Does anyone have trouble with reading a quilt pattern? Sometimes I think Iam stupid. I find a pattern, looks great, buy it, and for what ever reason , I dont understand it. Is there an easy way of understanding these things. I know they are not all hard but my brain dont want to understand it. Can anyone help me in understand this? Please........... :roll: :roll:
Any help is welcomed.

Some are more well written and user friendly than others...
If we can help with something specific, can you provide more information :D:D:D

You are not stupid at all. This is something we all struggle with, depending on how well the pattern creator was on writing the instructions. I just pitched out a pattern book by a couple of well known quilt authors because the instructions were so miserable that I wouldn't even inflict the book on Goodwill or ARC.

Sure, lots of help here. Can you be more specific about what is confusing you?

Most patterns start with cutting instructions. Each fabric will have the pieces required for the entire quilt.

Next should be any technique instructions that might be used in the construction.

Then you should see seperate construction directions for each block.

Last you should see the layout and construction for the entire quilt.

I have a lot of trouble sometimes reading the patterns. I mostly have to have a picture to look at to make sense of them.

If you can look at the picture at the same time that you are reading the instructions, it helps to understand the pattern. You can then visualize where the cut pieces belong. Hope that helps.

I have trouble sometime. Not always clear.

Thanks everyone, my pattern is Joesph's Pinwheel by fons& porter. I know its not a hard pattern, but I make it hard.It is in this months issuse book from Fons& Porter. I think alot of it is, because I dont use their choice of material, so when it tells me to say like go with blue poka dot material cut 4 7/8 wide strip, from strip cut 2 4 7/8 squares. Cut squares in half diagonally to make 4 half square. Now am I makeing a mountain out of a nothing.If you have the issue of the book it is on page 62.

Thanks everyone for your help.

I rarely if ever follow directions as written. I prefer to make one block to see if I am going to like the pattern, my choice of fabrics, sizes etd.

For me it took 3-4 quilts before I felt comfortable reading them. This is what I do on paper
1) Make a copy of the pattern to write notes on
Fabrics needed:
2)On copy of the pattern check the list of fabric to cut and label them A, B, C, D etc; do the same with the cutting instructions
3) Now mark the quilt layout diagram to corespond with their fabric A, B, C, D etc.
3) Write down all the colors
after the colors I write down the fabric I will be using
Example:pattern: A) 1/4 yard small orange primrose(#3005-33, Gold/Rust) (my fabric) rust shamrock
B) 2/3 yard large gold orchid (#3002-33, forest gold) (my fabric) rust/gold gnomes etc.

Now I can easily see by following the pattern which fabric I will use replacing the pattern colors with my colors.
Make sense so far??

Now I go to cutting fabric
Cutting fabric:
A From the small orange primrose cut------- rust shammrock
B From large gold orchid cut---------- rust gold gnomes
etc

If you do this it keeps your mind in order, or does mine. The rest I write down notes where I make changes or write something that takes awhile to figure out. I have a 3 ring binder with sheets of copies of quilts I have made with my notes, next time it will be a breeze. By making a copy if you make the quilt again you can start with a fresh copy and write down the new colors. I keep these loose pages by my machine and continously use them while, cutting and piecing all the time. Good luck

One thing I do if there are lots of fabrics and I'm not following their fabric/color scheme is make myself a cheat sheet. I put up a poster that has my fabrics I'm using that I number from one to whatever. Then beside mine, I put their fabric reference in ( ). If possible, I go thru the pattern and write my number over their reference (I've been known to use white-out :-D :-D liberally!)

Wow ! I have to try this, I understand this. Thank you so much.

Some patterns just aren't very clear. But like the others said, I have copied the pattern and marked what material I'm using on the pattern so I can follow along better. Also, if there are different instructions for different sizes, then I can highlight the specific ones I need.

Make a copy
read a couple times or more
then highlight those important parts or steps.

I have been known to re-write instructions in a way that makes more sense to me. I work best in list form. Anything that comes in paragraph form is a definite re-write for me. Especially the cutting directions. I can usually figure out how to piece something, but once you cut it wrong you're stuck.

Patterns can be simple or very hard to read. When I have hard directions I go through the m one time, making one block from scraps and take notes while doing it.

Sometimes I like a pattern but give up due to bad instructions. Not worth my time.
peace :D

I take a small square of fabric and glue stick it on to the pattern in place of the fabric that they use so when I look at it while reading I see my choice and not theirs

im having the same issue with a pattern right now its not very user friendly and ive already made a couple of cutting mistakes.
i think ill be very pleased to see the end of this quilt unfortunately its a quilt ill be charging for and the customer picked the pattern. lets hope it goes better when i get to sewing.
carla

Many more people have trouble than would admit it!!! It may be that you are a visual learner....it may be that the pattern is written poorly! I have some clients that bring their patterns to me so I can work through them and re-write them (clearly, with samples and diagrams) for them so they can enjoy making the quilt without fighting the pattern!!!

Me too..plus i make a copy of the pattern to write on it..i use high lighter lot too..

it is NOT you!

I can't for the life of me follow a written pattern either. I have to see up close photo's or a tute on YouTube. Visual learner here.

You are not alone. I read through all instructions before starting a project, highlight what I'm not sure of and then go back and break it down into what I understand it to be saying. I have a purse pattern that is driving me up a wall, either it is way beyond my abilities or the directions are badly written. I'll stick to it, but the way it is written you'd think it was the plans to make a space capsule instead of a purse.

There is a very easy tutorial for this pinwheel on Joan Doaks U-tube. I also helps to use graph paper and draw it out, that way there is no color to confuse you.

The instructions you gave out sounds confusing to me too. Maybe I just haven't had enough coffee this morning.

I am a visual learner and have found if I draw a color block, and write in what sizes I need to cut, it seems to help,

Mary

Sometimes I think it helps if you read one step at a time, and don't read ahead, this maybe where you are getting confused.

I have the same problem after quilting for 6 or 7 years now. I think bj on page 1 describes how I make notes on the pattern. I try to break it down into even more steps than the pattern designer a lot of times.

I read patterns several times before I start and then mark with my color choices. Even then sometimes it doesn't always turn out like they wanted! Hee, hee!

I have been quilting for 5 years and still struggle with reading most patterns. I find most really hard to follow. Partly my fault partly the patterns fault. I tend to try to skim the instructions which doesn't work. I am a visual person and need to see things. I have to read and reread and reread for most to make sense. Sometimes I sort of draw it out on paper. I alos write notes on my patterns. My sister has borrowed some of my patterns and she likes my notes. She is a new quilter. Good luck

I prefer to buy a book. I find they are easier to read and have better visual instuction.

I have found that post-it notes are very helpful. If the pattern refers to 'blue polka dot fabric' I write that on a post-it and put the post-it on the fabric I'm using for the 'blue polka dot'. Clear as mud??

I have the same problem. If I can see someone make the first block or talk me through it, then I'm on my way. I do all sorts of diagrams, lay out the pieces and do trial blocks. I have a new one I want to do right now but will need start up help.

I have been sewing for over 40 years and still can't read a pattern,I just look at the pictures and how much to cut and what size ,so I can't help you but good luck.

You are not stupid but sound like a "visual person". I am too and can do it easily if I see it done. Reading a "how-to" can throw me off. Hope you can work through it.

Me too!

I watch Eleanor Burns' shows a lot and on one show she made the suggestion of making a legend. I label a piece of typing paper with all the letters that identify each fabric cut. I cut out a piece of fabric swatch by each letter along with the listed measurement. I also label the actual picture of the quilt with the letters and arrows pointing to the place on the quilt. I hang the paper by my cutting table and it helps me keep my mind in order.

I read and then re-read. Somethines you can figure out a better way to do it. I don't jump in right away. I've even bought some patterns that are just poorly written.

I always make a trial block with a new pattern to make sure I understand the instructions if they are difficult. If the block I make is correct, I may rewrite the instructions to make them more understandable. With very difficult to understand blocks, I will save my trial block with the instructions to refresh my memory when I decide to use it again.

[quote=Jackie54]Thanks everyone, my pattern is Joesph's Pinwheel by fons& porter. I know its not a hard pattern, but I make it hard.It is in this months issuse book from Fons& Porter. I think alot of it is, because I dont use their choice of material, so when it tells me to say like go with blue poka dot material cut 4 7/8 wide strip, from strip cut 2 4 7/8 squares. Cut squares in half diagonally to make 4 half square. Now am I makeing a mountain out of a nothing.If you have the issue of the book it is on page 62.

I don't have the book, but I know what they want you to do. You're making half square triangles. They like to use the 7/8" to save fabric. Up it to 1 inch. So your fabric is cut in a 5 inch wide strip. Then you cut that 5" strip into two 5" squares. Do NOT cut it in half yet!! Match it with another 5" square of an alternate fabric, right sides together. Draw a diagonal line from left upper corner to right lower corner. You will be stitching 1/4" on both sides of this line. When you have sewn the seam on each side of the line, then you can cut on the diagonal line you drew. Press seam open or to darkest side. Your HST will be a bit oversized. Trim it down to 4 1/2 inches. Do the same for the other 5" square.
Hope this helps.
bev.

You are not stupid. Some authors just can't write. There have been some patterns that it has taken me 4 or 5 readings to finally figure out what they are saying. If I can't figure it out I wing it.