When making a pattern...my suggestion....
07-01-2016, 09:34 AM
#12
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Location: NY
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I work part time at the LQS, and it is my understanding that pattern designers are hired by the fabric companies to make patterns as examples of the fabric line. I know my boss asks if there is a pattern to go with the fabric. Once a sample is in the store, we sell more of the fabric. Many of the fabric companies have free downloads on their websites. Hope this helps, and yes, it is very irritating not knowing what color each piece is.
Linda in Missouri
Linda in Missouri
This is why I love books so much as when they give the yardage cutting instructions it is often given in generic decriptive terms such as "dark brown" print or "light blue solid" etc to give a generic description of the sample in the picture. Pam Bono color codes things nicely in her patterns.
07-02-2016, 09:46 AM
#13
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Location: Ontario, Canada
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Update to my original post I decided I liked the pattern enough that I would chase all over the internet trying to match up the numbers with the pictures and bought the pattern anyway.
To my surprise, when I received the pattern PDF, there were pictures of the fabric beside the code numbers!
I wonder how many sales they have lost because people didn't know this was going to be the case? I know I almost didn't buy it.
Anyhow, I now have a new pattern to play with and will wait until my LQS has their annual 30% off sale to buy the 12 FQ's that it takes.
Lesson learned is to ask next time if there are pics of the fabric on the pattern.
Watson
To my surprise, when I received the pattern PDF, there were pictures of the fabric beside the code numbers!
I wonder how many sales they have lost because people didn't know this was going to be the case? I know I almost didn't buy it.
Anyhow, I now have a new pattern to play with and will wait until my LQS has their annual 30% off sale to buy the 12 FQ's that it takes.
Lesson learned is to ask next time if there are pics of the fabric on the pattern.
Watson
Last edited by QuiltnNan; 09-09-2016 at 10:13 AM.
07-02-2016, 11:16 AM
#14
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Join Date: Mar 2016
Posts: 181
Just to clarify... the fabric requirements were listed on the website? Like on the product detail page? And they were also listed in the pattern, but the pattern has swatches along with the SKUs? Or was this a pattern in a LQS?
07-03-2016, 03:55 AM
#15
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Location: Florida
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this has been a pet peeve of mine for a lonnng time and I kept thinking
somebody (a designer), would address it sooner.
If they only knew the number of patterns that ppl turn away from and
just dismiss, (albeit beautiful),,...there are those of us
that just say, "Forget it. I can find something else I like."
This change has been way overdue.
I could hug you Watson for bringing it to the light and I hope the
designers start addressing it.
somebody (a designer), would address it sooner.
If they only knew the number of patterns that ppl turn away from and
just dismiss, (albeit beautiful),,...there are those of us
that just say, "Forget it. I can find something else I like."
This change has been way overdue.
I could hug you Watson for bringing it to the light and I hope the
designers start addressing it.
07-03-2016, 04:26 AM
#16
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Location: Winchester, VA
Posts: 1,552
I have the a similar problem with a well known paper piecing designer's patterns, but in reverse. She gives yardage amounts for each fabric, but identifies them as "medium background 1" and "medium background 2". I have no idea from looking at the pattern how to match these up with actual parts of the design. I wind up spending a lot of time matching up pattern pieces to the pattern, going to the pattern to find out what fabrics I'm supposed to use with those pieces, and developing my own diagram of where "medium background 1" belongs in the design. To make it worse, she will then mix up the terms, so what was once "medium dark" becomes "dark". Her designs are beautiful, and well worth the extra work to decipher the directions, but I just wish it were more clear to begin with.
07-03-2016, 05:06 AM
#17
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Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: Florida
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I've never thought of it like that. I always think patterns that give exact fabrics have a kit somewhere that someone wants you to buy. Since a lot of LQS don't carry an entire line. I seldom make an exact quilt either in fabrics or sizes. You are right. They are short changing themselves and their pattern. It seems like it would be so easy to provide directions not using the fabrics.
07-03-2016, 05:20 AM
#18
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Location: MN
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Good point - many times the patterns are available long after the fabrics shown on the illustration are long gone.
Or someone decides to make it years after buying the pattern. Or the shop only has SOME of the fabrics available at the time.
Would you prefer fabrics be listed as "Fabric A" or "light blue" in the requirement list?
Or someone decides to make it years after buying the pattern. Or the shop only has SOME of the fabrics available at the time.
Would you prefer fabrics be listed as "Fabric A" or "light blue" in the requirement list?
07-03-2016, 06:17 AM
#19
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Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Ohio
Posts: 2,148
Yes, this has happened to me especially with "free" patterns. There are many patterns that I like but I do not like the color scheme that it is shown in. I will still buy the pastern since I like the pattern itself even if not the color it is shown in What I do is to copy the pattern and enlarge if needed. I then mark the colors from the original pattern on the copy so I can cross reference the yardage . I then take the pattern and marked copy to the store to pick out my own colors. May seem like a lot of work but well worth the effort if I like the quilt pattern.
07-03-2016, 06:42 AM
#20
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Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: Winston-Salem, North Carolina
Posts: 939
I think you should post the pattern makers name. It is a problem that should be addressed. It is a whole lot easier to locate material if you know the name of the manufacturer or designer, the name of the collection and which specific materials were used, especially if the material is no longer in production. If it were me, I would contact the pattern designer and let them know of my frustration and my hesitation to buy any more of their patterns because of this problem. Things get changed if you make your concerns known to the right people.
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