I've had the same experience with the kits I've bought locally, judee. I think where you buy them, especially if you are trying to make the quilt exactly to pattern, is really important. I've only purchased two with the intent of making the quilt exactly to pattern, and the shop owner even offered to replace one pattern when I thought I'd lost it in our recent move. Then again, it was a big kit: http://www.gequiltdesigns.com/images...dian_Peaks.jpg

I disagree that kits are for beginners, or the connotation that purchasing kits equals less artistic - I think there is a place for them regardless of experience level and that it is another area of no right or wrong, simply personal choice. I recently bought two of the same kit - one I did according to pattern (because DH just loved it) and the other is on the wall now, a morph of several block ideas but again with the fabric line DH loves. I've purchased several Connecting Threads kits - I don't care much for the patterns, but it did increase my fat quarter stash substantially :lol: I may purchase a kit to get coordinating fabrics to use on something entirely different - but if I need something in a hurry, or I don't feel very creative at the moment, having a kit or two in my stash comes in very handy :wink: