I would like to share something that has happened this week

Many years ago I won a prize at FOQ with a large bunch of flowers. They took hours to make, but more importantly ages to design. It took hours to get the sizes of the patterns correct and I made many flowers perfecting the technique

In 2012 I went to India and met Fiona at the Stitching project.

www.the-stitching-project.com

We worked together for the next 6 months developing my patterns, sourcing fabrics, testing the patterns, employing graphic designers, and working out how I was going to sell them.

We worked hard to make sure that we put back something to the local community in India by getting the bags made by a cooperative etc and employing local people

I started selling the kits and they sold well. I taught how to make the flowers etc

So you could pay £12 for a kit or pay the same and attend a short workshop

Not a lot really

So does this give you the right to take my idea and my patterns and then start teaching how to make my flowers?

You could photocopy my patterns, and use them or you could trace them and put your name underneath and then it looks like you designed them (that would have taken only a few hours and little expense)

An ex student this week alerted me to the fact that there was an image on a website that sold fabric that you could get a free download pattern to make what looked exactly like my flowers

They were my flowers and they were accredited to a lady who had apparently attended one of my courses.

I was then sent another email from another quilter who alerted me to the fact the that the same lady has been teaching how to make my flowers and has made up kits for students to make it easy for them

I know this happens…but what has upset me so much is that the patterns are so badly drawn, the flowers look awful and the instructions even worse.

My instructions were really clear and designed by a graphic designer.

I think it would have been better if she had sent me an email and asked if it was ok to teach how to make them. The group could have bought a few kits.

I would probably not been too happy but I would have said yes.

I have had many quilters who at the end of a class ask me if it is ok to teach my techniques to the rest of the group back at home…..well at least they are honest. I usually say I’d rather you didn’t but I can’t stop you.

The saga goes on…re the fabric supplier

They were taken off their website, and an addition put that I was the designer then I was sent a link by another lady.

I looked at the instructions and then contacted the fabric supplier to say please take them off the website as I didn’t want to be associated with such badly written and presented instructions

The owner was most apologetic again.

I have sent my original instructions to go on their website, I guess I have had to accept this as I have almost sold out of all of my Flower Kits and I would prefer to be associated with quality instructions and ones that I wrote.

I have been offered a voucher to purchase some fabric. Its for quite a lot of money, and have been asked to design some more projects.

So in the end I am reasonably happy but it has started a lot of discussion

So am I protected by copyright?

Not really as I would have had to take someone to court.

With so many patterns on the internet, so much access to projects, utube, etc etc how can we the teach and make a living using techniques that we spend hours perfecting?

In future….Can I suggest if you want to copy one of my projects, or make a quilt exactly like one I have made …..just ask. If you do copy, remember that the internet is good for sharing what people do and the many members of quilts group also share what they see and do. I will hear about it eventually.

I am sure that when I taught in South Africa the students on the class were asked to sign a declaration that they would not copy, teach or reproduce the teachers techniques, but I can’t remember. Anyone else know about this?

I think it is time we started to write articles to inform, educate those who are unable to come up with any original ideas, that it is not good practise to copy or rather rewrite projects and teach them.

The way forward is for me, is to keep coming up with lots of new projects and let go.

Fortunately I have more ideas than time to make them.

Enough said….

Yesterday we went to see the Tour de Yorkshire come through Halifax. Here are the riders coming up Shibden wall – so steep and cobbly

IMG_4006

Here are a couple of new Journal Quilts

This one is based on a photo I took in Italy

IMG_4014

This one is all hand stitched and is based on Guatemalan clothing. It was a pleasure to make. All stitched whilst on trains listening to books on Audible

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11 Comments. Leave new

  • Tania Crowe
    1st May 2017 10:13 am

    So sorry to hear this Gillian – I remember when you did the class with us in skerries and you were working hard to develop this flower pattern and working with the group in India. I bought it in Birmingham and it’s such a lovely design

    Reply
  • Oh my…. I am so sorry this happened to you too. You feel so frustrated plus many other feelings with this stealing behaviour.

    Reply
  • Ruth Archer
    1st May 2017 1:25 pm

    Hi Gillian, the students were all required to sign a copyright agreement for the classes held in South Africa. A very common practice here.

    Reply
    • if you sign a copyright agreement does that mean you cannot do another piece using the same technique ? i made the boats interchange appliqué one in your class then made a Guinea Fowl one as i have a fondness for them …. i think it comes down to honesty … if one or both are admired i will say…. it’s a design process taught by Gillian Travis. in that case there is no intention to deceive, or profit from another’s work and experimentation and process.

      Reply
      • Gillian Travis
        1st May 2017 7:50 pm

        Jenny – it is perfectly acceptable to make a quilt using my interchange technique. It is in my book. Anyone can buy the book and make one that uses the technique, but if you started to teach how to do it, rewrote the instructions and put a free downloadable pattern on the internet then that is different. You can also put the quilts in an exhibition.
        So back to the Flower Kits. It is fine to buy a kit, use the pattern, make lots of them for friends and family etc, sell them if you want (but they take ages to make so you would want to sell them for quite a lot) I don’t even mind if you have a workshop for a few friends showing them also how to make the flowers, but if you rewrote the pattern and started selling it in your shop then that would be different.
        i think the words you used are spot on “no intention to profit from another’s work and experimentation and process”

        Reply
  • Yasmin Sabur
    1st May 2017 7:24 pm

    I wonder how the Guatemaleans feel about you copying their historic and traditional designs. Get over it.

    Reply
    • Gillian Travis
      1st May 2017 7:39 pm

      This is an interesting reply.
      I have to say that your views are the minority
      I did not copy a Guatemalan design I have completely changed the scale and size.I have used new and different materials eg felt
      I am not making any profit from it. I am not teaching it. I am not selling the pattern. I am not rewriting someone else’s instructions.
      The stitches are not the same. I am not offering a pattern that has been designed by a Guatemalan as a free download.
      Do you not follow what Fashion designers do? They are inspired by other cultures to produce clothes
      Enough said
      You are all welcome to make quilts inspired by mine but not to make one exactly and make profit from it

      Reply
    • Harsh words and wholly inappropriate! Traditional and historic design has been used since time immemorial as a starting point for new designs in many areas of art and craft!

      Reply
  • I just love your work!!! My sister in law and myself were so thrilled to meet you in Durban at the festival!!! And be our first buyer from our stall!!! You inspire us!!! Thankyou

    Reply
  • Lynne Elwell
    2nd May 2017 9:39 am

    Hi Gillian no wonder you are upset, I have bought several of your kits and enjoyed making the flowers, Penguins and Indian lady, but would not dream of thinking I could teach. The majority of people are good and value your teaching, it shows an arrogance and lack of understanding on the persons part.

    Reply
  • Sadly I have come across your situation before. Did this lady buy a kit or did she take it from Stitch magazine where many people will have seen it?

    Reply

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