Piecing: Strictly by a Pattern OR Pattern Improv OR Wild Abandon!
 

I have shelves full of books and end tables full of magazines. I have files full of patterns printed and purchased. I can't remember when I have duplicated a single one! Since I piece tops for Project Linus, I have not strictly followed a pattern in the last three years. I am putting together anywhere from 4 to 20 PL tops each month. I fall in the middle Improv category. My resources are used for ideas on how to utilize my stash. Of course, my results go from great to "just covers" but I am having a ball!

Sometimes I feel guilty for not following some of those beautiful patterns I am using for inspiration to the letter as they are so wonderful. In the picture section here I adore all those tailored looking, by-the-book quilts others have made but when I get going, other ideas seem to take over. Sometimes I stay "fairly close" to the pattern that inspired the top I am piecing. Potato Chip and Disappearing 9 Patch come to mind. Other times I wonder what (in the world!) got this top going. Of course, I adore scrappy but I have not done wonky. . . YET!

So, am I alone in this? What kind of piecer are you? And, if you're like me, do you also feel guilty for all your purchased inspiration and not following patterns to the letter?

I wish I could follow a pattern, but my creative side is always surfacing. Even when I try to make my project following the pattern, it does not look the same as the pattern when I'm done. I don't do kits well either. I guess I am just a scrappy quilter.

For the most part I will follow a pattern. I may tweak here and there to reduce seams or perhaps enlarge the quilt with a different border treatement. I have designed quilts from scratch too. My truly creative side is satiated with the quilting itself rather than the piecing as most patterns are "quilt as desired" so that is where I go improv.

In all things creative, I find that I must "flood" my imagination with images from many sources to find the inspiration for a design of any kind. Years ago, my husband's aunt criticized me for doing this, calling it a waste of money. I told her it was my "research". Thank goodness for the internet--- we have lots of inspiration at our fingertips so I don't have to buy so many magazines, etc. I wish I was able to create from scratch so I wouldn't spend so much time with this, but for me, it's necessary to the process.

I am already feeling better! Thank you!

Great to see your post! I never followed patterns when I first learned to piece (and still don't when it comes to making clothes!!), even teaching myself drafting very early on but think it's a challenge to harness that creativity and work within the dimensions of traditional blocks. I still make some improv but knowing I have the skill set to create advanced traditional blocks means a lot, to me too.

a little bit of everything, but I have definitely decided I don't enjoy kits. I find them boring. I've only done two, and the last one I changed so much you wouldn't recognize it. I just used the lovely fabrics in something else ;-)

I start with a pattern idea. Then usually do my own thing. Some patterns need specific areas followed as written such as a lone star. Many complicated patterns are not written clearly and make for extra work. Why do modern patterns call for a template for squares, rectangle & triangles When strip rotary cutting is so much quicker and easier??

I view patterns as "Suggestions" and "Inspirations". I've made a few quilts to pattern but most of the time I let my creative side out.

Pattern, I am not creative enough yet for my own, once I get better I will venture off into that road, until then pattern it is. there are just too many gorgeous patterns out there that I want to make