Like all quilt designers and other pattern artists, I have a copyright on the bottom of all of my free quilt patterns, that the quilt the pattern is used for is for personal use only.  I have a hard time believing people cannot read, and I am pretty sure people know the copyright issues because they always rear their ugly head in online and offline quilt groups, on the various social media pages, etc.

My rule has always been that if a group, such as a quilt guild, wants to use one of my patterns for a project – they should ask me for permission.  My response is always that I would prefer each person print out the instructions from my website but if that is not feasible, then the group may copy it for everyone, as long as my copyright and web address are not left out.

I have had a lot of lovely emails from far and wide who want to make one of my patterns for their quilt groups or guilds….and even shops who ask for permission to kit it for a group setting.  Again, I give them the first requirement but I also ask that they take a photo of the group either with one of the blocks from my pattern or a photo of their finished quilts from my pattern – and email that to me so I can use it on my websites.  Of course, ALL of them readily agree and promise to send me photos.

I have had my BOMquilts.com website for about 10 years.  In that amount of time I have NOT.  RECEIVED. A. SINGLE.  PHOTOGRAPH. from anyone who has asked for permission.  NOT.  ONE.

Today, I responded to a comment on this blog about the size of a pattern that was incorrect.  From the comment, I gleamed that the person was part of a group who was making one of my quilts.  Not enough information was given for me to know whether each member of said group was making the quilt or if the group was just making one of my quilts.  In this instance, not a single person in that group emailed me for permission.

Because I enjoy designing patterns and offering them for free, I am at risk of these types of users.  People who promise to send me photos but don’t.  People who use my patterns in group settings without first asking permission.  People who make quilts from my patterns and then sell them.

Bottom line:  People who are dishonest are always going to be wanting something for nothing.  I have to accept that.  I know a lot of folks who share patterns that they purchase, so the usage is just as bad for quilt designers who do not offer free patterns.  And none of us can stop them.

As for my designs on BOMquilts.com and QuiltTherapy.com?  I either have to accept the dishonesty of quilters or stop giving free patterns away and accept the dishonesty of some quilters by charging a fee for my patterns.  And to me, it’s a crying shame that I have to make this decision at all!