be worrying about what a designer meant when they said this that or the other. I just want to have fun and not think too hard. And I, quite simply, cannot be bothered! 😂 it's also infuriating when the instructions are extremely bare bones but it also doesn't name the technique that's being employed. If someone says ' do German short rows for the back' , okay, it hasn't told me exactly where and how to place them, but it's given me the term 'German short rows' and I can Google where and how to place them. But sometimes people give vague instructions without naming the specific technique they're asking you to do (because they assume it's obvious) so now I don't even have something to Google 😭 I'm literally completely lost lol. Also I love when patterns have a list of techniques. I know some designers even list the techniques on the pattern page! That way if a pattern looks too complicated or has techniques you don't know or aren't comfortable with, you know to avoid it!
@@franlevaillant6749yeah this. It's just incredibly annoying for the all the reasons you listed, especially when the designer could just do the work for you and write down the yardage. Not everyone has access to the recommended yarn, I've literally never used it in my life lol
Patterns that are sold in different pattern sizes I just don't get. What if I wanted to make matching outfits with someone who is a different size, which I've done in the past. I'm not buying two or three for the same pattern.
Oh my gosh yesss!! Also this one is a minor gripe of mine, but selling the same pattern three times just at a different gauges and not offering it in a discounted package.
A very interesting video, many great points made and agree with all of them so have subscribed to your channel. Lovely jumper with an interesting neck and pretty colours, what pattern is it?
Very good points made! I can't imagine HOW a designer would ever know you were selling a sweater made with their pattern, unless it was SUPER unique and maybe that would be a special case. Also, are they REALLY legally copyrighting the pattern? I doubt it. Beautiful sweater you are wearing in this video!! 💜
The thing is your profiting off of their work and investments. You could not make money without their pattern. Some patterns and designs take weeks to months to design, test, write, size, proofread, graph out, publish, exert enough emotional and mental to bring the pattern to sale state ... I could keep going. And if they have a team..And I am assuming they do .... Copyright also takes time and requires money to copyright that pattern.) all of this costs money, and making a single use pattern affordable based on all that work is difficult on a western minimum wage to be earned by the designer. So, it's only fair that you make an agreement with that pattern maker for a small cut of the sale to the person who made the pattern that made you money. If you're running a business you have to pay for your supplies. Or take the time to get better and design your own. If it's not that innovative, you don't need that pattern right? 😂
I agree with you regarding the poor pictures! It really angers me when the model poses in a way that you cannot see the garment. Additionally, I do not like drop shoulder patterns because I think the designer is lazy because it takes the least amount of calculations to make a armcycle or well fitting shoulder.
I'm a male knitter and I try to support male designers. I bought a pattern where it described the german short row as creating a double stitch. I felt so dumb asking the designer for clarification.
Ah dang, it happens! I think this one might be one of those terms that are different depending on the country the designer is from. Like moss and seed stitch with US and UK knitters.
German short rows are actually called doubled stitches in German (at least, they were in the instructions for a short row heel that was my introduction to the technique). Possibly that’s where it came from?
The issue of not having regular poses and photos for the front and back of the pattern also gets me so mad!😭I saw a pattern once for a pair of overalls, and the only picture was of the model sitting scrunched up in a chair…👀 That’s the pose they felt was suitable to model a pair of pants… BRUH!!!🤣
I never understood when pattern designers say you can’t sell what you made based on their pattern. I’m finally at a point in my knitting and crotchet that I can look at something and figure out how it was constructed especially if it’s a basic garment. How are they gonna tell if someone figured it out by looking at pictures online or through the pattern. The only way the designer could tell is if they bought the garment and frogged it keeping track of every stitch to compare it to their pattern. I saw a knitted miu miu sweater vest that I want to make and I pretty much know how to make it based on some of my past projects. But, I also saw a pattern that look similar to the miu miu sweater, I haven’t bought it since I know what I need to do but IF there is a copyright thing in that pattern I would never see it. Which is the big issue I have with this, how do you know that that person used your pattern in particular. Are you as the designer gonna accuse people who makes something similar to your designs? And some patterns finished garments are similar so unless the person say what pattern they used (if one was used at all) how would you prove it was your pattern. I personally don’t sell my finished stuff but if I ever decided to I’m not gonna go through all my patterns to figure out what has a fake copyright claim on it, ultimately, I made it so I have final say.
Yup totally agree! It's so baffling to me how weird yet widespread those disclaimers are. I'm also very curious to hear about the reasoning from designers who choose to include them in their patterns... 👀
first off, really great video!!! i also have a lot of pet peeves about knitting patterns, maybe this video will inspire me to make my own at some point because i'm plus size so i feel like i have some extra spicy takes about it all lol. on your point about copyright and not being able to sell stuff you made from their pattern: i think that these designers are maybe trying to protect their designs from being manufactured by larger businesses/corporations? like i could see how one person could consult with a lawyer about what they need in their pattern to protect themselves from that. but i HIGHLY doubt that all designers who have this clause in their patterns have consulted a lawyer about this!! i would actually bet that most of them have just copied and pasted from someone else who had it in their pattern and just rewrote it to fit their needs, they may not even fully understand why they should or shouldn't be allowing others to sell things made from their pattern. copyright law is such a dense and ever-evolving subject that i doubt most of these clauses would hold up in an actual lawsuit, but i'm really not sure if there is any way to phrase in legal terms "if you're a regular degular person you can knit this and sell it if you want, but if you're a big bad corporation you can't!!" because i would assume it's a pretty slippery slope allowing a smaller business to do something and not allowing a larger one to do it too.
Came across your tiktok this morning so I was so happy when this was suggested to me here! Great video The not size inclusive despite offering smaller/larger sizes than xs-xl is so true. Knitted a basic v-neck slipover and while the final result is nice, it doesnt at all look the same in 2xl as it does in the project photos in sizes s/m. I could reverse engineer it to get it to fit the way the original way, but then why did I pay for the pattern? So agree on the not getting photos from all and proper angles, makes it so difficult to figure out what's going on
Ayyy what a coincidence haha! Thanks for watching the video :D Yup, it's very frustrating paying good money for a pattern only to find out you're going to have to do the work yourself in order to get what was essentially promised to you :/
The picture peeve is a big one for me. It's why I could not get on the Stephen West band wagon. After looking at the pictures of people who have knit his shawls, I can see why people would want to knit them. The shawls are gorgeous, but I couldn't see it from his pictures.
@@SejiFields My feelings exactly. No judgement, but I do wonder about who is drawn to MKALs, because they’re undoubtedly popular but don’t interest me at all. Perhaps people who have already knit all the wardrobe items they want? I don’t imagine I’ll ever make it to that point 😅.
I feel like this isn't as much of an issue with shawls because they don't really need to 'fit' on your body in any way. At least for me this is more of an issue when the pictures or weird poses mean you can't see the way the garment actually fits, or most of it's features (like the back, the arm hole, etc) are obscured. Steven West's pictures and poses are defintely unique lol, but I haven't found the actual designs to be obscured by the pictures or poses. I can see everything I need to see about the shawl before buying it (other than MKAL's). Also I get the vibe that people knit in MKAL's because they like the excitement of knitting something without knowing what it is, and the excitement of doing it along with everyone else, buying special yarn, waiting for the clue, etc. It's more about the process and the fanfare that comes with it than the actual FO. And I'd also guess that some people also like it because they maybe just love Stephen West's designs so much that they know they'll probably like the finished shawl. I know from everything I've written I sound like a hard-core Stephen West fan LOL, but I'm truly not, I haven't made even one of this patterns and most of them aren't my style at all. But I have seen his work and follow some people who do the MKAL so I guess I get why people are drawn to it 🤷
Nice to meet your channel :) I do have a theory about the vague unhappy models posing for pictures. I need to find a *somewhat* established pattern designer to discuss and test it.
This is such a useful video. I recently started writing knitting patterns, and I'm trying to make them useful--and not annoying! This video is full of reminders of all the things that drive me crazy when I'm trying to use a pattern. I acutally paused halfway through so I could pop over to my pattern page and make sure it mentions that the pattern includes a schematic. But now I'm wondering if I should post a picture of the schematic, too. Also, I'm writing a pattern now that is adjustable for different fits, and it's a ton of work to write it in such a way that it doesn't require the user to do a bunch of math. Because if you have to do the math, what's the point in buying the pattern?
Ah yeah of course! :) I put in a bit of moisturizer and water and then use those hard plastic curlers you're supposed to use with pins (and use clips for them instead) and sleep with it overnight :)
My pet peeve: when a pattern has a video tutorial, but it’s just a hyperlink. Like how is that helpful to me if I print the pattern 😅 at least write the title of the video and the channel so I can try to look it up myself.
Yesss. But I do think the copyright thing has nuance, bc yes it bothers me too when people get nitpicky about it, but I totally otherstand when people seek to protect their design from big companies.
As far as printing goes: pictures don't bother me, you can drop white rectangles over them. It's the designs that have full backgrounds that bug me. Some more than others depending on how it's done, but there are definitely instances where I've copied the text to a new file to print it. But that does take more time and effort than just dropping a few rectangles
I haven't knit anything from German independent designers, but all the designs of Lana Grossa have charts as well as vintage patterns from Constanze Strickmoden.
I’ve made a pattern from another pattern. A baby slippers pattern can be folded and assembled into a rabbit. I would like to sell the rabbits, but the baby slippers is not my pattern, the pattern is altered by additional stitches so that the legs and ears are long enough on my bunnies, and I’ve had to invent arms and feet. Could I consider it my pattern enough to sell?
I agree with everything you said! Especially not including a schematic WITHIN the pattern, let alone the description page. Earlier this year I bought a pattern from Aegyoknits, there wasn’t a schematic on the description page, but I had never bought a garment pattern that did not include a schematic and I assumed a schematic would be included in the pattern. Nope. I am somewhat pear shaped, and short waisted, and I generally have to combine two sizes to get a proper fit, so a schematic is essential to me. I have since heard that other patterns from this designer also don’t include a schematic, I won’t take that chance again.
Dang that's a shame :/ I don't get why so many don't do it, especially since these are numbers they definitely (should) have, so why not just provide those as well?
OMG yes the copyright for FO. Like, sorry, no, you quite literally have no say. You have zero legal claim on products created from copywritten instructions. Copywrite is for tangible objects (in this case the written or PDF instructions that the designer wrote), not the potential creations others make using the tangible copywritten object. A patent would give that protection, but you have to apply and be awarded a patent, it would only last 14 years (design patent) , only applies in the US for a US patent, and becomes public domain after the patent expires. Which, obviously, is also not ideal or even feasible for knitting patterns. Seeing an illegitimate copywrite in a pattern saying you can't sell your finished objects gives me the same impression of the "sovereign citizens" in the US with the license plates saying they aren't required to have a license or insurance because its a "private" vehicle: You can say it all you want but legally you're wrong. I find it deeply off putting when designers include that you can't sell your finished objects. Especially because I have to assume that their fear is that someone will buy the finished object and reverse engineer the pattern? But one, literally no one ever would be buying $100+ handknit sweater in order to try to save $10 on a pattern. And two, you have no legal rights if someone did reverse engineer the pattern. You aren't copywriting the object, you are copywriting your written instructions on how to achieve the object. So if someone creates their own way to get the same object without your instructions as guidelines, you have no claim on it. On the other hand, if the fear isn't someone buying the object and reverse engineering a pattern, but instead they are afraid of a company like Shein stealing the design and mass producing it: They (the company stealing it) would never see the disclaimer because they would never use the handknitting instructions from the design. IF they mass produce the design, then it would be machine knit flat (if knit at all and not just printed on woven) and seamed. And say for some absolutely illogical reason they do buy the original pattern and do see the illegitimate copywrite: The companies that would be stealing for mass production are most likely in countries with very different copywrite laws where even legitimate copywrites in the source country are near impossible to enforce. So either situation, the "copywrite" saying you can't sell the finished object does nothing but alienate the target consumer while providing no actual protections against whatever loses they fear they will experience if someone sells their finished object.
I found it weird too. Glad to hear someone else say it. Like how would they know and why block someone from using your pattern after they paid. I don't recall seeing similar statements on dress making patterns.
Yes!! Perfectly worded honestly!! I sometimes wonder if it's also just some designers being aware that their bottom line is not being affected, but they just simply don't like the fact that someone is using their work to gain monetarily. It's kind of baffling to see how many (popular) designers have this in their copyright statement.
@@annmariebusu9924 I have seen it on dressmaking patterns; I purchased a Closet Core pattern just a week ago and noticed the same type of copyright notice on it. Also a number of pattern makers for bags have taken such a stance as well, while at the other end of the spectrum there are some very successful bag designers who actively promote the people who make and sell bags from their patterns, just like the frog designer in the video.
What has been baffling me is when creators try to copyright patterns that are just granny squares sewn together or just very basic crochet stitches to form a garment, like what makes you think that is an original idea when granny squares and crochet stitches have been around for donkeys and form the basic foundation of the craft? You can't "own" that
My biggest pet peeve is photos where the designer/model has taken pictures to get attention for themselves and not what they made....the obvious cleavage shots, pictures in a crocheted shirt and underwear that looks like it belongs on Only Fans and worse. It makes me insane.
OMG the "you can't sell the items made with this pattern" designers are actually out of their minds lol! Like how do you now have ownership over #1 my literal labour, and #2 the physical item *I* made with my own yarn? Just by principal alone I refuse to buy those patterns because it's gatekeepy af and it's a complete lack of understanding of what your actual customer base is: there's barely any overlap between those who buy patterns and those who buy knitted items. I know I will never in this lifetime buy a knitted beanie for example, but I will always buy a good beanie pattern!
My pattern pet peeve is fuzzy pictures. I should not have look at the project page to see what the piece details look like. You think its the camera but whyou buy the pattern you see its delibrate. Also size inclusive is often just a term to say buy my pattern over this other established designer. Lastly i don't like when there are no stich counts for each increase section or the bust row is not clear. The bust row also me to adjust my gauge.
All very valid! I think size inclusivity is a term that initially was used as a quick way to find patterns with a wide size range, but is aside from that also now sometimes used as a marketing technique. I've been learning how to grade this year and have read a lot about how sometimes patterns are terribly graded for both ends of the sizing spectrum despite being called size inclusive.
Would love to hear your opinions and pet peeves!! :D
It’s been said before but the people who would buy handmade knit and crochet items and people who will knit for themselves don’t overlap much. They aren’t losing sales because you sold something you made. It grinds my gears. Also the physical vs digital copyright systems bugs me too.
Yeah for sure! Can you elaborate more on the physical vs digital copyright system? I'm not too sure what you're referring to.
Imagine if a food blog gave you a cookie recipe and at the bottom it was like **you may NOT sell these cookies at your son's bake sale** 😂!
ooh that's a good comparison, made me understand it way better, thank u :)
I hadn’t thought about it before but that’s such a good point about selling pieces made from a pattern, especially if you can’t enforce the copyright, I’m sure a lot of people copy and paste that in without thinking about it
I agreed with a number of your opinions, especially about the fonts, the lack of schematics and the lack of other information provided on the intro page of a pattern (so you can decide if it is really for you). I think it's amusing about the copyright issue because, as you said, it is not at all enforceable - anyone could sell a handknit item with impunity. As mentioned, what are designers losing by this? It's free advertising! It's promotion! But that's my opinion, too. Great video, interesting comments on your list of peeves 🙂
I agree about the pictures. I just knit a cardigan with a full lace design on the back, and there were no pictures of the lace on the actual pattern lol just one full page picture of the stockinette front. Such a weird choice by the designer.
That is baffling! Really makes me want to pick their brain and understand why 😂
This is one of my pet peeves too! The only reason I could possibly think of is that maybe they're afraid that someone will "steal" their lace design just by looking at it?
There's a difference between a patent and pattern copyright, and I think a lot of designers think they are bringing out patents lol. Like obviously credit to the designer is important, but banning people from selling finished products made with a pattern is ridiculous.
Lol yeah, perfectly stated!! :)
regarding copyright, the designers who state you cannot sell their finished garments are ill informed or naive. It is not illegal or unethical to sell items you knit/crocheted themselves. Plus clothing cannot be copyrighted.
What a beautiful sweater/jumper. You’re funny, and adorable. I can’t knit yet, I want to knit bunnies.
Your Inge Sweater Solo is stunning! 💜My pattern pet peeve is when the model's hair is covering an important lace detail or shoulder construction in all the pictures. And don't get me started on made to measure patterns!
Thank you!! 🥰 Yeaah like how do you expect me to buy something I cant see... 😶
anndd this is why i prefer freehanding and reverse engineering 😂 beautiful knit , great points looking lovely seiji!
Thanks so much!! 🥰 Hahaah, very valid indeed! I like patterns especially as a way to challenge myself with certain techniques and design features, but bruh -- sometimes I feel like I'm getting tested too much 😂😂
Oh I agree so much with the copyright issue, there's too many people with an insecure, possesive attitude towards the art they make and the mediums/traditions they interact with.
My pet peeve is using American needle sizes (or Japanese). We should all just use millimeters! Millimeters are the same in every part of the world.
Oh my gosh yes!!! I think that is my biggest pet peeve when it comes to knitting op Japanese needle sizes specifically because they never mention the size in millimetres anywhere else 🥴 On top of that these sizes don't match one-to-one with standardised needles. They sizees have like 3.2mm and 3.6mm haha. Makes me consider getting a set of Japanese needles at some point.
THIS omg I hate this with crochet hook sizes as well.
All of these, but especially the "made to measure" ones. Are they made to measure or are they just rectangles? Some people can wear rectangles, no problem, but others have curves that are not served by a bunch of straight lines. Which is why grading and addressing all the issues you bring up takes so much time and energy.
Which means that as a designer you have two options - do it right, but publish a couple of garment patterns a year, or do it poorly, but churn out many patterns and ignore all the feedback from the few folks who are disappointed, since there's a new shiny thing coming up next week.
I hope other designers see this, but honestly I have very little hope that they will listen and/or care. Each of us chooses a path and rarely does that path change significantly.
That being said, love your sweater. Am making a lacy raglan now and figuring out the short rows at the neckline was something else. Did you add short rows to the colorwork?
I agree about pdfs with pictures! I am also someone who prints out patterns and i get pretty annoyed about having to waste ink and paper!
For the copyright thing, i think that is less intended to stop individuals from selling a couple FOs on etsy and more so to stop big corporations from taking a person's hard work on a pattern and cutting the designer out to make tons and tons of money. Copyrighting basic raglans might go a little too far, but i have a hard time seeing how that could possibly be enforced anyway so im like eh about it 🤷♂️. Im all for anything that helps protect small designers from exploitation by big companies
I've definitely changed my opinion on copyrighting. I was on the fence about it cause I understood what designers felt like, but more people opened my eyes to the conversation about it, that a designer only 'owns' the instructions and not the finished piece, that's for the knitter to do what they want with it. What I would say is, if someone is selling an FO, it would be nice (but not necessary) to credit who the designer is and what the pattern is in the case where other people would like to make the stuff.
My unpopular pattern pet peeve is I do not like patterns that are just 1 singular column on a page lol. I much prefer a pattern that is 2 or 3 columns on a page cause it's much easier on my eyes to read through and saves me a lot more paper in the long run.
Yes I definitely agree that credit is something that should be given -- that's why I think Dot Pebbles has a great approach when it comes to her copyright disclaimer.
From reading pattern writing books, I've found that the reason singular columns are preferred is because it helps in terms of accessibility. A tip for if you want to save printer paper, you can go into your printer settings and change the setting to booklet format or change the number of pages you would like per page. I've done this a number of times and it's super convenient :D
My pattern pet peeve: calling itself "size inclusive", but it includes only bigger sizes. I'm almost always under the smallest bust size, and even when they do have my bust size, everything else is off: shoulder width, short row back height, arm circumference, torso length, waist. All of that with no indication for resizing, and/or no measurements of the finished garment.
I once tried asking some designers for my size/ tips to resize, they said: just don't cast on underarm stitches.
Hm? Hello???? I have a 3d body, I'm not a cartoon, I need underarm stitches!!!!!!!!!
Yup!! I've been knitting more garments this year and am surprised at seeing how many mainstream/popular designers leave out smaller sizes. It's definitely interesting seeing a pattern labelled as size inclusive and not going lower than an 80 cm bust :/ The 'just take out the underarm stitches' comment is absolutely sending me 😂😂
@@SejiFields yup, I even bought a pattern with smaller sizes, just to find it ... doesn't have underarm stitches...
I saw a girl that wouldnt release a pattern on instagram (it was really basic and easy to recreate) so she could sell it. She got very mad that people were making patterns inspired by hers. I cant even say copied bc they likely didnt do it stitch by stitch. I think its astounding.
I do think that someone making and selling items with another person’s pattern should credit the designer in some way. Honestly, I could go either way on that debate (I am neither a designer or a seller). I mean, I can’t just write a whole book using characters created by someone else, even though I’m the one doing the writing work. But also, a person who would buy a finished object isn’t likely to buy a pattern regardless. The reason I say I think the designer should be credited by the FO seller is that maybe someone who WOULD buy the pattern but not the FO would see it and want to know where the pattern can be bought. That’s the designer and the seller in harmony. Win win.
Oh yeah for sure! I think it's definitely fair to credit the designer! Going with your analogy though wouldn't that be fan fiction then?
@@SejiFields the difference is that you don't profit off of fanfiction
@@succmoipp1362 I was thinking about fan fiction turned into books like City of Bones, 50 Shades of Grey and The Love Hypothesis (and also more derivative art). These characters have changed from the original that have copyright into something different through the writer of the fan-fiction. But regardless, it's a bit of a wonky analogy as with pattern writing the medium that these designers are trying to claim copyrighted over is completely different from the actual medium they have ownership of.
Hi! The copyright laws for clothing, food, and other esencials are different from books, movies, and music. Patterns are considered something like a user manual. The written instructions you yourself as a "designer" wrote are your intellectual property, as are the pics you took, but that's it. You don't own the design itself. And you need to register it (the pattern) in the corresponding "agency" for it to be enforceable.
Is it ethical or morally correct? That's another thing.
I agree with every single one of these peeves 😄. You had me from the outset with the photo peeves. I’ve seen pattern listings with 40 photos (not an exaggeration) and because I’m usually on my phone I have to tap through maybe HALF of them before I get a view of the back of the garment 🥵. Just endlessly tapping through photo after photo of near-identical poses, in the hope that the designer has included something useful. 🤯
A similar pet peeve of mine is sample photos shown only in black or very dark yarn. Maybe I’ll give the designer a pass if the fabric is just stockinette, but if there’s texture and we can’t see it because they haven’t included a sample in a lighter colour? Unforgivable. Ditto samples knit only in very variegated yarns.
And lastly, further to both the points on sizing and lack of information generally, is a lack of information on ease. Like, I understand that different people like to wear different ease, and some designs suit that idea (raglan shoulders, for example), but designers should at least tell us the amount of ease their models are wearing - my heart sings when I see that a designer has included all of that information. ❤🧶
Yup I totally agree with you!!! Also with the ease information. I've seen a good amount of patterns where there is a recommended amount of ease in the description, but then the model is wearing a sample that is two sizes larger. Like????
I completely agree with all of your points! Especially the weird gatekeeping and excessive copyrights
I also prefer concise patterns as opposed to over explaining-but that doesn’t bother me as much as the gatekeeping! I love your videos btw tho this might be the first time I’m commenting 😬
Yup it feels very counterintuitive doesn't it! Thank so much for watching and commenting, I really appreciate it! :D
Oh man I have the same feeling about patterns that are way too lengthy that also seem to have unnecessary steps... I gravitate toward succinct patterns with charts and schematics vs. walls of text/line by line instructions. Another recent pet peeve I have is the addition of many strands of yarn, like I can figure out the actual weight but it feels like if you actually used the called for fibres, you're spending $$$
Beautiful sweater btw!!
Oh my gosh!! I completely agree with you -- I've been working up the Isager Archives collection so patterns from all the popular Danish knitwear designers and it has been so much trial and error trying to find a substitute for all the 2 yarns held together patterns :/
@@SejiFields two yarns doesn't irk my annoyance like five yarns! The last KFO sweater was wild 😂 but yes, anything over two strands is quite annoying
Oh boy, had to look that up... All for a plain white sweater 💀
My pet peeve is just plain bad pictures. They knit what looks to be a lovely cable in a dark yarn and then take pictures in the shadows. One that I recently saw had three of the five pictures where you couldn't even tell the sweater had cables (and the other two pictures you couldn't see the pattern well). I too won't look at a pattern if I can't see all around it in full pictures. Including the underarm area. A multitude of sin can happen below the arm area, like too loose and the bra would show.
The voice of reason! Honestly I don’t know how a designer would enforce a non selling of made goods, especially when changes have been made to the pattern. When you’ve made changes, is it even the original pattern any more?
Yesss, it's so nonsensical!!
I totally agree with you on bad pictures. It's infuriating.
*I also hate when a pattern is listed but it's just missing basic info in it's listing, LIKE - sizes, yardage for each size (in yards and meters, NOT balls of X), schematics, construction, techniques, the gauge (of all things!!!).* This is information that determines whether or not I even want to buy the pattern! It's especially annoying when there's a huge paragraph describing the pattern in a really artistic way, but this basic info is missing. I don't want to read 2 paragraphs about why you named the pattern 'The Dawn of Hope Sweater', I want to know how much yarn I'll need or what the bloody gauge is lol!
And honestly *as much as I get overwhelmed by line by line instructions, i'd rather that than incredibly scarce info* . When there's a wall of text at least _somewhere_ in there, there's the answer of how to do something. But I've read patterns that were so bare bones they just said 'do this' without telling you _how_ to do it. And it wasn't something I could easily google, it was like the rate of decreases for the armhole or how to keep a lace pattern with changing stitch counts. Yes I could do the math myself, but then...why am I buying a pattern if I have to figure it out anyway? Sometimes they'll even give a later instruction assuming you've done something earlier that they didn't tell you to do, because it was apparently very obvious.
That to me is far more infuriating than wordy instructions. *At least with wordy instruction I can just trim the fat. With bare bones instructions there's literally nothing there to work with* . I bought a pattern that was almost entirely incomprehensible because it clearly assumed you already knew how to do X, so half the instructions were missing. It's basically useless to me lol.
Yeaah I totally agree with you! I think there definitely is an art to being succinct when writing a pattern. I've been working with a lot of bare bones vintage patterns and the struggle has really helped me get a lot better at knitting, but these patterns are either free or super cheap -- it's not like I'm paying 8 euros just for someone to tell me to go figure it out on my own 😂😂. What I think is super helpful though is when they tell you at the start what they expect you to already know before starting the pattern.
Oh my gosh the “balls of X” thing for yardage! So frustrating!!! I live in NZ so the chances that I’m going to be able to source the suggested yarn are minimal, and even if I can, the chances that I’m gonna *want to* do all that searching and shipping are even less. I don’t mind maths but that extra step of finding the yarn’s yardage info and calculating it out is just an unnecessary pain in the bum.
@SejiFields yeah I've noticed that at least some of the people who dislike wordy patterns also tend to knit from vintage patterns with barely any instructions so they probably have a higher tolerance for figuring things out themselves lol. Like you said, it's down to preference. For me if I'm buying a pattern I just want to be told what to do. It's fine if someone links tutorials for more detailed instruction, or just says 'knit 2×2 ribbing for 4 inches' instead of describing the entire ribbing line by line. But I don't want to have to figure out things I can't easily Google on my own. I don't particularly care about becoming a better knitter (at least not by struggling to figure things out with vague instructions). I just want to make a thing as simply and easily as possible. I have too much stress on my plate to be worrying about what a designer meant when they said this that or the other. I just want to have fun and not think too hard. And I, quite simply, cannot be bothered! 😂
it's also infuriating when the instructions are extremely bare bones but it also doesn't name the technique that's being employed. If someone says ' do German short rows for the back' , okay, it hasn't told me exactly where and how to place them, but it's given me the term 'German short rows' and I can Google where and how to place them. But sometimes people give vague instructions without naming the specific technique they're asking you to do (because they assume it's obvious) so now I don't even have something to Google 😭 I'm literally completely lost lol.
Also I love when patterns have a list of techniques. I know some designers even list the techniques on the pattern page! That way if a pattern looks too complicated or has techniques you don't know or aren't comfortable with, you know to avoid it!
@@franlevaillant6749yeah this. It's just incredibly annoying for the all the reasons you listed, especially when the designer could just do the work for you and write down the yardage. Not everyone has access to the recommended yarn, I've literally never used it in my life lol
Patterns that are sold in different pattern sizes I just don't get. What if I wanted to make matching outfits with someone who is a different size, which I've done in the past. I'm not buying two or three for the same pattern.
Oh my gosh yesss!! Also this one is a minor gripe of mine, but selling the same pattern three times just at a different gauges and not offering it in a discounted package.
@@SejiFields Yes I really dislike that as well. It's just outrageous
bit of a work around, but you absolutely can edit a pdf to remove the pictures before printing with something like libreoffice draw
Hi! I love your sweater! ❤
Thanks so much!! Very happy with how it turned out! :DD
A very interesting video, many great points made and agree with all of them so have subscribed to your channel. Lovely jumper with an interesting neck and pretty colours, what pattern is it?
Very good points made! I can't imagine HOW a designer would ever know you were selling a sweater made with their pattern, unless it was SUPER unique and maybe that would be a special case. Also, are they REALLY legally copyrighting the pattern? I doubt it. Beautiful sweater you are wearing in this video!! 💜
The thing is your profiting off of their work and investments. You could not make money without their pattern.
Some patterns and designs take weeks to months to design, test, write, size, proofread, graph out, publish, exert enough emotional and mental to bring the pattern to sale state ... I could keep going. And if they have a team..And I am assuming they do .... Copyright also takes time and requires money to copyright that pattern.) all of this costs money, and making a single use pattern affordable based on all that work is difficult on a western minimum wage to be earned by the designer.
So, it's only fair that you make an agreement with that pattern maker for a small cut of the sale to the person who made the pattern that made you money.
If you're running a business you have to pay for your supplies.
Or take the time to get better and design your own. If it's not that innovative, you don't need that pattern right? 😂
I agree with you regarding the poor pictures! It really angers me when the model poses in a way that you cannot see the garment. Additionally, I do not like drop shoulder patterns because I think the designer is lazy because it takes the least amount of calculations to make a armcycle or well fitting shoulder.
I'm a male knitter and I try to support male designers. I bought a pattern where it described the german short row as creating a double stitch. I felt so dumb asking the designer for clarification.
Ah dang, it happens! I think this one might be one of those terms that are different depending on the country the designer is from. Like moss and seed stitch with US and UK knitters.
German short rows are actually called doubled stitches in German (at least, they were in the instructions for a short row heel that was my introduction to the technique). Possibly that’s where it came from?
The issue of not having regular poses and photos for the front and back of the pattern also gets me so mad!😭I saw a pattern once for a pair of overalls, and the only picture was of the model sitting scrunched up in a chair…👀 That’s the pose they felt was suitable to model a pair of pants… BRUH!!!🤣
👀👀👀 Some of these are so outrageous my gosh 😂 I need to know the thought process for real!!😭
Agree 100% about being able to sell finished garments.
Love this & I agree with you a 100% ❤
I never understood when pattern designers say you can’t sell what you made based on their pattern. I’m finally at a point in my knitting and crotchet that I can look at something and figure out how it was constructed especially if it’s a basic garment. How are they gonna tell if someone figured it out by looking at pictures online or through the pattern. The only way the designer could tell is if they bought the garment and frogged it keeping track of every stitch to compare it to their pattern. I saw a knitted miu miu sweater vest that I want to make and I pretty much know how to make it based on some of my past projects. But, I also saw a pattern that look similar to the miu miu sweater, I haven’t bought it since I know what I need to do but IF there is a copyright thing in that pattern I would never see it. Which is the big issue I have with this, how do you know that that person used your pattern in particular. Are you as the designer gonna accuse people who makes something similar to your designs? And some patterns finished garments are similar so unless the person say what pattern they used (if one was used at all) how would you prove it was your pattern. I personally don’t sell my finished stuff but if I ever decided to I’m not gonna go through all my patterns to figure out what has a fake copyright claim on it, ultimately, I made it so I have final say.
Yup totally agree! It's so baffling to me how weird yet widespread those disclaimers are. I'm also very curious to hear about the reasoning from designers who choose to include them in their patterns... 👀
first off, really great video!!! i also have a lot of pet peeves about knitting patterns, maybe this video will inspire me to make my own at some point because i'm plus size so i feel like i have some extra spicy takes about it all lol. on your point about copyright and not being able to sell stuff you made from their pattern: i think that these designers are maybe trying to protect their designs from being manufactured by larger businesses/corporations? like i could see how one person could consult with a lawyer about what they need in their pattern to protect themselves from that. but i HIGHLY doubt that all designers who have this clause in their patterns have consulted a lawyer about this!! i would actually bet that most of them have just copied and pasted from someone else who had it in their pattern and just rewrote it to fit their needs, they may not even fully understand why they should or shouldn't be allowing others to sell things made from their pattern. copyright law is such a dense and ever-evolving subject that i doubt most of these clauses would hold up in an actual lawsuit, but i'm really not sure if there is any way to phrase in legal terms "if you're a regular degular person you can knit this and sell it if you want, but if you're a big bad corporation you can't!!" because i would assume it's a pretty slippery slope allowing a smaller business to do something and not allowing a larger one to do it too.
Came across your tiktok this morning so I was so happy when this was suggested to me here! Great video
The not size inclusive despite offering smaller/larger sizes than xs-xl is so true. Knitted a basic v-neck slipover and while the final result is nice, it doesnt at all look the same in 2xl as it does in the project photos in sizes s/m. I could reverse engineer it to get it to fit the way the original way, but then why did I pay for the pattern?
So agree on the not getting photos from all and proper angles, makes it so difficult to figure out what's going on
Ayyy what a coincidence haha! Thanks for watching the video :D
Yup, it's very frustrating paying good money for a pattern only to find out you're going to have to do the work yourself in order to get what was essentially promised to you :/
The picture peeve is a big one for me. It's why I could not get on the Stephen West band wagon. After looking at the pictures of people who have knit his shawls, I can see why people would want to knit them. The shawls are gorgeous, but I couldn't see it from his pictures.
This is also why I don't want to do any mystery knit-a-longs, too much left up to chance 😅
@@SejiFields My feelings exactly. No judgement, but I do wonder about who is drawn to MKALs, because they’re undoubtedly popular but don’t interest me at all. Perhaps people who have already knit all the wardrobe items they want? I don’t imagine I’ll ever make it to that point 😅.
I feel like this isn't as much of an issue with shawls because they don't really need to 'fit' on your body in any way. At least for me this is more of an issue when the pictures or weird poses mean you can't see the way the garment actually fits, or most of it's features (like the back, the arm hole, etc) are obscured. Steven West's pictures and poses are defintely unique lol, but I haven't found the actual designs to be obscured by the pictures or poses. I can see everything I need to see about the shawl before buying it (other than MKAL's).
Also I get the vibe that people knit in MKAL's because they like the excitement of knitting something without knowing what it is, and the excitement of doing it along with everyone else, buying special yarn, waiting for the clue, etc. It's more about the process and the fanfare that comes with it than the actual FO. And I'd also guess that some people also like it because they maybe just love Stephen West's designs so much that they know they'll probably like the finished shawl. I know from everything I've written I sound like a hard-core Stephen West fan LOL, but I'm truly not, I haven't made even one of this patterns and most of them aren't my style at all. But I have seen his work and follow some people who do the MKAL so I guess I get why people are drawn to it 🤷
Nice to meet your channel :) I do have a theory about the vague unhappy models posing for pictures. I need to find a *somewhat* established pattern designer to discuss and test it.
This is such a useful video. I recently started writing knitting patterns, and I'm trying to make them useful--and not annoying! This video is full of reminders of all the things that drive me crazy when I'm trying to use a pattern. I acutally paused halfway through so I could pop over to my pattern page and make sure it mentions that the pattern includes a schematic. But now I'm wondering if I should post a picture of the schematic, too.
Also, I'm writing a pattern now that is adjustable for different fits, and it's a ton of work to write it in such a way that it doesn't require the user to do a bunch of math. Because if you have to do the math, what's the point in buying the pattern?
That's awesome!! I think it's great when designers really put effort into making the knitting experience of their patterns convenient :)
Totally off topic but if love to know how you do your hair ❤ do you use foam rollers to get those bouncy curls?
Ah yeah of course! :) I put in a bit of moisturizer and water and then use those hard plastic curlers you're supposed to use with pins (and use clips for them instead) and sleep with it overnight :)
My pet peeve: when a pattern has a video tutorial, but it’s just a hyperlink. Like how is that helpful to me if I print the pattern 😅 at least write the title of the video and the channel so I can try to look it up myself.
Ugh, yessssss. So irritating.
Oh boy I didn't even think of that. Yeaah that's not great :/
I was with you until Comic Sans. There is no excuse for that!
Lmaoo I'll take Comic Sans any day over ✨𝒸𝓊𝓇𝓈𝒾𝓋𝑒✨
Yesss. But I do think the copyright thing has nuance, bc yes it bothers me too when people get nitpicky about it, but I totally otherstand when people seek to protect their design from big companies.
As far as printing goes: pictures don't bother me, you can drop white rectangles over them. It's the designs that have full backgrounds that bug me. Some more than others depending on how it's done, but there are definitely instances where I've copied the text to a new file to print it. But that does take more time and effort than just dropping a few rectangles
You mentioned japanese and german patterns. Ive heard you mention Japanese designers but could you mention some German ones?
I haven't knit anything from German independent designers, but all the designs of Lana Grossa have charts as well as vintage patterns from Constanze Strickmoden.
I’ve made a pattern from another pattern. A baby slippers pattern can be folded and assembled into a rabbit. I would like to sell the rabbits, but the baby slippers is not my pattern, the pattern is altered by additional stitches so that the legs and ears are long enough on my bunnies, and I’ve had to invent arms and feet. Could I consider it my pattern enough to sell?
I agree with everything you said! Especially not including a schematic WITHIN the pattern, let alone the description page. Earlier this year I bought a pattern from Aegyoknits, there wasn’t a schematic on the description page, but I had never bought a garment pattern that did not include a schematic and I assumed a schematic would be included in the pattern. Nope. I am somewhat pear shaped, and short waisted, and I generally have to combine two sizes to get a proper fit, so a schematic is essential to me. I have since heard that other patterns from this designer also don’t include a schematic, I won’t take that chance again.
Dang that's a shame :/ I don't get why so many don't do it, especially since these are numbers they definitely (should) have, so why not just provide those as well?
What if whoever invented any craft gatekept or copyrighted it.😂
Lol! There would be no crafts 💀💀
OMG yes the copyright for FO. Like, sorry, no, you quite literally have no say. You have zero legal claim on products created from copywritten instructions. Copywrite is for tangible objects (in this case the written or PDF instructions that the designer wrote), not the potential creations others make using the tangible copywritten object. A patent would give that protection, but you have to apply and be awarded a patent, it would only last 14 years (design patent) , only applies in the US for a US patent, and becomes public domain after the patent expires. Which, obviously, is also not ideal or even feasible for knitting patterns. Seeing an illegitimate copywrite in a pattern saying you can't sell your finished objects gives me the same impression of the "sovereign citizens" in the US with the license plates saying they aren't required to have a license or insurance because its a "private" vehicle: You can say it all you want but legally you're wrong.
I find it deeply off putting when designers include that you can't sell your finished objects. Especially because I have to assume that their fear is that someone will buy the finished object and reverse engineer the pattern? But one, literally no one ever would be buying $100+ handknit sweater in order to try to save $10 on a pattern. And two, you have no legal rights if someone did reverse engineer the pattern. You aren't copywriting the object, you are copywriting your written instructions on how to achieve the object. So if someone creates their own way to get the same object without your instructions as guidelines, you have no claim on it.
On the other hand, if the fear isn't someone buying the object and reverse engineering a pattern, but instead they are afraid of a company like Shein stealing the design and mass producing it: They (the company stealing it) would never see the disclaimer because they would never use the handknitting instructions from the design. IF they mass produce the design, then it would be machine knit flat (if knit at all and not just printed on woven) and seamed. And say for some absolutely illogical reason they do buy the original pattern and do see the illegitimate copywrite: The companies that would be stealing for mass production are most likely in countries with very different copywrite laws where even legitimate copywrites in the source country are near impossible to enforce.
So either situation, the "copywrite" saying you can't sell the finished object does nothing but alienate the target consumer while providing no actual protections against whatever loses they fear they will experience if someone sells their finished object.
I found it weird too. Glad to hear someone else say it. Like how would they know and why block someone from using your pattern after they paid. I don't recall seeing similar statements on dress making patterns.
Yes!! Perfectly worded honestly!! I sometimes wonder if it's also just some designers being aware that their bottom line is not being affected, but they just simply don't like the fact that someone is using their work to gain monetarily. It's kind of baffling to see how many (popular) designers have this in their copyright statement.
@@annmariebusu9924 I have seen it on dressmaking patterns; I purchased a Closet Core pattern just a week ago and noticed the same type of copyright notice on it. Also a number of pattern makers for bags have taken such a stance as well, while at the other end of the spectrum there are some very successful bag designers who actively promote the people who make and sell bags from their patterns, just like the frog designer in the video.
@@franlevaillant6749They're can say it all they want, and it won't make it true. You can sell items you make from patterns
What has been baffling me is when creators try to copyright patterns that are just granny squares sewn together or just very basic crochet stitches to form a garment, like what makes you think that is an original idea when granny squares and crochet stitches have been around for donkeys and form the basic foundation of the craft? You can't "own" that
My biggest pet peeve is photos where the designer/model has taken pictures to get attention for themselves and not what they made....the obvious cleavage shots, pictures in a crocheted shirt and underwear that looks like it belongs on Only Fans and worse. It makes me insane.
OMG the "you can't sell the items made with this pattern" designers are actually out of their minds lol! Like how do you now have ownership over #1 my literal labour, and #2 the physical item *I* made with my own yarn?
Just by principal alone I refuse to buy those patterns because it's gatekeepy af and it's a complete lack of understanding of what your actual customer base is: there's barely any overlap between those who buy patterns and those who buy knitted items. I know I will never in this lifetime buy a knitted beanie for example, but I will always buy a good beanie pattern!
My pattern pet peeve is fuzzy pictures. I should not have look at the project page to see what the piece details look like. You think its the camera but whyou buy the pattern you see its delibrate. Also size inclusive is often just a term to say buy my pattern over this other established designer. Lastly i don't like when there are no stich counts for each increase section or the bust row is not clear. The bust row also me to adjust my gauge.
All very valid! I think size inclusivity is a term that initially was used as a quick way to find patterns with a wide size range, but is aside from that also now sometimes used as a marketing technique. I've been learning how to grade this year and have read a lot about how sometimes patterns are terribly graded for both ends of the sizing spectrum despite being called size inclusive.