wondering about bought patterns

A couple of weeks ago I bought two appliqué quilt cats patterns. The patterns, with way less than minimal instructions, show the kitty appliqué just fine. The blocks beneath the cats are very strange. Apparently, I'm expected to cut out the piecing parts from the pattern paper and use them for cutting. Fat chance I'm going to bother with that. I measured them so I could strip cut them with the rotary. The pattern does not say how many of which piece or which color will be needed. No problem. I can count. The pieces do not measure. Well, I suppose they do but the rulers here will only do sixteenths and many of the pieces hit right in the middle of the sixteenth marks. They're kidding right? Could there possibly be an advantage to getting that tedious with very ordinary blocks? The blocks are very basic combinations that we are all used to and I'll manage just fine. The annoying part is that a beginner quilter would find the pattern impossible to use. We'll be going to a quilt show soon. For sure there will be vendors there and heaps of tempting patterns. What's new and wonderful in the patterns section? Polly

Reply to
Polly Esther
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I love patterns by Carrie Nelson/Miss Rosie's Quilt Company. (Named for her dog, Rosie.) She has very specific/clear directions and options for many of them. She finally "discovered" charm packs and started creating a line of patterns she calls "Schnibbles" that are smaller than her usual quilts. (Carrie is a tall woman, who has lost a whole lot of weight in the last 2-3 years but is still a "big girl" so she likes large "lap"/throw quilts.) She even tells you which way to press seams for easiest construction and so forth. (NAYY, but have had classes with Carrie and she is a "local" here in the Valley.) Me and My Sister also has some great patterns out. Most of theirs are very "light" and fun patterns, like their fabric lines. Polly, you would also probably really like anything by H. Pridemore. (All at once I am blanking on her first name.) she does a lot of kid type and whimsical designs and fabrics. (and is another "local" gal.)

Have fun at your show. I need to get going now to the one here... and I will try to hit the vendors in the interest of seeing what else I can find for you.

Pati, > A couple of weeks ago I bought two appliqué quilt cats patterns. The

Reply to
Pati C.

A more likely explanation is that the photocopy equipment used to mass produce the pattern wasn't accurate. Normally, this doesn't matter. If I'm reading a book and the letters aren't exactly the same size or are slightly distorted from page to page, I won't notice. The same goes for illustrations or if the print is a 16th of an inch off when centered on the page. The only time you notice this sort of thing is on a pattern.

You had the right idea in the first place. Do the math, and do your cutting with a rotary cutter. The only advice I have for beginners is to learn the basics from an experienced teacher or from a book like Speckman's _Pattern Play_ or Beyer's _A Quilter's Album of Blocks and Borders_. Then do the math and do the cutting with a rotary cutter regardless of what the pattern says.

--Lia

Reply to
Julia Altshuler

I'm so glad you mentioned beginner books. I am very carefully (I'm the MIL) teaching a new quilter. She has a good sewing background so teaching her is easy but we've only done the 4-patch so far. Is there a better (newer) basics book than Fons & Porter's Quilters Complete Guide? Polly

Reply to
Polly Esther

Oh boy, Pati. Thank you. I'll make a list and we'll have big fun shopping. Oh my goodness, yes we will. Polly

"Pati C." I love patterns by Carrie Nelson/Miss Rosie's Quilt Company. (Named for

Reply to
Polly Esther

Has your daughter-in-law said what she's most interested in making? I'm not sure I'd use a beginner book as a comprehensive text. I'd ask her if she was more attracted to piecing, paper piecing, applique, hand work, machine work, or color theory first. If she said she needed to know more about one or the other to make up her mind, I'd concoct a mini-lesson. Then when I had some direction, I'd take it from there. As you've probably noticed, all my advice is geared towards drafting my own patterns for machine piecing, and if that's not the direction your d-i-l wants to go, I'm not going to much help to her.

--Lia

Reply to
Julia Altshuler

I think the Quilt In a Day books, especially the earlier ones, are great for a beginning quilter because the step-by-step instructions are very clear. Irish Chain, Snowball, or Jewel Box would all be good for a beginning quilter.

Julia > I'm so glad you mentioned beginner books. I am very carefully (I'm the MIL)

Reply to
Julia in MN

The last big quilt show I went to had a LOT of vendors with patterns. If I am buying a pattern for $8 or $10 I expect it to have adequate instructions. I opened up and looked at the pattern and instructions before I bought any. I have gotten had a couple of times that I can think of. The Mount Redoubt design Santa's Midnight Runner pattern I bought maybe 3 years ago was woefully lacking in instruction and the patterns actually needed to be worked a bit for use. I am not sure a new quilter would have been able to get through it. The other problem pattern was from Laundry Basket Quilts. I bought that one online but had I looked at it first I would have passed. I never made that one because it is put together so poorly.

I noticed a lot of felted wool applique patterns out if that is of interst. Also it seemed more 'emboridery involved' patterns. Crystals seemed really big (and over done IMO). Lots of patterns use those and a lot of various embellishing.

I don't have the Fons and Porter basic book but I refer to the Art of Classic Quiltmaking by Hargrave and Sharon Craig. It is a great basic book with a lot of info in it.

HTH, Taria

Polly Esther wrote:

Reply to
Taria

If a beginning quilter likes the 1930s repro fabrics, I'd spring for a subscription to the Clothesline Club. The patterns -- free with membership -- are all very simple, well explained and illustrated, and make up quickly and cute as a bug. I've enjoyed this because it's a quick, no stress kind of quilting.

Sunny

Reply to
Sunny

I like Carol Doak's "Your First Quilt Book, Or It Should Be". Great reference, easy to understand and lots of info in easy to find/use format. (Unfortunately, even though I have looked at it, and love it I don't have a copy myself. Every time I think about getting it, I end up recommending it to people and figure they/she/he needs the last copy more than I do. )

Pati, > I'm so glad you mentioned beginner books. I am very carefully (I'm the MIL)

Reply to
Pati C.

Thank you so much, Pati. I clicked over to abebooks and found a nice copy at a good price. My newest beginner is a night owl and I truly wouldn't mind if she called me at 3 a.m. but probably Carol's book would make a heap more sense. Polly

"Pati C." I like Carol Doak's "Your First Quilt Book, Or It Should Be". Great

Reply to
Polly Esther

I'd love to help you, Polly, but all my bought patterns are applique and usually they have no applique technique directions at all. I'm not so good at piecing, so there are plenty of free pieced patterns online that I'll never run out of freebies to piece even if I quilt 'til I'm a hundert. Debra in VA See my quilts at:

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Reply to
Debra

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