rope. tree. fan. spear. snake. wall.

Sunday, November 18, 2007

setback

It took me awhile to get rolling on that shawl for my mother-in-law, but it's been progressing pretty well, and I'm about halfway through. I was using a free online pattern from Interweave Knits. I just found out today that they've decided it should no longer be free. I'd just been going to the page when I needed further information (instead of saving a copy on my hard drive - yes I know, that was stupid), and now that it's gone, I can't finish the shawl. I could buy the pattern from Fiber Trends for $6.50, which is wholly reasonable, but they want $10 to send it to me. Ten freaking dollars to put a piece of paper in the mail. Yes I have the money, but no I'm not going to pay that, that's outrageous. What are they doing, mailing it to Saturn?

This is so aggravating, for two reasons: one, it's my own stupid fault for not saving a copy. Two, Interweave Knits owes me nothing: I am not entitled to this pattern in any way, and they are fully within their rights to remove it. So I have no right to be annoyed.

Knowing that it's my fault and I have no right to feel how I feel? Does not make me feel better.

Arrgh.

3 comments:

amy said...

No, they don't owe us free patterns, but still. It's kind of rotten to have it be free and then just suddenly--poof!--decide it's not going to be free anymore. They should have warned you.

Maybe somebody else out there saved a hard copy when it was free? I have no idea what ethics/copyright issues come into play, but if it was saved when it was free, it ought to be able to be shared without guilt. I would share, if I had it. But I have no patience for shawls. Alas.

Anonymous said...

i will check and see if i have the summer 2004 issue of ik in my magazine stack for you-- sas

--elf-- said...

I might have saved the pdf--I grabbed a bunch of them a while ago. If you are still looking.