Hey guys! My first pattern on here was my no sew fish which got really popular. In the past week, i have seen at least 2 other patterns that look really similar, just without the bobbles for the side fins. Is this just a coincidence or should i be worried that my pattern is being copied? (I got one of them, its not the same exact pattern but how you make it is so so similar)
EDIT: i have messaged one person and confirmed they did not copy me. Dont start a ww3 in the replies thanks lol
22 Likes
Idk they may have taken inspo from your pattern
10 Likes
Well, MAYBE they didn’t know. Some people just want to make fish. There is always the small chance they did try to sorta copy you. But, it’s always hard to know. With SO many crochet patterns there are bound to be some repeats. I recently was following a blog for a crochet along, and it just so happened the flagship pattern of a hedgehog mosaic was exactly like one from another blog, and there was a lot of drama having to completely delete that pattern and with the 2 creators contacting each other even though they had never even seen each other’s blogs before. It was only noticed by one person who happens to look at both blogs.
16 Likes
I definitely know that they might not have seen mine, which is why im asking if I should be worried in the first place 
Just trying to get other peoples opinions!
9 Likes
Maybe try contacting them just to see? Usually if they don’t respond, they are copying you and just avoiding you.
9 Likes
I contacted one person asking where they got their inspo from (the other person had it in their pattern, they got it from their toddler which is so cute!!!) And then i looked at their pattern and (i need to double check to be absolutely sure) but its the same as mine just without the bobble stitches 
Edit: i was right, its the same just without the entire round with bobbles. They jsut have 1 less round of single crochet, but other than that its the exact same
8 Likes
It would definitely be time to be concerned if someone were specifically also using your photos for what they claim is theirs.
That’s the only way to really know, I think.
I agree with @Ambermainian that it’s best to assume the best otherwise.
11 Likes
Neither have the same photos i used, but one is the exact same pattern as mine minus one round of single crochet. Ill just hope its a coincidence for now until they respond
7 Likes
Hmmm. It is a simple pattern, but if it’s exactly the same, like you mentioned, then you mayyy need to ask them about it.
10 Likes
I agree! Sometimes people change just one row so that it is not exactly the same, but really that is no better.
9 Likes
You could also report the patterns to Ribblr
6 Likes
I watched the Ribblr show replay yesterday on Youtube and they did talk about the pattern copying situations on there yesterday, maybe you might want to check that out ?
6 Likes
I dont know, for me at least i think there are a lot of certain types of patterns and i have seen quite a lot of patterns like yours before. I think unless you have read through there pattern and nothing is different and the publishing date is arfter yors then maybe reach out. Thats only my opinion though
9 Likes
How do i see their publishing date?
6 Likes
I dont think you can i just mean if you do reach out you could ask. I just think theres a difference between getting inspo and coping
7 Likes
In my personal opinion the more simple the pattern, the easier it is to replicate (intentional or not).
Your fish is a relatively simple pattern and if I am going buy the journal dates I assume you released it sometime in August of this year? But I have seen similar fish patterns released well before yours, and I won’t dare say you copied because of it’s simplicity.
I think sometimes people can be too quick to call a copy when it might not be, and you would really only be able to prove that EVERYTHING about the pattern is the same or eerily similiar (like not just order of stitches, but the notes throughout the pattern too).
12 Likes
Yes but it is the same pattern minus 1 round. I feel like that similar is not a coincidence
5 Likes
I get that, but in all honesty how many ways is there to make a fish shape? Most people like to start out with a similar amount of stitches, increase and decrease in similar ways/rates, etc.
And again, the smaller the pattern, the more limited you are on how you can shape things.
8 Likes
This happened to a few of mine, I found the only way was to make my patterns paid which is quite annoying, but it ensures people looking to steal patterns actually have to buy them first, and acknowlage they’re yours
5 Likes
Im too lazy to set it up + i rarely buy patterns 
Thats really smart though!
4 Likes