Eleanor Burns-Hard to follow?
 

Am I the only one who has trouble understanding Eleanor Burns' instructions? I feel like a total idiot. I received the pattern book for her lover's knot quilt and I'm lost just reading the instructions. I totally understand the block construction, but even with the charts cannot determine how many of each block I need. A couple people have posted photos of the lover's knot here on the board and I really love it.
I had the Trip Around the World pattern and totally gave up on that one. I made a TATW and it turned out well, but didn't use her method. In all fairness, I've used her log cabin method and it's great. Maybe I'm just not concentrating. I have an appointment with the cardiologist this morning and that's worrying me a bit. Maybe I'll just take the pattern book and read it on the hour and a half drive to the doctor's office.
Just feeling frustrated I guess!

actually, i feel the opposite about her patterns... they are very clearly explained and her diagrams are great. that being said, i did find that her lover's knot was a little more challenging than her other blocks. have you used other patterns of hers? by chance, did you go to her website to see if there are corrections to the pattern?

So sorry you are having trouble. It's not unusual to have trouble focusing or concentrating when you are stressed. There have been times when the most basic instruction made no sense to me, because I was completely misinterpreting something. That's when I walk away and return later. Good luck today with your appointment. I think you'll do much better afterwards, provided the stress is gone. ((hugs))

No I didn't check for updates and the pattern book I have is an older one, 1985 I believe. That's a good idea and I will check. I've used her log cabin and I have the braid pattern, but haven't tried it yet. It has to be just my fuzzy brain this morning.

She has a very specific style of instruction and I often find myself working ahead assuming I know what she wants me to do. I am usually wrong and get mixed up.

Unless you do them all the time, only do one simple step at a time and check, check, check.

I find Eleanor Burns patterns to be one of the easiest to understand. Take you time and read each step and use the visual instructions to clarify any questions. Maybe make a scrap block just going step by step trying not to predict what comes next. Sometimes when I have trouble its because my brain is always two steps ahead and not fully concentrating on the step I am on( or should be on).

Try watching this video maybe it will help http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ElX7BJx92s Here's someone who struggled with her's http://julie-annsworld.blogspot.ca/2...most-lost.html or go to google there seems to be a wealth of info there. https://www.google.ca/search?q=elean...h=979#imgdii=_ Good luck..I also have this pattern but haven't looked at it.

Everyone has a different way of understanding and learning. I find I don't care for Eleanor Burns, I have a couple of her books and when I try to read them, my eyes roll back in my head. I know she does beautiful work and most people love her, it is individual preferences. When I try to watch her videos, I get caught up in the way she talks and can't follow her. My favorite is Nancy Zieman and I'm sure there are lots of people that don't care for her teaching methods. I am easily distracted must be the ADD kicking in or menopause which has sucked most of my brain out of my head.

Eleanor used to be a grammer school teacher so she talks like a teacher.
She was the main person I learned to quilt from, since she goes step by step and makes it simple.
Ive got several of her books and find them easy to follow.
I also like Nancy Zieman and Fons and Porter videos.

Hmmmm. I find her patterns the easiest of any I have ever made. I made the Lover's Knot and the only problem I had was when I started to put it together and I had to add the side triangles, thought I would not have it right as it was a King Size quilt and my Queen bed would not work well with the layout. How can we help you ? This is not really a hard pattern at all and I would love to help you in anyway. I think you might not have your mind on the quilt as much as being concerned about the doctor's visit. We will all pray for your good health. BTW, my book is very old too, and it worked for me.

I have a hard time understanding her books also. I don't know why but she confuses me.

I love her books, might be you are reading too far ahead, I found it easier to just concentrate on each step at a time and not look too far ahead, but like some of the other comments perhaps you are worrying about your doctors appointment - hope that all goes well

I'm in the confusion club also. I keep buying her books because I like her methods but the two times I used her patterns I was taking classes and had to have classmates/teacher interpret what she was saying in the directions. I love her. I went to a retreat where she was our teacher in one class. We made a runner. In another class we made a Lovers Knot throw using a serger. It came out well but I'd rather stick to my 1/4" seams.

Have never done an Eleanor Burns pattern, but just wanted to wish you good luck at the cardiologist's office! {{{HUGS}}}

Anita

I made a Lover's Knot quilt and found reading several times and looking at pictures helped.

Thanks everyone, especially you who posted links and photos. I love both quilts pictured, but have to admit a weakness for the blue one. I will definitely attempt this pattern. It can't be that difficult. By the way, the dr. appt. went very well, meds are working to clear a blockage and I don't even have to go back for 6 months. Now maybe I can concentrate on good things.

Thanks. I really love the people on this board.

I just checked out the you tube video. It makes a big difference actually seeing how it's done. With apologies to Ms. Burns, I'm glad I'm not the only one confused by her instructions. When I was first looking at the pattern book, I told my husband it had to be me, she's taught millions of people how to make quilts!

My Mom always got irritated when she watched her - drove my Mom nuts when she'd toss the scraps/trimmings over her shoulder.

Oh good. I'm not the only one who finds her completely annoying!

Yes I sometimes do have difficulty with her instructions. So far the only one I have found (and I have been quilting for over 10 years) real easy is the log cabin pattern. For your lovers knot, sometimes bow tie, if you can find a book called Quilts from the Quiltmakers Gift there is a good pattern in 3 or 4 different sizes in that book with very easy instructions. This book and it's companion are based on a children's story and I use both of them all the time for their ease of use, multiple sizes and instructions.

I too find her easy to understand, perhaps because I have watched her TV show so much and know how she thinks.

She has a very easy way of teaching, but when I'm stressed I have trouble walking up the stairs. Jenny Doan on Missouri Star Quilt is another person I find super easy to understand and follow. Don't be so hard on yourself, relax and take a look at it when you're feeling at ease and I'll bet you'll pick up on it in no time.

My advise would be to find someone you know that has completed this pattern and can "walk" you through the part of her book you don't understand. It might be just some simple thing you are having trouble wrapping your brain around. So many times, something seems way easier, if someone would just explain it in person. Don't feel bad, as it happens to everyone. Sometimes things just need to be explained a different way to be able to be understood. That is how our brain works.

Thank goodness your appt. went well, that was the more important issue. I too, find Eleanor Burns a little hard to understand sometimes but most importantly I find her voice quite annoying & sometimes I feel like she is talking "down to me" almost in a more superior manner. It's probably just me but I rarely work with her via book or YouTube because of that, IMHO. I did do her Lone Star quilt but with some direction & help from another more experienced quilter & it turned out beautifully.
Sending wishes for continued good health.

She DOES have a different way of doing things, but if you can forget about what you've already learned about how something should be constructed and do it her way, it's no too bad. But everyone does that.. If everything was always constructed the same, no one could sell new books. I don't mind watching her videos, but I do have to turn the sound off.

I think Eleanor is one of the easiest patterns to follow. I did a lovers knot years ago and if memory serves me right it was a little confusing.. but overall most of her instructions seem really easy to follow.. Sorry you are having trouble. I don't know if she has that on u-tube or not.

EB is my "go to." I have given up on most of the other instructors. Just do EB step by step. I read the directions once. Let them sit. Later, I'll read them again and picture in my mind how it will go. Then I read them again before cutting my fabric. It's better for me to do this than to rush in and goof.
I will say that it seems that some of EB's patterns are not written by her...and those I DO sometimes find difficult. Good luck and hope the medical situation is under control.

I retread your original question and you were wondering how many blocks were needed...you understood the block construction. Does she have a section on assembling the quilt? You might find your answer there.

I love Elenor Burns, been through some very tuff times (but who hasn't) but I do love her books, especially the log cabin (my favorite), haven't tried this one but have the book and better get started. thank you for sharing and thank you for sharing the pics, the quilts are beautiful

I am amazed how easy her instructions are. She has made patterns that are quick and accurate.

I googled 'Eleanor Burns' Lover's Knot pattern' and came up with a tutorial from EB. You could almost make the quilt without the pattern with the video. Love the pattern but I have so many UFO's I hope this one doesn't sneak into the lineup. Good Luck.

EB's patterns are written assuming you know pretty much nothing. This works great for me! I can see how it could be a pain for people who already know how to do much of it. It would be easy to assume the next step will be one way when it's not that way at all.

I can only watch her show when I'm in certain moods. Some days her goofy humor makes me batty.

I go on line and google her theater videos. All her videos are there that correspond to her books.
I love her books and her videos. I can watch them over and over if I don't understand the directions.....happens all the time:):)
I am starting the "Delectable Mountains" quilt at camp this week and the directions are much easier after I watched all three of her videos.
Enjoy and good luck

As stated before, the Lover's Knot is more challenging, but if you take it step by step, it will all come together. Label all of your blocks, a thru f, I think. My Mother, who was almost 80 yrs. old, wanted to make one yrs. ago, and my sister and I helped her with it. After she made the first one, she made lots more on her own. She really loved that pattern, and I do, too!

the only EB pattern that I have used is "CArd TRick" and I found it hard to follow. she must own stock in a paper company. Of course I crused the book looking for the directions and found that she talked about stuff i alread know, the actual instructions only took up about 6 pages of the book with lots of blank space on the page. Due to this I will hesitate doing one of her methods again.

So glad Dr. appointment came out really well, keep up the good work looking after yourself. Now relax and ask for help with the pattern if you need it. Many on here seem to understand it well.
Hugs,
Carol who just got over being sick and is isn't any fun.

I did a search and found a block called Lover's knot at http://www.quilterscache.com/L/LoversKnotBlock.html . This looks different that EB and the pics. what does the "true" lovers knot pattern look like.

I just made a king size one. The only trouble I had was in laying it out. I have a queen size bed and didn't have any space big enough to lay it out. In the front of the book she has a chart telling you how many of each block you need for whatever size you are making. I also put sample blocks on a sheet of paper and pined it in front of my cutting mat. That helped me a lot. Good luck with your lover's knot.

I have found her pattern directions to be fairly simple to read. However, in all fairness, I did the Lover's Knot quilt as a wedding gift for my son and girl friend and I did have to re-read the directions a couple times. When she called off the wedding, a month before the wedding (which was a very good thing, although my son was devastated). He has now found and married a wonderful girl, who is a joy to us all. Best of all, they presented us with our very first grandchild, Zoe, who is now 3 1/2 and what a joy. I haven't checked her Quilt in a Day web site, but she may have a tutorial, which might help you. The Lover's "Not" quilt was later finished and given to my church as the raffle quilt for our Holiday Fair and made a good amount of money for the church. Out of a bad situation, came some good. Good luck with your cardiologist appointment. I will say a prayer for you.

Isn'i funny how designers have different names fore the same pattern. Here is a pattern called
"Linked Chevrons" by Marti Mitchell that sure looks like the quilt pic that was shown. SAme pattern? Instructions may be easier on this one the the EB pattern. http://www.frommarti.com/mm5/merchan...Category_Code=