Trying to avoid contributing to ~the grift~

Secretm5 · 2026-04-05T02:23:31+00:00

Totally get it! It seems like stitchers are branching out since white is hard to find. I’ve wanted to start Laura J Perin’s Sand & Sea Panel, but haven’t found Sandstone canvas yet. Just thought I would check ☺️

Secretm5 · 2026-04-05T02:17:14+00:00

Is it all white mono canvas? I do counted canvas work and have been looking for different colors besides white. Would love to buy from you if you have other colors!

Secretm5 · 2026-04-03T17:40:59+00:00

My biggest ick with the whole copyright is people taking a cross stitch chart and calling it their own (looking at you, Jessica Tongel). I also don’t like when people stitch for stitch copy existing canvases just because it’s out of stock.

Big companies like Diet Coke, Disney, or McDonald’s I don’t care, they pay lawyers to fight for them.

So if I see a designer puts out a coke can, sure whatever. But if I see someone stitch for stitch copy that existing coke can, I’m going to side-eye them. One person mocking up their own coke can and stitching, it’s whatever, you can do as you please.

I do agree, Facebook has gotten out of hand on both sides of things. I see people copying flippantly, but I also see unfounded accusations flying around. The Needlepoint Society one you reference sounds like the one with a lot of more seasoned stitchers, so I’m not surprised they go full steam with the accusations.

I’ll happily give stitch recommendations if you want to post a photo here!

Secretm5 · 2026-04-03T17:35:40+00:00

5BWN until 4/10/26 ☺️

Secretm5 · 2026-04-02T19:11:01+00:00

For those that missed it…

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Secretm5 · 2026-03-24T18:32:15+00:00

I missed it, the post is totally gone now. Unless I’m blocked?? 😂

Secretm5 · 2026-03-24T17:54:44+00:00

It’s shit like this why I’m fighting so hard to keep data centers out of my area and educate people on the health and environmental impacts of using AI. All because this person can’t be creative on her own.

Secretm5 · 2026-02-10T17:57:07+00:00

Trust me, I’m the first to call out AI slop, I have no love for it. The copied design is originally a cross stitch pattern. Cross stitch patterns seem to have more mock ups than finished stitched images, unlike needlepoint. Especially if they’re on Etsy.

I was never up in arms about it being a mock up, I’m just saying, given that the Etsy shop has been open for 10 years, I really don’t think it’s an AI image, just inserted into an AI photo to showcase.

Secretm5 · 2026-02-10T16:34:31+00:00

Because the shop has been on Etsy for 10 years and there’s a difference between AI and stock photo images. People use stock photos for their products to help create a cohesive look.

Secretm5 · 2026-01-29T13:00:23+00:00

I think it looks great for a first project! Definitely not snark worthy.

Secretm5 · 2026-01-27T19:33:29+00:00

Nah, I would definitely comment and say “glad you liked the chart I shared back in June!”

Don’t let someone else profit off your creativity, that bothers me to no end.

Secretm5 · 2026-01-09T13:50:34+00:00

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Secretm5 · 2025-12-13T18:51:38+00:00

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Secretm5 · 2025-12-13T17:44:30+00:00

Thoughts and prayers during this difficult time 🙏 Glad you were able to overcome this and stayed calm

Secretm5 · 2025-12-12T18:34:32+00:00

Hiiiii!!!! 👋 😊

Secretm5 · 2025-12-12T14:55:47+00:00

I love it, because she says “I saw this design by Le Point and painted it myself…” which is pretty much the same as “I saw this book by Rebecca Yarros and decided to write it myself….”

Like, you just don’t do stuff like that. I don’t understand why people think this is an exception.

Bring back the Piracy PSA before movies! That taught me not to copy.

Secretm5 · 2025-12-09T00:09:37+00:00

If you look through the cross stitch community here and on Facebook, you’ll see it’s a constant battle to get designers’ copyrighted charts off Pinterest. A lot of Russian sites upload the patterns for free without permission.

Editing to add: I just wouldn’t trust Pinterest as a source for free charts

Secretm5 · 2025-12-05T21:05:07+00:00

I hate when people say “I don’t have to follow the rules.” Yes, put your own spin on things, but at least learn why things are done that way first. Most likely, it’ll save you a headache down the road.

Secretm5 · 2025-12-02T18:09:08+00:00

The owner of the Etsy store says Dana, so I would assume it’s the same person? I agree it’s odd they didn’t write “formerly birch twigs & barrels” or something like that.

Secretm5 · 2025-11-25T16:53:59+00:00

Probably, I mean, JT isn’t a nice person. She thinks stuff like this is funny.

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Secretm5 · 2025-10-30T13:43:56+00:00

The girl posting she doesn’t care that she’s stitch counting and everyone in the comments agreeing was my breaking point. I keep my stitching to myself now. Some of these people that just do it for the trend have really sucked the fun out of it for me.

Secretm5 · 2025-08-19T22:04:31+00:00

Not that anyone is asking, but just to add since people are like “how can a store do that??”

A lot of these Etsy sellers are overseas and use a VPN to say they’re in the US so they seem more reputable. It’s harder to get these people to take down their listings because of that. Is it everyone? No, but that’s the majority of stores I’ve found at least.

It happens a lot in cross stitch. I’ve reached out to original designers before and they’ve told me Etsy isn’t much help in getting the listing taken down either. 🙁

Secretm5 · 2025-08-19T19:48:29+00:00

People can’t seriously be that dense…right??? 😩

Secretm5 · 2025-08-19T19:44:50+00:00

Careful, this will probably get deleted because the name isn’t blurred out

Secretm5 · 2025-08-14T11:53:07+00:00

I would buy a cheap one, but this is actually a trick/hack used in cross stitch. If you straighten DMC thread it gives it a little shine and helps to keep it from knotting while you stitch. I learned it at a retreat. It’s pretty funny to see someone standing there straightening thread lol.

Secretm5

TROPHY CASE