I have read, re-read, sewed, ripped, sewed again, and read even more times and still can't figure out this pattern! :( What makes it awful is that it doesn't seem to be a hard pattern. (a variation of the spools block) I figured out much tougher before. So, instead of screaming I'm officially taking a break. It better get easier because I already cut out all of my pieces and it took me 2 days! :thumbup:

Hope the break helps. Sometimes just putting it away for a little while and then revisiting will help.

can we see a picture/scan/illustration of what you are trying to do?

Hope it's going better now.

and sometimes it's the pattern, a measurement off or part of the directions may not be right, don't beat yourself up untill you're SURE it's your fault :thumbup:

That is what I do. When something starts going bad and I start getting upset I just put it away for awhile. When I go back to it later is goes much better.

I wish I could but our scanner doesn't work and I'm also having "issues" with our new camera. (which is soon to be our returned camera!)

I thought of that too!

It's bad enough when an experienced quilter/piecer has issues with a bad pattern -

Can you imagine the frustration that can cause for a "newbie"?

Absolutely, you think it's all you because the pattern should be correct and wouldn't even consider it being the patterns fault.

Could your spool be pieced this way?

Jan in VA