I am currently working on creating a hat pattern that I think will be very cute. I did a search and did not find anything that looked like the pattern I am making. When I complete it, If I like the turnout would it be ok to claim it as my own and maybe patent it. If so, how do I know no one else has made this pattern before? :shock: 
New Pattern
I don’t know about patent, but if you write the original pattern it will automatically be protected by copyright.
A little advice about copyrighting. Technically, when you write something original it is copyrighted automatically. But later, it can be hard to prove WHEN you wrote something. I have a friend who is an attorney. Anytime I want to make sure that I can prove exactly when something happened, I put it in a sealed envelope and send it through the mail to her. She puts it in a file and leaves it sealed. That way it has the date stamp on the outside and the contents on the inside if an issue ever comes up. You dont’ have to send it to an attorney for this to work. You can send it to yourself, or to a friend and have them keep it sealed.
Just one girls idea on cheap ways to protect your intellectual property!
yup…it’s called a poor man’s copyright. dooo eeeeeeet!
My husband takes his laboratory manuals to the local notary public and gets a stamp and signature. Not that his research has paid off monetarily, but if it did come down to a patent fight, he’s prepared.
Thank you everyone 
You all had some really great advice and I will be sure to follow it too 
It’s only a simple baby hat pattern but I think it’s cute and making up a pattern is a little hard for me because I am a beginner knitter. Well thanx again :happydance: