Thanks everyone for this very interesting thread!! Especially those of you who made me laugh so hard I had to visit the bathroom (the 'dishwasher' response!).
It made an interesting conversation at my office too when I discussed it with our attorney, she specializes in risk management but a good part of her job is also intellectual property and all that encompasses, and as an added bonus - one of the things that she is charged to protect is "processes" that are patented. Yes, processes can and are patented.
Her take was exactly what most of you have said, the author of the book has copyright to the book - which is the "words" in the book - nothing more. She does not "own" the method that she used.
We then continued to talk about how a person might distribute such gained knowledge. Clearly copying and distributing the book, or parts of the book, is a copyright violation. But what about relaying or demonstrating the technique to someone else.
Her opinion was that the author would have a long and probably difficult battle defending her right to the "process" if such were demonstrated or relayed (in different words of course) in a public forum. We also talked about what makes this "process" so unique that any other 10 people could not figure it out by themselves given time and the desire to do so. In this case I think the possibility is more than possible, it's probable, and in fact may have already been done.
So I am left with the above to ponder, as well as everything that everyone else has posted. I came to the conclusion that it's not so much a sticky legal situation as it is a moral issue.
IF this book had been an older book, I may not have such a moral dilemma - but the book is fairly new (2009) and still in print and widely available. The author and the publisher have an investment in the book and can realize any gain only through continued sales. I would not want my hard work treated cavalierly.
I just read the inside flap of the book (to find the published date) and I have to admit I cringed when I saw the statement that "patterns" from the book (there are no "patterns" - just a technique) could not be used to sell items at craft fairs or on E-Bay. ARGH!!! That part makes me so mad I want to scream ... how DARE YOU sell me a book to teach me something then restrict my usage of that knowledge!!!
I thought about this all day and came to the conclusion that I wouldn't share. But once I got home and read that offending statement ..... I'm again struggling with the moral dilemma of doing the right thing for the author and publisher, or saying PHOOEY to both of them for printing that insulting restriction of usage!!!
Back to the mental struggle
Thanks again everyone. Certainly stuff to think about.