I purchased a pattern and book on-line and found out it was a download thing. I thought I would receive the items in the mail so was surprised that I need to print them off myself. I will not do that again but is too late for now. I don't know if any of you have done this but just wanted you to know that if you want the real products make sure you know what you are ordering and whether it is to be mailed to you in the mail unless you want to read and print it off yourself.

Been there done that!

I have seen those too I wouldn't want to print off 76 pages for sure. You could save it on your computer then go through it and print out what you would like to work with.

I have downloaded and printed off several e-books and although the printing is tedious I find it less expensive than actually getting the book (if even still available).

I have some really great antique/vintage pattern/quilt history type e books that you wouldn't be able to find if it weren't for this type of service. If you were the price would be cost prohibitive. Most of the things I've found in the past just aren't available any other way. I just make a notebook for the book and it works for me.

I agree.

I have gotten quite a few "e-books". I have no problem with it, because you don't have to print out the whole thing if you don't want to. And you don't have to pay shipping, and wait for it to arrive. I use a hole-punch and put them in a binder and make a label. You just have to decide if the cost of printer ink and paper justify the difference in cost between shipping etc. The other thing you can do is to download it to your computer and then just open the file when you want to look at it. That way you don't have to print anything out if you don't want.

I will be printing off what I want each time. There are 176 pages so I think I would rather have the book. I am glad to hear everyones opinion though. Thank you for all of your replies.

i think it is ok as long as you know what you are getting

I've been caught that way, too. Aggravated the begeebers out of me.

Been there, done that! I have tons of cross-stitch books in particular, but when I find online patterns, I like them and want to keep them. I have probably 20 binders full of free internet patterns.
When I started quilting, I was determined not to let the patterns get so out of hand (like the cross stitch ones), so if I find a pattern on the internet that I just can't go on without, I immediately save it to a file. I make it a point to review this file at least once a month and every now and then I find something I want to make. So, I just print it off and away I go! I take my laptop to quilting group and let them look through the patterns too to see if there is any they want. We have a few laser printers at home so printing is not a big problem.

I personally like to print out the block directions. I found that for some patterns, they cost the same if you print them out or receive them in the mail. The only difference is that with the download you don't have to pay for shipping or handling.

And the instant gratification of getting the item immediately.