Princess Diana Sweater Patternsn

I'm a moderator on one of the forums and we have to remind people not to copy the entire pattern into their posts to ask for help. They say 'but it's free!', however the site owners can get into trouble with the original site it was published on if there was no permission granted.

sue

Interesting thread... Now here I am to stir the pot a little :) IIRC, Lady Diana wore the sweaters and a few months later the patterns were published in a U.S. magazine. "But", was it the actual designer of the Lady Di sweaters that had the patterns published in the magazine or were they knock-offs? I guess it just seems a little strange to me that a designer would publish the patterns in a magazine rather than as patterns in a book or that she would not continue to make the sweaters, sell them and make a substantial profit.

I suppose whether or not the sweaters are knock-offs doesn't really matter in regards to copyright...or does it?

Just tossing around some thoughts...

take care, Linda D. in B.C., Canada

Interesting thread... Now here I am to stir the pot a little :) IIRC, Lady Diana wore the sweaters and a few months later the patterns were published in a U.S. magazine. "But", was it the actual designer of the Lady Di sweaters that had the patterns published in the magazine or were they knock-offs? I guess it just seems a little strange to me that a designer would publish the patterns in a magazine rather than as patterns in a book or that she would not continue to make the sweaters, sell them and make a substantial profit.

I suppose whether or not the sweaters are knock-offs doesn't really matter in regards to copyright...or does it?

Just tossing around some thoughts...

take care, Linda D. in B.C., Canada

A concept/technique can't be copyrighted. For example, if you knit a cardigan sweater, you are knitting a "design" from something that has be arrived at by a set formula. This formula can't be copyrighted, however if you add an "original" modification, then it can be copyrighted, With knitting patterns changing the yarn, gauge.the stitches used or some other minor modification seems too nullify the copyright. Sit down and look at knitting patterns which include schematics, you will find many of the designs are the same basic shapes, just executed with different materials.

Knockoffs are usually made with cheaper materials and less quality than the original so they aren't "the same" as the original.

For the purpose of this thread, if you use a pattern from books such as Paton's Back To Basics, knitting it with the same yarns, buttons etc. then it is copyrighted. It is the same as a published pattern. However. if you use the "basic shape", add a ruffle, change the ribbing, etc. then it is your work and you can copyright it.

Many designers get their start by contributing to magazines. Those who come to mind are Nicky Epstein and Kim Hargreaves, Lily Chin and Annabel Fox who have gone on to publishing their own work.

Many of the well known fashion designers got their start by designing for large fashion houses such as Chanel or Dior.

DA