refibered

How do you know you've created an original pattern/style?

If you do create something original, and you think it's marketable, how do you go about marketing it?

I've got something "special" and I'm not sure what's the next step. Part of me thinks: "share it with the world!" Another part of me thinks: "my precious" :lol:

I haven't found any threads about these particular questions (and others that may come up during a discussion about them), if I've missed it/them, please let me know. Thanks!

rf

patricej

i hope somebody really knows the answers to your questions because i would also like to know.

i considered submitting designs to magazines but i won't do that until i have a nice healthy inventory. for one thing, if a magazine publishes your pattern, they will almost certainly require you to sign over all copyrights and it's no longer yours. for another, if it's a hit you'll want to be ready for the customers it draws in search of your other patterns.

the only way i can think of to "test" for originality is to spend a lot of time searching the internet and browsing through books and magazines to see what's already out there.

i'm sure somebody here will know more than i do about this. i can't wait to read. :-)

jbsstrawberry

Could you do a copy-right search?

http://www.copyright.gov/

Thats the web site for the U.S. Copyright Office, there's search copyright records resource there.

Moonpi

Searching may be tough. I collected antique quilts for years, and see some patterns coming back as kits that were done in the 1800s. Some of my own quilts were inspired by the old ones. I love designing, but have always hesitated to copyrite. Too many names for the same block, too many variables. Even if a quilter from 1880 had copyrighted a pattern, can elements of that design be copyrighted today?

I'm bookmarking this thread, hoping someone knows.

refibered

I did scroll through the copyright stuff, but copyrighting is for patterns and such, not the finished product (not necessarily anyway; it's a very complicated thing that copyright stuff....)

Speaking of which, how do you go about writing a pattern or instructions in my case, since it's more of a method than a pattern?

Patrice, as you suggested, I've spent (wasted? :lol: ) quite a bit of time searching google images, various websites, books, etc., and haven't found anything quite like "my precious" so from that viewpoint, yes, it may be an original thought (who knew I could have one of those?! :lol: ).

I think I'll just save it for a bit and submit it to a magazine contest or maybe try entering it in a quilt show. It's not actually finished yet, just a top now, so not sure what I'm worried about.... :roll:

Hopefully these and other related questions can continue to be discussed and we'll ultimately get some answers.

rf

Admin

If you have something special that many quilters would like, drop me a line via PM and I might run a broadcast on the newsletter featuring it. I would do it for a cut of proceeds, not an upfront fee. So there is less risk for you, and at the same time it helps pay for the costs of running the board and the newsletter.

But it must be something good. I never posted an offer like that in public because I'm worried that a lot of people might contact me asking to promote stuff of questionalbe quality/value. If you have some other members of the board who could vouch for you and the quality of your pattern, that's even better.

refibered

Thanks for the offer! I've sent you a PM.

I haven't had anyone else test the method, so unfortunately no one to vouch for me.

Is testing the next step after developing? Writing out the pattern would be, I suppose, since you'd need a pattern to have others test..... :lol: How would one go about getting testers (on this site or elsewhere)?

rf

SandraJennings

...ask trusted quilters of divergent methods to try the pattern and see what develops...they should quickly be able to "edit" for any clarifications and present you with alternative colorways if applicable. Patterns usually become standards because of ease of use and flexibility of color applications

refibered

I am planning to get a 'pattern' drawn up soon so I can ask for testers and get some feedback.

Thanks!

huggyface

take a picture of your quilt and instructions, put it in an envelope and mail it to yourself, when it comes back put it in with your valuables and don't open it. It's the same as putting a patten on it, if someone publishes it with out your consent you have proof it is your patten. A man in our area does this all the time.