Pattern Copyright Info

Everyone knows that copying a pattern is a no-no. Designers who create these awesome fashions deserve to be paid for their time and their efforts in the form of crafters buying their products. When a pattern is copied, the designer is cheated out of that money.

But, did you know that every individual designer has a slightly different take on just exactly what pattern copyright means?

For example, some designers are basic and simple as in: “Don’t copy my pattern in any way shape or form, but after you make it, you can do whatever you want with it”. These patterns are widely used as bazaar items, for charity… you can make and sell, make and give away, make and distribute anything you create from this pattern as long as you don’t copy the pattern itself.
Some are a bit more finicky, “Not only can you not copy the pattern, you also are restricted in what you do with the finished items”. The best course of action? Email and ask.

The Girl From Auntie has an excellent guide to copyright laws, you can find that here: http://www.girlfromauntie.com/copyright/index-guide.asp . Another great resource is Purple Kitty Yarns, here: http://www.purplekittyyarns.com/info/copyright.html

For a more complete guide, you can go to the US Copyright Office here: http://www.copyright.gov/

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I haven’t knit a lot of hats, because I don’t wear hats that often, and because I don’t wear hats that often, the ones I have knit tend to be pretty basic and utilitarian. There’s nothing wrong with that, but there’s also nothing wrong with treating yourself to a lovely hat that takes a little more time to knit but will also be a joy to wear whenever you need to.

I think the Two Grey Hills hat from Tressa Weidenaar is an example of that second kind of hat. With its allover colorwork design and use of DK weight yarn, this is going to take you longer to knit than, say, a ribbed hat in bulky yarn. But you’ll also get that time to enjoy the process and reflect on the meaning behind the colorwork, which is inspired by Navajo weavings.

The pattern calls for two colors of DK yarn and is available in two sizes, adult medium and large. Two colors with a nice contrast will be helpful for seeing the design, which is somewhat intricate in places.

Despite that, this isn’t a difficult pattern if you’ve done stranded knitting before. You need to know how to cast on, knit, purl, work in the round, do colorwork from a chart and decrease stitches to make this hat.

Make this hat with a soft yarn and you’ll want to wear it all day, every day when the weather is cold. You can grab the pattern on Ravelry, and also check out the Rug Weaver’s Headband, which has a different look but is also inspired by Navajo weaving. The headband might be a better choice to knit if you don’t live somewhere where you need a winter hat that often.

Looking for more hats? Check out these hat knitting patterns that use worsted weight yarn leftovers.

[Photo: Tressa Weidenaar]

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