Blue Ribbon Designs Complimentary Cross-Stitch And Quilting Patterns For Crafting Enthusiasts

Blue Ribbon Designs offers original cross stitch charts, sewing patterns, and quilting designs to crafting enthusiasts, with a selection of complimentary patterns available as a token of appreciation for customer support. These free designs include the special "Blue Ribbon Birdie" pattern, created for the company's 20th anniversary, which complements their signature "Rick Rack Round Series." The company makes these patterns accessible through their official website, with specific guidelines regarding their use and distribution.

Free Charts and Patterns Available

Blue Ribbon Designs maintains a dedicated section on their website where complimentary charts and patterns are made available to the public. These free designs are presented as gifts to customers and supporters, reflecting the company's appreciation for their business and encouragement. The free charts section is accessible through a direct link in the website's navigation menu, indicating that these complimentary designs are an integral part of their customer engagement strategy.

The free charts offered by Blue Ribbon Designs include various designs suitable for different skill levels and interests. Among these is the "Blue Ribbon Birdie" design, created specifically as a complimentary pattern to celebrate the company's 20th anniversary. This special design complements all patterns in the company's signature "Rick Rack Round Series," which features distinctive round designs finished with rick rack and pins around the perimeter.

The "Blue Ribbon Birdie" Free Design

The "Blue Ribbon Birdie" stands out as a notable free offering from Blue Ribbon Designs. This design was specially created for the company's 20th anniversary celebration and is intended to give crafters an opportunity to experience the company's signature style. The pattern is designed to coordinate with the existing "Rick Rack Round Series," which consists of counted cross stitch patterns featuring round designs finished with rick rack and pins around the perimeter.

According to the information provided, the "Blue Ribbon Birdie" is stitched on 32-count linen, with any light neutral linen being suitable for the project. The design uses DMC cotton floss for stitching. For finishing, the pattern calls for Hand-Dyed Velveteen in color Shallot from Lady Dot Creates for the backing, and Hand-Dyed Rick Rack in the color Chianti from Lady Dot Creates. The instructions also mention the use of coordinating light blue sewing pins to complete the project in the signature style.

The company notes that while full finishing instructions are included with each pattern in the "Rick Rack Round Series," these instructions are not provided with the free "Blue Ribbon Birdie" design. This suggests that crafters interested in completing this free pattern may need to refer to the finishing instructions from the paid patterns in the series or have some experience with similar finishing techniques.

Terms and Conditions for Free Designs

Blue Ribbon Designs has established specific guidelines regarding the use and distribution of their complimentary designs. These terms and conditions are clearly outlined on their website to ensure that the free patterns are used appropriately while respecting the company's copyright.

The company permits the reproduction of their free designs for newsletter or shop handout purposes, but only with explicit permission from Blue Ribbon Designs. When reproducing the designs, they must remain intact exactly as provided, with all logos, notices, credits, and copyright information remaining unaltered. The designs are not to be used in kit form or sold as individual items.

Furthermore, the charts and patterns are protected by copyright, and Blue Ribbon Designs explicitly states that the charts may not be posted on the Internet without written permission from the company. This restriction helps protect the company's intellectual property while still allowing for certain uses that promote their designs and business.

Accessing and Updating Free Designs

Blue Ribbon Designs indicates that their collection of complimentary designs will be updated periodically. This means that the availability of specific free patterns may change over time. Crafters who are looking for a particular design that is not currently available are encouraged to check back at a later date to see if it has been added to the free collection.

Alternatively, the company offers another method for obtaining specific complimentary designs. Customers can place an order in the Blue Ribbon Designs Etsy Shop and request the specific complimentary design they are looking for in the order notes. When a customer includes such a request with their order, the company will include the requested free design with their purchase. For printed orders, this means receiving the printed chart along with the shippable order. For digital orders, the complimentary chart will be emailed to the customer.

This approach serves as a customer service enhancement, allowing interested crafters to access specific free designs while potentially encouraging them to explore the company's full catalog of paid patterns.

The Rick Rack Round Series

The "Blue Ribbon Birdie" free design is part of a broader collection known as the "Rick Rack Round Series." This series represents a signature design concept from Blue Ribbon Designs, featuring counted cross stitch patterns with distinctive round designs finished in a particular style.

The series incorporates rick rack and pins around the perimeter of each design, creating a unique and recognizable aesthetic. Blue Ribbon Designs has already released five patterns in this series, with plans to create more in the future. The "Blue Ribbon Birdie" was designed specifically to complement this existing collection, allowing crafters to create a project that matches the style of the paid patterns without purchasing them.

The popularity of this series is evident in the company's description of the designs as "addicting," suggesting that crafters who try one may be inclined to create more from the collection. This approach of offering a free entry point to a series is a common marketing strategy that allows potential customers to experience the quality and style of a designer's work before committing to purchasing additional patterns.

Product Formats and Availability

Blue Ribbon Designs offers their patterns in multiple formats to accommodate different preferences and needs. All new patterns from the company are available in both digital download PDF format and printed paper format. This dual-format approach ensures that crafters can choose the option that best suits their crafting style and circumstances.

The printed versions of patterns can be found through the "Paper Cross Stitch Charts and Paper Quilt Patterns" section of the website, while the digital versions are accessible through the "Digital PDF Cross Stitch Charts and Digital PDF Quilt Patterns" section. This clear separation of formats makes it easy for customers to find the version they prefer.

For the free designs, while the specific format options are not explicitly detailed in the source material, it can be inferred that at least the "Blue Ribbon Birdie" is available as a downloadable chart, given that it can be requested with digital orders and will be emailed to customers. It's possible that the free designs may also be available in printed format upon request with an order.

Business Model and Customer Engagement

Blue Ribbon Designs operates with a business model that balances the sale of paid patterns with the offering of complimentary designs. This approach serves multiple purposes for the company. First, the free patterns act as a form of marketing, allowing potential customers to experience the quality of the company's designs without financial commitment. Second, they serve as a token of appreciation to existing customers and supporters, fostering goodwill and encouraging repeat business.

The company's approach to freebies aligns with common practices in the crafting industry, where designers often offer simple or smaller patterns as incentives while reserving more complex or extensive designs for sale. This strategy allows crafters to try a designer's style and quality before committing to purchasing larger projects.

The inclusion of a free design with purchases, particularly the ability to request specific complimentary designs when placing an order, represents a customer service enhancement that can differentiate Blue Ribbon Designs from competitors. This approach not only adds value to customer purchases but also creates opportunities for crafters to discover patterns they might not have otherwise found.

Copyright and Intellectual Property Considerations

Blue Ribbon Designs takes the protection of their intellectual property seriously, as evidenced by the specific terms and conditions associated with their free patterns. The company's copyright notice, spanning from 2004 to 2025, indicates their long-term commitment to their designs and the importance they place on protecting their creative work.

The restrictions on reproducing, distributing, and posting the free designs online serve to maintain the value and exclusivity of the company's patterns. By controlling how their designs are shared, Blue Ribbon Designs can ensure that their work is represented accurately and that their brand is not diluted through unauthorized distribution.

These copyright considerations are particularly important in the digital age, where patterns can be easily shared and disseminated online. Blue Ribbon Designs' approach balances the desire to share their work with crafters against the need to protect their business interests and creative rights.

Conclusion

Blue Ribbon Designs offers a selection of complimentary cross-stitch and quilting patterns as a way to thank their customers and introduce new crafters to their design style. The "Blue Ribbon Birdie" stands out as a special anniversary design that complements the company's signature "Rick Rack Round Series." While these free patterns come with specific usage restrictions, they provide valuable opportunities for crafters to experience Blue Ribbon Designs' quality without financial commitment.

The company's approach to offering free designs—both as standalone downloads and as incentives with purchases—demonstrates a customer-focused business model that values both new and existing customers. By periodically updating their collection of free patterns and allowing customers to request specific designs with orders, Blue Ribbon Designs creates opportunities for engagement and discovery.

For crafting enthusiasts interested in exploring Blue Ribbon Designs' offerings, the free patterns section of their website provides an accessible entry point. Those who appreciate the style and quality of the free designs may choose to explore the company's full catalog of paid patterns, continuing their crafting journey with this established design company.

Sources

1. Charts – Patterns – Designs
2. Blue Ribbon Birdie
3. New From Blue Ribbon Designs
4. Free Charts