I am making a Hunter Star quilt using a pattern in the "Hunter Star Quilts & Beyond" book by Jan Krentz. The book offers several ways to create your quilt, and I opted for the strip pieced method. The actual pattern for the design I chose, Batik Hunter Star, states a finished block of 8". In the assembly directions, it guides you to a pattern for the trapezoid shapes for the corresponding block sizes. When I followed the directions per the strip pieced section (including photos), my trapezoids came out way too small. My seams are exactly 1/4". Of course, I cut them all as indicated - which took forever - only to discover they don't work. :cry: :cry: :cry:

I checked my measurements several times, checked the instructions frequently. That leads me to believe that the instructions had either the wrong size pattern (no indication to enlarge it or anything), or it had listed the wrong finished block size/cut size of the triangles.

I'm so frustrated, but not sure where to go from here. I've been collecting batiks for awhile, so I don't know if I can get more of what I have to re-do the trapezoids. Another option is to cut down the size of the triangle to fit the trapezoids, but I'd need more fabric to make additional blocks in order to keep the overall size of the quilt similar.

How often to pattern/instruction errors happen? Has it happend to you? How did you deal with it? Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks for allowing me to vent my frustrations.

Just a follow up - I Goggled the book and found the author's website. I contacted her via email and received a response less than 20 minutes later! Not bad for a Saturday night. The template was wrong (yeah, it wasn't me!). However, I'm still stuck with 96 trapezoid units that are too small for the triangles. I replied back to her asking her to help me calculate what size to cut the triangles down to, since I don't have enough fabric to recut the trapezoids.

That was quick response! Too bad you had to ruin so many units after all that work.

I emailed a magazine once to let them know their instructions were wrong and they posted a correction on their website. Some of the sites has 'oops' pages.

I hope you can make it work. I know how frustrating a pattern error can be - one of the reasons I rarely use a pre-made pattern. Good luck, I'll be looking for pictures.

Can you post pictures of the fabric you need? and the size square? I use batiks a lot so may have some of it.

Judy

2nd follow up -

Jan Krentz was kind enough to quickly respond to my plea for help. She gave me instructions in figuring out what size to cut the triangles down to match the trapezoid units I had already cut. I did as she suggested and was able to successfully figure out that I needed to cut them down to 5-5/8" sides. I will wait until another day to trim the rest (my brain is like mush now).

It will take some calculating to figure out how many more squares I need to make the size quilt I want. Then I will need to figure how how much more fabric I need. I can add different batiks for the triangles, but am hoping I have enough of the yellows for the stars so I can keep them consistent as I originally planned. If I had to, I could use different yellows, but I took so long choosing the "perfect" ones.

That is very sweet of you! Thank you for offering. I will try to get some pics tomorrow.

This has happened to me only once (thankfully), and when I went to their website the correction was posted. Too bad they do tell you with BEFORE you cut :).
Glad things seem to be working out for yo now.

I've had instructions with errors in them too.

Bad language bad language bad language.

Especially after I've cut and sewn and found out things weren't working, like what happened to you.

So sorry to hear about the error. At least she emailed you right away and also is helping to correct the problem.

I was really surprised that I got an answer so quickly on a Saturday night, and to get a second email right away too. Great customer service!

I hope things work out without too much wasted fabric despite the wasted time. I learned long ago, to make a test block of whatever pattern, packaged or my own, that I was going to use before I cut all the fabric for a quilt. I use fabrics I don't like so much anymore, giving them a dignified purpose they would not otherwise receive. LOL The practice has saved me a great deal of time, fabric, and heartache over the years. I highly recommend it!

You make a very good point! I will do the same from now on.

Dittos to the "post a pic of the fabrics you need". I have a bunch of batiks and if I can help I'd be happy to.

Here are some pics of the finished block (now down to 6" from 8" original) and of the batiks I used.

I won't be able to decide what to do until I see what I can come up with for fabric. If I stick with the original size, I need about 1/4 or 1/3 yd of each. If I cut down the triangles to fit the trapezoid units, I will need 1/3 or 1/2 yd each because I'll have to double the quantity of blocks to make a similar size quilt. I won't be able to get to the quilt shop until next weekend. I'm not even sure where I bought them all. I shop alot online too. I think I've got enough of the yellows for the star points. But if I see some at the quilt shop, I'll get a little just in case.

I think there are a couple of Hoffman 1895's and a Moda marble in there too. Those I should be able to find.

Thanks for the help and morale support! :)

Can you add an additional border to make up for the smaller blocks?
Gorgeous fabric :D
I am happy that she replied to you so soon, that was nice! 8)

The original pieced section would have been 48x64. The borders brought it to 60x76. The smaller pieced section would only be 36x48. It was intended for my son's twin bed. I don't think I would like it at the smaller size with extra borders.

The original also featured a pieced border (not sure what I was thinking there! LOL). I might eliminate that and do solid borders. All will depend on what I come up for fabric.

I've got to admit, it was a very frustrating experience. I put it aside for now until I get a chance to check for more fabric. I suspect I won't get it done in time for Christmas now...but he has a birthday in April.

I've had trouble with the Quilting Treasures patterns being off. I've done their Wizard of Oz and I Love Lucy quilts and have found errors. You learn to be creative and work through it (whether you want to or not!)

Can you add an inner border, make more trapezoid/triangle units for a 2nd border, and then add an outer border? Might look kinda cool...

I do the same thing Ghostrider does. I cut only one block to make sure the size and measurements are correct before cutting the whole thing out. I learned the hard way too. I sure hope you can find enough fabric to finish it. It will be beautiful. Marge

Well, I found 4 of the prints (out of 20 total) at my LQS, and have checked numerous (15-20) stores online. I can only get a handful of the same fabrics - but not all at the same place. It's not worth multiple shipping charges, so I'm thinking that I probably have $80-100 worth of really pretty batik scraps to use towards another quilt. Actually they will be perfect for my "Beach Cottage" quilt, so all is not lost :thumbup:

I still want to make this Hunter Star quilt, but I think might be easier to start over with new fabric. I was needing around 1/3 yd each to make up for the problem strips, and started with 1/2 yd each prior to cutting. So if I start collecting now, maybe I'll have enough do make it for Christmas 2010!

Big lesson learned ~ make a sample block first if you are unfamiliar with the quilt you are making just in case there's a problem with the pattern/template!!!

We warmly welcome you as the newest member of a very large club who have all learned that lesson the hard way, Katie! :D You have a wonderful attitude about the whole thing!! It will serve you well! :wink:

I have to agree with this!! Patterns are written by humans and humans make mistakes.

I always cut one block first to make sure it works before I cut all the fabric when I'm using a new pattern.

Like Ghostrider, I have learned about trial blocks because it is a good way to iron out the process. Plus - if the pattern is off, you have a chance to fix it or forget it before cutting up yards of fabric. Do I make a trial block for all quilts? Nope - and I have had to get creative at times.

I am glad you decided "vent", so that those of us that have the book are aware of the error. This is not a new book (2003) so I went to Jan's website hoping to find the correction somewhere, but found nothing. I guess I'll just make a note in my book. Thanks for letting us know. By the way, beautiful fabric! I'm sure the quilt will be gorgeous.

If you PM me your email, I will forward Jan's response to you that has the links to the corrections.