How I Write Crochet Patterns - Addressing The Drama (Apologies for the chaotic-ness of this video)

In this video, I explain how I write most of the crochet patterns I do. And I clarify a misunderstanding about what is and isn't okay when it comes to writing crochet patterns inspired by other designs/designers.
All of my personal patterns are linked here:
💀No Sew Halloween Pattern Pack:💀
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👻No Sew Ghost:👻
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👹No Sew Frankenstein:👹
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🍬No Sew Candy Corn:🍬
www.etsy.com/l...
🎃No Sew Pumpkin:🎃
www.etsy.com/l...
🧙‍♀️No Sew Witch Hat:🧙‍♀️
www.etsy.com/l...
🦖No Sew Chubby Dino:🦖
www.etsy.com/l...
🐝No Sew Bee:🐝
• Create Adorable Croche...
Felt Eyes (not my store but I love her eyes!):
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When did I start my crochet business?: December 2022
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When did I start crocheting?: Seriously, in November 2022, but I learned as a child
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[@bridgetrice7485]

The amount of bee patterns that are out there... or ghost or pumpkins...I could keep going. It's impossible to not have similarities! What you did was fine in my opinion.

[@WorksofWhimsyCrochetCo]

Thank you! That's also why I try to give away some of those popular patterns. I have a free bee tutorial on my channel. I have a free mushroom pattern on my channel. I'll eventually have a free witch hat and a free pumpkin pattern on my channel. Why? Because these kinds of things are pretty darn common.

[@cathiecollier5578]

I don't think you stole from anyone to create your patterns. I've purchased many patterns from many different artists and I noticed that the stitches we use to crochet a dome, cylinder, or no-sew limbs are the same, that's just a fact. I think you actually honor the person who inspired you to create another art piece. I enjoy watching your videos and I'm sorry this happened to you. Keep on doing what you're good at; making videos and patterns!

[@WorksofWhimsyCrochetCo]

Thank you so much! And I'd never intentionally steal, for sure. You guys hear me talk about other creators/designers that I love ALL THE TIME. KatieBeingCreative, AllFromJade, SweetSofties (in this instance), Cable and Canvas, the lady from La Petite Saint Crochet (who changed her business's name recently too). Like, I really give credit where credit is due I feel like lol. I've even done a collab with another crochet youtuber and name dropped my current editor Martin who has her own crochet KZbin as well.

[@nicolehaugen9265]

From what I can understand, it was perhaps the way you explained your process that has caused the drama. If you had said " I have tried other patterns for pocket dinos and none of them were exactly what I was looking for. So I sat down and designed my own pattern that has all the things in it I wanted." there would likely have been no pushback. I think the fact that you said repeatedly that you were changing things from an existing pattern is what is the sticky point for other people. Saying that you were inspired by another artists work is fundamentally different than saying you were changing things in an existing pattern....I do understand what you are saying, but the way you are explaining it might be causing confusion......hope this helps and has not further muddied the waters.

[@WorksofWhimsyCrochetCo]

Interesting take. And perhaps you're correct. It is the wording causing it to be an issue. I did focus on citing that one pattern because I felt like it was the best one out of the ones I've tried. But still wasn't quite for me. But there have been quite a handful of other dino patterns I've tried and just not loved. So I did cite that pattern as inspo, but the ones I've tried from Ribblr, Instagram, and Etsy definitely did play a role in my pattern writing. The ribblr one didn't have a good tail style, but I liked the spikes. The instagram one was too big, so took too long for me to consider it profitable and I didn't like the shape of the lower half. So they did influence my pattern, just like, not positively lol. Whereas, the pocket dino had more of a positive influence. The aspect that I "kept" from that pattern is general shape, just needed to be a bit chunkier. And it needed real arms and legs in the way of bobble stitches. And it needed better spikes. So that's why I say my pattern was inspired by that one in particular. But it is my own pattern. And the whole reason I took the time to point out the key differences like it being larger, chunkier, having different arms/legs, and spikes is because when I said that pattern was my inspiration people took that to mean I used an existing pattern as a base to write mine and just changed how the arms look. Like we all modify something about a pattern as we make it. But this wasn't a modification to an existing pattern. It's a new pattern that took inspiration from others in what I wanted it to include and not include.

[@jackieschneider7354]

There are so many identical sea turtle patterns that various creators are selling as their own patterns, everyone can be accused of stealing. I think your issue is basically choice of words you used when explaining your pattern. Sometimes you have to just ignore the armchair lawyers.

[@WorksofWhimsyCrochetCo]

lol yeah, I like knew what I was trying to say, but like, it wasn't coming out concisely enough haha.

[@madebymarshamommarsha2861]

I've been crocheting for years, and as bad as this sounds, i do not purchase patterns that i can look at and figure out on my own, examples bee, pickle, octo, stress balls, happy pills whatever. On the snarkier side: i cannot believe how many crocheters put patterns on etsy or ribbler or Ravelry of these same things. Everybody who has any experience can figure out basic shapes as there are only so many ways to do them. On the other side if its truly an original design/ idea i will support the small businesses. Hope this doesn't come across too mean, its not my intent, and all that to say youre not doing anything wrong because nobody has a owns the rights to a shape or a stitch.

[@WorksofWhimsyCrochetCo]

Not mean at all! I actually find your comment amusing because I buy and look up patterns for basic things ALL THE TIME. Like, I own multiple octo and jellyfish patterns (all from jade, cable and Canva, Katie being creative, crochet by genna). Yet, I could freehand an octopus in about 20 minutes haha. Idk, I just like seeing the differences from one design to another, even for the same thing, and I enjoy working from printed patterns. I've got like 18 pages in my etsy purchases of paid patterns, a slew of bookmarked free patterns, and still more patterns on ribblr and revelry. I love me some crochet patterns. But I do totally understand not purchasing patterns in general, since there are plenty of free ones out there, and I definitely understand forgoing the use of a pattern if you can freehand something. But for me, I like procuring patterns. Even for things I'll probably never make haha.

[@carlann9807]

Most of us change patterns to suit what we like and that makes the pattern our own unique pattern.

[@WorksofWhimsyCrochetCo]

Yeah, I realized in talking about this topic that I actually can't seem to complete a pattern without changing something hahah.

[@HookedOnCrafts]

This is just my two cents…I call this “hacking” a pattern. I “hack” most patterns I use by not following a pattern exactly but I do what I know works for me from past experience. Like the arms for example. If I would not have thought to create a pattern or project if I had never seen the other pattern or the product then I personally would not try and sell it as my pattern. I hope that makes sense. I would make as many finished projects as I wanted with my changes to sell at markets but I wouldn’t feel comfortable selling my “hacked” changes as my pattern.

[@WorksofWhimsyCrochetCo]

I understand what you mean. And I agree, if I had simply modified an aspect or two of the pattern and the base pattern was still the same, I wouldn't feel comfortable selling that. I do that same kind of thing all the time too haha. But I also changed the base pattern. Mine retained a similar shape, but it was larger than the inspiration, in addition to being chunkier and containing extra features that weren't in the original pattern, you know what I mean. But yeah, I think it's funny that we all change a little something something about patterns we buy/use haha.

[@lunamalicreations]

I love your T. rex Dino pattern 😊 I think you’re right that we learn techniques from patterns we buy and make and we can use those techniques to create our own patterns!! As others have said there are tons of bee, turtle, frog, mushroom, octopus, etc patterns out there that there’s no way that all those patterns for the same items don’t have similarities.

[@WorksofWhimsyCrochetCo]

Yeah, I think that's how really good patterns come to be. Learning from other patterns and adapting the techniques we like for our own. I know there's not a ton of people for releasing patterns for such popular things when a ton exist already, but I write patterns to my own preferences, and maybe someone else likes what I like, you know.

[@SingleMomBudgeting]

I agree. I compare it to the big name brands in makeup. They all have the same general ingredients. But, they each change up their branding/advertising/colors/etc. there are billions of people on this planet, what makes anyone think that they’re idea, is the ONLY one like it? Who says that the person down the road, hasn’t been creating a piece of artwork that hasn’t been shown to the world yet, meanwhile - another guy has shared his.

[@WorksofWhimsyCrochetCo]

Exactly. Like, I just kind of get inspiration from other artists, which I think is quite common. And like of course we'd all be doing similar things for the most part because that's what is popular in our industry right now.

[@jeanscollay1207]

I have a friend that knits and I have seen her taking features from different patterns to come up with an original style for herself. So changing patterns to suit what your own style is , is very common

[@WorksofWhimsyCrochetCo]

Jealous of your friend's ability to knit! I can do a very basic swatch but I can't read a knitting pattern to save my life haha. And yeah, I thought so but then I was concerned if that's not how things work lol.

[@FloridasYesteryear]

Sounds like what you are doing is fine. I run into this when quilting. Like guys sorry you don't own a log cabin square they have been around since the early 1800s stop saying people are stealing your pattern. But like my friend is purchasing a t-rex amigurumi from me for her son. So I found a web page that had a bunch of different t-rex patterns and told her to pick one. Her son picked out this cute Keychain of a t-rex with a backpack. Only he wants the t-rex to have stripes. So I am not writing a pattern but I am going to add stripes. Does this mean I am stealing if I do try to write a pattern of a T-Rex with stripes?

[@annieb2043]

Hi - my personal opinion (& it is only mine 😘) - if I did the pattern & ONLY changed it to have stripes, I would call that a modification (with everything being the same except the stripes) & would not sell the pattern. If you wrote a pattern for a T-Rex with stripes & decided to add a backpack without using the pattern that you have seen , then that is different & your pattern is yours - but maybe 'inspired by' would be a nice touch to mention.😊❤

[@FloridasYesteryear]

@annieb2043 maybe if I made the T-Rex with vertical stripes instead of horizontal because then the whole design would have to be put together differently.

[@annieb2043]

@@FloridasYesteryear That sounds to me like you would have to write Your pattern from scratch having been inspired by something your friends son liked, thus creating your own pattern ( & hopefully selling it!) 😘❤

[@FloridasYesteryear]

@annieb2043 I am going to make a few different versions like horizontal stripes by doing a color change. Another one where I sew the stripes. Maybe I will attempt a vertical stripes one too.

[@annieb2043]

@@FloridasYesteryear Sounds fun! Good luck!❤

[@TangledTidings]

So legally yeah you're in the clear. Any visual art can be recreated and as long as you're not branding it as something not yours it's legal (ie knock off coach bags can exist but can't be labeled coach) As for if you should or not that's a moral question and not really our place to tell you. But what I will offer up is if you are as concerned as you seem to be by making a Facebook post and a half hour video explaining yourself then it might be time to look internally and see why you feel like you need to explain yourself to such a degree. Wishing you the best from one wanna be designer that doesn't want to be an accidental thief to another

[@WorksofWhimsyCrochetCo]

I understand what you're saying. I personally felt like I needed to explain myself because I'm kind of a people please to a point. Like, generally, I don't care what people think of me. Like if someone doesn't like my tattoos or when I had the side of my head shaved, whatever haha. BUT what people think of my personal integrity IS important to me. Being seen as weird, no issue. Being seen as dishonest/disingenuous, not about it. Part of it, like I said, was for my own sake because that's not how I want to be know. And the other part of it is because I'm kind of a leader here. I only set out to share my experiences on this channel BUT people do learn things from me and so the info I share as "advice" so I just wanted to verify that I wasn't like totally out of line. The vast majority of people validated my way of thinking, so I do feel better.

[@TangledTidings]

@@WorksofWhimsyCrochetCo I get that. I have a very similar mindset. But I also know if you're getting a lot of that validation externally it is a lot easier for others to break it down when that 1 naysayer gets louder than the rest (which happens a lot on the internet). And yeah the advice thing is really important too. Which not a lot of people pay any attention to so definitely makes sense to double-check yourself for that reason. I definitely think that if you feel like your pattern has something new to offer to the sea of designs that exist it's worth publishing. Although a lot of people would disagree with me but 🤷‍♀

[@nobletijuana5844]

I noticed everybody does that! No worries

[@WorksofWhimsyCrochetCo]

Thank you so much!!!

[@CreatedbyFrancie]

Sorry you are going through this, so many patterns start out the same and I have seen two different patterns. Be almost exactly the same yet each person claims that pattern is theirs. i’ve heard some other KZbinrs say they look at chickens if they’re going to make a chicken pattern and then look at what’s out there and then they’ll decide how they want to create theirs. That’s what people do you look at what’s out there look at the animal and how it is. Look at pictures of the animal I don’t see anything wrong with that

[@WorksofWhimsyCrochetCo]

Thank you! I personally don't have an issue with the fact that there are some many patterns for the same things because each one of them offers something a little different in most cases. I've discovered new ways of doing things by doing patterns for the same animals. I have multiple frog pattern, multiple mushroom patterns, multiple turtle patterns, and I know that having those and trying those will definitely influence how my designs of those same things will be if ever I release patterns for them.

[@annieb2043]

HI Jacki - don't worry about this. You clearly know the difference between 'modification' & 'inspired by' as you have mentioned both in previous videos. The shapes & stitches we use in crochet are not the property of one person who happened to use them in a pattern before we write ours. I feel there is a clear difference to a modification - like adding a rim to a mushroom- or changing an arm etc - and begin inspired by something. The inspiration is when you think 'I like dinos - I want to make one but I can't find a pattern I like so I'll write my own'. Then in writing your own you incorporate various things from what you have done before - such as a sphere for a head! That is NOT stealing just because there are other patterns using a sphere for the head!

[@WorksofWhimsyCrochetCo]

YES! This right here is like what I was trying really hard to convey but I was having trouble conveying it the way I meant it haha. Thank you for reiterating what I was saying more clearly and concisely. One paragraph summed up that WHOLE video haha.

[@annieb2043]

😘❤@@WorksofWhimsyCrochetCo

[@courtneyeddie8458]

You're alright sweetie ;) I'm sorry this happened, keep doing what you're doing! I enjoy your videos and market prep!

[@WorksofWhimsyCrochetCo]

Thank you so much!! You guys have all made me feel so much better! Truly!

[@Morgan-pd6uj]

I change every pattern I buy or use

[@WorksofWhimsyCrochetCo]

Honestly, same haha. But that's how I know that what I did went beyond a modification or two to the base pattern for this situation lol. Like adding the rim to Katiebeingcreative's mushroom pattern is a mod. Creating a larger or small mushroom with a rim around it is a different pattern.

[@florenciabehrensen7570]

Not right for me but everyone is doing it. You are just being transparent about your approach. Most people won't even recognize they used others pattern as base for their "own".

[@WorksofWhimsyCrochetCo]

I feel that and I understand. On occasion, this is my approach. A lot of the patterns come out of necessity for a simpler/faster make for markets. But I have a few that are completely from my own brain (like my fox and my new dragon). They were just stuff I wanted to make.

[@melmanhattan]

Keep doing you!!!!❤❤

[@WorksofWhimsyCrochetCo]

Thank you!!! Always!

[@oldmomma56]

No snark hear!

[@WorksofWhimsyCrochetCo]

thank you!!!

[@lunamalicreations]

Also what Facebook group are you in? I started a new Facebook for all my crochet stuff and I’m trying to join groups and follow crocheters on there.

[@WorksofWhimsyCrochetCo]

its called alternative crochet. I'm also in a group called We Love Crochet or something like that too.

[@lunamalicreations]

@@WorksofWhimsyCrochetCo Oo perfect I’ll try and find those groups and join 😉

[@lunamalicreations]

Question: since your brand name changed, do you have a new email address?

[@WorksofWhimsyCrochetCo]

Yes and no. I do have a new email for the new brand name. It's [e-mail]. BUT it redirects to the cottonbabycrochet email. That way I didn't have to have a separate inbox.

[@lunamalicreations]

@@WorksofWhimsyCrochetCo ooo ok lol that works :)