Back in February, I had the idea of making owl cable pockets for my son's shorts:
To my knowledge, I was the first to have this design idea. I'm not the first to use cables in the shape of owls, just the first to use them as pockets in cloth diaper covers. I didn't copyright it, I didn't publish it, but I did share it on Ravelry and with my friends on Diaperswappers.com. I even posted my pattern on diaperswappers in a chat thread so that my friends could make their own.
I had several requests from people to make them for them, and gave them my YYMN pricing. Of the people who contacted me, only one went on to place an order.
About a week after these people contacted me to make owl-pocket shorts, Pamela Grossman, a well known WAHM in the cloth diapering community, published my design as her own as a free Ravelry pattern, then advertised it in the forums on Hyenacart.com, where I have my cloth diapering store, Beaux Bottoms. Here is a link to "Pamela's" pattern.
I am upset about this, yes. Not because of the loss of profits, because let's face it, I'm not feeding my family with what I make knitting. No, I'm upset about this because while imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, flat out plagiarism and claiming someone else's work as your own is shady. And for a well known WAHM to do this to a lesser-known WAHM is just plain mean. So, yes, my feelings are hurt. Yes, I am bent about this.
I didn't invent cargo pockets. I didn't invent owl cables, however, I was the first to put the two together, and out of an excitement to share with my friends, I got taken.
Many people have told me that Pamela is a super-sweet person. So why did she treat me this way? I don't know. Hence the title of this post.
I gladly shared my pattern with those who asked me for it. It does NOT bother me to see others making Owl Pockets.
What bothers me specifically is not being given credit for my work.
And that's my final word on the subject.
