I'm a little embarassed to admit that I had to spend some time with the seam ripper recently while making a warm wishes quilt. If I would have taken time to look at the pattern I would have realized some of the blocks weren't turned the right way before I got the top pieced together. There are many good free patterns online so I seldom buy any.

Occassionally I buy patterns, mostly magazines and on line tho and sometimes books, but never follow a pattern 100%. I often embroider and in the past have painted & cross-stitched quilts. I have learned loads from watching the quilting shows, looking at magazines and from my sewing group. Often I embroider (etc.) blocks & then figure out what I am going to do with the quilt. I guess I tend to do that more often than actually knowing what pattern or how I am going make the quilt from the beginning. It's called "I improvise a lot." Wonderful board of quilters-new and old.

I've only bought and used 1 pattern. Mostly get ideas from books or quilts I see in shops and tweak them.

I rarely use a pattern. I just put together blocks using what I know. For example, the quilt I am working on now is "snowball block" with "courthouse steps".

Like you I don't always use a pattern. For me I learned to sew from someone who made her own patterns. So I never learned to read a pattern - thus if I try to use directions etc., from a pattern my stuff comes out looking like Lucy's dress from I Love Lucy - this is a problem only because I don't make dresses - I make quilts!!! I have found that as long as you keep your seams the same from start to finish you should come out ok. Good Luck & Happy Sewing

I use a pattern in so far as how to make a windmill, a churn dash, etc. but other than that, as a rule, I see patterns, like recipes, as guidelines and suggestions. LOL.

I always have alot of trouble following a pattern. I love making scrap quilts with no rhyme or reason.
Judy in Ohio

I use patterns quite a bit of the time...but not always.
I love to look at books and patterns....gives me inspiration !....and I have been known to buy a few books and patterns....hehehe

I use patterns quite a bit of the time...but not always.
I love to look at books and patterns....gives me inspiration !....and I have been known to buy a few books and patterns....hehehe

I use Electric Quilt so it is like drafting. I use the patterns in that lots!! I have made back the money I had spent on the EQ6 program by not having to buy any more patterns.