Have you ever had a pattern you couldn't wrap your brain around?
 

Have you ever done that? Had a pattern you couldn't wrap your brain around? I am currently working on a Lover's Knot pattern, which I really really like. I thought I had it right in my head, but I seem to keep getting lost in it.

Probably I got lost when I took a week off to help my husband tile the bathroom floor, so I am trying to forgive myself. But I certainly feel lost right now. I guess I will read the instructions again and just plow back in. Yup, that should do it. Cross your fingers for me...and it probably doesn't help that I am adjusting the size to a size not mentioned anywhere....so I am a bit unsure how many more squares I need. All in good time...right?

Here is where I am now. Should I get my brain going right, I think it will look quite good.

Dina

I understand where you are coming from. I have a block I "designed" and everytime I work on it I piece the blocks incorrectly. No one to blame buy myself!

I haven't used this pattern but yours is going to be beautiful. Good luck.

Looks fabulous so far. Re read the instructions and go through the steps again, and again and again. I have even made a trial block or several from scraps when I get stuck on a pattern.
Good luck, it is awesome.
peace

Looks great! I woke my DH one morning at 3 a.m in tears because I couldn't understand this pattern.

http://www.lazygirldesigns.com/pdf-f...iday-gift-bags

I was so frustrated. I can't read instructions and see how it is suppose to be, I have to see it. I could not figure it out. He took one look at it and tucked it perfectly and went right back to sleep.

That's going to be so pretty. It definitely looks confusing to me! I'd screw it up for sure. When I have a complicated pattern, I make a photocopy and use a highlighter pen to mark off the design as I assemble all the pieces on the design wall.

I haven't made a lover's knot but I have done a few that I have had to make certain the blocks are correct then just trust the designer. Sometimes, they don't work out till the very end. Like a suspense novel. Love the purples!

Check the tutorials section. There is an excellent tute there by Nanna Up North. Might be helpful to you. http://www.quiltingboard.com/tutorials-f10/lovers-knot-quilt-t250247.html

I couldn't figure out how to do paper piecing. I took a class which got me to understand it.

Lovers know is a beautiful pattern. Hope you get it worked out.

Yes, Lovers Knot thru me for a loop the first time I did it. And it still tends to confuse me at times. Yours is looking good. and it looks correct so far

Shar Jorgenson had the prettiest Lover's Knot quilt I've seen. Her PBS quilt program was one of the best.

Eleanor Burns has a Lover's Knot pattern. You may want to check out her free videos to see if she has one on that pattern. Your quilt is lovely.....love the colors!

Oh, this is a good idea! I am going to do that. I have worked with it enough this afternoon that I think I have it conquered....but this idea really will help. Thanks.

Dina

Thanks, yes, she has a video that helped me get started. Thanks for suggesting it. I may go back and revisit it, though I think I have it right in my head now. Time will tell. :)

Dina

Thanks, I have gone to her tutorial, and it helped me a lot. It made more sense than the video did to me. I even printed her tutorial. It is the best tutorial I have seen. I got confused when I was trying to put my blocks together, even with a picture to help me. Breaking it down into small parts has helped. But I am conquering it. I just have a long way to go yet. :)

Dina

Oh Dina, I'm so sorry you are struggling with your quilt. It looks like you have a picture of how the blocks are arranged so that should help. I found it easier to look at it from the corner. Then, it was just rows that got added on..... and the side lines were fairly straight, especially if I sewed the triangles on as I put it together. But, if I can help in any way, just PM me. I sure don't want you to get frustrated.... I think I was one that encouraged you to do this.

You are doing fine Dina. Start to cut a few of your setting triangles and that might help you get back on track. Your color selections are always lovely. I am working on table placemats with EB book of Lover Knots Placemat. The blocks are made from 1.5" wide strips. I screwed up by not sewing the colors in the proper order sewing the light where I should have put the medium dark. OOPS !! So I have to make some lemonade with the lemon blocks I made. :)

Yes, it was your tutorial that encouraged me! :) But you know what, I just went back and reread it....and Step 7 ....a step that I had ignored...makes it all make sense. Plus you telling me to look at it from a corner. I got really confused the last quilt that I made that was "on point." I think that is my main problem. Even with the great picture that my sister printed for me off of her computer program....forgot what it is called...somehow quilts on point make me dizzy.

But I am feeling more comfortable and I will PM you if I feel more confusion. :) Thanks.

Dina

Yes, I need to make some of those setting triangles. I have sort of ignored them, and they will make it better for my brain, I think. Thanks....as always, you give good advice. :)

Dina

I'm glad that you are feeling more comfortable putting the blocks together. This lineup can get a little confusing. Don't let it frustrate you too much. Sometimes, I have to walk away and then go back to start putting it together again. And I agree, 'on-point' quilts require a different mind set.... But you'll get it. I know you will. And it looks like you're making good progress..... Yeah!! I'm anxious to see how you're coming along and getting to the finish. I love your color selection.... really looks great.

Thanks. I am getting more comfortable, and it actually feels good to analyze why I am struggling. It is the putting together of the blocks. I can make them okay, but putting them together has been my problem. But I have a few need strategies in my basket now...and I will use them all. :) Thanks for your support.

Dina

Your quilt is beautiful! Keep at it, you will get it finished. I like that pattern a lot.

I love this pattern, and can see where it would be confusing. Hang in there though because it is going to be lovely. The colors are totally delicious!

I can't wrap my brain around Cathedral Window. I've tried it several times but my brain just doesn't get it.....

That is gorgeous. When I start to struggle I have a BFF quilting buddy I go to to talk my way through it. While QB friends are amazing, sometimes I need that face to face and hands on approach

Very pretty. I love purple.

What you've done here looks good! Hope u get it back on track soon. That purples rock!

Good Luck!! What a beautiful quilt that is going to be- can't wait to see the finished quilt -what size blocks are you making?
I have been there and done that. Once on a free pattern, I just couldn't figure the directions out, even had other long time quilters to read the pattern, we all read it the same way, finally called the company. The company gave me the email address of the designer so I could check with her. I sent her an email explaining the part that was giving me problems to see if there might be an error in the pattern. Well I received a really rude reply, not help, she just stated that apparently since I was not experienced enough with how to cut sub cuts or quilting, I really shouldn't be quilting until I learned how and especially this pattern. Boy as I ever shocked, I had only been quilting for about 15 years at the time. Between myself and all of my quilting club we finally through trial and error figured it out.

Yes - I can relate!

Your quilt looks beautiful, so far. I think I might have to try one of these next year. I had trouble the first time I made the Bow Tuck bag. And recently, the Mondo bag pattern threw me for a loop. Both I just set aside and eventually figured them out. Can't wait to see how your lover's knot turns out.

I agree it looks great.....keep going ! With your design wall you will spot error and be able to adjust.

Look at Nana-up-North's tutorial again. She has two blocks in her quilt. One has the dark color in the cornerstone and the light on the outside. The other has the light in the corner and the dark color on the outside. The two small blocks you are showing us are the same. Do you have others you aren't showing us? LOL

It's the paper piecing that gets me too. I've tried and tried and there is just no getting it right for me. No worries tho, there are so many other patterns and techniques to do, I'll keep busy!! LOL

Yes, I do have two blocks, I just didn't have any "extra" of the second one when I took the picture. I am currently making more blocks, and then I can proceed. I just made enough blocks originally to see if I would like the fabric I had chosen. (I have never been able to visualize how fabric goes together. :) Making a few sample blocks always helps me.) THEN I got confused by the design. My son came to my rescue yesterday afternoon and figured out where my thinking was wrong.

I am confident I can make it all work out. This quilt will go on a chair here in my sewing room...and it only needs to be 50" by 50" or 60" by 60" or somewhere in that size to work. So I don't have a long way to go yet, but I do need more blocks!

Thanks for all the help.

Dina

Looks to me like you are on course and on your way.

what you have done looks very nice, hang in there

We all have those moments...Pretty quilt blocks..

Beautiful pattern and I like your choice of colors. Going to be gorgeous.

I have this pattern but haven't tried it yet. Now that I see the blocks it may be my next quilt! Like your purples.