My not so humble but honest opinion if you're interested...
"There really is nothing new under the sun." You've all heard that, right? Well, if I make a quilt - or any other craft - through a magazine, book, or other meduim, how am I to know that particular item does not exist somewhere else on this planet? Last year I tossed out mags (sewing and cross stitch - gasp!) that went back 20 years (not 20 years worth, just some I've had that long) because the patterns were simply reproduced. Ever sew an a-line dress? You tell me what the diff is between an a-line dress pattern by Simp, McCalls, or Vogue. Same with doll clothes patterns, they are childrens patterns only smaller. What about fabric yo-yo's? Or real ones? Everything is copied. Are there really 101 ways to cook hamburg? Yuck.
You must have been to craft fairs where the fad of the time was sold - sock dolls, fabric bowls, clown dolls, cable-knit sweaters, painted rocks, beaded jewelry. I don't think these people got permission from The First Person To Make The First One to sell these items. And to take this one step further, how do we know that these books, mags, or internet patterns aren't copied from someone else? What about 1930's reproduction quilts? Same thing, right? Let's take an old whatever and reproduce it.
I'm beginning to think this entire copyright issue is more liability protection, similar to peanut or egg warning labels. You can't possibly cover all situations, so you generalize with a "law" that is so vague no one seems to be able to offer a globally understood, direct explanation. If copyright is that much of an issue, the definition should be as understandable as 2+2=4, and not subject to as much interpretation and question as it is.
(edited) I also believe that it is reproducing and selling the pattern itself, and not your result or interpretation of that pattern. Just about every pattern book I have has the disclaimer that says something to the effect of "we are not responsible for the actual end result, based on the crafter's choice of materials, products, abilities..." etc. So how can it possibly be a copyright infringement?
Whew.