Ticklish question to be sure. The lines are so blurry. Techniques cannot be patented or copyrighted. If I can help another quilter by showing her how I do something I am not infringing on another. Almost all classes I take at my guild are to learn techniques. And, it is true, there is nothing new under the sun-just revisited. I am sure that you know that is true about patterns. I can't tell you how many times I see patterns come out that are remakes of things traditional. And yet, the newcomers feel that they have reinvented the wheel. I am sure they are not necessarily aware that others have put patches together the same way-maybe different sizes, different colors, etc. Please keep showing others techniques to help them enjoy quilting more. My biggest complaint is about designers who feel that use of a pattern is a one time use and that if you want to make the quilt again that you have to buy a new pattern. They have the wrong idea of the difference between 'design' and 'pattern'.