Why You Shouldn’t Share Paid Patterns

The crochet world is a vibrant community brimming with creativity and a love for handmade treasures. 

But within this world, there is a question of respect for intellectual property and the dedication poured into creating crochet patterns.

Designing a crochet pattern is a process that takes time, skill, and lots of experimentation. From conceptualising the design to crafting instructions, testing techniques, and creating charts, designers invest significant effort into ensuring their patterns are user-friendly and produce beautiful results.  

Paid patterns serve a crucial purpose in our community:

• Supporting a Creator: Crochet design isn’t just a creative outlet; it can be a source of income. Purchasing a pattern supports the designer and allows them to continue creating new designs.
• Maintaining Quality: The income generated from pattern sales allows designers to invest in tools, software, websites, and resources.
• Providing Ongoing Support: Many designers offer support to those who purchase their patterns. This could involve answering questions, clarifying instructions, or even offering troubleshooting tips.

Pictured: Flower Deer pattern by OlyaSamToys on Etsy

Sharing a paid crochet pattern for free essentially deprives the designer of the income they deserve for their hard work.  Imagine it like this:  Would you photocopy a book and distribute it to your friends? Sharing a paid pattern has the same effect. It is taking something that doesn’t belong to you and undermining the livelihood of the creator.

If you see someone sharing a paid pattern on social media, call them out! Crocheters need to stick together to protect the intellectual property of the fabulous designers who share their time and skill.

There are many ways to show your appreciation for a crochet pattern without infringing on the designer’s copyright:

• Purchase the pattern: This is the most straightforward way to support the designer.
• Spread the word: Love a particular pattern? Share the designer’s website or social media page with your fellow crocheters!
• Donate to the designer: Many designers offer additional ways to support them, such as donations or purchasing exclusive content on Patreon.
• Support the designer: If you can’t afford to purchase a pattern, then there are other ways to support designers. Share their patterns, social media, and websites with the community. Simply interacting with their social media posts can be a huge boost to the algorithm and allow more people to see their work. 

By choosing not to share paid crochet patterns, you’re contributing to a crochet community where designers are valued and encouraged to create new and innovative patterns.  

Every pattern you crochet is a testament to the creativity and dedication of designers who share their passion with the world.