I'm pretty sure that if you take a stitch pattern and apply it to a basic hat pattern you are good. Or make a baby blanket with another stitch pattern. Honestly who can say they invented the pattern for a basket weave baby blanket. I have an almost 90 y.o. baby blanket knit by my Great Grandma for my Grams in that pattern. There is an article on
Knitty about copy right and selling.