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Mary Has Copyright Issues With Disney – So She Is Giving Away These Patterns

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Made By Mary  decided to contact Disney directly about copyright on her Superhero Patterns and Dolls. She was told she could no longer sell the patterns. So she has decided to give them away.

It’s sad when creativity and hard work have to come to an end due to copyright restrictions. However, Mary’s decision to give away her Superhero Patterns and Dolls as a gift to her supporters is a selfless act of kindness. It’s heartwarming to see her generosity towards her fans who have appreciated and valued her work.

The fact that she’s still sharing her patterns, even though she can no longer sell them, shows her passion for the craft and her commitment to spreading the joy of crochet. It’s not often you see someone putting others’ enjoyment above their own financial gain. Mary’s action is a testament to the spirit of community and collaboration within the crafting world.

This is what Mary had to say

I got a letter back from Disney stating I am not allowed to sell Marvel and Disney related crochet patterns for business purposes. Sounds to me like I can’t sell them, but I won’t get in trouble if I give them away. So after much thought, I decided instead of retiring them, I’m going to make them all free! THANK YOU to everyone who has purchased them from me. I put a lot of time and effort into making these patterns and I hope you feel you got your money’s worth.

Superhero Patterns Available free and if you want to compensate Mary, consider purchasing one of her other patterns here.

Need Crochet supplies and Yarn? We highly recommend Lionbrand for quality yarn and ongoing yarn sales and discounts. Mke sure to check out their free crochet patterns too.

Edited to add, Mary no longer offers these patterns for free or paid. You can contact Mary Directly using the links above.

We do have access to this Batman Crochet Pattern that is similar.

 

Comments

  1. You are not selling the pattern. You are selling something you made. I could understand if you sold the pattern. But selling a finished product…. I don’t understand. I can make clothes for someone who has a McCalls pattern. I just can’t call it my design. And they have to own the pattern. I am sorry. The dolls are awesome. And something I could not do. And Disney is not hurting for money so I don’t know what their beef is.

  3. So sad – I totally agree with Donna! I have always used McCalls and other patterns! Why did they make them and sell them if they didn’t expect people to use them for something??? Disney are not even acknowledging your expertise – which is awesome! Thanks again for the patterns.

  4. Copyright infringement is a protection right for the creator. This also includes images of the idea. If you created it, all profits belong to you, whether person or corporation.

  7. It’s great she’s ‘sticking it to the man’ but Superman, Batman, Robin and Wonderwoman are DC characters and are not affiliated with Marvel or Disney…

  9. She better check with Disney again. If Disney has the exclusive rights to the intellectual content then they have the exclusive right to create and distribute derivative works from it. (Exceptions are made for parodies that make a statement about the content or use the content to comment about something in society.) If someone distributes a non parody derivative work then they are violating the copyright and it doesn’t really matter if they sell it or give it away. The only difference is that if they are giving them away then a judge could decide to reduce the amount awarded to Disney.

  11. Donna, unless someone pays to “License” a company’s character that they have created, you cannot sell anything in their likeness as it is illegal. This holds true with making anything from licensed fabric, and then selling it.

  13. Disney is a paid advertiser on CraftGossip-I can see their Camp Wilderness ad on my page. So I’m sure when Craft Gossip posted about these (super cute) dolls, Disney took notice, as they are licensed characters 🙁 And it’s my understanding you have to sell in great volumes to afford the licensure.

  14. This would be an awesome gift for my son’s birthday coming up this month!! How may I get in contact with you!! These are lovely!!

  15. I am a senior and would love to have these free patterns. I would make them and donate them to sick children.

  17. Do you have any dolls left to “give away”?…and be overly compensated for postage?

  19. What gets me is that EVERY craft show i have ever been. to has used disney fabric. It would take a real person in every state (just. about) working full time to stop it. I can see using the “disney or characters names being an issue so why not just sell them as big heros & dress them like disney would” i wondet if that would change her issue. Also i would mention at the top of your page that they are free patterns but tips/donations are very much appreciated

  20. Well I think if a fabric or ribbon or pattern is made. What ever the consumer makes with the bought item and then on sells shouldn’t be a problem. I know Disney is the only company that goes around stinging every small person in Australia at the least. But they always give a friendly warning once it goes to court guess what . It gets thrown out……

    P. S I would appreciate the patterns as well please

  22. It’s because the characters, their images, and logos are all trademark protected by Disney and Marvel. The same goes with NFL logos (you can do anything in team colors as long as you don’t use logos). Most people sell their crochet patterns and work illegally thinking they’ll never get caught. Thank goodness you stopped because Disney is a ruthless shark! They will sue you and they even go to larger craft fairs looking to bust people. You have to have permission to sell patterns or finished products. The only exception is when you use fabric with Disney/Marvel patterns (you’ll have to look up the laws to learn why.. it’s all very confusing).

  23. ABSOLUTLEY MAD MONEY MONEY MONEY THATS ALL PEAOPLE THINK ABOUT THINK THEY ARE GOOD SUCH A SHAME GOOD ON U

  24. Thank you for giving the patterns away. I’m so sorry for the actions of Disney. I think it is wrong of them. They are doing this because they want the money for any characters associated with them. Your designs are wonderful. The hard work you have put in, is greatly appreciated. I will in the future purchase some of your patterns. At this time I can’t financially purchase any. Thank you for sharing your creativity with the world.

  26. i am unable to access the patterns, i was wondering if you can help me with this please

  27. Lovely patterns and as I knit and crochet for the underprivately children and also the orphans in Uganda and New Guinea I would love the patterns please.

  28. love to make these for my grandsons the youngest is batman crazy and if they are successful could try making some for the kids in hospital

  29. I just want to say a big thank you for the freebies. I have made a purchase of a different pattern too. You are a very talented lady!

  32. I don’t understand how Disney can stop you from selling the patterns that you created. The patterns were not produced by Disney they are artistic interpretations of known characters not exact copies. If you named the characters something like Captain USA, Batty Man, etc. you shouldn’t have a problem. After all they are your creations NOT Disney’s. There are thousands of look a like ( licensed) characters sold in China Town , discount toy stores and dollar stores across America every day with no problem. I have seen “knock offs” in Wal-Mart, Target and Toys R Us for many Disney characters. It seems odd that they would ban you from selling your own creations.

  33. She could always give them away for free and put a xx amount of a tip donation would be appreciated (essentially what she would have charged when she was selling it) and bam! Nothing Disney could do if she gave them away for “free” with a tip appreciated. Some people do not mind giving such a tip 😀

  34. Hi Mary,
    Such an awful shame.
    You’re superheros are truly amazing and including your love in making them and your darn hard work!
    I’d love to help and get my hands on 1 in exchange for purchasing others.
    I expect you’ve been inundated with offers.
    If you’d like to get in touch with me then pls do hollar.
    I’d love too hear from you
    Kind regards
    Lucy

  35. Giving them away is distributing something based on the intellectual property of Marvel and Disney so is still breaking copyright law. Just as a point of interest if someone started copying and selling, or giving away Made by Mary ideas as their own, regardless of how big a company is that would be pretty unfair too. Be careful.

  36. I guess I shouldn’t be amazed by the lack of legal misunderstanding here, but long story short, Mary was entirely in the wrong here. She was profiting from someone else’s intellectual property, it doesn’t matter if she created the pattern or not- she doesn’t own the right to use those characters, period. Marvel/Disney MUST protect their copyrights and trademarks against all comers, big and small, or risk losing the protection they have. Kudos to Mary for asking Disney, however giving away the patterns strikes me as sour grapes when she got her hand slapped for stealing.

  39. its a minefield, not only with copyright but trading standards can shut you down if the finished toy does not conform to current EU safety standards
    s and ce certificated.

  40. Gosh Chet Manley while you are correct in most of what you say it is beyond harsh to accuse anyone of stealing. In fact that was a downright nasty comment and you should sincerely apologise. If made by Mary’s intention was to steal why on earth would she contact Disney. Would by any chance be associated with Disney in any way?

  41. You have used someone else’s characters (ie disney) which have broken copyright laws just by producing them. Giving them away free doesn’t change the fact that you have stolen something that you didn’t create! Yes you designed the pattern but you used someone else’s property to do that.

  43. Mary I really would like these for my 5 year old twins who are super hero mad. Please let me know how to contact you x

  44. Thank You for sharing these wonderful patterns and I will say that you have a wonderful talent and your creativity is awesome. My grands will love these and I will enjoy making them. Again KUDOS to you.

  45. If it is stealing then why do they sell patterns for people to make their own if they didnt want people to make them they sould not sell the patterns or the fabric to make thir own creations but that is my opinion i love the fact that mary is taking the time out of her day to make these to now donate to kids when she doesnt really have to but she is doing somthing she loves

  46. The same copyright laws apply to a large company like Disney or a small company or sole trader like Mary herself. If someone was taking a character SHE designed and made their own pattern and was selling it, she too would be able to stop them profiting from her own hard work. If you own the copyright to a character, then noone else can use it without your permission. It is that simple. Most importantly, & certainly true in the US, if a company doesn’t actively defend it’s copyright, it can lose it. Disney is doing what is has to or it could lose the rights to it’s characters.

    Ultimately, the situation here is simple – by selling the patterns, Mary was profiting from someone else’s idea/property, which is illegal, like it or not. Characters are no different to any other invention. She may have designed the patterns, but they were obviously of characters invented by someone else – not herself.

    I actually agree with the law that people shouldn’t sell things based on TV/Film/Book/Etc characters – I’d be gutted if I spent time and effort inventing a character and then other people started making money from it without my permission.

    All that said, when I get annoyed is when no money is being made, such as a Primary School here in the UK that was forced to remove a mural from the playground wall by DIsney. Now THAT was pathetic.

  47. Ashley – Disney sell patterns and fabric for you to make things from for yourself or your own children. Personal use. You are still not supposed to sell the finished products.

  48. Dear Mary, Thank you for sharing. I am sure Disney has it’s reasons, but I hate their attitude. I bought one pattern and was thrilled with your style. Thank you.

  49. Thank you so much for sharing these amazing patterns. I made a few batmen for christmas. Am now changing the pattern a bit and making them in peoples favourite football colours

  50. Hi I was wondering if there is any way I could have copies of the patterns they look amazing and my nephew would love them all

Have you read?

Free Halloween Crochet Projects You Can Finish in a Weekend

There is a very specific sort of crochet project I love at this time of year.

Not so tiny that I am finished before the kettle boils, but also not the sort of Halloween blanket that I optimistically start in August and rediscover half-finished the following February.

These are the projects in the middle.

The Halloween crochet projects you can settle into on Friday night, keep working on Saturday and hopefully have sitting on the sofa, hanging on the door or ready for trick-or-treating by Sunday evening.

Obviously, “a weekend” is not an official crochet measurement. Your speed, experience, yarn choice and willingness to ignore household chores will all have something to say about it. But I have deliberately chosen projects that are more substantial than our little one-day Halloween makes without wandering into enormous afghan territory.

Expect crochet pillows, Halloween bags, spooky scarves, a spiderweb shawl, wreaths, table décor and wall hangings.

Put something spooky on the television, make a ridiculously large cup of coffee and clear a spot on the sofa.

We have a weekend of crochet ahead of us.

Free Candy Corn Halloween Trick or Treat Bag

This is exactly the sort of project I had in mind for this collection. It is larger and more useful than a little Halloween ornament, but it is still manageable enough that you are not committing the rest of October to it.

The free Sarah Zimmerman design uses chunky yarn to create a proper candy corn-shaped trick-or-treat bag. It would make such a fun handmade alternative to the plastic Halloween buckets that seem to multiply in the cupboard every year.

This would be one of my first choices for a Friday-night-to-Sunday project, especially if you are making it for a child who is old enough to appreciate that Mum or Grandma actually crocheted their Halloween bag.

Stippled Pumpkin Pillow Crochet Pattern

Now we are moving firmly into sofa-decoration territory.

This pumpkin pillow designed by Debra Arch uses rows of picots to create loads of texture across the pumpkin. That detail makes the finished cushion look considerably more involved than simply crocheting a flat orange square.

And you certainly do not have to stick with bright pumpkin orange. Rust, burnt caramel, mustard, cream or muted sage would give it more of an autumn farmhouse feel and let you leave it out well beyond Halloween.

Trick or Treat Halloween Pillow

Pillows really are ideal weekend crochet projects.

They are large enough to give you that satisfying I made something substantial feeling, but you are not still adding rows three weeks later.

This Halloween pillow uses medium-weight yarn and is rated intermediate, making it a nice choice if you want something more interesting than a very basic beginner rectangle. Toss it onto an armchair with a couple of plain orange or black cushions and suddenly the whole room looks intentionally decorated for Halloween.

Free Halloween Spiderweb Mat

If you are going to spend a weekend crocheting something, I rather like the idea of ending up with a piece you can actually put on the floor.

This free spiderweb mat is worked with super bulky yarn, which immediately gives it an advantage when you are racing against Sunday evening. Bigger yarn generally means considerably fewer tiny stitches.

The finished web would look brilliant near the front door, under a Halloween display or as part of a porch decorating setup. The pattern is rated intermediate, so this would suit someone wanting a slightly more challenging weekend make.

Free Crochet Skull Scarf

This one actually leads to a free CraftBits pattern, so it is a particularly nice bit of internal linking for us.

Rather than creating the scarf as one long repetitive strip, you crochet individual skull heads and join them together. I love projects like this because they are psychologically much easier to finish — one skull becomes two, two becomes five and suddenly you have most of a scarf sitting in your lap.

Wear it for Halloween, Gothic dress-up or simply because apparently ordinary scarves are no longer dramatic enough.

Free Spider Web Shawl

Now this feels like a proper weekend challenge.

The spiderweb-inspired lace makes this shawl look appropriately spooky without turning it into novelty costume crochet. Worked in black, charcoal, deep plum or even blood red, it could become something you actually wear rather than something that returns to the Halloween storage tub on November 1.

A lace shawl also has the wonderful advantage of looking far more complicated than the amount of yarn would suggest.

Exactly the sort of crochet trick I approve of.

Tunisian Crochet Halloween Placemats

If you have been wanting an excuse to try Tunisian crochet, Halloween might be it.

These black and orange placemats use simple pattern changes in the stripes to create an old-fashioned Halloween look. Tunisian crochet produces a dense fabric with an almost knitted appearance, making it particularly good for table décor.

You could aim for one or two over a relaxed weekend or get properly ambitious and start a complete Halloween table set.

And yes, making one placemat and declaring it a decorative centerpiece absolutely counts.

Spooky Crochet Pillow

This is a great next-step project if you have been wanting to try crochet colourwork without immediately signing yourself up for a graphgan containing seventeen colours.

The free Briana K Designs pillow uses only two colours and is described as a beginner-friendly introduction to colourwork. The complete crocheted version uses around 625 yards, so this definitely feels more substantial than the tiny projects in our one-day collection.

It is exactly the sort of project I would start Friday evening, work on while watching movies Saturday and assemble on Sunday.

Crochet Ghost Pillow

You knew there had to be a ghost pillow in here somewhere.

This free pattern uses corner-to-corner crochet to create the ghost design, so it is also a nice excuse to practise C2C on something considerably smaller than a full blanket.

The thicker yarn helps the pillow grow faster, and the finished project hits that nice Halloween sweet spot between spooky and ridiculously cute.

It would be especially fun in a child’s bedroom or mixed into a pile of Halloween cushions on the sofa.

Striped Pumpkin Halloween Pillow

If colourwork still makes you nervous, this pumpkin pillow is another approachable option.

The design uses simple crochet stitches with a chart for creating the pumpkin motif, giving you a bold seasonal cushion without lots of complicated stitch combinations.

I particularly like projects like this because changing the yarn palette completely changes the finished look. Orange and black screams Halloween; terracotta and cream takes it straight into modern fall décor.

Crochet Halloween Candy Bags

Can’t decide between a pumpkin, witch, skeleton or Frankenstein?

Problem solved.

This free collection gives you four Halloween candy bag options, which makes it particularly good if you are crocheting for siblings who all want something different.

The shapes are straightforward enough to keep them achievable while the faces and embellishments provide the fun part. One bag makes a very reasonable weekend project; several bags may require snacks, determination and selective ignoring of the laundry.

Cute Crochet Emoji Ghost Bag

This little ghost bag is approximately 8.5 inches wide, so it sits nicely between tiny novelty crochet and a full-size tote.

The pattern uses familiar stitches including single, half double and slip stitch, which makes it approachable if you are comfortable with the crochet basics but have not made many bags.

It would make a sweet trick-or-treat bag for a younger child, but I can also see it working as a quirky Halloween handbag for someone considerably older.

No judgement here.

Halloween Patchwork Crochet Bag

This one has serious Pinterest potential.

The bag is built from 13 crochet squares featuring Halloween motifs including a skull, ghost, candy corn and jack-o’-lantern. Once the squares are finished, they are joined and shaped into the bag before the straps are added.

It is a bigger commitment than the simple ghost tote above, but the modular construction makes it ideal weekend crochet because you can work through the motifs one at a time.

It is also exactly the sort of handmade bag people will stop you to ask about.

Ghost in the Mushrooms Wall Hanging

Halloween mushrooms?

I am completely on board.

This free graph creates a wonderfully quirky ghost-and-mushroom wall hanging measuring roughly 15 by 13 inches before the hanging details are added. It uses colourwork and is rated intermediate, so this is a project for the crocheter who wants something a little more absorbing for the weekend.

The result feels more like handmade textile art than standard Halloween décor, which means I suspect quite a few people would quietly leave it hanging well after October.

Halloween Crochet Table Runner

A table runner is another lovely weekend-sized project because it looks impressive without having the sheer square footage of a blanket.

This Halloween version incorporates spider and web details and comes with tutorial guidance for creating the design.

Lay it down the centre of the table, add black candles, pumpkins and slightly excessive quantities of Halloween sweets, and the decorating is basically done.

Halloween Crochet Wreath

If you want one proper statement project for the weekend, make the wreath.

This intermediate Halloween crochet wreath combines a wreath base with adorable crochet Halloween characters and motifs. Hobbycraft actually lists the project time as 1+ days, which makes it almost suspiciously perfect for this roundup.

This is the sort of piece you make once, carefully pack away after Halloween and then feel extremely pleased with yourself when you pull it out again next year.

Halloween Crochet Wreath

Here is another wreath option if your decorating style is a little more traditional.

The wreath body is constructed from three separate crochet garlands that are stitched together and wrapped around the wreath form. I like that construction because you can stop and start the individual components rather than wrestling with the whole wreath from beginning to end.

Add your Halloween embellishments and you have a substantial front-door decoration without crocheting anything blanket-sized.

Creepy Crawly Spider Socks

And finally, something you can actually wear.

These free crochet socks feature spooky spider designs and make a fun alternative to another piece of Halloween home décor.

Socks are one of those projects that fit a weekend rather nicely: Saturday for the first one, Sunday for the second, with absolutely no permission to stop after sock number one and pretend it is an avant-garde fashion statement.

They would also make a brilliant handmade Halloween gift for someone who appreciates slightly creepy feet.

What Makes a Good Weekend Crochet Project?

For me, the sweet spot is something that feels noticeably more substantial than an evening project but can still be broken into manageable sections.

Pillows are excellent because you can crochet the main panels one day and assemble them the next. Bags work for much the same reason.

Motif projects are particularly good because you can see your progress. Crochet five skulls, take a coffee break, make another five. Much nicer than staring at row 73 of an enormous blanket wondering what possessed you.

Chunky yarn can also be your secret weapon. Bigger yarn and bigger hooks can turn what would otherwise be a lengthy project into something much more realistic for a two-day crochet binge.

My Picks for a Saturday-and-Sunday Crochet Session

If you want home décor, I would choose the Spooky Pillow, Pumpkin Pillow, Spiderweb Mat or Halloween Wreath.

For something wearable, go straight for the Skull Scarf, Spiderweb Shawl or Spider Socks.

If you are crocheting for trick-or-treating, the Candy Corn Bag, Ghost Bag or Halloween Candy Bags would be my picks.

And if you want something that looks particularly impressive hanging in the house, make the Ghost in the Mushrooms Wall Hanging or Halloween Table Runner.

The real trick is choosing one.

Because I know exactly how this works.

You open six patterns on Friday night, pull twelve balls of yarn out of the stash, decide you might as well make a pillow and a bag while you are there… and suddenly the coffee table has disappeared.

That is Halloween weekend crochet done properly.

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