Fraud Alert !

As a designer, I pour my heart and soul into creating unique patterns that bring much joy to fellow crochet enthusiasts. However, I feel devastated and frustrated that some of my patterns are being sold in the market without my permission. In this blog, I want to share my personal experience of having my crochet pattern stolen and raise awareness among fellow designers about the importance of protecting our creative work.

The process of creating a crochet pattern involves several steps that require much time and effort. It begins with conceptualizing the design and gathering inspiration, followed by the material selection, and creating different sets of the design to decide which is the best. Testing is important to identify errors and make improvements. The pattern is then written, formatted, and edited for clarity and accuracy. Finally, the pattern is finalized and published.

It was an ordinary morning when I received a message through ETSY chat, a customer who had purchased one of my crochet patterns. The message began with an apology for the unsettling news they were about to deliver. They explained that while they were browsing through a popular online marketplace, they stumbled upon a strikingly similar crochet pattern to the one they had already purchased from me.

Feelings of disbelief, frustration, and even anger washed over me as I try to process what happened. You wonder how someone could take credit for your hard work and creativity. You decided to look further, looking for any additional evidence to confirm this. Curiosity piqued, I logged into the marketplace and searched for the pattern mentioned in the message. To my disbelief, there it was. A crochet design 100% identical to the one I had poured my heart and soul into creating. Not only has the pattern been plagiarized, but the thief used all my images and even removed the watermark.

I had reached out to my fellow crocheters and group supporters on social media, informing them about the theft and urged them to spread the word. The response was overwhelming, they have not only helped address the situation of the pattern theft but it also had a positive impact on my sales and overall recognition. It is heartening to receive compliments and support from the community, as it validates my creative efforts and the quality of my work, with time, support, and proactive steps, you can overcome the negative impact of this experience and regain your confidence as a pattern creator.

It is important to encourage designers to educate others, they can utilize various channels such as blog posts, social media, newsletters, or workshops. By sharing personal experiences, providing practical tips, and highlighting the impact of pattern theft, designers can engage their audience and create a meaningful dialogue.

I wanted to express my heartfelt gratitude to those who have been alerting me to the unfortunate situation of my crochet pattern being stolen. I wanted to take a moment to let you know how much I appreciate all your kindness and support for me. I am so grateful to have such wonderful customers like you who genuinely care about the artists behind the creations.

Please remember, everyone's journey is unique. It is important to find the strategies that work best for you. Embrace the setbacks as opportunities for growth, stay connected to your creativity, and have faith in your ability to bounce back and find strength in your craft.

Move on, happy crocheting !

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