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Surprise and good experience.

As some of you know I not only teach at one of the local quilt shops, I also do some of the store samples. We got in a new line of fabric and a pattern that uses the panel and several fabrics from the line. Someone else was going to do the sample, did 2 test blocks, and decided it was too difficult. But it is a pattern that probably wouldn't sell well without a sample made. So I said I would do it. (BTW, the pattern is "Blissful Bird" using the Bliss line of fabrics from Northcott.

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get you to the pattern. )Well, a bit of a situation right at the beginning. This is a quiltthat finishes at about 43"x47". And the pattern was calling for over10 yards of fabric. hmmmmmmmmm.... I see a problem.So I e-mailed the designer. Except for the center panel, everything istemplate cut, with curves.So yes, it will take more fabric than a straight cut quilt.But....... Turns out the designer had not made the quilt, just a fewblocks to check the templates.So we emailed back and forth, after the first phone call she made tome. We finally worked out a new supply list that still gives plenty ofroom for mistakes but is much more reasonable.Cara Gulati does like to add extra to her pattern requirements toallow for miscuts and such with templates.The whole exchange was very pleasant and Cara thanked me forcontacting her about it. Got the sample done, and it should be up atthe shop now. Cara was going to send the corrected back page of the pattern to me. and I figured it was all good.

Yesterday I came home from a meeting to find a box sitting by the computer. It was from Cara and when I opened it found she had sent me

3 of her patterns with acrylic templates, plus her book "3-D Explosion Quilts". I was, and am, stunned. Something I really didn't expect or anything. But wonderful. I have wanted to do these quilts for a long time.

So don't be afraid to contact any designer, politely and respectfully, about questions you have about any pattern. Most will be happy to get the feedback, be able to answer questions and more.

Pati, in Phx

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Pati, in Phx
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Goodness, what a nice surprise to get the items from Cara. Sure was nice of BOTH of you to consult on the pattern. Barbara in HOT SC

Reply to
Bobbie Sews More

as my grandpa would say, hot diggity! (sometimes hot diggity dog!) What a wonderful surprise, have fun.

I'm happy for you, enjoy your new playthings.

Judie

Reply to
Judie in Penfield NY

One time I wanted more FQs of a designer and couldn't find them anywhere. I came upon her email address and asked if she knew where I could find more. She replied that she was between shows but would get back to me. A couple of weeks later, she sent me about a dozen FQs from the series. All I had hoped for was the name of an online shop that was carrying the entire bouquet. Wow. Yes. Hot diggity dog! Polly

Reply to
Polly Esther

Reply to
Roberta

Well............. It really wasn't a terribly difficult pattern, if you cut the templates out accurately. And are comfortable sewing curves. The real pain was the tiny double Drunkard's Path blocks in the corners. (Actually all the outside border blocks were a bit tricky because the rectangular ones finish at 4.5-5" x 1.75". The squares that make up the corners, finish at 1.75", 3 regular Drunkards Path and one double.) And there are a lot of rectangular DP blocks. In all it went together fairly quickly. I picked up the pattern and fabric on Thurs. Had the piecing done by Tues. Got the batting and we decided on backing and finished it Fri. morning. So just over a week.

It was a fun quilt.

BTW, just got a note from Cara that she had sent new back pages for the pattern to the store, along with some books to compensate for the time it will take to swap them out. Very nice of her indeed.

Pati, > I love hearing about positive experiences! So nice that she responded

Reply to
Pati, in Phx

First, let me say I am in awe of your piecing ability and talent. I need a good teacher. Maybe you can give a class up here? Second, wow, what a great experience with a designer. Clearly she knows how to treat people well and make loyal customers. Good for both of you!

Sunny

Reply to
Sunny

Sunny, it just takes practice. I would love to travel to teach, and hope to do so sometime. Remember, piecing is one seam at a time. Learn to work with the fabric instead of fighting it and it becomes a lot easier. There are always tricks and different people find different ways to deal with tricky seams.

And yes, a great experience with the designer. Cara also sent a few books along with the pattern backs to the shop. The owner is new (just bought the shop in mid-July) and didn't realize that the books were for the shop. I want to make up the patterns that Cara sent me. (they include the rotary cutter templates.) You can see them all on her website Cara Gulati.

Right now I am up to my eyeballs doing some work out at the shop. I am reorganizing/sorting/clearing the patterns. They have not had any TLC for quite a while and are a mess. We have 2 "catalogs" with pictures of the pattern cover. The patterns are in file cabinets. The catalogs have not been tended, patterns have been added willy nilly, instead of in the sections they should be. And a lot of patterns never made it to the catalog. sigh. Some of the patterns are old ones and need to go away. So Barbara will probably have a sale, buy one pattern- get one from the basket for free. There are also 2 cabinets that are mostly clothing patterns. sigh. Plus a bunch of other clothing patterns that aren't in the cabinets. And no one is currently doing clothing oriented classes. (I may change that, when I get a few minutes to think and to sew. )

Just realized that I am rambling along here..... sorry about that, thinking 'out loud'.

Any way, thanks for the compliments Sunny.

Have fun, Pati, > First, let me say I am in awe of your piecing ability and talent. I

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Pati, in Phx

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