These terms cover every pattern I sell — on Etsy, through Instagram, and any free pattern you download here. Buying or downloading a file means you accept them. I've tried to write them so they can actually be read; if anything is unclear, write to me at contact@stitch-stories.com and I'll explain.
Who you're buying from
Stitching Stories by Alina — an independent designer working from Ukraine. Every pattern in the catalogue is drawn by me personally, from the first sketch to the finished PDF.
Email: contact@stitch-stories.com
What you receive
Every pattern is a digital PDF, available to download straight after payment. Nothing is shipped physically — no printed chart, no threads, no fabric, no kit.
- full-colour chart
- black-and-white symbol chart
- complete DMC thread key
- fabric recommendations and finished sizes for different counts
File languages. Patterns are currently supplied in English and Ukrainian. Other language versions are being prepared. The language of a file is stated in the listing — please check it before you buy.
Where you buy. On Etsy the file is delivered by Etsy and stays in your Etsy account, so you can re-download it whenever you like. If you order through Instagram, I send the file to you directly. Buying straight from this website is planned but not available yet.
Your licence
When you buy or download a pattern, you receive a personal, non-exclusive, non-transferable licence to use it. The copyright stays with me.
The licence covers one person — the person who bought or downloaded the file.
What you may do
- stitch the design as many times as you like
- print as many copies as you need for your own stitching
- keep the file and re-download it for as long as it's yours
- sell finished pieces you have stitched yourself — online, at fairs, on commission, made to order, in any quantity — provided you credit the design as "Pattern: Stitching Stories by Alina" in the listing, on the label or on the tag. This credit is required, not optional.
- show a small fragment of the chart in a photo or video of your work in progress — up to about 5% of the chart. Not a full page, and never enough for someone else to stitch from.
What you may not do
- resell, share, give away, swap, lend or publish the PDF or any part of it — including with family and friends
- stitch from one purchased file together with another person: one licence, one stitcher
- upload the file to file-sharing sites, shared cloud folders, forums, Telegram channels or any other group
- print copies of the chart for a class, club or group
- use the pattern in workshops, courses, lessons or schools — paid or free
- redraw, recolour, convert or adapt the design and present or sell it as your own or as a new pattern
- use my charts, product photos or finished-work photos in your own listings, adverts or promotional materials
- use the files or images to train artificial intelligence or machine-learning models, or feed them into generative tools
- remove or alter the copyright notice inside the file
- include the chart in a kit or bundle you sell
Free patterns
Free patterns — whether you receive one by subscribing to the newsletter or simply download it from this website — come under exactly the same licence as paid ones. Free to get doesn't mean free to pass on.
Copyright
All designs, charts, colour keys, illustrations and photographs on this website are © Stitching Stories by Alina. All rights reserved. Buying a pattern buys the licence described above — it does not transfer the copyright.
If the licence is broken
These patterns are how I make my living, so I take this seriously. If a file is shared or resold:
- your licence ends immediately, and with it your right to use the pattern for anything, including finished pieces
- I file takedown notices (DMCA and equivalents) with whichever platform is involved — Etsy, Instagram, Pinterest, Telegram, the file host, the hosting provider
- I report the account to that platform, which usually ends in removal or suspension
- where the scale of the infringement justifies it, I take the matter further, including to court, and claim compensation for the damage caused
Photos of your finished work
If you tag me, send me a photo, or post your finished piece publicly with a credit to the pattern, I may reshare it on this website and on my social media, always crediting you by the name or handle you used. If you'd rather I didn't, or you want a photo taken down later, just write to me — I'll remove it, no questions asked.
Reviews
Reviews shown on this website come from my Etsy shop and appear as Etsy publishes them, with the reviewer's first name or Etsy display name.
This website
I keep the catalogue as accurate as I can, but I can't promise the site will always be available or entirely free of errors. Prices, discounts and availability may change. Articles in the blog are general advice from my own experience, not a guarantee of a particular result.
Changes to these terms
I may update these terms — for example, when direct sales open on this website. The version published on this page is the one that applies. The licence for patterns you have already bought will not be made stricter after the fact.
Law and your rights
These terms are governed by the law of Ukraine. If you are a consumer, this does not take away the mandatory rights you have under the law of the country you live in.
Contact
Write to contact@stitch-stories.com — I reply within 48–72 hours. You can also reach me through Etsy messages or Instagram.
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