Readers contact me all the time, and I love it. From odd stories about rare DMC threads, to pattern discussions and even some washing advice!
But when someone contacted me about someone selling my free cross stitch patterns as kits (and even selling the patterns themselves), it was not a nice day.
Now I’ve tried to get this removed, and due to the company being based in China and opening multiple front companies, this hasn’t gone anywhere. But do I really have the right to be mad?
The Fake Seller
I won’t tell you who the seller is, but there are a few companies (all run from the same unit) that are selling the epic Pokemon cross stitch patterns as kits for over $150, and patterns for over $40.
What is most interesting about these is that the seller has used AI to replicate the image, showing just how far AI in cross stitch has come.
I will be the first to admit that I did not make these patterns; the original was made by Servotron, with a few designers making the others within the series. However, I have always been adamant that these should be for free; for a cross stitch community that gave me so many free patterns when I first started.
But here are sellers, not only profiting from a free pattern, but not even giving credit to the original designers.
Where It Gets More Complicated
But here’s “the rub”: do I have the right to be angry?
There are a few things that make this a bit more complicated:
Making A Physical Kit Is Labor
Sourcing a kit, from making the printed aida, to selecting the amount of thread, the number, and needles, and anything else that comes with it, all result in work. And all work deserves to be paid for.
But as a pattern that is being sold, there is no labor.
Does Putting It Through AI Make It Unique?
The original pattern is still the original. But this new version they’re selling was pushed through AI, which is worse in my mind, but regardless, does that make it a new pattern?
I Don’t Own A Pokemon License
This is the biggest complication, by far. I don’t own the copyright for Pokémon. Now, giving a free cross stitch pattern is fine, but selling a pattern is an issue for The Pokémon Company to deal with.
So all in all, do I even have the right to be unhappy?
Is This Just A Case Of Another Designer Getting Ripped Off?
There is a long history of cross stitch designers having patterns stolen, or just poor quality AI patterns being sold on online stores like Etsy or Temu, but with the rise of Chinese companies selling on the likes of TikTok, is this just another story of a designer (not me) being ripped off?
Maybe.
The Result
Did they have permission from me, the designers, or the Pokémon company? No. The chain of IP and copyright is quite clear; they should not be selling this.
However, I do wonder, is it morally OK for them to be profiting from someone else’s labor?
And honestly, I don’t know!
Does it annoy me on behalf of the rest of the cross stitch community? Yes.
But for now, just be careful to only buy quality cross stitch kits and patterns (be they of the epic Pokémon pattern or not!).
Happy stitching,
Lord Libidan