Pattern prices
 

Am I the oly one to notice that Connecting Threads has increased their pattern only prices up 25% in the latest catalogue. It looks like we are all going to have to do more Internet searching for the patterns we love.

How many times do we reuse patterns? It's just another cost to making quilts,



Sylvia

Quilters cache is my favorite free pattern site.

Mine too, Alienquilter....

As a quilter I understand the frustration in buying patterns. I also understand the single use issue. As a pattern designer I put a lot of time into designing my patterns. I have to have proofers make sure I have correct information and the correct cutting directions. I tend to over write my patterns. I don't want someone to buy one and say I can't figure this out! I also print my own patterns and have to purchase the bags. I fold the pattern sheets and stuff the bags. They go out to shops and distributors and are sold to quilters. I know that all of that is the price I pay to do business but I sure would like to make a small profit on my patterns. Selling direct to shops I receive half the pattern list price. Selling through the distributors I receive one third the list price. As I have applique patterns that tends to add to the costs. I am not trying to upset anyone. I am just giving some of the factors that go into selling patterns! Luann

If you think about it, the quilt magazines are the best value for quilt patterns. I like the ads in them too. The ads keep me informed about what is new. Although I did not like the magazine insert in Fons and Porters this month! A clothing catalog stuck inside. I tore it out and threw it away. Raise the price of the magazine don't trash it up.

Its the perfect storm again.. the costs associated with keeping a pattern designer in business have gone up. Plus with all the free available .. the total volume sold must be decreasing , but the base costs have increased.
I think what bothers me is its the same price if I download it(most sites) , I only save on the shipping.. but the sellers costs are less.

I just received a table runner pattern that I ordered online. The cost was $8.00 plus postage. It was printed on one sheet of inferior paper(front and back). The printing was so small that I could not read without manifying glass. I tried to increase oncopy machine and the printing became distorted. the graphics for construction were very small. It had applique designs that had to be increased in size to use.
I sent an email to the designer and the store ordered from and expressed my dissatisfaction. The designer sent me a word document that allowed me to modify the font and increase design fearures in the pattern. The store "Oh, so sorry"
This sholud have had the option to purchase as a downloadable pattern.
Now I am attempting the pattern and WOW! What poor instructions. Nothing fits. So it is time to design my own.

I agree with you 150% about the download patterns. It wouldn't bother me so much if the price was at least a $1 less. :( I have now decided not to purchase a pattern if it is only available via download.

The only good thing about downloading a pattern is you get it immediately. The downsize is you use your precious copy paper and ink. I go through ink and paper like crazy with downloading patterns. I actually like buying the patterns and getting them in the mail. Usually they are on thicker paper and have a 'real' picture and a plastic sleeve. Three pluses right there not including not using my ink and my paper and paying the same price except a couple of dollars for shipping. I think it's worth the couple of dollars for shipping. JMHO.

Part of my issue of the cost of the pattern was the 25%, I know everything is going up but 25% seems nuts.

I think its possible that the cost of printing patterns is offset a little by the electronic patterns sold. I actually prefer electronic patterns because I use EQ7 all the time and also find it easier to resize if I don't have to worry about my copier making a crooked copy.

I agree with raising the price and leaving the trash out!

I know the cost of everything is going up and it makes me concerned that quilting will be going out as the young people cannot afford it and neither can the people on fixed incomes I am glad that at one time I dubscribed to every quilting magazine out there and I kept them all so now I really have all kinds of patterns and find most of them better than the new ones also if I want a new pattern the fabric companies has some free ones I use to really enjoy block of the month when it was 10.00 a month but who can afford them in this day just thankful for my stash both patterns and fabric I only buy what I need to finish a project

I never buy a quilt pattern. In addition to all the free ones available, it is really easy to draft your own version if you see something you really like. Of course it helps that I prefer the traditional patterns to the modern ones - spme I see "jar" my eyes, but others love them. I think it just depends on what you like & how confident you are in your own abilities.

LoriS,
When you download you also have the costs of the paper and ink. Not cheap but this is the way with any download from the net.

The young people don't need to worry about the cost of patterns and fabric. There are plenty of patterns free on the internet and lots of free instruction. Fabric is available in many ways. Lots of it is sold at thrift stores and garage sales. Let your friends know you need fabric and you may be surprised at what happens. Even if they con't sew they may pass the word along to someone who does and you could end up with lots of wonderful fabric. I have a friend who sews a lot but doesn't use up her scraps. She gives me giant shopping bags full of wonderful expensive fabric scraps that I enjoy tremendously. It isn't necessary to spend a fortune to be a quilter!

I am with you BelloBoo I love the magazines too. I subscribe to them and at $3.00 each you cant' go wrong!

Please try to support your LQS in purchasing patterns. No shipping.

Well I browse Ebay for patterns. Most of them cost me .99 plus shipping. Most of them are from magazines, and come in the plastic sleeves that I put in my notebook. This way I get only the ones I am interested in using, and I don't have stacks of magazines to find a place for or throw away. The patterns are complete with the picture and the instructions. I also have a file on my computer full of dl patterns. I think I have enough to last me a long long time. But if I find one I like, well, there is always space for just one more : )

I agree BellaBoo, I too was upset with the clothing catalog stuck in it......I'm seeing that more and more and really don't like it.

I wouldn't mind - but they never have anything I want. I usually wind up searching the internet. I have a purpose and design in mind, and I need a pattern to go with it. It's like that Daily Deal on Missouri Quilts. The stuff offered is nice, but never anything I want. I'm not buying just because it's cute or a good price.

Just thinking that C T might have raised their prices to offset keeping something else a lower cost (like their fabric).

I agree Debbie I use to get Fons and Porter but quit it for that reason and even the other magazines have to much advertising so if I see something I really really like I just pick up one occasionally at Joanns

I agree about the price of some patterns. My friend & I were in a shop 4 hrs from home & they had a beautiful block of the month quilt that we liked. We inquired about purchasing just the pattern & they said they would call. The next week we got a call, the price was $80.00....... We could not believe our ears. Do you know how much fabric we could buy with $80???? Needless to say we did not order the pattern. There are too many nice patterns out there that donot cost an arm & a leg. My friend & I preferr to buy books. There always seems like there are several patterns in them that we can use. We share books also. Of course we have way more books than we could possibly make all of the quilts from . I think it is called a book stash!!!!

I am climbing on my soapbox... My hubby complains about my fabric stash, but I am so glad I have one. I am now retired. When I was working I bought a lot of patterns, fabric & books. Now I have this supply to work from. With everything going up, up, up in cost, I don't have to buy. It's great to have all the free patterns online now. I do every once in a while have to get my fix and buy some fabric, but usually just to complete a project. I can't afford the price of fabric now. Ok, I'm climbing down now.....

How can any one get upset?
 

I find hard to get upset about your comment. I appreciate the knowledge you just provided. I always wondered what was in it for the designer of the patterns. I thank you for your input. Now I know.

I hear ya! But those of us that are on "Fixed incomes" are really finding more and more difficult to survive. When I retired in 2000. I could afford to buy an occasional pattern. Now I barely have enough to pay the bills. I have to make a tank of gas last a month.

I do buy patterns occasionally but I never use the pattern .i read and the design my own quilt. I do down load free patterns and buy patterns from the sites. I am very often cross with pattern makers due to the language they talk in. Like my last line their instructions are incomprehensible. This site is excellent for showing ideas to use.

I also design and sell patterns- and I have the same issues. I sell them on etsy, but I sell way more (at wholesale prices) to quilt shops. LQS makes more than I do on my patterns, but she does have the brick-and-mortar to pay for. So it's a trade-off. If I see a pattern that I like, I will always buy it, even if I can figure it out from the pic, just because someone else had the idea and went to the trouble to make it into a pattern and I know firsthand how much work that is.

Once you download a pattern you don't have to print it out. I put my laptop right on my sewing table and read my pattern as I go along. I file all my patterns to a folder and copy them to a stick.