I have been quilting a long time. All patterns look a tad different from the old patterns, looks like someone just changed something a little and used different colors and fabrics.

Ok, in saying all of the above but...who lays claims to the pattern "Drunkards Path"!! Ha!

Yep, I even emailed her about using elements of some of her patterns in a quilt to sell and she told me no, they are hers and not to be made for any profit. Ever. But wouldn't that be my own design if I take a part of this block, add a piece of that one and mix in different colors?? As the finished block wouldn't have been hers or even on her site. Still the same, she is very particular about how you use any of her stuff. That's why I no longer go there or to a few other sites, I work out my own "blocks" using this or that from other blocks in the numerous books I have. I even spent 3 days designing my own, one-of-a-kind block and then ran across it on the 'net. Can you imagine my sheer frustration and then disappointment as I realized everything has been done before and someone, somewhere claims it as theirs. How are we s'posed to be creative if we can't use anything out there someone else lays claim to? This is why I no longer care, I just make what I want, when I want and how I want and do with it whatever I feel. Who can prove that I copied theirs any more than I can prove I came up with it all on my own? It's too confusing and really puts a damper on quilting at all, imho. But I usually am in error so that's just the way it is.

The Twister pattern was also published in the 60s and 70s, which were probably 'inspired' by a much earlier pattern.

There are many resources that have documented the publishing of early patterns like Jinny Beyer's book called The Quilter's Album of Patchwork Patterns which shows over 5000 patterns and their different names that they were known as.

These blocks are in the public domain but in today's busy world, 'usually', the 'average' quilter/sewer isn't interested in finding a block she likes, drafting the pattern to the size she wants, figuring out what fabric is required and then putting it all together in a design that she finds pleasing. It is easier to shop and buy a currently published pattern, follow the directions and make the quilt even though the actual block/pattern has been around for hundreds of years. The 'copyright' applies to the written instructions and information that the current writer has used.

Those of us that have been sewing for a very long time have seen many patterns 'recycled'. I agree that there is lots of confusion with many blocks/patterns being called 'original' when in actuality the only thing 'original' is the newer fabrics that are used and the rewriting of instructions which may, currently, make it easier to understand and make. This 'newer' copyrighted info makes today's economics of 'quilting' a multimillion dollar business.

this whole sub ject can be sooooooooooooooo confusing. Here is my thought. If I buy your book of patterns (which is probably full of old ones) then I feel I have paid for the right to use them any way I wish as long as I acknowlege where I got it. I don't sell my quilts (that makes it work) but give them to family and friends. So there!!

Here is your answer. It is dumb to think that they can patent a pattern, but they can patent the way they did a certain design or quilt. Just don't copy them, change them in some way so that you are the original of that use of the pattern. Dumb isn't it!

You know, unless you use the same exact fabric, I don't see how it can come under copyright either. I always change a little of whatever I do, & seldom do the same exact pattern, so have never seen a reason to worry. They can say that, but it doesn't mean it's so, right! Most of the time, by the time the pattern or mag, or book, is out, that same fabric is not still available anyway, so just do your own thing, make it yours & enjoy!

anything on copyright really brings out the conversations personaly I take it as a bunch of gibberish everyone wants to get rich even to the point of spinning off another persons pattern so I just do what I want sew and have fun and trade patterns with whoever wants the only thing that I would say is wrong would be to mass produce them for sale but trade or give away????????????????

I use "her blocks" that are listed in a book older than her ".com".

I designed a "road to (my community)" block. It's a variation of several "road to" blocks. When I do it, it's a certain color pattern that fits our community. I wouldn't dare copyright it. I've never seen my block before, but I don't hesitate in think an exact duplicate is out there somewhere.

And the nice thing about the old standards, you can change the color or orientation or placement a bit and have a block specific to your needs----------or likes. AND you're not bound to the previous name. You can rename it, to suit yourslef.

Works for me, for sure!

Grannie I don't see how you can possibly be wrong when you change her patterns as just look at all of the spin offs with very little change being sold personly I think this copyright thing has gotten completely out of hand and doing way more harm to the quilting world than anything else could I think it all started when McCalls poblished that article that magazine use to be my favorite but I thought if they could publish something that far off then turn around and print sinoff patterns I wanted no part of them I thre all I had in the trash as I didn't want someone else to make the mistake of using one either anyway when I see a pattern I like just go for it and have fun I do even sell some who needs the magazines with all the patterns on the internet sew and have fun and don't worry about a few

I think the word you are looking for is "Public Domain"

Ok, I understand that the typed words on the page are copyrighted and not the actual block, but unless it is some completely brand new method, it is just someone stating in their own words how to do something that is already well known and listing a bunch of measurements for us to use. It makes sense that we should not be able to print out all the directions, put them in a book and sell it, or use it as a handout in a class, etc. But why should that persons name go on the finished project as stated in the terms on the Quilter's Cashe page? If I start a bake shop and sell apple pies I do not put the name of the person who grew the apples on the label, or from which cookbook I first learned the method to make pie crust. I just sell it as my apple pie. The finished project is my work. I can see listing the name of the person if I buy a kit with all the fabric included which was selected or created by that person and she created the pattern (such as an applique something or other where there is no much room for creativity) because all the work other than sewing it together was done by someone else. But since as many have said earlier, it is almost impossible to use the same fabric, especially since a lot of them are computer created pictures with generic solid colors being used. I have looked at that site and liked it and decided that if I use several of the patterns from Quilters Cashe than I will donate money because she did make a site and right directions but I do not agree that her name should go on the finished product unless it really is a unique block she created (or seems to be.) I do not plan on selling any quilts, or at least not yet as I am still learning. Does this seem reasonable to other people? I am new and don't want to do anything wrong but don't want to give credit to someone for nothing.

On a funnier note, I could always tell her that it is not her block. Say for example her block was six inches square. I really doubt even if I make a king size quilt I could even get one block to be absolutely perfect. (Nothing I have made so far is very good but it is mine so I don't care. I just had fun making it.) My blocks might be 5.999999999 inches or 6.001 and so it is not the same as her block at all. ;)

Well Said GrannieAnnie.My Father would have said.Just because he pooped in the woods didn`t make him a bear.

I am a fiber artist and design art quilts etc. I am protective of my copyrights, but I do have issues understanding the controversy over traditional blocks in most cases. This is a very complicated issue. I know it is becoming more of an issue particularly when people enter a quilt that a "celebrity quilter" designed and that person wins a prize. Then a quilt guild makes a CD or book for sale with photos of all those quilts at their show (many copyrighted designs) and they have an issue making money off of that.

If you make the quilts for your own enjoyment, do not sell them, do not teach them, do not win prizes for them, do not convey that you designed them, then you may be safe. Very complicated issue, too bad we aren't in the simple days, right? I don't make light of this, but most people are making quilts as a hobby.

If I use a pattern a traditional pattern, I will not be bullied into not selling or not teaching or not entering it for prizes.

the standing in the garage and calling myself a car is not my quote.-----------------but I very much agree.

I recently made a wall hanging using a picture I had 'captured' on some website...don't even know which one. While I was making it I tried to figure out where I had originally seen it, in hopes that there might be some more information about it. I discovered several similar ones, including one that had been made 'in a class'. None were the one I had found originally however! In addition it appeared that the others used applique to create the celtic knotwork design and I was doing mine as pieced. It is a gift so there's no way copyright should come into the picture. Maybe I could figure out exactly how I did it (trial and error), copyright my method and make lots of $$$.

Take one of my favorites again, the Carpenter's Wheel. How many ways can there be to WRITE instructions? You can do smaller 4 blocks sections or you can set it together in rows (or columns which amount to the same) but what could possibly be a method of setting a simple block together the one of us or a few generations before us have not done?

Designing art quilts is clearly your design, just like a painting; no one argues when someone paints an oil of a mountain for example because it is clearly theirs even though thousands of people in the past have painted mountains. But why is it so bad if a picture of that quilt that was an original design ends up in a book because it won a prize. Is the work of the person that did the sewing so much less important just because their work came last. I personally would be thrilled to see a picture of something I had a part in creating all over the place. I would be proud to think that so many people like it and that it was capable of winning prizes. What is the point of creating something and than basically hiding it away for oneself. I am not trying to me mean, just trying to understand. I personally don't think that someone has any claim at all over a finished piece of art if their contribution was the directions. We paid the due, gave you your money and bought the directions. That does not make the finished product yours. It belongs to the person who made it. We sell used cars all the time because we own it. Ford or Toyota does not own the right to the car even though they created it. As long as your name is on the project for an original design, the copyright law is satisfied. You cannot sell a Ford and say you created it and built it, you just sell it as a Ford. So if I buy a pattern from person XYZ and sell it as sewn buy me and created by XYZ I am perfectly within my rights. And with traditional patterns, since there is no creators name to place on it despite what people may claim, I can simply say it was sewn by me.

Someone earlier said something about simpler times. Nothing in the laws has changed from 20 years ago. People have just become greedy and lawyers are abundant.

I love this.lol hehehehehehe

If you are making it for your own personal bed or a family member's bed, who cares?

Dunster said it best. It is our photos, layouts and words that we copyright. I design Twister and Primitive Pinwheel patterns but I didn't make the ruler or the technique. I had to have permission to include the rulers and the technique. Not only that, but not all designers are in it to get rich. A lot of us do it to help our family income but more importantly because we like it, and if we didn't copyright our designs, someone else would put their name on it and take credit for what we worked hard to come up with.

copyright?
 

A friend of ours was incharge of the Copyright office in Washington,DC. When he retired about 10-12 yrs ago. The office was turned over to some younger people. He had all the copyrights in books with all the legal copies. Well , the young ones in front of him took all the books and threw them in the trash can. He told us at the time there was going to be problems. Geometry has been around since the beginning of time. It cannot be copyrighted and quilting is geometry. Some have made some great new designs using geomerty and the copyright is the way she has put them together with the angles of certain measurements and color. You can take the same design and add a fraction of an inch and you have a new design for a new copyright but there are only a certain number of ways to geometrically draw a design. So, some have said its is the method in which the design is sewn. To me, it is crazy. you can only cut a pie just into so many peices. It is like trying to copyright and idea in your mind. You cannot copyright a geometric its been here too long as for as I am concerned. Don't be afraid that some take offence. This has been going on since the beginning of them and the copyright actually belongs to God almighty, not us.

They don't scare my one bit. I am not doing anything wrong using any pattern I find anywhere. If sombody really thinks I'm stealing a four patch block from them, let them come after me. I am never going to make any money or infringe on anyone to make their own money from any pattern I use. I think people have this need to be scared and it they aern't scared they create something to be scared of.

Lets do a simple poll. How many people on this board has been subject to legal action by using a pattern to make a quilt, no matter where the pattern came from?

If somebody takes the time to publish a pattern it is meant to be used, right?

Anyone can post a tutorial how to make any quilt pattern, that's legal as long as the the person doesn't use the pattern pictures or text. I will buy quilt books and patterns from designers that are generous with their designs. Example: Bonnie Hunter and Eleanor Burns.

How about considering what the designers really want the copyrights to give them protection from:
1. People publishing their technique and directions in another book. 2. People going into business mass producing their design with 3rd world labor for the big box stores. 3. People selling instructional DVD's using their techniques. I'm sure no designer is going to hire a lawyer and go to court if they see that their design is hanging in a country fair competition. However, If I publish a book with their copyright info in it they will go to court for their royality rights. Anyone would.