ᓚᘏᗢ: September 2016

Thursday, September 22, 2016

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

IN GENERAL:
Q: HOW CAN I REACH YOU?
A: .. you've reached me!! But privately, you can always reach out to me on Facebook ( http://goo.gl/lF9oad ), by using the "Contact Seller" convo button on Etsy ( http://etsy.me/2ddoF4t ). However, the quickest, most reliable method to alert me that you need to contact me is to send me an eMail to fiberdoodles@gmail.com

Q: CAN I SELL WHAT I MAKE FROM YOUR PATTERNS?
A: You certainly can sell what you make from patterns purchased from FiberDoodles by K4TT! In fact, I encourage it and try to help you out!! I only request that you do not use my photos to 'take orders'. While a link back to my shop or facebook page is greatly appreciated, it's not a deal breaker. You can read full details here: http://bit.ly/2cU5aKf

Q: CAN YOU DESIGN/DO YOU PLAN ON DESIGNING?
A: I really don't plan my designs in the sense that you might be thinking. Most of my patterns are designed by inspiration. Something seen in nature - something said on conversation that sparks a mental picture and before you know it, I am putting it to fiber. I have a few hundred drawings of 'designs' and even more suggestions written on "to do lists". But first and foremost, I am an artist and that dictates what come from my hooks and fiber.

Q: I SENT YOU A LINK TO A FREE PATTERN BUT YOU DIDN'T USE IT. WHY?
A: I am very selective about the links that I share on my page. Mostly, I share links of those whom I know personally or have done business with. Occasionally, I will share links to patterns from designers that I do not know, but this is only after I look at several of their patterns to determine they are not copying someone else's work. Many so-called-designers will offer free patterns, which are really only translations of Premium Patterns of another designer. I do not wish to participate in that sort of theft.

Q: CAN I TEST FOR YOU?
A: You would not believe how many people ask this question, are given the opportunity to test and then NEVER get back to the designer - not just myself, but MANY other designers as well. That makes many designers very selective with whom they chose to work with. Time is your friend if you want to test for me. Make sure to show me your finished doodles on my Facebook Page, or share with me via eMail. I use various skill levels as testers to ensure that the patterns from the Doodle Library are user friendly, so don't be afraid to show off your efforts.

PATTERN SPECIFIC:
Q: I HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT A PATTERN I BOUGHT. HOW CAN I REACH YOU?
A: Obviously, for me to answer the question.. you've reached me!! Yeah!! But on the title page of each pattern, you can find all my contact information (email address, shops where my patterns are sold). You can always reach out to me on Facebook using the Message Button (when active/not during the off-school months), Sending a Private Message to my "personal Facebook Page" (D. Katt), or by using the "Contact Seller" convo button on Etsy. However, the quickest, most reliable method to alert me that you need to contact me is to send me an eMail to fiberdoodles@gmail.com
It is NEVER okay to post instructions from my patterns online.

Q: IS THIS PATTERN WRONG?
A: I make every effort humanly possible to make sure that when a pattern is released, that it is error free. But do errors still occur from time to time? Sure, I am not a computer or a robot and neither are my testers/associates. But most times I have been contacted, it's been that a client has not understood the instructions to a pattern or has not read the pattern correctly.
There are always notes in the beginning of the pattern on any special stitches that I may use. I also created a tutorial on "how to read patterns" on my blog that you can find here: http://bit.ly/2cJoivy
In most instances - either of these will "resolve the issue' that someone feels is wrong with any of my patterns.
However, if you do find an error, please do not hesitate to ask me about it!

Q: DO YOU SELL PATTERNS IN LANGUAGES OTHER THAN ENGLISH? & Q: CAN I TRANSLATE YOUR PATTERNS?
A: No, I do not. And no, you may not. If you see my patterns written in Russian, Dutch, French or any other language, they are stolen property. It's not that I do not value non-English speaking friends and their desire to hook up a doodle or two; but if you cannot communicate (even brokenly) in English, then I won't be able to assist you if you run into a problem completing your purchase; therefore, I do not offer patterns in any language other than English.

Q: I DON'T LIKE WORKING IN CHAINS, CAN I USE A MAGIC CIRCLE INSTEAD?
A: You CAN - but it won't look like the photo. Working in chains is really not that difficult when you know how. That's why I wrote a tutorial several years ago to help. You can find that here: http://bit.ly/2cJoR8s

SPECIALS:
Q: DO YOU OFFER DISCOUNTS FOR MULTIPLE PURCHASES?
A: No, I do not. I do have sales, items that are marked down for clearance and host giveaways during the school season - this, I believe, creates opportunities for everyone to get the best deals on my patterns. But my clients generally make the price of each pattern back, with the sales they make from completing their projects; especially those who make large, multiple purchases.

Q: WHAT HAPPENED TO THE LIST OF PREVIOUS GIVEAWAY WINNERS?
A: Sadly, people were using the names of previous contest/giveaway winners as a shopping list. Not only was it putting my clients in an uncomfortable position of being contacted by strangers, but it was also unnecessary to maintain a list of Winners/prizes - most collect their prizes within 12 hrs of learning they have won.

Q: CAN I SHARE YOUR POST ON FACEBOOK? INSTAGRAM? TWITTER? (Etc)
A: You are welcome to share any ORIGINAL PUBLIC post made by FiberDoodles by K4TT. On Facebook, you can select the "share" button. On other venues, depending on options available to you, you may have to copy/past the link to public posts. It is never okay to copy/paste content, share coupon codes, etc - void of the official post.

Q: ALL YOUR PHOTOS SAY NOT TO SHARE. DOES THIS MEAN I CAN'T ADD IT TO MY PINTEREST?
A: All of my photos are my intellectual property and contain a watermark that indicates you may not share on sharing sites. This makes it easier for Google, Bing, Yahoo!, etc to remove my content from sites where it should not be - such as illegal share sites. You are more than welcome to share my photos on your private blog, on your Facebook Page, add to your Pinterest Catalog, etc. "Sharing Sites" are only really 'Stealing Sites".

Page Updated on: 28 September 2022

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Monday, September 12, 2016

Copycat Vs Tribute Vs Inspired By

There are so many "new designers" who are putting out 'original patterns' which are no more original than the other 10 copies of the same pattern. Patterns that can be traced back to etsy pre 2009... yeah. But what is even more astonishing are those who are reposting and promoting these 'new designers', because they are unaware that the designer has done little more than change a 6 count, to an 8 count.

Now this rant is going to be a bit more controversial - because, well, because there are so many different views regarding this subject - this is MINE.

You are more than welcome to disagree, so long as you are respectful in your argument.

Copycat Vs Tribute Vs Inspired By

I am so sick of people claiming 'artistic impression' when they blatantly copying another establish piece of work and calling it "inspired by".

Now I cannot show a photo of another so-called-designer, just "copying" someone else's work - because frankly no one likes to be accused of that, and I could not obtain permission to use anyone's photo. hee hee (While I could use their own very well used 'excuse' and say "for educational purposes".. that's not my style!)

But a close "copycat" would be my own Angry Alien Crochet Pattern - 99.9% of you can look at this pattern and you know exactly who I was thinking of while making my creation. And that is why it is FREE. I did not invest in the time it took to market him, bringing him to life from concept design through live animation and product marketing - making him a recognizable character that you want to hook and recreate..
But we are not going to spend time on this subject.

TRIBUTE is a bit easier. I have several "tribute patterns" which I offer for sale. Tributes are using the characteristics of someone/thing famous in cooperation with your own original design.
For example the Tribute Silly Ole Bear. The bear is a KISS Series pattern - a original creation that has many other animals in it's series. The bear itself is a stand alone pattern, creating a "polar bear'. Clients have used this pattern to create bears wearing skirts, bears wearing baseball team uniforms, etc.
But also within the KISS Series Bear, there are additional notations to help you create a Tribute Character of a familiar children's storytime character; Winnie the Pooh.

The pattern I sell is NOT of this character, but only how to transform - for your personal use - one of my original characters into a more recognizable childhood favorite.
This is a TRIBUTE.. an action that is honoring, showing admiration and/or respect to someone/thing else.

Now - the BIG one.. the one that so many get WRONG!
"Inspired By"

Inspire (verb) - to cause someone to be filled with an urge or ability to do something - especially something creative.

Copying someone else's work is not "inspiring anything" at best it's a 'tribute', but most often it's just being a danged copycat!
It takes very little, to no actual creativity to take something and add a little personal touch (such as color changes, a longer neck or unstuffed legs) and call it 'yours' .. "inspired by"

THIS is "inspired by"...

Elizabeth Mareno of Bizzy Crochet made this STUNNING "inspired by" afghan.

The minute I saw it, I immediately thought of Alice and Wonderland - not because there is a 'White Rabbit' or a 'Cheshire Cat' or even a "hookah smoking caterpillar" - no it's the colors that just SCREAM these familiar characters. If you didn't notice the first time.. have another look...

The most obvious would be the Queen of Hearts (the black with the red hearts).. but there are also references to the white rabbit, the caterpillar, the cat as well as Alice - simply using COLORS to make your mind see these characters, without really "seeing them".

Need another example? This is the same 'wonderland' afghan, that one of our mutual client's made, using a different inspiration..

... do you see it?
The same "wonderland afghan" pattern, again inspired by "Alice in Wonderland", but with a "Tim Burton" twist of color.

I hope this posting helps to explain the differences in what so-called-designers are trying to sell to you. And helps you to understand why supporting true artists in their efforts is so important. Creating original pieces of art and broadening the field with new ideas and fresh content isn't just making the same things in different ways.