Collecting free quilt patterns
 

How many of you look for free quilt patterns on line? I have found many and have one binder full already. With these and the patterns I have bought and books I have bought, I'll be quilting for ever! Sometimes, I just like to look through them and imagine what fabrics I would use, how I would embellish it. This cheers me up to no end. I am not a fast quiltmaker, as my quilting friends can attest. It's kind of a joke amongst us, that I talk more than quilt at our get-togethers. Lately though, since maybe last November, I have actually astounded them and have been actually sewing more than talking! And I have been doing more quilting on my own as opposed to waiting for our monthly get-togethers. I think they think I am not feeling well LOL! Anyway, I seem to be on a roll getting my UFOs done and planning what I will work on next. Anyone else like this....finding free patterns and hoping to do everyone?

I am a new quilter and find that I am always downloading patterns, I have so many that there isn't enough time for me to do them all. I wonder how much of my memory on this lap top is used up with those and the free embroidery designs I have on it. Why do I do this and will I ever use them, do I really like them that much? I dread the day I try to "organize" this mess . . . but yet here I am just now asking for one from a fellow board member.

Have a good size file box full, have bought a few and then also have magazines and books by the gross, I will never be able to make all the quilts, but continually see something else I would love to make. lol good luck everyone.

I have collected some, but try not to over do it!

At 74 I just keep collecting patterns. I know there is no way I will ever make a dent in them but I love them all. I got all my DM's patterns and she had a lot. I will pass them all along to my DD.

I've got more than I could ever use with my books and magazines and photos copied from here!

i don't have them on paper, but i have a computer file full of quilt ideas. i'll never get to them all, either :)

I save free patterns on my work computer and print them off when I decide to make them. That way I save lots of paper!

I haven't done this with quilting patterns but you should see my cross stitch pattern collection, really need to clean that up!

I have three super-sized binders full of photos of quilts I'll make "some day". Wish I hadn't discovered the Pictures section of this site, and Flickr and Pinterest because of the thousands of beautiful quilts that I can use for inspiration. As for actual patterns, I have maybe 10 if I don't count the 15 years of quilt magazines on the bookshelves.

Yes, love the free patterns online. I keep mine in binders with clear sleeve protectors so I don't tear them up thumbing through them over and over again. I know I won't be able to make all the quilts, but I like having so many options for my materials. I sit and dream too. I buy a few patterns, books and quilting magazines also, so building a sewing library to pass on to my daughter. I got a lot of patterns as a beginner that are anything but beginner level. Seriously! Why do they label these patterns as "easy"? I downloaded one that said, "Kids can quilt too!" It was very cute with kitties on it, but no kid I have ever met under the age of 16 could handle it. I found another one advertising for beginners who "should not be afraid to tackle a full size quilt". It was full of one inch strips and would be very unforgiving to beginners' seam allowances.

My sister calls this PAS (pattern acquisition syndrome). A lot of us suffer or enjoy this syndrome. Some people collect stamps, we collect patterns (fabric, machines. . . . ) and we can DO something with them. I say enjoy, one of those will be the inspiration for your masterpiece. And if you don't get when you see it, you probably won't be able to find it again.

I used to print out the free patterns but after three big 3" binders and several ink cartridges I quit. Now I just save them on my computer and only print one out when I am ready to use it. I have hundreds saved, maybe even thousands.

I get letters in the mail from quilt magazines with offers of new subscriptions. In side is most always a free pattern and directions on glossy paper. The last one I got in the mail also had an extra page showing how to do a blanket stitch. I have gotten many free quilt patterns this way. I seldom subscibe to magazines and maybe they keep hoping they will tempt me enough. :)

Oh my I collect those free quilt patterns too. Some I've printed out but most I have on my computer...I still drool over some of the pictures.

I was just talking to DH about this today. Every patter I save is the next one I must make. Of course, by the time I'm ready for a new pattern I've saved many more "must makes".

I collect lots and lots of patterns too. For a time I said that I would stop collecting because I would never in my lifetime make all those quilts but then I figured out that styles change, my tastes have changed, techniques change--what was once done with paper templates can now be done with rulers, etc. Now there are "modern quilts".... I guess I'm destined to collect patterns until I die :D

I also collect them. I have them saved to a file on my computer then every few months I save them to either a jump drive or to a cd. When I want to make a quilt then I will print it out and add it to my binder.

Nothing a bit wrong with collecting patterns, especially free ones. Maybe one day you'll make them and maybe you won't. Actually no different than collecting recipes, which I love to do too.

I totally relate to you Luv Quilts and Cats----I collect all kinds of patterns and have binders full of quilting, cross stitch, and did have crocheting, but my mistake went to a second hand store. Hope someone else is enjoying the patterns. Yes I have the notion that "Some day" I will get time to make some of these, but until then I will dream a whole lot.

I don't look up to many quilt patterns but I look at a lot of small sewing craft projects. I have too many purchased books and quilt patterns to do online ones

I have boatloads downloaded, too.

I used to find them in magazines, and I'd turn down a page corner and keep the magazine. Every so often, I grab a stack of magazines and pour through them again and see if I go to turn down any of the same corners. If I'm not moved by any of them, the magazine goes, but often the same one or two will catch my attention – then I know the pattern/magazine is a keeper.

I probably need to do the same with the patterns I've downloaded...

I have tons saved. Sometimes I think I'm a collector rather than a quilter. I can't resist the magazines. I subscribe to about 4 and buy the rest. My biggest shame is that I have bought the same magazine more that once. I have a stack on my table that are waiting for me to look through and pick more patterns to save. It's a sickness and I will probably never recover.
Sue

I have a lot of books, and magazines, plus the free patterns downloaded. The ones on my computer are backed up onto a backup drive. They are not printed out until I decide to make that pattern, and then only if I need to print it out.

I have collected quite a few from the internet. I keep them stored in files on my computer, I don't print them out until I am ready to use one of them.

I download all kinds of quilt patterns but do not keep them on my computer. I put them onto a cd when I get enough to full one. This way if my computer crashes I still have my patterns.

When I first got my computer I printed out every free pattern that came along. Now I am getting better at just printing the ones I really like. I have binders full to. It is fun to go through them every once in while just to look or get inspired. Guess we are all alike, big ideas,no time.

Wow, I'm in same boat as sooooo many others! Love the free PP patterns. Have 2 drawers in a 4 drawer file cabinet. Have -got-to-stop! I have more than enough... Still like to browse.... One day tho (you know 'one-of-these-days' is not a day of the week?..)!!!

yup!!!!!!!!!!

Well, MartiMorga, I can really relate to this. I'm such a computer duck that I don't know how to save so I print all of the pictures that I like and also print patterns. I have several binders full. I'm 72, so the chances of using all of these are nill. But it's fun to dream and plan. Who needs magazines??!!! I just pick up one of the binders and enjoy something new all over again. Organize?!! I got lost long ago. Now I just bind.:D

I have so many patterns saved, bookmarked, pinned, and printed i could quit sleeping and quit my job and sew until I was 200 and probably not finish them all. My stash might be big enough to complete about half of them. Yet I still enjoy downloading them etc. They are so much fun to look at. When I look at some of them now that I have more experience I say what was I thinking. Enjoy your fun.

Us quilters hoard fabric and any paper products related to quilting.

If I never bought or downloaded another pattern, I could stay busy until I was 125! Like you, I love to look through all the magazines and books and downloaded patterns and "plan".

I print free patterns as I find them that way I can drool over them. Also If I do not print them out they are "lost " in cyber space forever. (I really like a hard copy of stuff). Also I add any new sites I find to my favorites. I have about 200 quilting site bookmarked! (again they will be lost in cyber space forever if I do not save them).This board is GREAT about suggesting new site and patterns!!!! Thanks , Ladies!!!!!

I am fairly new to quilting and I am in the same boat. I down load a lot of free patterns. I also will never be able to make them all. I keep downloading though because you never know. :)

Just looked, have 43,000 quilting files on laptop (and all are backed up on external hard drive). All sorted into various folders so I can find something if I choose to. Also have 2 special folders, One is "DO" with maybe 50 patterns in it & the other is "Favorites", with maybe 200 in it. So those are my got to folders if I am looking for something new to start.

I always look at the new free patterns, have enough now that I would/will never make one of each pattern in my life time. I have an embroidery machine and my husband is learning to make the patterns for me, so quilting has been side tracked for a while. But it is haunting me to get make to it. I have 3 quilt tops to quilt and a new sample block hanging up over my machine saying make me. Happy quilting

Ditto I do thte same.

I am also guilty of this I need 3 more life times to use my patterns and fabric plus kits oh well sure saves buying at todays prices since we also live on a fixed income