I just found this quilt, which would be perfect for the memory quilt I am wanting to make, but I don't want to get the entire book it's from. Does anyone know where I could purchase or find just that one pattern, and whether it is hers or a common one? Any advice appreciated!

http://ros-the-quilter.blogspot.com/...ding-ring.html

Have you tried the library? If the book is there, you could make a copy of that pattern to use.

Oh yes, I can try that! My hopes aren't that high though, as I am in the UK and am not sure how many US quilting books they'd have.

If you look closely, it breaks down into pretty simple blocks...simple 9 patch, etc.

I'm betting that you can make it without buying a pattern! :)

Charlee, we must have been thinking and posting at the same time...along the same lines! Noticed your post and went back to edit mine! Great minds think alike, huh?

We all love the security of a printed pattern...it saves us time and that's important, but, this is one pattern that would really be fun to graph...then you could color it to best suit your needs. I'd graph to finish size and then just add seam allowances to cutting list measurements. Just be sure to give credit for the source of inspiration.
Good luck and be sure to let us see what you end up with...memory quilts are so special!

Yes, I was wondering, but it would only be my second quilt ever (even though I have been sewing for years) and the first one was made in a class, so no room for grave mistakes there. I initially wanted to make a Disappearing 9 quilt, and it literally took me hours last night to draw one and work out where the photos go and I was still confused by the end...
This one looks really simple, but I think I'd have trouble with the measurements for the little pieces. :oops:

By graph, did you mean on the computer? I've been wondering how you all do it, is it special software?

Hi, Stummel, and welcome to the board! Many are using the software...like EQ and similars...I still like old fashioned graph paper, pencils, erasers, and ruler....depending on the time of day and blood sugar levels, I may use a calculator for the math...but it's just simple arithmetic, really...lol. Do a very rough sketch and then take it to the graph paper...make it look like what you want...then do the arithmetic..quite an exericise in getting familiar with how it really works, huh?

Thanks for the welcome :D

I never even thought of graph paper, I have artists sketch blocks I used, maybe that is my problem... :lol:

I think I still struggle with which of the parts constitutes one block, especially if it's a busy design, and am not familiar with a lot of the vocabulary (English is my second language, even though I went to Uni in Canada for 7 years, but quilting language is so specific), so am trying my best to wade through my quilting books and then get stuck on some of the terms.
I will try graph paper though!

I have the book this pattern is in and all the other patterns in the book are fabulous. The cost this one pattern if sold separately would be the cost of the book. If you aren't familiar with Judy Martin's patterns then you will want to read her instructions. The pattern is 7 pages in the book. Lots of piecing info and diagrams. It's not just squares sewn together. It seems to me the picture in the link seem to have bigger squares then the pattern so the DWR effect is not as pronounced in it as the original pattern.

I have the book too and it is much more complicated than simple squares sewn together. I have made three of them and put pictures in the center blocks. It is beautiful. It takes exact sewing to make it come out correctly. I love her patterns.

Sybil

There's no reason to be stuck with a term for any longer than it will take to type up your question and for one of us to type you an answer...you've got lots of friends here that would love to help you reach your goal! Look for the blocks with eyes that are actually sewing, not seeing...construction ease is what we want...the magic happens when the blocks go together... does that make any sense? I may be the one language challenged here..lol.

Thanks for all the replies, I might actually spend the £30 in that case. I just hadn't seen the rest of the book, but trust you all if you say it's worth it. :-)

It is worth it. There are a lot of good patterns in there.

Sybil

Ok, sold! Now I just have to sneak it past my husband, lest he enquires why I bought yet another quilting book...

Oh, one more question - could someone who owns the book tell me how big the squares inside the rings are, as my photo squares are 6.5" and I can't cut too much off them? I was planning on a large bedquilt (king or queen size).

The inside square is 6 1/2" so you won't have to cut any off your photo squares.

Excellent! Thanks for the info!

I also have the book, and I can assure you that all Judy Martin's books are well worth the price. While I have no problem copying a pattern that is not copyright - well, this one is. It is an original and it is not ethical to copy the design. (I think it is okay to make the quilt from the library book while you have the book checked out, but it is NOT okay to copy pages from the library book.)

Sorry to act like the quilt police, but as quilters we need to protect the rights of designers like Judy Martin. Otherwise they will not be able to keep on creating the beautiful designs that so many of us love to make.

Yes, I agree. I didn't know who she was until today, so thought they may sell the pattern somewhere by itself. The book is already ordered and will hopefully arrive soon:)

You might check out Judy Martin's site and look at the viewer photos - http://www.judymartin.com/Viewer-Photos.cfm You'll find photos that viewers have sent in of many of the quilts in her books. There are some stunning ones of Monet's wedding ring. (And I've sent in some pictures of my quilts too.)

Saw those earlier and bookmarked that site as it looks like a wealth of information is on there!

I'm now going to have to find this book, Judy Martin is one of my favorite quilt book writers, she's awesome!

I have Judy Martin books...but I have to disagree (respectfully) with the ethical issue. If it was true that it's unethical to copy the patterns of others, the only access we would have to block patterns would be only original patterns. There would be no modern log cabin patterns, no Mariner's compass, none of the "old" patterns. The "Dear Jane" book wouldn't exist, since the patterns in it are a copy of designer Jane Stickle's work.
One of the Judy Martin books I have are all "old" block patterns...does this make Judy herself "unethical"?

For the most part, the only truly original quilts are the landscape or art quilts...and some of them, eh! not so much!

To copy a pattern to give to someone and you keep the original is a violation of copyright and slummy thing to do. To make a quilt or pattern using a picture of a quilt as a guide for yourself is okay but don't claim/sell/distribute/ it as your pattern. Old quilt patterns that are in the public domain and not copyrighted and can be copied, printed, and sold as much as you like.

The quilt designs in Judy Martin's Log Cabin Quilt Book are all originals. True, they build off the log cabin block, but the designs are unique and original. If you copy her design without acquiring her book, you are robbing her of her rightful income. Copyrights run out after some period of time (50 years after the death of the author), and everything over 70 years old (I think that's the figure) is in the public domain. I have spent some time actually researching this issue.

This is only partly true. It is a violation of copyright to reproduce an original design without obtaining permission. It is fine to reproduce a quilt that uses only designs within the public domain. When you buy a quilt book or pattern, you have the author's permission to make the item using that design.

It is almost never okay to make a copy of a pattern, even if the design is in the public domain. The instructions are still under copyright protection. (By a copy of a pattern, I mean a photocopy or some other copied representation of the instructions.)

This article has some information about copyright as it pertains to quilters.

http://www.quilt.com/FAQS/CopyrightFAQ.html

No one is talking about making a copy of a pattern tho...simply using the ideas presented by a public image of a quilt. From the link you provided Dunster:

"Copyright does not protect ideas, concepts and schemes. Rather, it protects the manner in which the idea or information is expressed".

I understand what you're saying about Ms. Martin's income being reduced by quilters who can figure out how to put something together without purchasing her books, but it's certainly not illegal, and I don't believe it to be unethical either.
It would be much like the diamond log cabin quilt that you made after you saw one elsewhere (or at least I think that's what I understood about that beautiful quilt you made)...I will have to look for it, but one of my quilt books or magazines, has that same quilt pattern...it's not a new concept, nor is it terribly old...late 80's early 90's at the oldest.

Again...I make my points with all due respect, I simply don't agree (at this point of the conversation) with you.

You're right that it's okay to use the ideas in another person's quilt, but "copying" the quilt is not permissible.

See #6: "Copying a quilt would be an infringement, but because ideas are not copyight, it is acceptable to use another quilt for ideas."

You're right that I based my diamond log cabin star design on quilts that I saw elsewhere. I first saw the design on a site selling quilts, and later in a book of quilts from the 20th century. I also found references to building a log cabin around a diamond shape in other books and internet sites. It was okay to copy this design, because the block is clearly in the public domain, and my quilt design was not a total copy of any other. It was in researching my right to make this quilt (since I couldn't find a pattern anywhere) that I came across the reference I cited.

Judy's quilt is another story. The quilt design is clearly copyrighted in her book. Using the quilt design for ideas is okay - but "copying" it is not. Her quilt basically uses rectangles to mimic the more difficult double wedding ring pattern. If you want to draft your own rectangles to accomplish that - fine. I suspect other people have done that in the past. You may wind up with something very similar, or even identical to Judy's design. But if you attempt to copy her quilt, that's unethical. You're copying her quilt, not her idea.

OK, that's my interpretation of copyright law. I'm not a lawyer, so I may have it wrong. I do think it is very useful for us to discuss this issue freely in this forum.

Pretty fine line... ;)

I appreciate you being willing to discuss the issue and accepting (while still disagreeing with) my opinion! :)

I've recently experienced a "discussion" where I disagreed with my DIL that my son is some kind of a monster because he wouldn't let her take a trip that they couldn't afford,with a result of her not speaking to or having anything to do with us...she can't quite grasp the concept that "big people" can disagree and not hate one another...it makes me appreciate you all the more dunster! :)

Ooh, tough to disagree with the DIL. She will think you're just taking your son's side.

I struggle with the "copying" issue all the time. We get most of our inspiration from seeing things others have done, at least I do (not much originality here!) But - even if there weren't the issue of copyright, I just don't think it's that much fun to make a true copy of someone else's work. If we truly use it as a springboard for our own creation, we get much more satisfaction from the effort. That's why we quilt.

Wow, I just woke up and missed a whole page! Since I am new to quilting I don't know much about the ethics involved of sharing patterns etc. I was a bit weary about spending lots of money on a book from which I only use one pattern, but I certainly wasn't trying to cheat Ms Martin out of anything. The library issue is a bit confusing though. When I was at university it was legal to copy 10% of a book without the authors permission, but no more. I don't really understand why it would be more ethical to sign the book out and make her quilt than to copy the pattern and make it, as in both cases she wouldn't earn money from me buying the book, and I wouldn't be distributing it but have "stolen" her idea if you will. Btw., how old is your DIL if you don't mind me asking? She sounds very young to take that approach, and I hope you guys can work it out soon. I would never stop speaking to my MIL because she took my hubbie's side, moms are moms :)

Good point Dunster, altho I would have to admit to being quite proud of myself when I can figure something that looks complex out for myself...kind of a patting myself on the back sorta thing with self acknowledgement that I'm not as stupid as I look! ;) :)

The DIL thing? Heh! You'll enjoy this one. I had my son when I was 16. DIL is 10 years older than he is, making her 6 years younger than I am. Want to add to the fun? My hubby is 10 years younger than I am, making him 4 years younger than his daughter in law! ~grin~ I figure she has the same pants to get glad in as what she got mad in...~shrug~

Your young son seems to have more maturity then his old wife. LOL

Guess I never said how old DIL is...she's 47...:lol:

Stummel, I never ever meant to suggest that you or anyone else was trying to cheat anyone out of anything. I'm sorry if it came across that way. I just jumped on this discussion because I have also been trying to "understand" the ins and outs of copyright law, and as members of the forum I think it's our duty to be sure that we don't promote activities on here that would be in violation of other people's rights.

I don't think it's always possible to make sense out of legal matters, but in the case of the library, here is how I look at it. If you own a book, it's not okay to make copies and give them to your friends. It is, however, okay to sell or give the book to your friend, and then the friend becomes the owner. The same goes for the library. If they let you make a copy, and the next borrower makes a copy, and so on, then there are lots of copies out there. The copy has a longer "life" - more time for you to use it - than the original loan of the book. On the other hand, while you actually have the book checked out, you have temporary "ownership" of that book and are allowed to make the patterns in it. (This is not a legal opinion - just my explanation.)

The thing that confuses me in this case is that to me it doesn't really matter whether someone makes a copy of a pattern for personal use only or uses the actual book. If you take a book home and use it to make the quilt, and then another person takes it home and makes the quilt, and then another, there will still possibly be ten or fifty quilts of that particular pattern resulting form only one book, and the pattern itself isn't really worth anything without it's use, if you know what I mean.

ETA: I wasn't offended or took your opinion personal, just meant to say I didn't intend to "steal" someone's pattern if there were copies of just that pattern for sale somewhere.

Charlee, that is very funny that your grown DIL would act this way about the situation. Maybe she is fighting for top-lady position in your son's eyes? My MIL usually tries to get me to get DH to do what she thinks he should do, because she thinks he'll listen to me more, lol!

To me the difference is in "borrowing" vs. "keeping" the book.

Yes, but isn't the actual violation that one makes a quilt from a pattern, whether it's borrowed or kept? Otherwise there is no point to the pattern.