Imagine my surprise when I happened upon an article about the rules when it comes to making a profit off patterns for stuffies.
Did you know that sometimes when you download a 'free' pattern for a teddy bear, you are not allowed to sell what you make?I took a look at the site where I got one of my patterns for free and found a section where you are supposed to purchase a license to sell your finished product. It starts at $20 for 10 teddies and goes up accordingly. Anyone who has had to purchase the supplies and fabric needed to make a Stuffie, knows if you were to sell it, you'd be lucky to make $10. Which breaks down to approx $1 an hour for my time/ services. Now, if you factor in having to purchase a license, you are in actuality making approx. $8 or less profit for a 24 or more hours of work.
If I were to reproduce the pattern and sell it, then I can see where there might be a problem. As a past pattern designer (sports wear) I know it takes a certain amount of knowledge and creativity to produce a pattern from scratch.
What does all this mean? It means (for me) I will keep doing what I'm doing. When someone asks what pattern I used I will continue to send them to the site I found the pattern. If the cops come to the door and threaten to put me, a Gramma, in leg irons for selling a teddy bear to my neighbor, so be it.
I guess I'll be the next big news trending the internet ;)
