Share the Link - a few thoughts on free patterns.

Free patterns. Free patterns and their distribution.

I have free patterns, and I'd say most designers have at least one.

Sometimes they are released as a taster - get a feel for the designers writing style. Sometimes they are a designers first foray into writing and they don't feel like they are ready to charge. Sometimes it's just free for a limited time. Sometimes the designers are paid by another party (like a yarn company)  Or paid in another way - the advertising or 'click' revenue they receive. Maybe it's none of those reasons, but whatever it is, the designer or still owns the copyright and distribution rights to it. (if a third party has paid the designer for the pattern, the ownership may be transferred, but the following still applies.)

Ownership and distribution rights. What does that mean? It means you can't copy or redistribute the pattern anywhere, which includes digitally. Uploading the file to another location is the same thing as redistributing. You might think that you are doing the designer a favour, by getting their name out there, but you aren't. Exposure isn't a legitimate currency - it *can* be a nice added bonus, but it shouldn't be the motivating force.

So what can you do? Share the Link! Copy and paste the URL. (That's the web address - www. etc) If there is a share button on a blog post, that is fine too. You wouldn't copy and paste this whole blog post if you wanted to share it - too much work! You would copy the link and share that! Same goes for patterns, it's actually the least amount of work - and, at the end of the day - the legal way to share.

Yep, legal way. Designers aren't being precious, they just want to fairly stand up for their legal rights.

Share the Link!

Designers do want their patterns to be shared, and made, and enjoyed.

Do you like free patterns - you might enjoy these! Click the link to be taken to the blog post, and share the link with a friend! And for what it's worth - I'm not a lawyer :)

Wind rose Heart

Chunky Hexies

Blueberry washcloth

Denimberry Washcloth

Strawberry Fields Beanie 

Big Circle Granny

Thistle Beanie

Summer Vibes Wall Hanging 

Thank you for reading today! Do you have a favourite pattern? Share the link with me in the comments. 

Chunky Hexies - Join as you go - Free Pattern.

PIN FOR LATER

I have been playing with a large hexagon motif, that is 'joined as you go' (sometimes called Jaygo) This extra large hexagon measures 25 cm x 28 cm (10 x 11 inches)

Post has been been updated (Oct 2020) 

At the end of last year, in this post, I started making a hexagon motif with Bernat Big Ball Chunky in teal from American Yarns. In that post I thought I might keep going and make a huge hexagon, but I changed my mind and kept it at just 4 rounds. In the photo below you can see three motifs joined together, the join is incorporated in the 4th round.

IIf you'd like to make some hexagons of your own: 

Chunky Hexie- the Pattern. 

In US terms.

1 ball Big Ball Chunky in Teal (100% acrylic, 400 g, 394 m) 

12 mm Crochet Hook. 

Abbreviations (in US terms)

ch - chain

dc - double crochet

sl st - slip stitch 

st/s - stitch/es

sp - space

( ) - indicates stitches worked in same st/sp

[ ] or * * - indicates section to be repeated 

Single Motif.

Make a magic ring. 

 

Round 1: Ch 3 (counts as dc) dc, [ch 2, 2 dc] 5 times, ch 2, sl st to 3rd ch; sl st to next ch-2 sp. (12 dc, 12 ch)

Round 2: (Ch 3, dc, ch 2, 2 dc) into same ch-2 sp as sl st. [(2 dc, 2 ch, 2 dc) into next ch-2 space] 5 times, sl st to 3rd ch, sl st into next ch-2 sp. (24 dc, 12 ch)

Round 3: (Ch 3, dc, ch 2, 2 dc) into same ch-2 sp as sl st. [2 dc in next sp, (2 dc, 2 ch, 2 dc) into next ch-2 space] 5 times, sl st to 3rd ch, sl st into nect ch-2 sp. (36 dc, 12 ch)

Round 4:  (Ch 3, dc, ch 2, 2 dc) into same ch-2 sp as sl st. [2 dc in next sp, twice (2 dc, 2 ch, 2 dc) into next ch-2 space,] 5 times, sl st to 3rd ch, sl st into next ch-2 sp. (48 dc, 12 ch)

Jaygo.

All the joining will take place in Round 4. To start with, you will only need to join one side, but you will need to join more than one side eventually! 

You can join the motifs at any point around, I have chosen to do the join on the second side. You will need to make at least one single motif to join to! (you might make a pile of single motifs in one colour, and use a second to join)  

Jaygo Motif - 1 side.

Rounds 1- 3: As above

Round 4: (Ch 3, dc, ch 2, 2 dc) into same ch-2 sp as sl st. 2 dc in next sp, twice, (2 dc, 1 ch) into next ch- 2 sp; sc (marked as 1) into any ch-2 sp of single motif; 2 dc into same ch-2 space, 2 dc into next sp; sc (marked as 2) into sp between two dc groups of single motif,  **2 dc into next sp; (2 dc, 1 ch) into next ch- 2 sp; sc (marked as 3) into next ch-2 sp of single motif; 2 dc into same ch- 2 sp; (2 dc, 2 ch, 2 dc) into next ch-2 space, rep from ** 4 times, sl st to 3rd ch, sl st into next ch-2 sp. (48 dc, 12 ch)

Jaygo Motif - 2 sides

Rounds 1- 3: As above

Round 4: (Ch 3, dc, ch 2, 2 dc) into same ch-2 sp as sl st. 2 dc in next sp, twice, (2 dc, 1 ch) into next ch- 2 sp; sc into any ch-2 sp of single motif; 2 dc into same ch-2 space, *2 dc into next sp; sc into sp between two dc groups of single motif,  2 dc into next sp; (2 dc, 1 ch) into next ch- 2 sp; sc into next ch-2 sp of single motif; 2 dc into same ch- 2 sp; rep from * once,  **2 dc into next sp; (2 dc, 1 ch) into next ch- 2 sp; sc into next ch-2 sp of single motif; 2 dc into same ch- 2 sp; (2 dc, 2 ch, 2 dc) into next ch-2 space, rep from ** 3 times, sl st to 3rd ch, sl st into next ch-2 sp. (48 dc, 12 ch)

Continue in this fashion to join 3 or more sides. 

If you would like to make this pattern, please share a project on Ravelry, or tag me #EWDMakes on social media so I can see! 

This post contains no affiliate links, however I did receive the yarn as part of the linked review post. 

If you are in a position to donate - please consider a donation. Your support allows me to produce free patterns.

Until next time, Happy Crocheting 

Emma