Before I start my usual curmudgeonly Monday moan I’d like to add to last week’s post. I totally forgot to mention the bible of tatting written by Judith Connors. Here’s a link to this book which should be in every designer’s possession. If only it was then last Monday’s moan may never have happened.
Today’s moan is something I picked up from a comment by another tatter somewhere else. Probably during a flying visit to Facebook which I avoid as far as possible.
Signing and dating patterns and also adding contact details are today’s moan. When I started putting my patterns out on the internet in the very, very early days of it’s existence I didn’t date mine but did add my name!!! It was pointed out to me that it would be a ‘good idea’ to add the date so I started doing that immediately. Nowadays there are a lot of designers who aren’t dating or sometimes not even putting their names on either. This can prove very frustrating if there ever becomes a copyright question on the pattern and could be an impossible thing to prove who’s came first.
It’s also important to put a contact email address on each pattern simply so that the person who wants to work it can get in touch to ask questions. Sometimes I get questions about patterns I did almost 20 years ago - that really does ‘strain the brain’ (poor old BC3) sometimes!!!
Although I played with Dorset buttons many years ago this is the first I’ve done since then!!!
9 comments:
The later edition of Judith’s book, published by Lacis, is an updated and better bound edition. I have both.
Dorset buttons have really taken off in the tatting world haven’t they! I had never heard of them, and I love all the examples people are showing. Not sure I could aspire to making anything so beautiful myself.
Jane, I totally agree with your comments, anything that’s helpful.
But... I came across a problem with this last week, I was trying to design a heart shaped ice drop and was making the back for it with a lot of difficulty, I have never designed anything before and I had a packet of hearts I didn’t know what to do with! Anyway, I did the back the best I could. Then I was on google looking for inspiration on what to use as an edging. Blow me down if I didn’t come up with two totally different patterns nearly identical to the way I’d done the back! One was a heart pattern for sale on Etsy and the other was two cherries with a leaf and the leaf part was the design again.... What happens with copyright in these circumstances? It shows that you can think you’re being original when in fact you’re not 🤔🧐
Y the way I love your blogs, especially Moaning Mondays. And as usual, slow of the mark I have only just discovered Dorset Buttons and love them, this was thanks to finding Diane Cademartori on tatting button ornaments recently.
Love the color!
Oh dear, Janet. I feel your pain but fully understand. If you’d like me to look at your pattern then please email it to me and I’ll see if I can help. This is the reason I don’t often ‘do’ hearts, snowflakes etc as there are so many ‘out there’ and I’m terrified of treading on other people’s copyrights. That’s why I drifted off very early on to do animals. Sadly it might be your original idea but the copyright may already belong to somebody else.
Oh Janet, I could moan for England sometimes although I’m not a ‘moany’ sort of person really. I’m afraid I’m an ‘old time’ tatter who really learned through books etc (namely the hard way) and when I see things like people trying to ‘force’ their opinions and ideas on others it really bugs me. I’m very careful not to name people although sometimes it’s tempting when I want to illustrate a point!!
I did do a few Dorset buttons many years ago but seeing Diane’s made me want to try again. I think I’m done with that ‘phase’ for now but must show off a couple (or is it three!) that are lurking on the table beside me!!!!
Thanks for the extra information about Judith’s book, Maureen. Judith has the most amazing knowledge of our craft. She never fails to impress me with all that she knows.
I must admit I’ve forgotten to put my name on patterns at times. I do try to remember to put the date. Mind you, I haven’t written a pattern for a while.
Well, Jane, it’s about time you did another design!!!!
Looks great!!! :)
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