Lets Talk....Poorly Written Quilting Patterns

It happened again.....I bought myself a quilting pattern, from a local quilt shop, only to be disappointed. What's to be disappointed about, you might ask?? Or perhaps you might be thinking "I know exactly where she is going with this!!!"

 I have been reading quilting blogs for over three years and quilting books and magazines for over twenty and have yet to see this topic addressed.

The majority of quilting magazines give book reviews of the latest quilting books, as do several bloggers. They feel free to review some of the negative aspects of the books along with the positive. But I have yet to read a pattern review. But why wouldn't we??? Why don't we?  Quilting patterns are rather expensive. In Canada the average cost for one pattern is approximately twelve dollars. Whereas  quilting magazines run anywhere from six to fifteen dollars (approximately). Each magazine has several patterns included with well written instructions including photos making it much easier for us visual learners.

Back to the pattern at hand:

I saw a pattern using a QAYG technique that I hadn't used before and rather than just try to figure it out from the quilt hanging in the store....I bought the pattern. I didn't buy the pattern for the design as it was a four patch alternated with a one patch square....nothing too original or exciting right. I BOUHGT the PATTERN for the TECHNIQUE.....only to have the technique NOT EXPLAINED in full. Sound familiar????

Here are my complaints for this particular pattern:

• Fabric amounts not calculated....telling me I need twenty four 9" squares etc. is not calculating yardage as far as I'm concerned.

• Spelling mistakes in the Supply list....calling sashing fabric cashing fabric might just confuse a new quilter.

• Including a suggested free motion quilting pattern without showing stitching starts and stops etc. is again, not all that helpful.

• My biggest complaint comes in the directions for joining the quilted blocks. One small paragraph of sketchy instructions just doesn't do it. I have a fairly good idea what they are trying to say only because I have a fair bit of experience joining quilted blocks. There are no instructions regarding the bulk in the seam allowances, of the joined blocks. To be fair, they do suggest to clip the corners of the blocks to eliminate bulk, but, that's all.  As written, the quilter has no idea which way to press, or should they trim the bulk etc. A few pictures at this stage would be extremely beneficial. I am then told to top-stitch my horizontal rows in the same manner as my vertical blocks but THEY NEVER MENTIONED TOP-STITCHING in the instructions for the vertical blocks, in the first place.

• Also this particular quilt has reversible binding.....one small how to paragraph just doesn't do it. Yup, one would have to run to You Tube to figure it out or a well written book.

My question.....why is this pattern costing me twelve dollars?? 

Included in the small pattern bag there are 3 sheets of standard photocopying paper and a coloured picture of the finished quilt glued to the sheet......that's it. It certainly can't be high overhead costs. 

This is not the first time I have been disappointed by quilting patterns being sold in quilt shops. The standard might be different for patterns that can be downloaded, that I don't have much experience with. 

There are many of us who take the time to write comprehensive tutorials on our blogs.....which many of us, offer to our fellow quilters at no cost. It doesn't seem quite fair to me that in order to understand these poorly written patterns one would have to search the Internet for better instructions or take a class to figure out what the pattern is trying to tell them.  After all, the pattern writer is charging you 12 dollars a pop.....just sayin'!!

Any thoughts?

Marianne

Note: I will respond to all comments regarding this topic in the comment thread as with all my "Let's Talk Posts".

Let's Talk Quilting Classes, Workshops.....etc.

So how does a girl who rarely takes classes...has never been on a quilting retreat, actually teach??
 
Yup, that pretty much sums up the situation. 

 

Let the teaching prep begin....and yes, I thought I would begin, by talking to you. Many of you have taken several classes, been to numerous workshops and retreats etc. So, who better to ask than you. 

 

I've come up with a few questions.....and would be ever so grateful for your answers and any other comments or suggestions you might come up with. 

1. What is your greatest annoyance? (May as well address the negatives right up front.)
2. Do you prefer a looser, more concept based class or a more structured pattern based class?
3. Do you want to be able to leave with a smaller finished project or are you quite happy to finish a larger project on your own later?
4. Do you like room for discussion and interaction between fellow quilters?
5. Do you prefer a group project or an individual project? Or perhaps both?
6. Are handouts important to you?
7. Are you wanting to hear about the instructor's personal quilting journey or would you rather they just stick to the technique at hand? Or perhaps you want both?
8. Are you looking for inspiration or just technique or again perhaps both.
9. What has been, in your experience, the most helpful or inspirational time when taking a quilting class?

 I'm more of an improvisational, concept type quilter but I'm also a bit of a technique junkie....driven by the desire to find the easiest and simplest way to do anything (that's my lazy gene kicking in). My desire in teaching is to share my quilting journey, inspire creativity in others and show you techniques to make the quilts you dream a reality.

 

Hopefully, I can teach the way I blog....your wonderfully, positive, encouragement every time I write a tutorial or design a new quilt means more than you can imagine. Thank you for that, so yes...I'm all about interaction as well.

 

Marianne

 P.S......and, yes there must be crazy laughter!!!!

NOTE: This is a "Let's Talk" post and in order to promote discussion I will be responding directly on the blog rather than with individual email as I usually do.

Let's Talk Quilting

As my husband sailed the English Channel last week, I spent many happy hours in my studio. Organizing....you know rearranging things endlessly in a rather compulsive obsessive manner, but hey it works for me. 

Last Saturday, five of us fellow quilters went to a quilt show here in town. We had a great time....lot's of fun and laughter. Something that surprised me was the amount of quilts in the show that were quilted by someone other than the "quilter".  Is it the trend that more and more quilters are outsourcing the actual quilting? Our machines are getting fancier and yet.......someone else is doing the quilting.

Obviously this is a personal choice....neither right or wrong just personal. For me, I wouldn't be able to give up creative control. My question is what are the major roadblocks that stand in the way of quilting your quilts....if that is something that you actually want to do?

I decided my long arm had been sitting idle for far to long.  I am so addicted to Quilt As You Go that I have not really pushed myself in the long arm department.

There's nothing like a pool table to measure that monster roll of quilt batting!!! 

 It had been so long since I loaded a quilt, I really had to think.

 

A little wonky but hey, I like that "organic" look. 

For me, I hate loading the quilt and piecing the large back. I let that become a roadblock for using the long arm....plus the fact it was being repaired didn't help. The longer I put it off the harder it became to get at. Oh, and did I mention that a quilting frame can easily become piled high with fabric and works in progress....sort of like a treadmill, need I say more!! 

One good thing....I've lost 25 lbs since the last time I used the frame, so much easier to get around to the back of the frame....it used to be a bit more of a squeeze  Seriously, the frame takes up most of the room.

What are your quilting road blocks? Let's talk quilting.

Update: Thanks for all your fabulous comments so far. My plan is to write more "Let's Talk" type blog posts in the future.  In order to promote discussion I will be replying directly on the blog rather than with individual emails, whenever "Let's Talk is part of the title.

Thanks again
Marianne