twirly skirt
May 25th, 2009
Erin is responsible for most of my daughter’s summer wardrobe, this year and last. Her tutorials are easy to follow and super adaptable. I made a bigger size of the Twirly skirt this year, but it seams my daughter didn’t grow that much so I guess it will fit next year too. Though I’m sure I’ll want to make another one when next summer comes around. I’ve got some more summer clothes for her in the works, but not much planned for my son. Are there any good, stylish tutorials or patterns for boys out there, beside the ubiquitous “easy pants?”
On a completely unrelated note, I’ve been asked to make the pattern for my kiddy messenger bags available for purchase. I would love to do this, but worry about copyright and pattern bootlegging (ha!). Do any of you sell PDF patterns? And if so do you have any advice on the subject?
I have been doing a bit of research myself, and this is the link where you would submit a pattern: http://www.copyright.gov/
You can submit a pattern for copyright electronically for $35. The part I am still feeling uneasy with is exactly what this does and does not protect you from legally.
oh, look at her cool shoes!!! Too cute!
cute skirt. I’m knee deep in Ottobre right now for my two boys. They have cute stuff for boys too that is a little more fun to sew than the basics.
As far as copyright goes you really don’t have to register it. Copyright is a bit more different than patent law in that the copyright exists the minute you create. However, the crafting community has run with the law and interpreted things way different than the law says. Patterns are protected from reproduction in the sense that someone cannot legally copy your pattern and then resell that pattern copy. This does not apply to the end product (the garment) as the copyright only protects the document (the actual pattern).
this page is a good start:
http://tabberone.com/Trademarks/CopyrightLaw/Patterns.shtml
eek! so cute!
i need to make kate a new one. jane is over skirts. boo!
I think if you take the big step to make your pattern available for sale you have to make peace with where it will end up. You can’t police the whole craftworld to see if someone makes money off your pattern. They can always just make a small change then it is not yours anymore.
My advice is if you want to sell it, do so and send the pattern off with a blessing to the person who buys it. If it makes someone else happy, what more do you want?
Well, that’s my 2 cents worth..
I am actually preparing to create some patterns for some of my plushies–which I will sell in my Etsy shop. You know, if I send them to people as a pdf–not doubt it will get sent around and shared with more than the buyer–but I am not too worried about that. I just think selling your patterns is such a great way to share what you can do with the crafting community–and it is also an easy revenue source once you create the pattern.
Also, I do not believe that putting the pattern out there creates disinterest in your own finished version of the item–I have noticed things with patterns available seem to sell just as well if not better.
Anyway, you have such a big readership, you should sell patterns. I am sure they would sell really well and people will still want to buy your finished messanger bags when you put them in your shop.
Happy Tuesday.
Holly
Hello, my name is Rae and I sell PDFs…The copyright thing is a complete headache. Do you have an hour??? Maybe I’ll just email you…
Hey Meg,
There’s a pattern for a boy shirt on BurdaStyle.com. And it’s not free, but the Japanese pattern book, “I Have Good Clothes” at Supperbuzzy is so great. The sample pictures show mostly girl stuff, but really it’s an even mix – they have a shorts, pants, shirt, tie, jacket, hat and bag pattern for boys – plus all the stuff for girls.
i just wanted to chime in and say that i totally love holly(beeperbebe)’s take on patterns. i will be super excited to see patterns from both of you! and rae’s pattern for the ittybitty dress is a big favorite around here, too.
:)