Food for Knitterly Thought

Today I will refer the knitters among you, as well as those in related arts areas (for really - you sing songs at shows? make dresses on comission? Operate a cooking classroom? this could be so applicable....) to a thoughtful and troubling post by an enterprising knit designer.

Pamela of FlintKnits.

I don't think most of us will have much doubt where the right and wrong of this is - just maybe about how to approach it, and get everything going with the "right" of it.

As a designer - what can you do besides lock your work away, spend all your time policing it, or never contribute anything that doesn't have big-publisher backing? I really don't know the answer, but maybe someone does. You don't have to tell me, particularly, by the way, it's food fer thinkin'.

As a knitter? I suggested this in a comment on the author's blog: If you're paying money to take a class, ask about the sources. Be nice and assume the best: "Do I have to make sure I buy a legal copy of the pattern?" (hint, hint), or "Oh, wow, you've got so-and-so's permission to use her book? That's cool!" (you DO, don't you?). If met with blank stares, perhaps point out that the author has a fair-use clause on their pattern. Or maybe that working from a published work requires purchase of a copy unless special permission is obtained. In the full spirit of not assuming malice where ignorance will explain, there are some people out there who genuinely may not know, strange as that may be to ANYone who has come within 3 clicks of the word "copyright" on Ravelry.

As an aspiring knitting teacher - I know this is a challenge. People want to learn to knit, and they see these incredible designs they love and they're not sure they can do it all but would love to have someone teach them. We've got the skills and the interest in teaching and can share so much, but even approaching all the foofaraw around copyright is sooooo.... daunting. Distateful even , when you're a little bug like me in a big pond and can anticipate the headache of trying to, say, get a publishing house to allow you some right to a work. But really? We should be representing the best of the knitting world and sucking it up, and I think if we did we'd find it not that bad. If someone responds negatively, or wants 185% of your class revenues? Screw 'em, and move on, because there are gems like Pamela out there who'd love to help you out in exchange for acknowledgement and a little attention to her offerings. And even the LIKELY worst case? Someone's going to tell you to buy a copy for each student. Your students are able to pay about $50 for your class, and $60-$100 or maybe more for materials. It is NOT unreasonable to ask for a $5 contribution to a designer's livelihood, and to give a nod to all their hard work.

I've so far made my own class-pattern sheets, which are pretty basic and cover techniques, not any particular design. But even my toe-up sock recipe, which I presented with specifically-done photos (and my hubby-photographer's complete complicity), and a reference list, contained credit for so much as "here's a good example of this technique". I do not copy or even teach out of a specific book, though I go armed with with references for students who want good sources (hoping the LYS has copies to sell!) I even emailed other bloggers and youtubers to ask if they minded if I referenced their posts, something that would even exceed academic reference requirements, but I thought it would be nice to do. Admittedly - one didn't answer because the email bounced. All the others were enthusiastically affirmative.

Teaching is pleasing, though not easy work. If you're going to all the trouble to put together a really good class - this is an additional drop in the bucket. Do it, and you and any generous designer you support can both hold your heads higher.