Does anyone have trouble reading and following a pattern? It seems to start out easy, and then before I know it, it gets confusing. Does anyone else have this problem? Is there a tut that guides you through one for practice? I get frustrated and don't know what to do. Any suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks.

I don't know if there is or not, but I do know that I have alot of trouble reading directions but my problem is I don't comprehend what I read. I have no problem if I am "shown" how to do it then I am able to with no problems.

I think some patterns are a bit confusing, if it's a difficult pattern I try to read through till it makes sense and if you go step by step and still get mixed up maybe you can email the maker for clarification, sometimes there's are misprints. Good luck

The best advice I could give is to read the entire pattern BEFORE you start doing/cutting/sewing anything. All the way through. Look at the templates or any special papers included.

It should be like planning a road trip....you would have Googled all the maps and plotted your route BEFORE you got in the car, right?

Same thing. You really have to have an idea of where you're going as you approach each step. And also about where you're supposed to be 3 steps down the pike.

That way you'd have an inkling if something is off, or all of sudden there is some technique or math that you should have figured out four steps back. Or found out you needed to cut the fabric a certain way, but didn't read ahead and now you don't have enough because you miscut.

You get the idea.

And it's not a race. Breathe deeply. If it's really not fun, put it away and find a new project.

This is me, show me and I can do it, but try to comprehend directions isn't easy for me at all! So I usually try to find pictures to figure it out or even a youtube video...

I made my first bow tuck this year and I read and reread the directions first. If I didn't understand something I would walk away from it and think it over. I didn't rush through it either.

Yes, I have much difficulty. I don't understand it, I used to read them just fine. My friend, who is a seemstrees helps me when I get stuck. After 50 plus yrs of sewing, she can firgue out anything. I have a purse I started a year ago and I am frustrated with the directions, so she is helping me with this. I understand the directions aren't wrote well these days, unless it comes from a company like butterick or so. The independent's don't write directions as well is my understanding.

Sometimes the problem IS in the directions! I bought a book and faithfully tried to follow the directions - the illustrations and finished project were NOT the same as the words indicated. Some friends and I are making a quilt from McCalls magazine and there is an entire border than is not addressed in the cutting directions or the assembly directions.

Some patterns are well written and well illustrated.
They are comparatively easy to follow.

Some patterns are poorly written, the illustrations don't match the words, plus there are mistakes - such as wrong yardage requirements, wrong dimensions of pieces, the templates are badly drawn, etc etc.

Then it is the pattern that is the problem, not the reader.

It does help to read through the whole pattern before starting the project -

But I'm not sure how a beginner would "know" something is "off" - - -

There still is no substitute for experience.

I know this isn't much help - but maybe knowing you are not alone may be of some comfort????

Sometimes. Is there a particular pattern you're talking about when asking this?

Some pattern designers/writers make the pattern harder to understand and others make it easier to understand. Maybe you can pick a specific pattern and ask here about the issue(s) you have with it. I'm sure that with all the quilters on this board, some of us have had experience with it.

Like a PP said, understanding patterns takes practice and experience. Do make sure to read through the pattern at least twice before cutting (or sometimes even buying fabric). The first reading allows you to become familiar with the overall directions. The second (or more) reading allows you to focus on the details. You can always, if you want, make a sample block, to test out the directions. Another suggestion is to try to turn the words into pictures. See if you can, as you're reading, sketch out what the pattern wants you to do. This helps me sometimes.

I happen to be very good at reading and following patterns since I taught myself to crochet when I was a teen.

Some people can write patterns you could follow without even thinking about it. Some people write patterns that are impossible to follow no matter what.

Some pattern publishers don't care how well the pattern is written as long as it sells. Or they're self published and there isn't any pattern testing done.

It can be very helpful to make a test block with scrap fabric for a new pattern.

Perhaps if there is a particular pattern that is problematic, I am sure that one of our QB members (me included) would be glad to do a tutorial on this!

I agree that you should read the instructions first, then I usually take a pencil and check off the steps as I complete them. If the pattern is well written, checking off the steps helps keep track of where you are. If you need to repeat steps multiple times, I use different color pencils for each repetition or use numbers instead of checks.

I tend to have problems understanding patterns because I ma dyslexic. Most of my quilt squares end up backwards or reversed. It's OK if all of them end up that way. For some reason paper piecing seems to be easier for me. Some instructions aren't that clear.

The problems with many quilt instructions is that the writer is trained to write them. I've been a technical writer for years, primarily in software use, and I can tell you that its very easy write for yourself, not others. Writers should have others who read and try to use the instructions without any other input to see if they have gotten the ideas and methods across so that a person who comes to it freah, can follow it.

Also they need to use plenty of pictures, its true that a picture is worth a thousand words.

I've noticed in quilting that people are either visual (show them how to do it with a good picture, or explain it to them is easy to understand fashon. If you can mix the two, you can make a supper instruction presentation.

Lanny

Yes. Last Christmas I wanted to make a quilt with the Christmas Star pattern. I was so confused it about drove me to distraction. I finally found another pattern for the same quilt at another site and it was much clearer. I think the first one I went to was running on the confusion factor! I never did get to make it yet, but have been collecting more pretty Christmas fabrics so I can. I have so many wonderful projects to do ahead of me...

Sometimes the directions seem to be "over written". Some serious editing to get rid of all of the clutter or nonsense would help. Use statements instead of paragraphs. I feel like I'm reading an insurance policy, which I DON'T read completely because there are too many words that would not make a bit of difference if they were not there.

I will make a copy of the pattern and the second time I read it I will highlight in yellow or other color the key parts of the instructions. This helps when I need to go back and review.

I find that pattern directions sometimes have regional dialogue and terminology isn't the same in all areas of the world. Pattern designers do try their best, but I agree that illustrations do help. I find it hard to buy patterns for my shop because sometimes we only get to see the cover and not the instructions.

I've heard that some designers are known for easy to read/understand patterns?

And vice-versa?

I read all the way through. Some patterns are easy to follow others I cut enough for one block and follow it step by step if I still have trouble I find someone who has done it, check at the LQS or I have a friend that has lots more experience than me and she can help. (We feed off each other and figure things out.) If a technique is the problem I google for a tutorial.

If I have a problem, I either get out the graph paper and draw it then disect it and rewrite it my way, leaving extra room for trimming.

Otherwise I can use my EQ6 to draw the design and it will print the pattern, the templates, the rotary cutting directions, and/or the paper piecing pattern.

Can you tell I used to teach math?

I don't even want to try to tell you how I do the Square in a Square!

ali

Thanks so much to all of you who replied. There seems to be a running answer and that is to read the pattern "over and over" again until it makes sense. I like the idea of making a scrap sample first. I've got lots of scraps! I will try this and hope for the best. If I have a problem I know where to go. LOL

When I used to make clothing I had no problem with following the directions, but with quilt patterns they sometimes totally befuddle me.....maybe the loss of some brain cells in my old age! lol Anyway, I have a LQS that is always helpful in explaining instructions to me. For that I am soooo thankful.