Alaskan Fiber Arts - Copyright Info

Individuals retain the copyright for all images and information displayed on Alaskan Fiber Arts web site. We ask that you please respect that copyright by not using these contents without explicit permission of the individual artisan whose work you wish to show elsewhere, either on the web or in hardcopy publications such as newsletters.

We all like to share great patterns that we have found and made. However, be careful or you may be in violation of copyrights.

If you find a pattern in a book or a magazine or on the internet, the rights to the design belong to the author of the work. You need their permission in order to copy or distribute it to others.

Cite your sources:
If you have woven or knitted a pattern published in a book, magazine or on the internet, it is ok to post a photo of your work. Acknowledge your sources and cite the reference information of the book or magazine or web site you used. If you took a class and learned how to do something, please do give credit and mention who taught you the technique. If you have learned a technique and want to share it with others, do so in your own words, describing how you did it. Please don't copy lecture notes or other materials from classes or the instructions written by another.

For example: a weaving draft, such as one that is found in the well-known Davison book, can be copied and used. Don't think anyone can claim "ownership" of the draft. Many of the Davison drafts can also be found in other weaving pattern books. Similarly in knitting, a pattern for knitting a seed stitch or a cable swatch isn't a violation of a copyright. But in using a book or journal for the draft, then do cite the source, author, page and publisher.

Distribution and ownership:
If you weave a towel using a complete pattern such as one found in Handwoven magazine, the ownership of that pattern for the towel belongs to the original maker of the design and the magazine that published it. The pattern should not be photocopied or republished without their permission. But it is ok to post a photo (and give credit), give as a gift and most importantly enjoy for your own personal use. But selling isn't allowed.

Let's say you change the color(s), use different yarns that is not enough to claim ownership of said design. Unless there is a substantial change to a weaving draft or knitting instruction, always contact the originator for permission before displaying, entering in competition, or selling a woven or knitted creation as an original work. Not only is it the law, but it is common courtesy to a fellow artist.

In a nutshell:
Be smart, cite your sources and give credit where due. Do unto others as you wish would be done for you. You may not be aware that you have crossed the line, but I can guarantee the ones who provided the original design will know and will act on it. This is particularly true if you try to sell the work. If you don't sell, it is still appropriate to cite your sources and give credit where due.

I highly recommend the following reading for ALL fiber artists, not just weavers:

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