What do you like in a quilt pattern?
 

I'm considering taking some of my quilt designs and turning them into patterns. Before I go through the process though, I'm hoping some of you would be willing to give me feedback on what you really like and dislike in patterns you purchase.

I just finished reading the post about having directions and yardage included for multiple sizes. So I'll definitely keep that in mind. Here's a link to the thread if you are interested and haven't seen it. http://www.quiltingboard.com/main-f1...s-t196962.html

What other things would you like to see included? Would you mind if a pattern with curved piecing had instructions but also a link to a great video tutorial you can watch on the internet?

I would like to see the quilt made in different colors - show more than one finished quilt in various colors/fabrics - as the fabric used is not always available for purchase

Have been quilting for +30 years. Some of the newer patterns quite frankly, don't give enough directions. The pattern may be simple, but not enough is described, especially for beginning level quilting. Keep in mind people may interpret the directions in several different ways too. You want the quilters to enjoy the process, not left wondering and frustrated. Very best luck to you and all future success.

I like it on good quality paper, I hate it when I open the envelope and it's written out on flimsy newsprint. Also I like it on a manageable size sheet, not one that opens up like the old dress patterns did, and then you're expected to be able to see to trace the shapes even when it's printed on both sides.

Include advice on which direction, to press each seam. Seems like a little thing but . . . I hate having to go back and unpress/repress seams, to get them to play nicely.

Have it in a big enough envelope or sleeve so that it can be stored again.

That's one thing I hate about the tissue dress patterns. It was so hard to get the pieces back in the envelope. (If it was a pattern I really liked, I put it in a zip lock bag.)

Have it tested by people that are novices - and welcome feedback! Inaccurate directions drive me nuttier!

I totally agree. Using differnet colors makes such a difference and I have a difficult itme visualizing myself. Also the different sizes and yardage requirements is always good.

I like color photos and I like step by step instructions with photos as I'm one of those people that has to 'see' something as well as read the directions.

I like it to be easy but look beautiful, and be very versatile. Also they need to be easy to read and understand which is not always clear. Sometimes people write how they talk which is not always best, and also if it is a difficult part of the pattern pictures always help

I think it is helpful to "rate" how difficult the pattern is, although how that is clearly defined so the designer and buyer agree in what "intermediate" or "advanced" is is beyond me.

Make sure the illustrations go with the finished product. I got so hung up on a purse pattern when I was trying to make it look like the drawing - instead of looking at the photograph.

Just used a pattern that used different naming for the yardage than in the instructions! I was worried that I had gotten the fabrics mixed up and would not have enough to finish it.

Helpful hints or pointers are great and we can also learn something new.

All of the suggestions have been really good ones.

I recently "published" a pattern for my Geese at the Cabin quilt in four different sizes. It isn't one that you can just add more blocks to as the Barn Raising aspect of it would be lost in adding more blocks. Neesie asked for directions on pressing seam allowances - another thing that is included in my pattern because it drives me nuts when I have to figure it out for myself. Pictures and/or drawings are a must. The idea of a pattern is to make it as easy as possible for others of all skill levels to follow. The more - the better! I think that having different sizes is very important and the fabric requirements for each size as well. I always give away a few patterns - so that I can ask for constructive criticism in return. I may be the first test sewer - but getting feedback from others is priceless. They can help you rate its difficulty also which some of us old-hands may have trouble determining.
Good luck in your venture - and know you are not alone in trying this idea out.

Numbered pages
clear, numbered steps
color photo
suggestions on quilting (not just quilt as desired)
Samples with different fabrics. (one thing that would be cool would be a sample in batiks, one in brights, one in novelty prints, etc)
A cool name for the pattern (don't ask me why that would draw me in, but it would...)

Very well said and I totally agree! Please keep directions simple and easy to understand.

Clear spacing between instructions, particularly on the cutting, so I can check them off as I do them without losing my place - or my sanity.

I have Dyscalculia which is a specific disability in learning or comprehending arithmetic, difficulty in understanding numbers and how to manipulate numbers. Calculating yardage is great fun.......... lol.

Below is an example of the kind of instructions which give me a headache! (This was actually pre-cutting for a class I was going to attend and ended up NOT going to as I made so many mistakes in the cutting I gave up, exhausted and disheartened :().

From your main fabric cut:
8 x 2½” squares2 x 3¼” squares
3 x 5½” squares*
4 x 3¼” squares
2 x 3¼” squares
2 x 2½” squares
12 x 2⅞” squares

From the contrast, cut:
2 x 3¼” squares
2 x 2½” squares
12 x 2⅞” squares

and so it went on.

Sophistication in design, simplicity in execution

I agree that some patterns dfon't give enough directions. I find it helpful to know what size each finished piece is supposed to be. Sure helps to find out before the whole block is put together that it's not right.

Thanks everyone. Your feedback is really helpful and I'm making myself a checklist so I don't miss anything.

I think having a complete picture of the quilt either as the front photo or on the back of the package. I don't like to take the pattern completely out of the package to see what the quilt design is. Also skill level is important but I would also like to see what pieces you will be making that might be a deciding factor for example; the pattern has curved seams, flying geese, paper piecing, appliqué, Y seams, anything that someone would consider difficult or not their forte. I consider myself an intermediate quilter but have a lot of problems with flying geese.

I'll second Knitette's frustration with the listings she showed. If the pattern has to have listings like this, I'm helped by having a little drawing beside or underneath each that shows me the shape.

I love having the quilt shown in different colorways, because colors and how they go together is not my strong suit.

i like multiple size directions and directions that are easy with photos showing techniques maybe im just a visual learner but that always makes it clearer for me and easier to follow ive made alot of different patterns over the few years ive been quilting and some of them were hard cause they hardly had any photos or diagrams to show how it should look when you get to that part.
carla

Thanks for starting this thread! I've designed and completed several quilts as prototypes to be sold, but have not yet finished the pattern-making process. It's not that easy! I'm of 2 minds in many aspects: clear, short and simple for the experienced quilter? or clear and complex/detailed for the beginner? The more I think about it, the more I want to make a pattern that is magazine-style, with lots of color pictures, glossary, tips, alternatives, and instructions, plus some interspersed personal ramblings, and quilt-related links or ads.
I guess the most important would be to lay it out in easy to follow steps of construction with proper spelling and sentence structure, no acronyms or abbreviations, and clear diagrams/drawings/photos.
OH!! and large print =)

Directions that make sense. If you can't write a sentence that makes sense, find a proofreader. Don't over complicate the design just for the sake of making it complicated. I have one pattern that has you make a jillion strip sets, cut them into blocks and then sew them back together exactly the same as if they weren't cut. The corner blocks for that pattern had a whole bunch of unnecessary pieces too. I ended up redrafting the whole pattern.

Want it to look complex but be simple.
several different color photos of finished quilts
Very very clear accurate instrustions. I do agree with you haveing all levels of sewers test the pattern.
Welcome feedback, and include on your insturction sheets your 'business email address'...so a quilter can
contact you if they run into a problem during construction.
Yardage for all sizes from lap to king.

I'm with you there! I don't understand this at all. I am not a person who can do math at all. It has to say how many I have to cut. Were you suppose to cut one of each of these? Or multiple? I am totally confused. I have some bad math brain. Even adding and subtracting is hard for me. But give me a book and I can read it in a day. I can do almost anything but math. And I worked as a cashier in my little town for a while and people would give me a $10 bill and at the last minute they would throw out a nickel and a penny and expect me to figure out what to give them for change. I had to get out the calculator. They would make me feel bad and tell me how much I was suppose to give them back, but they didn't realize that I didn't know that. They weren't my only customers. Everyone did that and I hated it. I finally was able to stay home and not work there anymore. It was just a part time job for a while anyway. Boy, I felt like crying after the customers got through with me doing that.

Be sure that your pattern is tested...and tested again...always hate getting a pattern with incomplete or wrong instructions....and there have been many!

I would agree with that. Also with the comment about a decent package to put it back into.

I feel for you. I didn't find out about my problem until in my 30s when my small daughter came home from school one day and said, "Mummy, numbers are scary." She was referring to the fact they almost have a life of their own, a bit like moving and jumping, but not quite - anyone with dyslexia will know what I'm talking about!
I hate when people try to make others feel stupid, which clearly you are not :thumbup:.
I retired early from my job as a lecturer, but before that I was involved with adult literacy. I used to say that I taught clever people to read and write - it was just a skill they hadn't yet mastered.

I could not agree more! Bought a pattern .. and it was just words .. no illistrations .. what a huge dissapointment. A good step by step format !

Pictures pictures pictures. I am really visual - if there isn't a picture of practically every step, I will be worried that I did something wrong. I could probably follow a pattern with all pictures and no words better than a pattern with all words and no pictures.

1. Have the pattern tested by all skill levels
2. Pictures of several of the finished items. Use the quilts the testers made.
I like to get a feel for how the quilt will look with different color values in different places.
3. Clear concise directions with illustrations/pictures
4. Yardage information for all sizes.
5. A contact number or address if there are any questions or problems.

I like cutting directions that minimize scraps. I made a quilt from a pattern this summer that I'll swear was written/ designed by someone who likes creating scraps for her stash as much as anything else. Efficient use of yardage and not having a bunch of leftovers is what I like.

I agree with you some of the fabric cutting instructions are difficult to understand, and that might be because I am a new quilter. I guess we would need to give her an example of how to make it easier for us to under stand. Which I am not totally sure. But I do know that my first attempt at making a quilt top I threw away because I totally messed up on the cutting and nothing fit right. I honestly believe every instruction should be written as if the person had no clue on how to do a quilt. I usually look for the "beginner" sign on it : ) or something along that line. Have the pattern printed on a tan or beige paper, not white. Have the print large enough for us "old folks". Be sure to include directions on fabric such as you could use fat quarters, or charm square, etc. Have a glossary so that we would know "WOF" = width of fabric. Some of the terminology here on the boards I get very confused about. Test it, with several different levels of experience, in quilting. That honestly will be your best bet, they can give you constructive criticism.

I actually have a visual system that I use so I don't mess it up. I'm make sure I use that.

Glad I'm not the only one that has issues with the '5x3" square' instructions. I'm usually sitting there trying to make sure it isn't one 5" by 3" rectangle that they want and not five 3" squares. I used to always assume it was the later, until I ran across and issue in a table runner and was out of the fabric I needed the 5" by 3" square from. I ended up piecing a couple of pieces to make the rectangle I needed, but I am still totally annoyed when I look at the piece.

With patterns that have 1/2 sq triangles or 1/4 sq triangles--the fabric requirements and cutting instructions should include the method that is planned to be used--and maybe even give the measurements for a couple different methods (i.e. one where you are cutting the actual triangle out immediately and another where you are using the methods where you make a larger sq and cut down the middle) I find this really annoying as I have a preferred method and am not "mathy" enough to figure out the fabric requirements otherwise!

Lots of pictures with instructions, or links to tutes very helpful.

I really appreciate "pressing" directions. Eleanor Burns has this in her patterns, and really helps . I also like directions for various sizes.

I hate it when the directions end by saying Sew your blocks together like the picture on the front and the picture is almost microscopic.

I agree with Spacific. Clear, simple, consise instructions step by step are very important . Many patterns assume a person will know what they are talking about. Not so ! A good picture instruction is also so helpful. I am a quilter and have quilted for 11 yrs and still have difficulty with some patterns and even some tutorilas skip steps.
Best of luck and God Bless