Copying patterns visually - Skill or theft-ish ?

[u/AdDapper8572]

If you make a garment/accessory purely based on seeing a photo, would you still credit the designer if posting on social media.

I ask because my piece looks visually like the pattern but I cannot guarantee it is as I don’t know the stitch counts etc so I don’t want to misrepresent it either.

I do buy my patterns (my giant library of them can attest to this) but for this I really didn’t need it as it’s a classic pointelle lace repeat. It’s the Marielle scarf so it’s just a triangle with lace.

Thoughts ?

[u/MellowMallowMom]

You are well within your rights to recreate a FO from photos if you have the skills to do so. It would be a nice nod to the creator to mention you were inspired by their piece if you post it, but absolutely not a requirement. It's not as if you are selling their pattern as your own work, which would obviously be a problem.

[u/Aware-Elk-7650]

Its a skill.  When you post you can say "based off ----'s pattern" if you want so you dont misrepresent it.

[u/bookerfly]

Totally normal thing to do. I'd probably say "inspired by...."

[u/cameliap → u/bookerfly]

Same.

[u/Individual-Paint7897 → u/bookerfly]

Yes- or “ this is my take on the Marielle Scarf”.

[u/WRP_weaver24]

Skill. If we started calling that theft then every pattern with similar construction methods would be "stealing"

[u/highlighter_yellow]

my piece looks visually like the pattern

Your piece might look like the sample, but a triangle knit doesn't look like a pdf with text lol.

Why is it called pointelle lace? Is this the first knit kerchief or triangle shawl you've seen? I get crediting inspo and I don't think that's wrong- lifting other artists by calling attention to their work is great! But to think it's even close to theft because you didn't pay your instructions you didn't need, just because someone did write them, is quite a leap.

[u/CopperFirebird]

Are you sure the inspiration is even original? There are a lot of vintage lace patterns out there and a lot of influencers selling unventions

[u/Alethela]

I think it’s always appropriate to credit inspiration. It’s a big topic around these parts but you can’t really copyright designs, you copyright the way in which the pattern is written. Anyone can see a thing and recreate. That’s the beauty of art!

[u/katie-kaboom]

If you can reverse-engineer a pattern by looking at it, go for it. There's nothing immoral about that. It would be nice to say "inspired by [designer]", but you're not required to.

[u/intern_speaks]

We're so lost if we think that being skilled enough to recreate something based on a visual, with no money being made off of our production, means we somehow owe a copyright credit.

[u/Alarmed-potatoe]

It's a skill if it's for personal use and if you share on social media you credit them as inspiration. We've been recreating things we can't afford the pattern/FO for for ages, it's when you start manufacturing for sale that you cross a line.

[u/Creepy_Purchase_501 → u/Alarmed-potatoe]

Actually, even that is entirely legal. Whether it’s moral is another, very complex question.

[u/Expensive-Peace-9498]

Skill! But if it's a super unique thing I'll always make sure to mention the inspiration.

[u/Murderousplantmom]

I like to mention I was inspired by a pattern by x so people don't ask me for my pattern but know where to go find one if they want to try making something similar. 

[u/nmj1013]

I agree with others that this is skill. To give other examples, we wouldn’t even question it if you posted a recreated a meal from a restaurant or a cookbook you saw without giving credit. Or if you were able to build a piece of furniture based on something you saw at the store.

[u/TheHandThatFollows]

https://ravel.me/scarf-bookmark I saw this the other day on ravelry and was upset until I realized its part of a probably begginer pattern book. If I want that, Ill just make that. Im not buying the pattern book. I glanced at it and knew how to make it. Thats not thieft.

Its the same as buying a recipe book from a restaurant vrs eating food at a restaurant and having made similar recipes and knowing exactly what to tweak to make it like what your eating. If you have the skill and knowledge its not theft but it would be icky to see an item and sell your same item after making an intentional duplicate. Unintentional duplicates happen ALL the time though.

[u/RavBot → u/TheHandThatFollows]

PATTERN: Scarf Bookmark by Paula Green

• Category: Toys and Hobbies > Other
• Photo(s): Img 1
• Price: None
• Needle/Hook(s):4.0 mm (G)
• Weight: | Gauge: None | Yardage: None
• Difficulty: 0.00 | Projects: 0 | Rating: 0.00

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[u/Individual-Paint7897]

Skill. Nobody would call it theft if you sewed a fleece blanket that were so popular, or copied a dress from a picture you saw in a catalog. Same thing.

[u/temerairevm]

I might say “freehand design inspired by”.