The following are rates for Leisure Arts.

—Posted 11 July 2016 —

Year of Publication: 2016

Type of design: Collection (Sweater- Cardigan)

Is your design: Knit

How much were you paid by a flat fee?: $1200

How much did you gross in royalties in the first year of the design’s release? (if N/A enter N/A): $0

Was your design: solicited by the company

Was your sample returned?: No

Were you paid according to the terms of your agreement?: N/A

Relationship with company: first time working with company

Did you have a written contract?: Yes

Did you negotiate your contract terms?: Yes, without success

Briefly describe your royalty payments: They offered 6% on their net profits.

What best describes the rights you granted this company? Company retains all rights (rights never revert back to me).

Who was responsible for the following:

Yarn Support – Company

Sample – Designer

Grading – Designer

Tech Editing – Company

Photography – Company

Layout – Company

Customer Support – Company

Yardage of sample: 1000-1250yds [915-1143m]

Weight of yarn used in sample: Worsted

How many sizes did you grade?: 4

Primary stitch used in the design: Stockinette/Garter

Would you work with this company again?: No

How would you rate your experience with this company? 1/5

Anything else you would like others to know about your experience with this company? The $1200 flat fee offered to me was as an advance for a 6-cardigan book. ($200 each sweater). They required the samples to be knit within 2 months and the agreement stated that they would present the cover art to and require a retail buyer to purchase the book before committing to paying me the advance. They retained all copyright, publishing rights and the sample garments. I would receive 6% of their net profit. These terms were entirely non-negotiable. I walked away. Those terms are insulting to the amount of work that goes into writing 6 cardigan patterns and having them knit.