Can You Sell Crochet Items Made from Someone Else’s Pattern?

It’s one of the questions I hear most often, in my Facebook group, on coaching calls, and in my inbox: “Can I sell what I make from someone else’s pattern?” Let’s give you the full answer – not just the easy one.

Can I sell items from other people’s designs? What’s the legal answer? What’s the ethical answer? What’s the reasoning behind all of this?

Here’s the short answer. Then let’s dig into the why.

The short answer: In most cases, yes. Copyright protects the written pattern, its charts, and its photos. It doesn’t protect the finished hat, bag, or amigurumi you make from it. There are three times the answer changes:

1. You agreed to terms that say you won’t sell. If you checked an “I agree” box or accepted terms of use to buy or download the pattern, selling could break that agreement.
2. The design is a licensed character or logo. Buying a Grinch or Mickey pattern doesn’t give you the right to sell Grinches or Mickeys.
3. You’re copying the pattern itself. Selling what you made is one thing. Sharing, reselling, or rewriting the pattern is another.

And beyond what’s legal, there’s what’s kind. We’ll talk about both.

Perfer to watch or listen? Here’s the episode where I talk through all of this.

Watch on Youtube

Important note: This article does not constitute legal advice and is offered for informational purposes only. If you have any questions about your individual situation, please seek advice from an intellectual property attorney in your local area.

What Copyright Law Actually Protects for a Crochet Pattern

Copyright laws for crochet designers and makers are often both misunderstood and misused. They cause otherwise sane and joyful makers to become fearful, controlling, even bullying. Let’s put an end to that by making things clear and easy to understand, shall we?

Copyright is a legal protection for an original creative work once it’s written down, saved, or otherwise “fixed” in a tangible form. For a crochet pattern, here’s what that covers:

Protected by copyright	Not protected
The written instructions, in the designer’s words and layout	The idea behind the design (like a hat with a hole for a bun)
Charts, schematics, and diagrams	Stitches and techniques
Photos of the finished piece	The finished item you make from the pattern

Protection starts the moment the pattern is written down. The © symbol, date, and name aren’t required, though they help if a case ever goes to court. Designers can also register with the U.S. Copyright Office for extra legal options. If you’re a designer wondering how to protect your own work, my conversation with attorney Gordon Firemark covers it: Crochet Pattern Copyright: The Real Deal with Gordon Firemark.

So, Can You Sell Crochet Items Made from Someone Else’s Pattern?

Yes, usually. When Gordon joined me on the podcast, he compared it to the “first sale doctrine” for books. Once you own a pattern and make something with it, he wasn’t aware of any rule that stops you from selling what you made, even if you make ten of them.

The sticky situations happen when designers add restrictions: for personal use only, finished products may not be sold, you must credit the designer, and sometimes even what price you’re allowed to charge.

Here’s where I’ve updated my thinking since I first wrote this post. I used to say designers had no legal right to make those restrictions. Gordon added an important wrinkle: if a designer puts terms on their website or checkout and you check a box agreeing to them, that’s a contract. Selling could be a breach of that contract, even though copyright law alone wouldn’t stop you.

Will a designer take you to court over a few hats? Probably not. But they can block you from future downloads, and it’s still your word you gave.

So my advice is the same as it’s always been, just with more reason behind it: read the terms before you buy, and honor the designer’s wishes. If you can’t live with the terms, choose a different pattern. There are thousands of beautiful ones out there.

What About Free Patterns from Ravelry, Blogs, and YouTube?

Free doesn’t mean “no strings.” A free pattern is protected by copyright just like a paid one, and the designer can still attach terms to it. Before you make a free pattern to sell, check:

• The pattern page or Ravelry listing. Many designers state their selling policy in the description or notes.
• The PDF itself. Look at the first page and the footer for a copyright notice or terms of use.
• The blog post. Scroll to the end of the pattern, and look for a terms or FAQ page on the site.
• The video description, if it’s a YouTube tutorial.
• Any sign-up checkbox. If you gave your email and checked a box to get the pattern, the terms you agreed to there count.

If the designer says nothing at all, you’re generally free to sell what you make. If they ask for credit, give it. If you see a Creative Commons badge marked “NC” (non-commercial), treat that as a sign to ask first. And if you can’t tell, ask. There’s a sample message below.

The Exception That Trips People Up: Licensed Characters

This is the one I see most often, especially with amigurumi. You can find patterns for Disney characters, the Grinch, cartoon favorites, and team logos everywhere. But buying the pattern doesn’t give you permission to sell the character.

Those characters and logos belong to companies that hold the copyrights and trademarks, and they do enforce them. As Gordon put it, making one for your niece isn’t really the issue. Making a hundred to sell is. And swapping Mickey’s red shorts for blue ones doesn’t make him a different mouse.

If you want the longer version, I cover it in Crochet Copyright Law: The Myths, Your Rights, and Advice for When Things Go Sideways.

Why Do Designers Use Phrases Like “For Personal Use Only”?

Without asking, there’s no real way to know why one designer adds restrictions and another doesn’t. It can be as simple as seeing others do the same.

Often, these restrictions come from a place of fear: fear of losing sales, fear of competition, fear of losing control of their designs. And I get that. As creatives, we often feel a special attachment to our designs and the work we put into them, and “competition” can feel like a threat.

Ultimately, that’s something for the designer to work through, not something makers need to carry for them. And that fear is like a virus; it’s catchy. So I prefer to stay away from that kind of thinking.

Instead, I hold my designs loosely, share widely, and live by the mantra, “I can’t make all the hats.” There are enough customers to go around, and each seller has their own following. Let’s all benefit from great designs!

On my designs, I do ask for credit. I don’t get militant or threatening about it. I simply ask that sellers link back to my pattern when possible, so anyone interested can find it and I get credit for the work I put in. As simple as that.

Can a Designer Tell You What to Charge?

Under copyright law, no. It’s standard practice for manufacturers to set a suggested retail price, but designers aren’t the manufacturers here. Makers are.

The one exception is the same as above: if you agreed to terms that included pricing, that’s an agreement you made. Otherwise, if you make the product, you’re free to charge what it’s worth, with no commercial license or pricing agreement required.

Not sure what it’s worth? Start with my crochet pricing strategy for finished items.

How to Give the Designer Credit, Online and at Craft Fairs

Credit costs you nothing, and it’s one of the kindest things you can do for a designer. It’s good for you, too. Customers love knowing the story behind what they buy.

Online (Etsy, your own shop, social media)

• Add a simple line near the end of your listing: “Handmade by me from the [Pattern Name] pattern by [Designer Name].” Link to the pattern if the platform allows it.
• Tag the designer when you share the finished piece on social media.
• Use your own photos. Never use the designer’s pattern photos in your listings.

At craft fairs and markets

• Put a small sign or tent card beside the item: “[Pattern Name] pattern by [Designer Name], handmade by [Your Shop].”
• Add the designer’s name to the hang tag, or to a small sticker on the back of your product tag.
• Keep a short list of your designers and their shop links on your phone, for the crocheters who stop by and ask where to find the pattern.
• If a designer asks for specific credit wording, use theirs.

Planning your booth? Here’s more on selling crochet in person and how much inventory to bring to a craft fair.

When in Doubt, Ask: A Sample Permission Message

If a pattern’s terms are unclear, a short, friendly message usually clears it up. Feel free to borrow this:

Hi [Designer Name],

I love your [Pattern Name] pattern! I sell handmade crochet [on Etsy / at craft fairs / in my shop], and I’d love to make and sell a small number of these. I’d credit you on every listing and tag, with a link to your pattern. Is that okay with you, or is there anything you’d like me to do differently?

Thank you for creating it, [Your Name]

Save their reply (a screenshot or the email) with your records, just in case.

Dos and Don’ts for Crochet Sellers

When it all comes down to it, here are some dos and don’ts for selling products made from someone else’s pattern.

DOs

• Do read the terms before you buy or download a pattern, including any box you check. If the designer says you can’t sell the finished product, move on and find a different pattern.
• Do honor the designer’s request, either way. It’s not worth creating a rift by going against what’s asked of you.
• Do give credit to the designer with a simple byline in your listings, a sticker on product tags, or a tag on social media.
• Do reach out and ask the designer for permission if you’re unsure.
• Do freely share links to your favorite designers’ patterns. It helps them immensely.

DON’Ts

• Do not copy, distribute, or alter and claim as your own any pattern you’ve bought or gotten for free.
• Do not sell items based on licensed characters or logos without a license, no matter where the pattern came from.
• Do not use or share a designer’s photos or charts in your own marketing.
• Do not copy the written pattern and post it online when you’re asking for help working it up.
• Do not harass a designer, even when you disagree with them. We’re all just doing our best.
• Do not publicly shame the designer. It’s unseemly and makes you look bad.
• Do not hesitate to reach out and thank a designer for creating beautiful, quality work.

A Note to Designers

I know it’s hard to give up control of your designs. I know it’s difficult to see others selling your designs for half of what you charge. And I know the fear that comes from worrying about your own finances and business.

I want to encourage you to hold your designs loosely and let them out into the world so others can enjoy them. And I want you to recognize that there’s real value in buying a product made by the designer. So it’s okay if you’re charging more than someone else. Your people will pay.

It’s perfectly within your rights to want credit where credit is due. But check in with your own heart every so often and ask: am I operating out of fear? How does that feel? How would it feel to see others benefiting from your designs, compared to holding on so tightly, monitoring others, and threatening them for breaking your rules?

I prefer the former, and I hope you can enjoy the freedom that comes with it. Either way, it’s your business, your connection to your buyers, and your decision.

If you do decide you want limits on how your patterns are used, Gordon’s advice was to put your terms where buyers actively agree to them, like a checkbox at checkout, not just a line in the PDF. Choose wisely, in a way that feels life-giving to you, and go with it.

Frequently Asked Questions

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Want to ask a question and have the opportunity to get your business featured with a link to your website? You can ask your questions here.

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Further Listening and Reading

• All Crochet Business Chat Episodes
• Crochet Pattern Copyright: The Real Deal with Gordon Firemark
• Crochet Copyright Law: The Myths, Your Rights, and Advice for When Things Go Sideways
• What Crochet Designers Can Do About Intellectual Property Theft
• 5 Ways Crocheters Break the Law Every Day
• Someone Stole My Design! How to Respond to Copycats
• How to Price Crochet Projects for Profit