Hi,

I recently purchased a Sue Garman, Friends of Baltimore BOM, applique pattern from a shop on Ebay. I was a little disappointed with the quality of the pattern. It is printed on poor quality paper and some of it is a little blurry. I have never purchased a Sue Garman pattern before. Has anyone here purchased one of these patterns? I'm curious, does anyone know if this is how her BOM patterns are usually printed?

Thanks,
Micha

never heard of those patterns

I'm really surprised.

Sue does the BOM quilts for TheQuiltShow and they are beyond gorgeous. http://www.thequiltshow.com/os/bom2.php

As a member, I get to download the instructions free, and while I've never made one, they seem very well written and detailed.

Maybe because I'm printing .pdf's.

Is that a new pattern or an older one?

Micha
I have not purchased from her but she is a well-known designer and has been at major shows. Many of the ladies in my guild have her patterns and have heard no complaints. I would go to her website and email her. Attach a picture of the blurring. I know that some of the ladies use the pattern and make their templates with freezer paper.
I would definitely contact Sue.

I've got "Omigosh" and I can't say that I have either of the problems you mentioned. My only complaint is that I had to do some of the math for the pattern to figure number of strips of each color for the pattern (because it's supposed to be 'scrappy' so she suggests a number of different colors only).

Wow, her blog is gorgeous!!
http://suegarman.blogspot.com/

I'm just paging back to 2007 - amazing how she puts a pattern together.

I just wanted to be clear, the design I love. I just speaking of the actual quality of the pattern print and paper.

Understood.

But I'd do what BeeNana suggested - write to her. Maybe she can reprint the pattern if you're having a hard time reading it.

If it's really old, it could just be the way it was printed. I have some here that looked they were done on manual typewriters.

I'm off to find a picture your BOM, I"m curious.

Wow.

WOW!!

So this is a new current BOM Sue's got in the stores. Gorgeous.
http://www.quakertownonline.com/bloc...baltimore.html

Here's the cost of all 12 months (don't know is that includes the border or not)
http://www.quakertownonline.com/bloc...te-set-po.html

You said you bought it on eBay.

Is it possible someone had, let's say, bought a legit copy at a local shop or online, and then copied it and put it up for sale on eBay? And that's why the printing was so crappy?

Although your seller has been around forever. I've bought from her.

I'd write your seller back first before I'd write to Sue.
Don't leave any feedback just yet. It's eBay. The buyer holds all the cards.

Hi, I am making Stars for a New Day BOM from the Quilt show and again it is downloaded and I printed it but her instructions are really good-clearly written and detailed...you definitely need to email the person you bought it from because maybe it is a photocopy of the original...that person needs to send you one that is not blurry...not good!

was trying to add/edit info and ended up reposting..sorry...

Hi, I am making Stars for a New Day BOM from the Quilt show and again it is downloaded and I printed it but her instructions are really good-clearly written and detailed...you definitely need to email the person you bought it from because maybe it is a photocopy of the original...that person needs to send you one that is not blurry...not good!
I have also made the Applique pattern Hugs and Kisses and it is beautiful...another BOM...I am a member of the Quilt Show mainly for these patterns..since they are free for members...

Many years ago I did her Yuletide Joy block of the month...and still have in progress Autumn Joy (sure hoping that THIS is the year that I finally finish it!)
I had no trouble with her patterns and the quality of patterns, but it was many years ago and maybe they have changed with time?
Her designs are awesome!
Kim

Some ebay sellers tend to make copies for sale. hence the blurry bit.

MTS~ I was thinking that it might be a possiblity that maybe I ended up with a copy of the orginal, since it was from Ebay, but I wanted to find out what Sue's patterns were like first. I've never had one of her patterns before. It could just have be a bad print of the pattern and the seller is unaware. I will contact her.

As the previous posters have mentioned, most of us get the patterns from TQS, and we're printing .pdf's.

Your seller, though, is respectable. But who knows.
DId the package look "new" - what about the color cover photo?

Because in the listing, she's using the same photo that Quakerstown has on their website (see the link above).

How does the price you paid compare to quakerstown? I'm assuming the borders were included.

MTS~ The price is about the same as it is on Quakertown Quilts. I purchased it from the Ebay seller because she is in the same state that I live in. I like to support local if I can. I've sent her an email, I will wait for her reply.

Micha

Sounds to me like you got a pirated copy of her pattern.

wow... Sue Garmen patterns are like $60 for the full sized, intricate bed quilts. I bought "Ladies of the Sea". It's a perfect pattern, not blurry at all.

Perhaps the shop has a license to photocopy it... and didn't do a good job? I'd call the shop pronto and ask to have it replaced.

Oh... yeah,... that's true. If you didn't pay a hunk of cash for it, likely it's pirated. Ouch... go on sue's website or to the LQS in Tx that handles her stuff. See what the cost is through them for the same pattern. Then you'll know if you got a real pattern or not...

My pattern "Trick or Treat" is perfect, FYI.

OMG for me that would be BOY "Block of the Year"...lol

Perhaps you could give her some polite feedback so that she is able to watch quality control. Sometimes, when printing is out of the designer's hands he/she may not be fully aware of any production short - cuts the printers are taking until someone brings it to his/her attention. Her precision is excellent, so she may like to pay attention to the presentation of the patterns as well.

I have two of her patterns, am subscribing to her intricate Baltimore quilt block of the month which I'll probably never do, and am now doing the one where there are 16 identical blocks with hundred of berries on it and the blocks are set so it looks kind of like a kaleidoscope. I love the look of her patterns, but the actual patterns look like they've been drawn by hand. I was a little disappointed, but her patterns are so beautiful. She has detailed instructions and I can live with the not so professional patterns.

there is the possibility the ebay seller printed the pattern from her pdf files on cheap poor quality paper-
happens alot- not everyone who sells on ebay are (honest) they are just there to make a buck.
i have Sue Garman patterns they are commercial quality.
i have also purchased a pattern from an ebay seller who had purchased a pattern and was then running off copies of it and selling them on line...

Isn't that illegal?

I forgot to add that the paper quality was poor, but it really didn't matter because the easiest way to work with it was to copy it on a copy machine and tape the different parts together. I usually do that anyway so I can keep the original in good condition. Your copy probably isn't a pirated copy. That's just the way they are.

I made a Sue Garman "Mama Says" if i had not seen the quilt at a show I would not have purchase the pattern. The picture was poor and the paper was cheap. The quilt turned out beautifull

Some of my applique group are doing that pattern, and the copy one of them had was very clear. Maybe the one you have is a copy?

I would definitely contact Sue Garmin directly because if the pattern you received is a photocopy of one of her patterns she needs to be made aware of this as that would be a violation of the copyright laws!

i wonder if the seller "copied" the pattern, to sell, and that is why the prining and paper are of lesser quality....i know that this happens on ebay frequently...

I agree with some of the posts--it is probably a pirated copy. I have one of her patterns and the printing is flawless and the picture on the front is beautiful. I bought it fron Quakertown Quilts, Inc. The paper is good quality, too.
Sue

I am working (slowly...) on Sue's "Ladies of the Sea". No problems with the pattern that I can see.

Not sure, but sounds like someone is printing & making copies of her patterns and selling them on ebay...would explain the bad printouts.

I would go back to whomever you bought it from. Perhaps it was copied or something... would hope not though!! Sorry for your problem.

I'm surprised it is of poor quality. I know Sue's work personally and it is perfection, so I bet she would help out with the pattern you got.

Hope you get the problem resolved and can get back to making the quilt.

yes, I have purchase Sue Garman patterns. never had a problem. do you think maybe you got a copy??? I hope not.

If it was bought on ebay she would have no control over the quality...it wasn't a copy was it??? that would be my guess

I do not trust ebay..I belonged to the same quilt guild as Sue Garman when living in TX. Her work is represented by Quakertown Quilts in Friendswood, TX. These people are very professional and do excellent work. Sounds to me someone copied.

Hi Micha,
I was wondering if you ever heard back from your eBay seller about the pattern's printed quality?

Hi MTS,

I did hear back from her. She says it is an original, so I'm giving her the benefit of the doubt. Maybe it's just a bad copy. I may send it back or see if I can still manage to use it, but I'm not sure about it. The reason I bought it on Ebay is that I had an Ebay gift card, I will be more careful next time when buying a pattern.