Well I let the word out - Girly Soaker Skorts

[danzarooni]

:snowflake
Hey girlies
I have been working on a pattern for soaker skorts. I bet they will be all the rage and I will be way too late to copyright my pattern but hey I can say I knit them eh?

I had several ideas but some just seemed way too bulky. SO my final pattern looks very much like an adult skort - shorts with a flap on front that is attached across the top and one side.

I'd appreciate any input on this. Maybe on copyright or selling my pattern or ???
thanks!

http://doodles.thoughtline.com/danielle/skort1.jpg
http://doodles.thoughtline.com/danielle/skort2.jpg

[pmcgary]

those are too cute...I am toying with a similar idea...guess I should get moving on it.

[danzarooni]

oh yes healthy competition LOL :)

[pmcgary]

Don't hold your breath. What yarn is that? It is very pretty.

[danzarooni]

why, it is fabriconnection dear :) thank you! :)

[twouglyducks]

Aww... so cute

[cozystitches]

:D Cute....but be warned...I'm planning on making these too..but in a "hooker" version.... :LOL:

Hugs,
tammy

[imonion]

very cute i was also working on a design for soaker skorts!! LOL

[littleturtlemama]

very cute! Someone else did it last spring/summer though, already. I can't remember who, maybe stella?

FWIW, once your pattern is written it is *copyrighted* meaning that no one else can take your written directions and use them to make something for sale without your permission. However, it won't stop anyone from looking at the pic and writing up their own version. Ask me how I know (says the woman who at one time was the only one selling soakers and longies, LOL) ;)

[meco]

I love it! So cute!!! :D :D

I remember when Sweetiebums made fleece/PRR skorts this summer, and I wanted one for my son SOOOOO bad :pink

[danzarooni]

LOL ok thanks girls :)
I'll forget about the copyright since it sounds like everyone else will be making them anyway :) no biggie! :)

[pmcgary]

Danielle
Go ahead and copyright...write up the pattern and sell if you decide to. (Even your "free" pattern is under copyright.) Even if 20 other people are doing this.....the way you wrote up the directions is YOURS and it is what is protected by the copyright.

I don't have any patterns written up yet - but if I ever get motivated to do it- the thing I will want to protect against is people making money off the pattern. I will want it to be for "personal" use.
Sometimes I think it is a bummer that some of these "ideas" get borrowed...but then I realize that if we just had one version of jeans, sweater, skirt.....well things would be very boring and probably very expensive. (Except we would have a lot fewer pattern books to buy)

I also thought I would mention here that I bought the baby doll/cradle purse pattern and her copyright page is really interesting. It tells specifically what you can and can't do....Amazingly she allows purchasers to sell items made from the pattern. But she is very explicit about what you can not do with her pattern.

[danzarooni]

Oh that is great info Pam. I know nothing about this kind of stuff. And I honestly don't mind people making money off of my patterns personally but I totally understand why the pros do it and should. I thought I might sell the pattern but not a license, just if they bought the pattern they could use it to sell if they so desired.

I know my grandmother made soakers when my mom was a baby and even some knit wool pants but I know they didn't call them longies, I know Theresa (or think she did?) coined that term and I have tried to be very careful not to call my knit pants "longies"

[pmcgary]

I just finished posting about the "longies" controversy. I don't really know the legalities, but I think it is just "polite" to not hijack the term she used.....

I am going to email the woman who did the doll cradle purse to see if it is okay to share her copyright statent...It is unlike any other I have seen before and I think it is really good.
Since it is part of a copyrighted document I want permission before I share it. I am also going to invite her to come by the forums!

I wonder if hte first person to write up a sweater pattern had this kind of issue?

[danzarooni]

I know! so interesting! I hope the doll cradle purse mama comes by!
Off to find the "longies" controversy! Didn't actually know there was one, just thought i Was being "polite" like you Pam and not using the term :) mine are DoodlePants :)

[pmcgary]

I did email Sarah Bradberry. I hope I hear back from her soon or see her here.

[pmcgary]

Here is the statement in Sarah Bradberry's pattern...She has them side by side in a box...I can't figure how to do that so here it is....
"You May:
Print a single copy of this pattern for personal use.
Make items for sale from this pattern.
Save this file to one CD or disk for the purpose of insuring it against loss.
Make as many items from this pattern as you desire.

You May Not:
Photocopy printed copies of this pattern.
Copy this file in any way other than to make one backup.
Email this file to anyone.
"Share" this pattern with anyone in an email list in any way, including uploading to the files area of any list.
Upload this file to any website.
Make this file available to anyone other than the purchaser.
Give away or sell printed copies of this file.
If you sell the original copy of this file, you may not keep any printed copies or a backup of the original."


I think she covered a lot of "bases" with this statement!

[danzarooni]

oh that is great! she needs to come visit us!