Stitches

is there a circle of people that share crochet patterns?

I know this sounds strange, but I think it is a waste of money to pay the "up to $10" for a crochet book that you like 1 pattern out of. Is there a group that kinda helps eachother out in that regard?

Public Comments

1. If you mean copying patterns for each other, that's copyright infringement. Swapping/trading patterns can be hard to arrange because you have to find someone who both wants what you have and has something you want. Your public library has lots of crochet books, and can probably get even more for you through an interlibrary loan. There are thousands of free crochet patterns online. This site has compiled links to hundreds of them: http://www.crochetpatterncentral.com/directory.php
2. The site above is great, I use it all the time. You can also check out all the different yarn brands web sites, like lion brand, red heart... alot of them have free patterns too.
3. about.com will send you crochet patterns or you can look on their site, lionbrand also has some free patterns on a website, and so does Joanns.com
4. Besides all the great links and ideas others have already given you... you might try going to a good used book store like Powell's Books or Amazon.com. They have tons of wonderful crochet pattern books and magazines you can buy for a fraction of what they cost when they were new. Don't forget to check out your local yard sales too. You can also find lots of crochet patterns and books for sale on eBay. You have to shop careful and compare prices or you can get burned on eBay. If you belong to any on line crochet groups you might see if some of the other members might want to do a pattern book exchange. Or maybe they have some books they would be willing to sell to you for a reasonable price... I do not know of any on line crochet groups that will send you copies of patterns. It can get the groups owners and members in a lot of trouble if they permitted the exchanging of copyrighted patterns. It's a "NO NO" to even ask someone to send you copies of patterns in most groups and can get you unsubed real fast.
5. You might check with the ladies at the forum listed below. It is safe to trade patterns if they are public domain or if they were created by you or someone else and not copyrighted. Happy Crocheting.
6. There are hard-bound books with crochet patterns in public libraries. Check to see what is available at local libraries and through inter-library loan. Visiting the public libraries in Las Vegas is a highlight of my own visits there. If you want books on a subject to be published, *someone* needs to buy them. That's the way it works. Check Annie's Attic freebie link daily (sometimes crochet, sometimes knitting, if I recall correctly): http://www.anniesattic.com/free_pattern_day/index.html