Pattern Instructions
07-11-2021, 04:15 AM
#12
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Fort Smith, Arkansas
Posts: 583
I hate when things are 'assumed'. As in, the pattern writer assumes the reader knows how to make certain basic blocks. Over the last two years, I have been part of our guild's BOM committee. I have learned that many participants want their hands held the whole way and/or are so new to quilting that no instructions are too basic to be left out.
I too, am a visual learner. I love illustrations. And I suppose I am also an audio learner, since I tend to understand directions better when I read them aloud.
My biggest pet peeve is the omission of one very important distinction in many patterns or directions. That distinction is the 'finished' or 'unfinished' size of a block.
I too, am a visual learner. I love illustrations. And I suppose I am also an audio learner, since I tend to understand directions better when I read them aloud.
My biggest pet peeve is the omission of one very important distinction in many patterns or directions. That distinction is the 'finished' or 'unfinished' size of a block.
07-11-2021, 04:21 AM
#13
Super Member
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: Florida
Posts: 5,965
I have to look at what they are trying to create, like a quarter square triangle and do it my way. I love patterns that give an unfinished size of the components. Like make 244 3 1/2 inch quarter square triangles. It seems like few do that. Bonnie Hunter spoiled me for that in her Mystery quilts.
07-11-2021, 05:03 AM
#14
Super Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Round Rock, TX
Posts: 2,207
I will surely need to try out one of her patterns. My sewing buddy (she passed way in January) was my go to. I remember her watching some videos of her and other well known quilters. Thankfully, I still have this forum for guidance!
I love the way Bonnie Hunter writes her books, the newer ones, she first writes it like a traditional pattern with good directions and illustrations, and then does a "at -A-Glance" section which basically provides illustrations of the steps and I find her books and patterns real easy to follow.
07-11-2021, 06:29 AM
#16
Power Poster
Join Date: Jul 2017
Location: Central Ohio
Posts: 15,236
I've come to believe that good pattern writing is an art form of it's own.
A poorly written pattern has made me abandon projects at times.
Occasionally I will have problems even with well written ones and in that case I will email the designer for clarification. I haven't been disappointed yet.
I also love youtube videos. I think I'm more visual.
A poorly written pattern has made me abandon projects at times.
Occasionally I will have problems even with well written ones and in that case I will email the designer for clarification. I haven't been disappointed yet.
I also love youtube videos. I think I'm more visual.
07-11-2021, 08:05 AM
#17
Power Poster
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Southern USA
Posts: 16,398
I need visual This is why I take classes or watch video tutorials. Written instructions are not my favorite, most are written to death or starving. Once I see it done then I'm all set. The pattern can't go into detail of the why it's cut or sewn the right way, that would be a how to quilt book, not a pattern. It's very hard to write clear instructions for everyone but demo it and everyone gets it.
My guild uses the 3 yard quilt Easy Beginner patterns for kids quilts. No one has had a problem with following those instructions.
My guild uses the 3 yard quilt Easy Beginner patterns for kids quilts. No one has had a problem with following those instructions.
Last edited by Onebyone; 07-11-2021 at 08:07 AM.
07-11-2021, 09:37 AM
#18
Super Member
Join Date: May 2013
Location: Ballwin, MO
Posts: 4,256
I read a pattern until it makes complete sense to me, which can take several readings. I like to work with a visual reference, to check my placement and orientation. It's so easy to make a mistake, and I prefer taking my time the first time to having to re-do something.
07-11-2021, 12:20 PM
#19
Super Member
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Waterford Michigan
Posts: 7,241
I normally don't follow patterns. for a quilt per se. I will for the block that I make and then decide if they are what I want in the quilt and then lay it out. I am a traditionalist at heart so I have a large range of blocks to choose from. I have spread my wings a great deal over the last year because I bought the Accuquilt cutting system and am making block I never considered before. I find I must follow the piecing patterns very closely this way. I love sampler quilts so I can put a lot of different blocks I am trying out in a single quilt. I think I have just about every quilt magazine printed between 1983 and 2008. It seemed like the patterns in them were beginning to repeat themselves so I stopped subscribing. I love getting ideas from here too. If I see a quilt I like I will keep the link in my bookmarks so I can pull it anytime I want.
07-12-2021, 03:50 AM
#20
Super Member
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Michigan
Posts: 3,334
Let's face it. Some authors do a better job of explaining things than others. I've done some quilts where there's a picture of a block, the template sizes, but not a single explanation of how you're supposed to put it all together. I figure it out but I'm not fond of those kinds of patterns.
