Purchase a pattern or make it on my own?
 

I have seen several things lately that I would like to make. Most of these items have a pattern for sale for you to use. My question is, is it ok to make a similar item if I can make it on my own without purchasing the pattern?
I wouldn't be selling the items, just for personal use but I wouldn't want to take away from the pattern designer. What is your opinion?

Thanks
Kim

I draft my own patterns all the time based on pictures alone. I say if you can figure out on your own how to do it without a pattern there is no reason to buy the pattern.

I draft my own patterns from things I see online or in a shop. I don't think it is necessary to purchase patterns. They really are expensive (for most of them) and I would rather put the money into fabric. (Iam on a low fixed income.) Alot of the time my drafts are just a tad different but close enough to satisfy me.
Dena

I am with the above poster. I try to do it from pictures but if I can't or it seems too complex, then I will buy a pattern.

I get ideas from pictures, but always end up changing at least something in it...I am on disability, and if I had to buy patterns I wouldn't be able to quilt..There are also so many free patterns to choose from on the internet

I too, draft my own designs if not too complex. Why pay for the pattern. Download a free piece of graph paper, and go for it.

qnntv.com has a free video on that, it's Mary Fons.

I can usually draft my own pattern from a quilt that is shared on a blog or pattern for sale. But I buy the pattern anyways to give the person credit for their work and I guess sharing their idea. :)

Welll I guess there's lots of us "drafting." I look at pic of quilts, see if I can identify the blocks that make it and go from there. Sometimes I can figure it out but if not...on to the next quilt. I buy books ONLY if there are at least three quilts I want to do otherwise books are just eye candy.

Also...looking at finished quiltis is a great TEST to check my color combos. Sometimes my brain has a short circuit and colors that I think will look good together with a swatch test is just not right. I'm doing that w/fab for bargello...now I just may have to buy a kit for that.

I try to buy patterns when I have the money just to support the designers that I like. But most of the time, I try to fiugre it out myself if I can.

I draft patterns from pictures. As Pat625 said, mine are usually just a bit different. When someone asks I refer them to the designer's pattern.

If you can identify the block and put your measurements to it and create a quilt I don't think that is an issue. Most of the blocks they are using are not copyrighted, what is copyrighted are their directions. Myself I usually (unless it is super simple) buy a pattern as I don't have the extra time and it actually works out cheaper for me. Personally I can't figure out why anyone (except maybe a true newbie) would buy a pattern for a rail fence/turning twenty/standard log cabin, etc.

You are under no obligation to purchase any pattern for anything. If you can copy a design and figure it out on your own, you are free to do so.

Okay as a designer here is my take on this subject. I feel if you are making a pattern that has blocks in the common domain then you can draft any pattern you desire. The written words of my pattern are copyrighted. Some big designers have copyrights or patents on some of their blocks. That is cleary stated. I have and do morph many patterns I see for my own use. But many many many patterns are in the common domain! I am not sure that someone that wrote a pattern for a Log Cabin quilt can be upset if you design your own. That pattern dates back to the mid 1800's. But if you decided to sell the pattern and copied my directions word ofr word I may be upset. But reallly just how many ways can you make a log cabin block. Really! So go forward and enjoy!

What quilting software do you use to design your own pattern or "mirror" another pattern. I am looking at either free or purchase.

here is a link to the video http://www.qnntv.com/videos/1075_qui...marianne-fons/

they state that if you can look at a quilt and draft it yourself... go for it.

I don't use software , I just use my ruler and paper and draw them out myself. I would never sell someone else's design or give it to anyone else.

Pencil, paper and a calculator.

Almost every pattern out there starts with a basic design and is built on or tweaked by the designer. That's what you would be doing. To me patterns are for designs that I don't want to take the time and figure it out myself and would rather just buy the pattern and be done with it.

If I'm taking a class, I'll buy the pattern; otherwise I try to figure it out for myself. I'm not always successful, but I have friends at my LQS who will give me advice if I get in a bind. I am very grateful to them! There are also so many free patterns available online, I try to use them. So many of the patterns you have to purchase to make are beyond my skill level that I would not attempt them, anyway.

I draft almost everything with paper/pencil and or EQ6. I usually want to alter the things that inspire me. However, I purchase books, magazines and patterns (when I can) to support those that provide the "inspiration".

I quilt for me (not selling anything) and I enjoy the process of figuring it out myself but you better believe that I will buy it if it is complex. :)

One of the things that worries me nowadays is the fear I hear among us, fear that we will be accused of something terrible if someone thinks we have taken inspiration from somewhere and, especially, if we want to sell the work of our hands.

I am a pattern designer in another domain of folk art - because patchwork and quilting ARE centuries-old forms of folk art - and if you buy one of my patterns, what is it that you are buying? A set of instructions for a combination of folk elements that I have put together. I didn't say 'that I invented' because I didn't invent the elements. I only put them together in what I hope is a pleasing combination and wrote instructions so that other people could do it too. If someone wants to re-create my combination without using my instructions, they obviously can do it. If someone decides to make one of my 'designs' (combinations) and does, and then uses it as the panel of an object that they sell, I think that is wonderful. Why? because I know how many hours and how much care they will have taken to do it, and if they can get a decent price for their work, good for them. I honestly hope they do. Plus, what RIGHT would I have to try to stop them or even to hint that they couldn't/shouldn't/oughtn't ? None whatsoever. Period. The only thing I can ask them to do is not copy my instructions and sell them.

I know for certain that the women who use these folk elements in their daily lives learned how to do it by copying the elements from their mothers, grandmothers, neighbours, etc.

When new elements arrive, it is always surprising for historians (which is what I actually am) to follow the trail to where the new elements came from. A cool example: around 1870, embroiderers in the Jerusalem area started to introduce what have now become named as 'flower pots' into their work. Now, none of the Bedouins around Jerusalem used flower pots around their tents. So where did the flower pots come from? We discovered that around that time a group of Quakers arrived and set up a school for women in Ramallah, which is a few miles from Jerusalem. These missionaries must have brought chintz fabric with them on their furniture or... Flower pots on chintz are typical of the European style of fabric design around that time and these designs originated in fact in the formal English and French topiary gardens inspired by Indian rajahs' palace gardens... So by sight and copying, a garden in India turned into a 'flower pot' cross stitch design on a Bedouin woman's dress. Thank goodness no one at that time would have even thought of claiming originality, invention or the dreaded 'copyright' word!

A quilt 'pattern' is a set of written instructions enabling someone to re-create a given combination of traditional elements. If you see a picture of a quilt, or a quilt at somebody's house or in a museum or where ever, and you say to yourself "Oh, that's cool. It looks like 6 rows of square-in-squares, set on point, separated by narrow sashing" and you can then draft your understanding, and make a similar combination, it means you didn't need a pattern. You had the willpower, the technique and the time to do something similar. You are doing exactly the same thing as people have been doing over the centuries. And if this helps to support your family, all power to you.

You are following Proverbs 31: 10-31.

I believe that we 'designers' can be proud of our combinations, and of our role in preserving tradition while keeping our craft relevant, attractive and alive. But we need to realize that we have not 'invented' anything, probably. I have seen what the Western world calls 'log cabins' on saddle bags made by nomads 150 years ago in far eastern Siberia. Go to Xian or Chengdu for the most incredible baby quilts, made of what we call "squares-in-squares'. The hill people of northern Thailand have developed amazingly tiny rows of 'prairie points' in their strip-pieced work.

Yes, by all means buy patterns, if you want. Draft your own, if you want. Sell your work, or keep it, or give it away, why not?

Inspiration can come from all over, from everywhere. Enjoy it!

There were a LOT of threads on this subject concerning copyright, etc. I think the concensus was that you can draft the pattern IF you do not sell the finished piece, and as long as you acknowledge the pattern and designer on the back.

Sorry, and not looking to create hostility, but the whole point of my very long-winded post was that you the craftsman works out how to do something, you then do it and it is yours to do with as you wish. You can use your production for yourself, you can give it away, you can exchange it for something else, you can sell it.

Fear and misinformation are causing havoc now in a way that they most likely never have over the whole history of working with woven fabric.

The thing you cannot do is take the actual instructions for a 'pattern' or technique as written and copy them for distribution.

Feel free to work out a combination of shapes and then do with it as you see fit.

I draft lots of patterns for single blocks, often to make it easier for me to construct. I'm flying geese challenged, also, there are those trapeziods that crop up in some blocks, which I can't cut. We're not even going to talk about set in seams. I redraft and use HSTs instead. Yes there are extra seams, but you get the same general effect. I don't sell or show my quilts, and if I want to duplicate an entire quilt, I buy the pattern.

I use EQ7 and have since EQ4 came out. I also have quilt pro but I design a lot and love the photo part that is new in EQ7. I also have hand drawn a quilt and taken it to EQ and designed it there. There are a few free programs and cheap ones out there but I seem to always want the latest program. It is a personal choice. I love to copy patterns and make them my own. Then they trigger a new wave of inspiration as I say What If I Do This! So many Ideas So Little Time! Luann in CT

patterns like everything else is getting way to expensive if I can't figure it out I use a free pattern and there are many of those with the cost of everything today we have to cut where we can and so many of those patterns has
to many rules for me that you can't make them for sale etc. so I mostly just use the internet

If possible I make my own just for my self not selling or anything,and I hope it does not interfere with publisher rights.Just for personal use only.

as long as you are not 'copying' someone elses design-then trying to sell it or claim it as your own there is nothing to worry about- we all get inspiration from things we see & many of us make our own versions- you just can not copy a designers (design) then sell (or distribute it) saying it's yours

I make up my own designs all the time. Then I get someting that is unique. I do it the old fashion way with graph paper and a pencil. If I don't like it, I throw it away. If I do, I copy it and get out the colored pencils and color it in several different color ways. I would rather waste a sheet of paper than fabric. The graph paper gives me the measurements for cutting, too.

Go for it.
I know you can do it.
J J

My quilting is for my own personal use or to give as gifts to my family. If I can find the pattern, I'll buy the pattern. If I can't find the pattern, I'll draft my own quilt program.

I use regular paper, on my swivel rotary cutting mat and use the lines on it to measure and draw my graph as big as I want it - And like the Fons show ref. above, I decide how big I want my block and draft accordingly. I do like her suggestion of doing only half the block if it is a big block or whatever (duhhh-never thought of that.) From your draft you can pretty much figure out the sizes - I also draw the crazy quilt blocks based on the same idea.

Someone asked about a free program - there is a fabulous little Free program - QuiltAssistant - http://www.cosman.nl/software_en.html (not affiliated, just a happy user) It takes a little learning curve (not bad) but if you follow the manual that comes with it, it is fabulous. And that program will give you templates, sizes or whatever when you are through drafting, approx yardages, and you can color in it. I have fun playing with it when I see a picture and want to play around with figuring it out.

Marysewfun

That's my feeling too. So many times you see something and it would be very easy to either duplicate or make something similar. And sometime, i do duplicate it. But if its going to take me hours and hours to draft a pattern just to prove I can do it, I just go ahead and get the pattern. I'm generally happy to buy a pattern because I know someone has worked out the details, and especially of its a small pattern company, I feel like I'm helping someone earn a living.

I have done both -bought patterns and on-line patterns. The books that I but now are Quilt History either one person's story or General quilt history. Also have found about 25 Quilt Documentation books from different states and Ireland and England.
If any one has "State Quilt Documentation" books please email me. I would like to have one from each state.

Yes, it is ok.

Ditto for sure

Last year I designed a truly original table runner. I posted it here. People were interested and wanted the pattern. I wrote it up, did lots of drawings, took pictures of the steps, spent days on it. After receiving those requests, I mentioned that I did have the pattern for sale if others were interested in it. (Having already sold a number of copies.) I was stunned to my toes when someone responded and told me that the main element of it was a Mexican star block ( who knew? I had never seen it before, was quite tickled actually to come up with something "new", just my graph paper and I). It was not original and, basically, I should be ashamed of myself for passing it off as a new pattern when it wasn't. You know what? For a couple of days I did have my tail between my legs on this. But I knew!!! it was my design. And I will stand by it as my own forever. I liked writing the pattern and have done more since then. I use traditional blocks in my own way and have been fortunate to make some "egg" money selling them to board members who admire them. If you look at any quilt magazine you can find many examples using the same tried and true block patterns. Different sizes, different fabrics, different settings and borders. And they sell them day after day after day.

God created the original humans and we have continued to work on our versions for centuries. Are we all unique? I'll bet my bottom dollar we are. My quilts (and patterns!) are unique and original as well. Yours are too! I appreciate the opportunity to sell copies of my patterns to those who are interested. Retirement is approaching and life has not been generous so far. A few sales now and then for my imagination and hard work seems fair to me.

For those who might like to see - this is the table runner I mentioned in my last post. Have any of you seen this before?

I haven't seen it before and it's beautiful! You did a great job and regardless of whether the block existed or not, you put it together in your own unique way, which happens to be gorgeous.

I love the quilt in your avatar as well! Do you have a larger photo of it on the board?