Flint Knits

I’m so sorry that things like this continue to happen and that you’re one of the victims. I’ve noticed this happening in other shops with other patterns and it makes me both sad and mad. Time are tough all around, but that doesn’t make it ok to screw people over. I’ve mentioned it to store owners before and will continue to call them out on it when I see it happening. It’s just not right.

Great post, Pam. I think sometimes people just think, oh it’s a free pattern, so no big deal, when that’s just not true - your hard work went into the awesomeness that is the free pattern, and you should be credited for it.

I teach classes at my LYS, and here is the situation I’m usually presented with where something like this would come up: I teach a class called Getting Started Sweater Knitting, where I teach about knitting a sweater that fits, gauge, etc, and then I help the students picked a sweater based on what they’ve learned, they do a swatch, we measure it, etc.

So, most students will end up picking a sweater out of one of the books that are in the store, but there is a store sample of the February Lady Sweater, so everyone wants to knit it. If they choose a free online pattern, the student will almost always ask the store to print the pattern.

What would be the right thing to do here? Tell the student that they can obtain the pattern online and give them the link is what I *think* is the right thing to do. Is that right? and seriously, thanks for starting this conversation.

I am so sorry people are being such jerks. How hard can it possibly be to do the right thing and ask permission? That’s such a bummer about NAMELESS LYS, especially…I’ve always heard such great things about them.

This post definitely gives me lots to think about as I’m working on putting together my first “real” pattern (which, like yours, is going to be more of a tutorial than anything). Thanks.

Nicely said, Pam. Maybe you should make a PayPal donation button for those who’ve made and loved the FLS and want to thank you…

I totally understand your anger and frustration - it is like a form of ‘mugging’ IMHO (Im from UK so I hope this translates, lol) Another thing that makes me seethe with anger is when I see goods being sold from a bought or free pattern, online, or even the pattern itself that is stolen being sold on. In one case, a new pattern was released by an online mag only to be offered for sale on a blog about 6 hours later!I have a widespread knowledge of the internet in relation to knitting/crochet/craft and when I come across something like this I often contact the victim to let them know.
I can only imagine that the people who do this either dont give a damn or think they are being smart and that noone will notice because they are not aufait with the knitting blogosphere. It takes my breath away the barefaced cheek of some people. We should have a kind of HALL OF SHAME type of site for naming and shaming sites/stores that do not fulfil their obligations to designers or who steal patterns and sell goods from them without the designer’s permission.

I’m so sorry you’re dealing with this issue firsthand. I’m also sorry to hear yet another story about the assholery going on at NAMELESS LYS. They have the potential to be such a wonderful business, and they have such a huge following in this state. It makes me sad and angry that they continue to have such shady business practices. Best of luck to you - I hope you and other independent designers get the recognition and respect that you deserve.

jesus, mary, and joseph! when are these LYSes going to learn?! ugh. that sucks and yeah, they are jerks. good for you for naming names, too. otherwise, how would they know that they are doing something wrong?

This evening I wore my FLS to church, and my two daughters wore theirs as well. One was knit from the original EZ pattern, and one was my one resizing of your pattern to fit a kindergartner. I can’t even tell you how much joy these sweaters have brought us, so THANK YOU!

I will definitly be linking to your post on my blog. In all honesty, LYS’s that screw this stuff up bother me a whole heck of a lot more than when a random knitter (who just might not know better) does it. I’m very sorry you’ve had to deal with this - and I do think you’re taking appropriate action on it! All my best in getting it cleared up - or at least in getting the word out.

I have read on another blog that NAMELESS LYS had someone come in and teach Shelly Kang’s blankie from sock yarn. They changed the description but gave her no credit. I will not do business with a shop that does this type of thing. I have to thank you for working out the directions for the FLS.

Hmmm…I’m a bit torn. On the subject of credit, I think it’s essential that you be given credit as a designer. But on the subject of permission - there I’m not so sure. I’m coming at this as a designer of free patterns myself, though none of mine have ever blown up like the FLS, so my perspective is limited. As far as I know, no one has ever offered a class in one of my designs (though I’ll be teaching some next week) so this isn’t an issue that yet has personal resonance.

Here’s my view. While your pattern is being used, what is being sold is not your pattern, but the instruction. The instructors are making money not on the basis of your design, but the skills that they’re teaching. At most stores, the way I’ve seen patterns selected for classes and advertised is about the skills gained in knitting them. Of course, an attractive and popular pattern is a bonus, but the idea is generally this: people want a class in cables, and they want a finished project with their new skill. A pattern with basic cables would then be selected for the class. I think it would be polite to ask the designer, but as long as the designer is credited, and the source cited, I don’t see any problem with the rest of it.

Some classes require a purchased pattern. In that instance, each person in the class has to buy a copy of the pattern, as well as their yarn, and what’s sold is, again, the instruction. Since the patterns are being purchased, I don’t see why the designer would need to be asked.

Now, with free patterns, we come to a more complicated venue, but I think the basic principle applies. If the store has each person download the pattern from the original source, then the designer would be credited exactly as s/he would be if the customer downloaded the pattern on his or her own. The store would be selling the hand holding and instruction in basic knitting skills.

I do see a big problem when the designer isn’t credited and when stores offer a print out themselves. There are, in my mind, two different issues at stake here, one being credit, and the other fair use. I’m not a lawyer, and as far as I understand it copyright law around fair use can be somewhat murky, so I may be misunderstanding. However, by my understanding, there’s nothing wrong with teaching a class in a free pattern so long as the designer and source are credited. (By source, I’m referring to the website or other location where the pattern was originally published.)

I definitely think that, at a minimum, LYSs should credit you and link to your site when using your pattern.

If the yarn stores credit you and make it clear that they are teaching a class based on your pattern, I’m not sold on the fact that they are profiting from your free pattern. The cost of the class includes teacher guidance, yarn selection help, technique help, etc. But, that’s a big “if” as most of the stores hosting classes on your pattern aren’t giving you any credit.

I think you rock for offering this pattern for free. And I think it’s wrong for people to profit from your work. It’s one thing to pay for expertise in teaching the technique, but really, how difficult is it to say “this pattern came from Flintknits.com. Let’s give the wonderful Pamela Wynne some credit for upsizing this classic idea for us all”?? I’m a potter, so my work doesn’t quite translate to this idea, but yes, I’d be peeved if someone offered what I taught for free and made a profit from it, except for this wonderful idea called karma. . . it will come back to them in spades.

Pam, this was a terrific post in defense of a great pattern, sweatbands and all. It doesn’t surprise me that some shops refuse to give credit - I wish they saw that the more fun they make the whole interconnected world of knitting seem, the more people will want to knit - and the more money people (like me) will want to spend with them, the shop I trust. Now I find myself wanting to spend my money at the shops that gave you credit instead - so thanks for giving me an “I’m not a jerk” indicator.

Christ, how fucking hard is it to give credit & shoot you an email asking if it’s OK? Common courtesy. This is bullshitpants. I’d be pissed too.

I’m shocked that LYS’s would behave this way. They’re behaving like big, evil corporations, not independent shops. It boggles the mind. Good luck fighting it! If I see any of my favorite yarn shops doing this, I will tell them how fucked up it is.

When I found out that Kate wanted to teach a class on the FLS at lettuce knit, the first thing I asked was whether she’d gotten your permission! Of course, since Kate’s a designer too, she knew where it was at

Good for you for speaking up. I hope you achieve some satisfaction for your efforts.

I’m so happy to see my LYS’s name on the list of shops that asked permission to use your pattern. I don’t think it’s at all unreasonable to send an email and expect immediate responses from the shops that did not ask permission.

Pam, your expectations are more than reasonable and I can understand your frustration at not receiving the credit you deserve. For my part, I’ll donate to your PayPal site and… send you some more linen! Yep, that’s what I’ll do. x

PS: Love that photo and the sweatbands!

[…] Flint Knits ? Blog Archive ? let?s talk. By pam My hope here is that, if we can create some kind of high-profile online dialogue among knitbloggers, we might educate one another, and inspire knitters to demand ethical and honest business practices from their otherwise badass LYSs. … Flint Knits - http://www.flintknits.com/blog/ & […]

Hi Pam!
I, for one, am thrilled that the FLS exists! And I think it’s even more awesome that you put it out there for all of us to use and enjoy, not just keeping it for yourself or your friends. Hearing that there are people profiting from your work without asking you first kinda makes my stomach feel uneasy. Primarily this makes me feel terrible for you. It’s your work! You should have credit! And it’s not as if you are asking for a cut, only a recognition of authorship of the tutorial.

On a more broader level, I worry that the next clever designer will see what is happening to you and hold back their contribution to this wonderful knitting community we have. And what a shame that would be.

Of course I don’t intend to go out of my way to track down every LYS in my city, state, country, etc. to check on your work– that might be construed as a little “stalker-esque.” But I think I will pay more attention when I get fliers in the mail or in my inbox. I’ll pay more attention when I come across something on the internet or in a shop. I’m more aware of this as an issue and in the future I’ll speak up about it.

Thank you for this post. And for the sweater! And I am so so so sorry that this is happening to you.

ps– (I’m probably not the first person to do this but…) I hope you don’t mind, but I was really moved to draw attention to this issue and your post on Ravelry. There is a lot of love and respect for you and your pattern there and I think that fans should also be aware of this.

Our LYS is great about contacting the designers before offering any class that comes from a “free” source. If the owner doesn’t get permission, she won’t offer the class. In the description, she always says “From Knitty’s __________” or “by the designer ____________”. There have been several classes that would have been stellar, but the designer never sent an email back, so it wasn’t offered. We would have had a FLS class, but the dolt in charge of knitting the sample got impatient and attempted to use her frontloader to wring out the water . . . and now has a lovely FELTED FLS. Still kicking myself over my stupidity.

Honestly, I’m afraid to Google search for shops who are using my free patterns to teach classes. I know I’m asked whether it’s okay to do so at least once a month (I always say yes as long as some very lenient guidelines are followed), so I can only imagine the number of times shops go ahead and “assume” it’s okay! Like you, I have a life, friends, hobbies, and I refuse to make policing yarn shops my job. I’m especially appalled at the shop which took the time to correct their mistake, and then reverted shortly thereafter!!! What is up with that?!? I think that unfortunately there’s still a great misconception about The Internet being a “real” place, with real rules and regulations.

i have found, in general, that there are as many asshole knitters and as many asshole independent yarn shop owners as elsewhere in life. and sometimes, I actually think it’s in higher percentage.

did you know there is another knitter out there, known to many, who would buy every one of a certain fellow knitter’s patterns. change a few words (like change “increase 1″ to “make 1″) and then republish the pattern as her own design. and charge for it.

and that is just another regular knitter that a million people I know online are friends with and like and have no idea she does this.

and the real designer went to a lawyer and basically the lawyer was like “eh?” i.e., could NOT see the value in a knitting pattern or see that the market could be huge and this could actually mean a serious loss of money to the actual real designer.

people suck. sadly it is proven true no matter where you go but even MORE SO in the crafty indy world b/c there is so much less oversight.

I think most LYSs are probably out of touch with the huge knitting community on the internet. I’m sure they probably think (wrongly of course) that your website is inconsequential, and that not linking to it is therefore no big deal.

I remember telling one of my favorite LYSs to get on Ravelry and talk about what was going on in their shop, but they were hesitant. I mentioned that a competitor was doing this, and they ridiculed her. Now they just went out of business! I think they just have no idea what’s going on online. And just because they’re clueless doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t ask them to credit you, as you deserve!

Pam, that sucks big time. Here’s what I think:
1) Not a lot of people know about creative commons. It’s still so new, I’m not sure people understand that it is actually a copyright LAW. That doesn’t excuse folks for being jerks, but it does make it harder for folks to do the right thing.

2) you’ve taken all the steps that you can take when it comes to violation of CC rules- contacting the stores, talking about it here. There is one option, though it’s expensive, which is to contact a lawyer and enforce these rules.

3) Maybe you and Kate (and others) can get together to form a independent knitting designer cooperative, in which you pool together to get a hopefully dedicated lawyer who will enforce these rules. Kind of like a comic book legal defense fund or free software foundation.

Bottom line: they are using your work to make $$$. So uncool.

I’m a cynic with a soft middle, and this is the soft middle talking:

Is it possible that your LYS had a document of class descriptions from which to copy-paste to the website that someone forgot to update when they added the credits the first time? If this were the case, then at least they didn’t consciously remove the parts that credited you. Of course, there’s still the problem that they’ve not addressed the problem in a broader sense…

It’s also possible that there’s just one idiot in the organization screwing up the shop’s image for everybody else. I saw this happen in college, when one of our coworkers was treating free software in a similar fashion (”it’s free, so we can distribute it”). He didn’t listen to anybody telling him it was wrong until the university’s lawyers told him that the software package could not go to print… Too bad there’s no lawyer on retainer in this situation…

Oh man - I had no idea this issue may be so prevalent! Not too long ago I read on Wendy Knits’ blog about her contacting an LYS that had been selling her free sock pattern as part of a kit, without her knowledge or permission.

I think some stores are ignorant to intellectual property rights, and to some degree, common sense, but not all. Some are definitely jerks out for their own. Brave you for standing up and speaking eloquently about this.

Pam, very interesting post. Sad, though not surprising to hear. Have you talked with a lawyer about your legal options? My husband is an attorney, and although the laws vary by state, I’m curious to hear what he would say. You could perhaps report the LYS at fault and have them fined. I know that sucks, given the LYS are small businesses, but sometimes the only way to learn the right way is the hard way (I’m a hard ass, I guess!).

Give ‘em hell, I say.

As an indie designer myself, I feel for you. That said, having worked in LYSs for a long time, I can tell you that stores really do not care about this because patterns are a dime a dozen to them. It’s pretty common to have yarn manufacturers give away patterns and even encourage photocopying — LYS’s tend to look at patterns as a necessary evil to sell yarn, not as something they really enjoy stocking, buying, or dealing with. While it’s sad that so many stores are taking advantage of free patterns and denying the designers even a pithy byline, I’m not at all surprised to hear that it’s happening.

I think in your particular situation, part of the problem is the use of a CC license instead of a traditional copyright notice. The concept of “creative commons” license is still new and largely only known to people who spend tons of time online. Most LYSOs *do* understand what “copyright” is and, I believe, would be less likely to infringe it than they are to infringe on CC. I personally stick to traditional “Copyright” for everything I publish, free or not, and plan to continue to do so indefinitely.

I hear ya!

Hi there,

I manage a yarn store in Tennessee that has used your free pattern to make a shop model of the February Lady Sweater - when a customer sees the sweater in the shop and wants to make one for themselves, we direct them to the Internet (you/your blog). I am assuming this is cool? If not, I guess I need to know so that we do not offend you and other designers offering their patterns for free online.

Thanks!
Erin

“Because the internets? ARE the real world.”

Hear fucking hear. And it’s about time we all started acting that way.

I think you have a great point that LYSs can benefit from becoming more linked in to the enormous, ridiculously interconnected, and generally very good-at-sharing community that is the online crafty world. And I’m thrilled to see that my darling Twisted is among those moving in that direction.

And Anne? I think Pam was entirely clear as far as what she wants from LYSs. (Credit and permission. Not money.) And it also seems pretty clear that a designer who prefers sharing to capitalism would hate to see her time and work and generosity used to move the craft world more in the direction that makes money off of people’s work while anonymizing those same people.

good on ya, ashley.

personally, i hate ayn rand.

You are absolutely in no way being unreasonable. You’re the one who put your time and brainpower to work to design “The Sweater that Ate Ravelry” (as I heard someone aptly term it when it was the only picture you could find on your friends’ activity page!). It’s beautiful, and I’ve got the perfect yarn on order to knit my own.

Too many people assume that because a pattern is free, they can do whatever they want with it…including make money with it in some way. I think it behooves anyone who sees this happen to say something, or those of us who enjoy the freely offered fruits of someone else’s labor will be out of luck. And it won’t be the fault of the designers.

Amen sister! I’m going to keep an eye out at my LYSs to ensure compliance too.

Rockin’ good post. A very big issue. In some ways… infringement is a sincere form of flattery, not that it’s any comfort in this. I’m not sure what the answer for a designer is, unless you want to lock everything down behind either a shopping cart or a mail-me-for-your-copy kind of system, but how do you have time to manage that when you’ve created an almost viral knitting sensation?

Honestly, teachers (and by extension LYSs who employ them or are owned by them) should know better. If you teach high school, a copy of a textbook has to be paid for for every student and your curriculum package as well. If a shop teaches from a commercial pattern, each student and teacher has to buy a copy. The fact that someone’s generous enough to provide your class materials for free is not carte blanche to take advantage.

A suggestion for those who attend knitting classes: Ask about the source for the materials, and ask, in complete good faith, if the store talked to the author/designer/publisher for permission. If they haven’t? Find another class, there are tons out there, and politely tell them why.

That sucks!! Your situation is like that of a musician. If someone wants to play a piece written by a living composer, the composer has a publisher and they have to buy the music or pay royalties on it. Isn’t there something like that for someone who makes patterns? There should be!!! I know you want to be nice and independent, but unfortunately, there are a lot of people out there who don’t blink twice about stealing. You should copyright your work and make it against the law to copy…..like music…..without your permission. You have to look out for yourself! Syl

Well said and right on. I have been asking this kind of question myself….and in a similar context towards the ethics and morals of people and items. Next time I blog, I’ll definitely mention this.

1. You rock. Headbands+brilliant articulation of difficult matters=total win.

2. You are not crazy.

3. People who steal are jerks.

4. I am going to link back to this post when I blog my latest FLS next week.

5. I am going to contact you about whether or not I can share the mods I have made on your design before I blog about them. Because that’s the right thing to do.

6. Did I mention that you rock?

7. Marry me?

8. Don’t tell my husband about #7.

Pam,
I did not teach it yet. It will be in the fall at WEBS. I am also modifying it to work it in the round with a steek for the lace section.
I agree that people should get permission before using patterns and give credit to people who design patterns-free or not.
I am knitting mine now and love it. Thanks.
Peace And Yarn,
Annie

I loves you

Dude. Does anonymous Anne have a URL?

Hey lady.
I’m not in your position as designer, but I am an admirer of your talents and greatly respecting of propriety. I can and will support you and all designers when I come across this issue. I *have* recently seen a February Lady sweater class posted in a LYS here in MI, but cannot place where I saw it. I will backtrack my steps over the last couple months since I’ve seen it and bring up the issue with the owner/manager when I do find it and advise I will NOT spend money in there shop until they make right. This is an affront I take personally as a former art major. We must stand strong in this world of declining ethics.

Hey Pam- ijust finished a fls- when i noticed how many folks were knitting it - like purlgirl above i thought -WOW if everyone just offered $1.00 that would add up- actually your awesome pattern gave me way more than $1.00 worth of knitting enjoymment- (now that i see i can donate i plan to)have to say i walked into my lys sporting my fls (its so fun to get that instant positive feedback)warm fuzzies were clouded over by the yukkies when i noticed the shop was doing just what you described- it gave me a sick feeling when i thought about what you had offered and how it was being used- and so for the past week or so when i’ve worn or looked at my fls (which is alot cause i love it so much) i’ve also sent good thoughts your way and plan on continuing that- - - now if everyone did that - expressed gratitude- not to mention- treated the work of others with respect- just think what a beautiful world it would be.<3

@Diana. Or, you know, after actually reading the post. That would help.

@ily
I think you’re missing the point. The LYS that you took the class from clearly pointed you to where to get the pattern and made it plain who the designer was and gave credit where it was due. All Pam is asking for is that the LYS’s who DON’T do that smarten up a bit.

hah @ specs. nice.

agree with ashley. anne needs to pipe the fuck down.

Hey Ily. I’m sorry to hear that you’re confused! I will try to clarify just a couple of points.

Copyright isn’t the biggest issue here (though copyright infringement is something that a lot of designers have to deal with), but rather USE. And not even personal use, but commercial use. If you’re sincerely interested, you might check out the statement at the top of my Free Patterns page. It clearly says that folks can make all the FLSs they like, and wear them, and photograph them, and give them away, or sell them at charity auctions, or throw them in the garbage. What they cannot legally do is directly use the pattern or the finished product to make a profit without my written consent. You’ll find that most designers who publish patterns online have a similar policy regarding commercial use of their free patterns.

With regards to photos, the photographs I take are my property, and that IS a copyright issue. Clearly you can take all the family photos you like wearing your FLS, and do whatever you like with them! But, if you protect your photos as I have, then people cannot take those photos and use them for commercial purposes without your permission. Again, if you’re sincerely interested, there are a whole lot of great discussions online about photo rights, since there are even more photographers online than there are knitters.

Also, Ily, I think it’s important to let you and others know that, when stores DO ask to use my pattern, I always make it clear to them that, while I prefer that students download and print it themselves, they are welcome to share copies with folks who don’t have internet or printer access. If your LYS had contacted me about using the pattern for profit, they would have gotten that same message.

But because many other designers do not allow this, it’s always the responsibility of the end user (in this case, yarn shops) to find out about, and comply with, each pattern’s terms of use.

I love gummi worms. Though I prefer Coke bottles.

I’m so sorry that this is happening. There is nothing unreasonable about your expectations. I hope that the cases where people have unintentionally violated your terms out of ignorance will be remedied by the educational content of your post. As for the willful, knowing thievery, I feel angry, discouraged, and hurt.

Thank you for sharing your work and talent with the FLS. I knit it for my sister for Christmas, and it was one of my favorite gifts to give.

I’ve been offline for a week and I logged on today and found that two of the small group of knitblogs I read (you and needled) have both been having trouble with others not respecting your intellectual property. It’s just ridiculous - particularly since the FLS is a free pattern! How hard is it to send a designer an email and just ask?

Good luck getting it sorted out - I hope the various stores come to their senses quickly.

So it’s all be said and much more eloquently than I could put it, but here! here! I’m amazed at this callous attitude to your material, really - does it require that much effort or thought to check with a pattern writer if you can use their pattern? Let’s face it, it’s great to know people are using the pattern in the first place and getting so much pleasure out of it, most designers are unlikely to refuse - even if it does mean that person is profiting partially from your work.

And as for the trolls in your comments, thank for your taking the higher road, and also for leaving those in-conceived comments out there for the rest of us to see.

Oh and the FLS totally rocks! It’s my second most worn handknit

agree (1,000) This is so, so basic. I love my FLS, think it was fabulous of you to make it a free pattern, and am kind of stunned that people are doing this. I’m really sorry.

Confidential to Anne: Step awaaay from the Ayn Rand.

Just wanted to stand in solidarity with you against this shameless theft, particularly as I came to know your blog in the first place through your Ravelry-posted pattern of the gorgeous February Lady Sweater. Shit ain’t right, and the LYS owners know in their hearts that they’ve broken the Knitters Code, so on their heads be it. While I was reading your above post, my boyf came and read it over my shoulder and was equally enraged - he came with me to our LYS shop that day and was scoping out all the cardigans they had up on display, saying “Is THAT the February Lady Sweater? Is THAT it?” in a ready-to-pounce sort of way (they weren’t)…He is officially on FLS-Watch too. We got your back over here in the UK

It’s not just free patterns that get co-opted. People teach my class, from my book, all the time. And I don’t think there’s a darned thing I can do about it, except hope that it generates a sale or two. It’s crappy. PS, I finished my February Lady, except I can’t find my buttons. And my daughter wants a February Kid.

I completely understand how you feel.

I’ve sold things at a holiday bazaar, and invariably someone asks me why I didn’t sell x (the big one was the One Skein Wonder). I always tell them that I am honoring the designers copyright by not making them for sale without permission. I can only imagine how much worse it would be if it was something I had designed and I was being used!

(I love your FLS, and I have printed the pattern out twice when I misplaced my copy… mine is just about a sleeve away from completion if I can just find the time.)

Wow. I wish I could say I am surprised about stores not knowing better- but I am not. I worked in a yarn store and run an online store as well (and have to deal with people using my free patterns as their own) and I was shocked at the number of times I heard “but another yarn store copied/let me copy/gave me” or seeing people just write a pattern down….umm, no!

I am a bit soured about it honestly, and it is something that keeps me from selling patterns and really from going to the trouble of writing them up for free.

I find it interesting that people are focusing so much on specifics that are clearly outside intent- the printing of an extra copy for themselves/a friend who doesn’t have a computer or printer, etc. while those to me pretty clearly do not violate the spirit of the copyright (unless they are handing out copies to all 200 of their closest friends )

Pam, I’m so sorry this is happening to you! But I’m really glad you posted about it- clearly more people need to be made aware of these things. All you are asking is that people ask for your permission. Seriously- how hard is that?? Grr…

[…] at Flint Knits, who designed the gorgeous February Lady Sweater (which I must knit one day!), has found that many […]

I’m behind you on this 100%!!! This is …. I cant even find a descriptive term that’s heinous enough for this type of thing. Please don’t be discouraged, your work is so great.

Glad I came back…thanks Ashley for pointing out the donate button. I just visited it. Go Pam!

You know, this is very depressing to hear about. I was considering offering some knitting classes out of my home because I enjoy knitting and wanted to see how I felt about teaching it but I almost don’t want to unintentionally drag-through-the-mud some designer’s wonderful work. I can’t believe there are people who feel the need to not even credit you with your wonderful work. Please don’t be too discouraged, I think you’re doing a great job so far Pam!

I support you 210%!!! FLS is adorable! (I haven’t quite made it to sweaters yet, but when I do, I am sure it will be my very first one!) You have done some wonderful work, and it is absolutely NOT too much to ask for proper credit for your work!!! As a newer knitter, I find the support of LYS classes very helpful, other people in the classes often ask questions I may not have thought of, and a knowledgeable professional to advise and answer questions a treasure… So I find it incredulous that LYS may feel they need to “lure” me (and others) into taking the classes… I think bringing this problem to light is the only way to remedy the situation. It seems there is a seedy side to knitting, (who knew?!) and open dialogue is the only way to exorcise it. Stand your ground. You will change the system, not just for yourself, but all blighted pattern writers!

Hey Marianne. Thanks so much for the comment!

I think there’s some conflation going on here between copyright and licensing/commercial use. I actually am not all that concerned with copyright in this instance. As I say in the post, I haven’t made any great innovations here, so unless someone is taking my exact pattern and distributing it with someone else’s name on it, you know … shrug. (Though copyright is a serious issue for a lot of designers, so I can only speak here about my particular experience with this particular pattern.)

That said, one reason I’m barking so loudly about commercial use of the FLS is precisely *because* I recognize that EZ’s concept is at stake here, as well as my own free publication. (I’m pretty clear in the post, I think, about the multiple reasons why the FLS pattern is free.) And yep, even though the construction of the FLS is completely different from the baby sweater (which is why, yes, it *can* legally exist), it is dependent on the recognizability and iconic status of the original. Right down to its silly name.

So I absolutely do not have an “extremely rigid view of copyright” in this instance. I would, however, like to work toward a crafting culture that values designers’ labor and effort even when there’s not a price tag attached. “Ask and attribute,” as one commenter so succinctly summarized it above, doesn’t seem like a particularly tough principle to follow, especially when it’s written very clearly into the terms of use for most folks’ free patterns. (See the lovely pingback from TwistedPDX, above, about how this is their default policy, and why.) xo, Pam

Thanks for the most recent comment, Pam. I was a bit baffled, but that clears it up a LOT. I agree, stores should be clear on where they are getting the patterns, and make sure that credit is given to designers. I think most (especially older) knitters and LYS employees/owners are not acting out of malice, but from a complete ignorance of the intricacies around internet publishing and how designers make a living.

Mariannem, those are questions that could help clear things up even more, thank you.

I’m sorry that you are not being appreciated properly becuase you certainly do deserve credit. You could have taken your pattern and made a heap of money but instead you offered it free. It amazes me that someone would abuse “free”. Please don’t let those few stores put you off your efforts at pattern designing. I’m currently knitting your FLS which I found a link to on the Yarn Harlot’s website when she knit it this year. I’m knitting it with my very own homespun wool. So Thank You for offering this wonderful pattern for free.

I think your feelings are totally justified. I’ve noticed patterns that I’ve seen for free around and classes offered with no credit given to the desingers, and have wondered why? I even asked at one shop oh who designed this sweater? and the anwer was “Oh someone at the shop”…”I said are you sure? I thought I’d see this on Ravelry” “got uncomfortable silence after that. Knowing that I’d knit the very same FREE pattern I’d downloaded from Ravelry. (I wish I had been wearing it under my coat that day and could have whipped it off and said “OHHHH REALLY?”) It bothered me and it wasn’t the first time I’d seen that happen, and I’m not even a designer!

I knit your FLS during Ravelympics last summer and it’s been faved on Ravelry a number of times, less a tribute to my knitting, I’d say, than the cleverness of your design. I’ve just dropped a modest donation in your ‘tip jar’. and thanks for a great design.

I just want you to know how grateful I am that there are designers out there that are willing to share free and amazing patterns they have created. I love the FLS! I am shocked by the blatant abuses of the stores you mention. I’m sure some of the cases are about the LYS just being careless, but it sounds like some of them are outright devious about it.

I don’t think you are crazy at all. They should give you credit and not profit from your IP. It’s wrong that shops do this, and clearly, they know that.

I recently had a frustration of the same nature…when I was at Stitches last year I saw a beautiful pattern in a booth, and I fell in love. It was the Selbu Modern hat…and I just had to knit it. So I bought the yarn AND the pattern from this shop owner. Despite the fact that the pattern was FREE on the designers website. I can’t remember the name of the shop, because I wanted to write to her and let her know it was happening…but it frustrated me that people are so comfortable profiting from other people’s hard work.

I’m sorry so many have been jerks to you…I hope you can get at least some of it cleared up.

thank you for taking the time to write about this. I’m launching a blog for our LYS and though I’m the type to issue credit where credit is due, I hope that we can help to set the standard.

kudos for raising your voice. and that is a totally rockin’ pattern that I can’t wait to dig my needles into.

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