What Does "Free Patterns" Mean to You?

If people post free patterns on their websites/blogs does this not mean that we are FREE to print these out and stitch as we wish? Aren't we allowed to then post the finished piece giving credit to the "designer" who posted the free pattern?

I am getting some negative feedback from someone because I am using their "creations". Am I doing something wrong? The last thing I want to do is to get into some kind of trouble but I feel I am doing nothing wrong.

What do you think?

Jill