I have too much fun choosing fabrics for a project, I haven't ever bought a kit for that reason.

I buy kits sometimes because I have trouble matching fabric for patterns. This way it is all matched perfectly. Perhaps when I have quilted longer fabric discisions will come more easily.

I would rather buy the kit with just the amount of fabric needed. Keeping the price down is important to me.

Elise

I would pay a bit more to have enough fabric in case of mistakes. Unfortunately I have made booboos when cutting my fabrics. Btw thank you for asking. Maybe other kit makers will read this.

sometimes it is lovely to just go to the pile, pull out a pack, and make it, without having to think, decide, mull over, and go and get some of whatever. i don't "do" only kits--but what a handy thing to go to when you need to!

i go to "fabric cafe" often (they have nice sales), and buy their 3 or 5 yard kits--the fabric is not too expensive, and i've built a remarkable stash of single yard cuts by doing that. they sell by the yard, as well--but this way i know i'll get three coordinating fabrics, and can make a lap quilt, kid sized quilt, or more/bigger if i want to. it's not cast in stone--they send a free pattern with each, and i can make that one or not. win/win!

From what I have seen the Fons and Porter kits do require a magazine purchase for the pattern. Fat Quarter Shop also has some kits that require a certain magazine. I always read all the information before I buy to be sure I know if I am getting the pattern with the kit or have to buy the pattern or magazine with the pattern separately.

I have several kits and have done several BOM's that I have not even started. I need to get motivated!!!

Very few, I would rather pick my own colors.

I did one time. The kit was from Buggy Barn. They designed all or most of the fabric line. The colors of the
fabric were what really hooked me. But I ended up buying
two packs of it because I wanted a queen/king size. I was
very happy with it all. The pattern worked out well...the
fabric was the colors I expected...and it was good quality.
Also their servce was great. Most times that is one of the
two things I like best (1) picking the fabric and (2) the hand quilting.

I agree with all of you since I have enough fabric to choke a several horses. And now I seem to be trying with the kits which I only buy if I like the color in them. Do what makes you comfortable and enjoy.

I don't buy quilt kit I usually design my own and pick my own fabric.
Glenn

I like kits. No decisions, only scraps left, save on gas and my blood pressure.

I have, but I usually put my kits together. I find the pattern and then buy the fabric, throw it all together and hopefully make it sometime. I've got a few that may be somewhere between 5-7 years old....waiting.....

I have bought quit kits amd have found that if it is a designer kit of their fabric they use every fabric in the whole quilt. After having gone through a couple of them and I had enough left over that I just needed to buy a little more fabric to make a simpler quit from the .I don't do kits any more.
I did one last year that was for a man and had enough left over to just buy the panel and a little more of one fabric to make a quilt I liked even better and it was a simpler patterm as it wasn't based using every fabric in that designers line.
I actually ended up with two quilts and one throw.

I notice that Fons and Porter (and other quilting magazine that sells kits) do this. I have stopped short of buying the kit on many occasions because I have to buy the magazine also!

I've bought two kits. One of them was a very good price, actually, it probably wasn't a kit, per se, since if you bought one of several fat quarter sets, you got the pattern for free. I liked it because it went together quickly and I learned a few new techniques with it. The other kit I have is still sitting here - it's more an art quilt setting of a desert scene. Eventually, it will get done.

Otherwise, I agree with one of the other posters - I don't want to seem my quilt all over the place. I prefer to do my own thing.

Love it when a kit contains a tad extra and am more than willing to pay for the extra. I LOVE kits that are individually put together by the quilt shop. Have never been disappointed!!

I buy the kits at time, but seems like I always change the pattern and the fabric in it. Seem to like my own selections better. Plus don't want to see my quilt everywhere. Like to be unique.

No, never! ! ! I like to pick my own colors.

I have only purchased one quilt kit and it is still in my UFO pile ready to be sewn. Someday soon, I hope after I get a little further down on my Roundtoit List to finish.

I buy both but prefer yardage so I can choose. :mrgreen:

I bought quite a few kits around the time I started quilting and then about another 2 yrs into it... Most of them, I"ve just used the fabrics out of them because they are so pretty and I know I won't make "the pattern/kit". I'm not a matchy, matchy person I discovered and I like to DO MY OWN THING> I dont' like cookie cutter stuff.

I don't understand all the negative comments about kits.

First of all, who would buy a kit when they didn't love the fabrics/colors involved? When a quilt shop takes the time to select a pattern and then select beautiful fabrics (that I love) why not buy the kit? I understand the reasons for not buying from large on-line retailers but don't see how my creativity is stiffled(?) by using a one or two of a kind kit any more than it is by using Jelly Rolls, packets, etc.

Those who have complained about the size of the finished project obviously didn't read the information before buying.

I certainly don't want to argue, but feel that some of the comments have implied that anyone who uses a kit is lacking in creativity. This is simply not so -- kits have their place and I see nothing wrong with using them!

I wait for kits to go sale or clearance, makes it much affordable for me. :)

I'm not particularly creative but love quilting, so I find that kits work for me. I've gotten some great deals on Ebay on some beautiful kits. Right now I have too many and feel a little stagnant that all the decisions on how to put it together have been made for me. So at the risk of contradicting myself, yes I really like kits but can be an easy (and lazy) way to quilt. As I write this I realize I miss the creative freedom you have with putting my own colors, prints, shapes, etc together. I may have to force myself to just find a pattern and remember how it is to create. I'm afraid of making mistakes or having something turn out ugly. My this little reply sounds like venting, anyway, yes I use kits, like them but br careful not to get stuck only using them.

I buy both yardage and kits. Sometimes the fabrics and colors in the kits are just perfect for me and I don't have to do the thinking and picking.

I do buy kits. i like them because they are self contained with everything you need. Sometime I just want a no brainer & have everyting ready without having to choose anything.

Thanks to those of you that have weighed in on the 'kits with just enough fabric vs kits with a little pad.' By my count there are 3 that would prefer a little extra fabric in the kit and 1 that would rather have just enough to keep the price down. Any more opinions out there?

I agree with you. I also do not think I will see my quilt all over. Maybe it is because I don't go to that many quilters homes. I find that I use the patterns in the kits many times - using my selection of fabrics the second or third time around. Last year I bought a table runner pattern. Fabrics were nice and figured if I didn't want that one I could gift it, but I have used the pattern at least a dozen times. Well worth the money!

I would like a little pad. Not too much as one of the reasons I may buy a kit is that I like the fabric but not enough to have leftovers. I would like a bit of reassurance against a cutting mistake, though.

Oh goody -- glad to hear that you too re-use the kit pattern.

I just don't get the negativity. We've all used commercial patterns; copied exactly from a magazine; tried to copy a quilt we saw at a quilt show, etc. etc. Using a kit simply saves time and generally money. Re-using the pattern is a great way to really get your money's worth!

Yes, always buy kits. I know that I will get everything I will need for the quilt and in one package. I saves me time in the quilt shop, and always saves me money as I usually purchased extra fabric just in case I might need it and very rarely ever used it, as it still sits on the fabric shelves. If anyone is looking for a specific fabric PM me and chances are I might have some in my stash. I LOVE KITS!!!!!!!

I buy kits every now and again. I love it when Connecting Threads has them in clearance. You can't beat those prices!

I haven't yet, but the LQS hand cuts quilt kits and sells them. I might go that route one time, if I saw one I just LOVED. It's expensive, but convenient...

My friend just spent around $100 for the kit to do a Dr. Seuss quilt, and that was only lap sized, and no fabric for backing or binding, no batting. Pretty pricey but she loved the fabrics.

Yes, I do. Especially if they are in my color wave.

one of the shops on the hop puts together a kit for all the quilts they display.. i've bought a couple & they were great.. just ordered a couple block of the month... will be interesting to see how they work out.

I do both!

I enjoy kits for many reasons, although I also design my own quilts. Where I live, there are no LQSs, so if I can find a kitted pattern I really like with fabric I really like, then I'll buy it. It saves me time, gives me access to fabrics I may never otherwise see and provides me with everything I need in one fell swoop.

There are several ebay sellers who create very nice kits with precut fabric for log cabins or kaleidoscopes, for example. I've purchased them and had great fun making them. I would never have had the patience or the fabric necessary to cut a kaleidoscope myself.

I too often reuse a kit pattern, and have sometimes found that there is enough fabric left over to make a second, simpler quilt (with a little help from my stash), so that too is a plus.

I have never bought a kit for this reason. However, I came very close to buying a beautiful batik kit in Nashville, TN when visiting. It was quite pricey at the time. I could kick myself now for not getting it!!! :cry: