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QuestionIs it rude to buy a pattern after seeing a friend’s FO in it?
I saw a gorgeous jumper by a friend (well, friendly acquaintance) in a craft group recently, and would love to make the same thing for myself. It would mean buying the pattern from the same shop. It was her first finished jumper. Would anyone here feel annoyed or worse, creeped out a bit, if a woman bought the pattern of a garment you’d just done, to make another? I know the patterns are there to be sold, and my FO would look very different (colour, size etc) but I dunno, reading about all these skinwalking TIMs has me freaked out a bit about copying!
Not weird at all. But if she notices you could let her know that her finished object inspired you to try the same pattern so she gets to feel like she inspired you. Or as other commenters have said, asking her for the pattern could be a nice way to do it.
I delayed getting some of my most comfortable shoes because all of my friends had them and I thought I would be a copycat if I got them. Then like five years later I got a pair and I was like. Wow it was stupid for me to be paranoid about this. Live your life. Make a sweater ❤
Thanks! She already knows I want the pattern, I asked her where she got it and she bought it at the shop where we meet and where I saw the jumper, so it’s a commercial pattern, and she didn’t adapt it. The jumper had the general admiration of the group, as it should!
absolutely not! My knitters group would be happy to see someone else make a pattern (it's one reason we go to the group).
At a not quite so local yarn festival to me, many knitters show up in the same sweater (Rhinebeck) because the patterns is very popular that year. It's exciting to see how it is done differently.
It probably depends on how that person feels about her craft. But making it look different might help. Try asking her if you know her well enough? For a long time (and I guess still) I really struggled with self-esteem and felt like there was nothing I was good at, I had nothing that was my thing, except grammar and language, but people don't like being corrected :b and whenever I felt like I was good at something, in swept a friend who was suddenly better than me (or probably just as good, I just felt like she was better). So, at that point I would actually hide my crochet pinterest boards from friends so I could have the craft for myself (which I eventually shared with a friend anyway, because I can't help wanting to also be of help >< ). It feels pathetic, but at that point the low self-esteem was really wearing me down and I would have hated if a friend did a pattern I felt proud of having done myself. Today I think it would be fine, perhaps unless it was a very special thing for me (say, a shawl for a wedding or so). So, my advice would be to get an idea of what her craft means to her :)
That’s an excellent idea. I know she’s new to knitting. She’s an absolutely brilliant quilter, I’ve seen her work, and I think she’s taken up knitting recently for a change. She’s certainly brought her skills with her!
I wouldn’t say I’m better than her at knitting. More experienced, certainly - been doing it a decade - but I’m not remotely adventurous with stitches or techniques. This pattern isn’t one she designed or modified, it’s a commercial one.
Personally, I'd probably be creeped out by being copied (too many boundary violations growing up), but I'm not the sort to join a group in the first place. You're probably fine. Most people seem to like dressing like their tribe.
LOL “tribe” brings back my Goth days - I even joked to Terry Pratchett about Goths all dressing alike once.
If it was her own pattern I would have stopped right there unless it was one she made to sell, but it’s a commercial one. If I do make it my jumper will be a completely different colour and size, so it won’t be identical.
Personally, I think it is totally fine, and even a bit strange that there is any question in your mind (though I get what you mean about the heightened skin walking concerns). Hope it turns out well!
Thank you!
Bloody TIMs sour everything even when it has nothing to do with them. 😒
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Thank you! I did ask where she got the pattern, and she bought it from the shop the group meets at. My immediate reaction was “I want to buy it!” and I didn’t even think how she might feel about it. Oops!
She didn’t adjust it at all, just took it straight from the pattern. It’s a beautiful work, especially as it’s her first.
I would be straightforward and tell her when the subject comes up, I love your jumper so much I think I have to copy it.
Too much fussing about who is wearing what and copying and upstaging reminds me unpleasantly of Jane Austen novels. We have more ways to express our individuality now than through fashion.
Fortunately that stage has passed, I asked her at the group (the only place we meet).