Over the last year there have been ongoing issues with my patterns and the clarity of how I would like them to be used in the public realm. I thought I was clear, but it has been made obvious to me that this is not the case. I would like to clear that up. (I am
not talking about
Kelbourne, totally separate thing, with totally different guidelines. Please email me at info@kelbournewoolens.com or give us a call at 215.687.5534 if you want to learn more about
that line of patterns -- we would be happy to answer any questions you may have and help you in any way possible in understanding how they can benefit
you as a knitter or stockist of the Fibre Company yarns or Local Yarn Store!)
*****
So....where to begin.
I started self-publishing free
Zeitgeist Yarns (again, totally separate from KW) knitting patterns for a variety of reasons. I had the tools (computer, software and technical ability), desperately needed an outlet for my desire to plaster fonts I adored all over the internet, just discovered I actually enjoyed web design and Ai, and needed an additional positive outlet after making the transition in concentration in grad school. I wanted to see if it was something that people were interested in and if actually writing down what I was doing as I was doing it was worthwhile. So far, so good.
And there I was, with 6 fans and no real care in the world (besides that infernal grad program).
Then came Selbu Modern.
I am still really proud of that pattern and am continually impressed with all the finished versions out there. I love that many people have used it for their first Fair Isle project, and it has made others love that shape and style of hat. I love all of the different color combinations and yarns that have been used. And while in no way is it the most popular knitting pattern out there, I could have made a few student loan payments (officially more per month than our mortgage, thankyouverymuch) off of the sales,
I still am very happy I made it available for free.Since then, though, in an effort to be as clear as possible (and succinct! -- not a strong point!), I have constantly re-worded and updated the one-line copyright that I put on the bottom of my patterns.
In a perfect world, it would say something like this:
-Print my pattern as much as you want, but remember the trees. Knit as many as you want, but remember all the other great patterns out there. -If you are a shop, please feel free to provide copies of the patterns to your customer for free (within reason -- create your own pattern support already -- you work in a yarn shop!)-And, please, don't teach this pattern in a class (remember, I did all the work -- and its free!) and fergawds sake, do not knit this up and sell it. Think about that for a second. Not cool.or, the less verbose:
Please, Don't be a jerk. But, that is ridiculous, and potentially offensive, so they all say something along the lines of "Not to be reproduced, re-knit or taught for profit". I never wanted too have to get very "legal" with the patterns, (because, admittedly, I am not a lawyer and know very little about copyright and licensing law) and really believed that what was there was enough to motivate people to be respectful of my wishes. Unfortunately, the statement either worked to the extent that people have asked if it is okay to even knit one and wear it in their shop/booth/home (Of course! Knit away! Knit 4,000 of them! Wallpaper your bathroom with the pages! Use them to line your litterbox!), or has no effect whatsoever and they teach it in a class that they charge a fee
with no mention whatsoever of my name as the designer and/or without checking with me first. This is something I am
really not comfortable with.
So. I am now taking the time to re-word the copyright
again and all of the Zeitgeist Yarns patterns. Over the last few weeks since initially posting this, I have made slight changes for clarification, and now have decided to remove all references to copyright law, and just really put this out as a request for respect. (I initially thought Creative Commons was the way to go, but it seems the "attribution" issue was perfectly taken care of, the "teaching" issue -- although I firmly believe, a "commercial use" of my patterns, not so much).
In lieu of paying for my patterns,
all I ask is that people do not re-knit them for sale or teach them in classes unless given express written permission from me, and if permission is granted,
it is necessary to identify me as the designer.
(Consider that attribution my "adware", for lack of a better term). By downloading my patterns you agree to this simple request. If you do not agree, don't download the pattern(s). If you don't get it, just ask. Simple.
To reiterate: this means you have to get in touch with me if you want to use this pattern for teaching a class and you must put my name on the page/blog/newsletter advertising the class. A pm on ravelry (my name is a zeitgeistyarns) -- is perfect. If you're not on ravelry, send me an email at zeitgeistyarns@gmail.com.
I firmly believe this is not a lot to ask. I don't want to regret my choice to continue make them available for free.
Bottom line: Think about the way you want your work to be valued, then do the same to mine, even if I don't have the common sense to value it more myself and charge you for it (or if you don't give a flying monkey if someone treats your intellectual property differently. Treat me how I ask to be treated).
And read the fine print, even if it is in a slightly quirky font.
Thank you.
I bought the "white" (more of a sheepy ecru) at MDS&W last year from the Seacolors booth with the hopes of knitting an entire sweater out of it, but I was really indecisive about just what kind of sweater to knit. I realized pretty quickly I didnt have enough for a full blown Aran and thought a plain stockinette cardigan was a bit....boring. I have always loved all of the incarnations of the Treeline Striped Cardgian on Ravelry, and knew the technique in the pattern for working one row stripes is simple, perfect genius (I had used it once prior). I grabbed a skein of EcoWool in Black from Rosies and went to town.
My hair is getting out of control.
