I seem to do better by looking at the picture than the directions .

I am perfectly imperfect and love leftovers. When I purchase fabric, I buy an extra half yard or just an extra yard. I bought a piece of fabric that was suppose to be 45 inches wide. Actually, had the clerk measure it and it was only 40, so I bought double. It can always be put to good use in another project.

Just because you can quilt doesn't mean you can write directions that are clear and easily understood! If I were writing directions, I would have someone write them for me and then try to follow my directions. I have been disappointed so many times with poorly written directions!

I agree. I have a degree in English and Technical Writing, and when I teach friends, relatives, and others to quilt, I often find I need to include an errata sheet (rewrite the patterns) before I make up the supply list and teach the class. This has saved my bacon a number of times :p.

I bought a tablerunner kit about 3 years ago, I've pulled it out a couple times and tried to make it, but the instructions are so confusing I end up putting it away again. I'm seriously considering using the fabric for another project, and tossing out the screwy instructions. I'm not dumb, the instructions are just a mess! My SIL who makes beautiful quilts even looked at it, and she couldn't figure it out!

Sorry if I have answered the same as others; I haven't read all the answers. If the quilt shop is still there, contact them
and see if they still have the pattern and get the missing pages. I got a pattern and pages were missing; it wasn't 6 years later, but I went back to the shop and they gave me the missing pages. Or if they don't have them, see if the pattern maker has them. I have gotten them from the designer too. You paid for the pattern, you should get all of it.
Some patterns need a little tweaking anyway.....but if you are a beginner, that is hard to do. Good luck getting all
of the pattern.

The problem is a lot of times that these patterns are made by designers not quilters or even sewers!! I won't name any names but some "big" name designers patterns are just very poorly done. Also I agree about the black & white pictures!! I want to be able to see it in color. JMHO

Would it be breaking a board rule if we all would give each other a 'heads up' when we run across patterns that aren't accurate? I am a subscriber to some quilt mags and they will usually post on their website corrections for the mistakes made in the magazine patterns. However, I don't always remember to go to the website to check for them before I start the quilt. Very upsetting when I discover that I should have checked first.

I think it would be soooo great to have a sticky link or somesuch that has lists of patterns with mistakes and their corrections along side.

But like I said...maybe it's a no-no...???

just wondering.

This is oh so true! I am a quilt designer and pattern writer. Trust me it is not easy to write a quilt pattern. Many pattern writers do not have their patterns tested. I do. I have 2 or 3 different levels of quilters make the quilt from the written words. I also have a good friend proofread the pattern. I don't mind the corrections to the pattern as much as I mind a completely rewritten version. I am writing the pattern my way. I also appreciate when a quilter making my pattern finds any errors! I can make the corrections reprint that page and move on! So if you have a designers name on the kits pattern then contact that person. It could be the shop resized that pattern for the kit. I always go back to the source. Let me know if I can help figure it out with you! Luann

I agree that some pattern creators are just not all there! However that being said when it is somthing put together by a shop like on a shop hop - it is wise to look through it carefully immediately! these are not patterns that are being sold, and the person writing the instructions is not normally a pattern creator so quite often things are a little vague or left out. Ask me how I know- yep ran into the same problems you are having, turned out in the end with some creativity but now if I have to have one of those I check it out right away!