6/3/2019 Designer Rants

About a year ago, my almost sister-in-law, approached me with the idea of selling my knitted items in a gift shop that she manages. Since I had a closet-full of done projects without a forever-home, I was elated. I came up with a brand name "Deb's Dabbles," which, while slightly grammatically incorrect was a true picture of my varied knitting projects. I came up with a logo--a eye-glassed woman knitting, and even decided on a font.

Then I discovered the harsh realities of knitting. Many, many patterns these days are written with a copyright restriction that forbids the use of the pattern for other than "personal use." So you can't make an item with that pattern, then sell said item--this would constitute commercial use. As strictly interpreted, I can spend my money on the pattern and yarn. Spend my time knitting up the item, and then can recoup only the cost of the yarn and pattern (if that). It is OK, to gift any item.

Several friends offered suggestions--modify the pattern, ignore the rules, etc. There is some talk in the universe that modifying the pattern 10% (whatever that means) is enough to void the copyright restriction. Does changing the cast-on or bind-off method qualify as part of the 10%? What about changing the designated yarn, needle size, or altering proportions? Others say that this is a bogus idea.

I understand that designers want control of the pattern itself. If I want someone else to have a copy, I buy the copy and give it to them. But why does a designer feel she has the right to control every single product that is made from that pattern?

My bottom line: I won't put family or friends at risk of being sued for selling something that has a copyright restriction.

My end result: A cupboard full of knitted items that can be gifted (unfortunately, none of my family is fond of anything I've made other than socks), not sold. My heirs will be cussing me out.

6/3/2019 Stash and requests

6/3/2019 Stash and requests
My stash now exceeds my lifetime (at least twice). I stopped at Fiddlehead Yarns (my lys) on Friday morning after working Thursday night. I wanted to buy the next four of the Knitted Wits National Park series. I was worried that if I waited until Monday, they'd be gone. Good thing I went. Some colorways only had three skeins remaining. 8 colorways down, 8 to go.

I knit socks like my mom knit mittens. They're quick and because I've done them a lot, good meditative knitting. I'm almost done with a pair of fleegle heeled socks using Hermione's Everyday sock pattern, and a Jitterbug Colinete color--Mint Chocolate--I'd bought before 2011.

I'm still not sure what cast-on I used on my Cables down the back socks. Some sort of cable cast on, but I forgot to take notes, worked two other projects and then forgot.

My youngest sister has requested some items to be knit by me. I'm almost delighted, except that they're sweaters and ponchos in (yippee) white. Machine washable and dryable. She had one sample of each, knit by our mom, that look brand new. Well, I bought white yarn a while ago. Guess I'll start knitting.