A lot of talk has been circulating on the Internet about whether or not it’s okay to “share” (i.e., give away) copies of patterns you’ve purchased. Some think it’s okay to do, on the assumption that, if they’ve purchased a pattern, they have the right to do with it as they see fit, including giving away copies.

Not only is it an infringement of the pattern designer’s copyright to give away copies of patterns you’ve purchased, it means the designer isn’t going to get the money she deserves for all of the hard work she put into creating the pattern. Here are three more reasons to pony up the cash and buy them.

Reason #3 – You Get to Create Cool Stuff Inexpensively for Yourself and Your Family

Crochet patterns give us the opportunity to make wonderful items for ourselves and our families. The cost of purchasing a similarly well-made item at the store often exceeds the amount of money we spend on the pattern and supplies. And because we have a passion for our craft, we don’t mind taking the time to indulge it; in fact, we look forward to it.

Moreover, a three- to four-page crochet pattern is relatively inexpensive, selling for around $4 to $8; so we’re not talking about breaking the bank. We spend the same amount on a paperback novel without blinking an eye. Once read, we have some fond memories of the story but nothing tangible to show for our purchase.

Reason #2 – You Save Beaucoup Money on Holiday Gift Purchases

I’ve been crocheting holiday- and special-occasion gifts for several years now. I can’t imagine the amount of time and money I’ve saved by not having to schlep out to the store to find what’s usually an expensive gift; this is especially true during the Christmas holiday season.

Now, there’s no getting stuck in traffic, no fighting for parking spaces, no standing in interminably long lines, and no rushing to find gifts because I’ve waited until the last minute to shop. I only have to purchase yarn and patterns; then I can sit back in front of the TV with a nice Merlot, put my feet up, and crochet to my heart’s content.

Reason #1 – You Get to Sell the Items You Make

I know; this is a controversial issue in itself. Some pattern designers don’t want you selling the items you make from their patterns. But I, along with a number of other crafters, believe that if you put in the money, time, and effort make the item, you should be able to sell it.

Thankfully, a growing number of designers are now stating, typically on their blogs and/or websites, that crocheters can sell items made from their patterns. Other designers are including a license with the pattern that specifies the number of items that can be sold. In either case, it’s always a good practice to give credit to the designer when you sell goods made from their patterns.

The money you spend on the pattern and supplies, as well as the time it takes to make the item, are calculated into its selling price, affording you a nice profit if you’ve priced your items well.

When it’s all said and done, buying a pattern instead of getting a free copy is akin to saying “thank you” to the designer who created it – thank you for helping me save money, thank you for helping me make a little money, and thank you for the opportunity to spend time doing what I absolutely love.

What other reasons can you think of for purchasing patterns instead of getting free copies?