The fursuit/plush equivalent of "draw me free art!"

[bladespark]

I know a lot of furry artists, and artists in general, get bugged for free art.

I have never been good enough to really get bothered for it, and there have even been occasions when I've done free art just because I felt like it, for friends who are polite enough to not ask. (Speaking of which... er... *cough* Yes, TW, you haven't been forgotten. Nor has Bob, but I've no idea where that one has got to...) Anyhow, when making fursuits and plush critters, nobody asks you for free fursuits! A fursuit is obviously worth too much, I think, for anybody even remotely sane to expect for free.

But there is still an equivalent request, and that is for free copies of your patterns. I just got one such request today, and I have to wonder... what goes through these people's minds when they ask? This guy explained that he wanted the pattern just to make something for himself, and he wasn't going to try and make money with this. This is the explanation tacked on to requests to copy and paste digital media. This is not an explanation that makes one bit of difference in sewing patterns. I cannot simply magically clone a copy of my pattern, and pretty much all my patterns are much too large to fit on a scanner or photocopier. (This one is a three foot long plush, for crying out loud! That should be obvious!) So I have to get very large paper sheets, which cost me money, and then I have to laboriously trace the pattern onto this paper, and then of course I have to spend money to mail it, and it's more than $.41, or whatever stamps cost these days, because there's a lot of very large paper pieces. Why, exactly, would I do this for free, for a person I don't even know?

I would bet that he didn't even think about the actual process involved in sending a copy of the pattern. He probably thinks I can somehow attach it to an e-mail, if he's thought about it at all. I told him no, as politely as I could, and actually managed to resist the urge to say "Why on earth would I do something like that?" to him. But I am sure he will not be the last to make such a request.

P.S. This reminds me. There was somebody, quite a long time ago, who'd indicated willingness to pay for a copy of a pattern of mine... I have no idea who, or of what pattern! If whoever it is is reading this and is still interested, comment or something.

Comments

[harliquinnraver.livejournal.com]

i cannot even begin to count how many times ive been asked to give people my pattern. and i see them ask on the fursuit community constantly as well! in what world is that okay??

[baloo-ursidae.livejournal.com]

Heck, that doesn't even fly in professional environments within a copmany where sharing patterns is semi-routine. "Hey, can I nab this pattern?" "NO! Go grab it off the workgroup share and send it to the plotter yourself!"

[heffboom-konijn.livejournal.com]

now by patterns do you mean how you sew your stuff up?

if that being the case if someone wants to see your fursuit patterns just tell them its gona cost them about a grand ^ ^

btw your sewing patterns on the suit you made me are very cool. just simpile things here and there I would have never thought of or tried ^ ^

[bladespark.livejournal.com]

Yeah, a pattern is the paper I use to trace onto the fur, to get the correct shapes to put it all together. For fursuits I don't have any real patterns, I draw each piece as I go with a ruler, and measurements, or else I use the duct tape dummy to create shapes and patterns. But for the plushes I make I do have regular patterns I've made, which I re use when I'm doing a similar plush.

[rimspace.livejournal.com]

*smiles, hugs* No worries! Whenever it is done is fine, seriously :)

[sparkindarkness.livejournal.com]

I find that one of the first rules of etiquette is to be extremely grateful when free stuff (including art) is given but never ever EVER to ask for it

[moltare.livejournal.com]

Draw me free art!!!11!1

[nicodemusrat.livejournal.com]

nobody asks you for free fursuits! A fursuit is obviously worth too much, I think, for anybody even remotely sane to expect for free.

Sadly, I have had someone ask me for a free suit. Definitely the exception, though.

I've also had people ask me for patterns. Since I mostly do suits for myself, a handy rebuff is to point out that my patterns are sized for me and marked in my own notation. (Basically true.) Besides, I usually customize patterns for each suit, so why not just make your own?

What I am willing to do is offer advice on how to construct and adapt patterns for people who are genuinely putting in the effort on their own project(s). I think that's an entirely different category of request.

I know I've asked you a few pattern questions about your work and I think (or hope) that I've given you some helpful advice, too. :)

[bladespark.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I'm happy to answer questions. But "could you tell me how you made that" and "will you give me a free copy of your pattern" are different questions. The one is fine, the other is just... lazy, really.

And hey, your site was one of the very first places I found when I was researching before starting my first suit. I got all sorts of helpful stuff off of it.

[kiwihunter8.livejournal.com]

Boy, I feel dumb now for asking you for that slipper pattern >.< I swear it was only because you had posted it in the fursuit community before!

[bladespark.livejournal.com]

That's totally different! I have the thing up on my site, it's right there, free for all, so if I minded that one, I wouldn't have put it there. Just don't expect me to draw you a copy of it and stuff it in the mail!