During the 2015 New Quilt Bloggers Blog Hop, my co-host Cheryl @Meadow Mist Designs started cultivating a fantastic idea: a pattern writing blog series. I am so excited that this past Monday, Cheryl announced the pattern writing blog series is going to start in January 2016. I am looking forward to following along and being a participant in the “round table” discussions with other amazing pattern designers that Cheryl has cultivated.
The series will take you step by step from a quilt design in a sketchbook all the way through to a fully developed quilt pattern. To make the series less abstract and more practical, I will be demonstrating each step by working through an actual quilt pattern (that will be available as a free pattern at the end of the series).
There is no right way or wrong way to write a quilt pattern, so a number of wonderful pattern designers will be joining me for round table discussions and additional posts to give different perspectives and opinions on the design and writing processes. With me will be (in alphabetic order) Amy of 13 Spools, Anne of Springleaf Studios, Christa of Christa Quilts, Lorna of Sew Fresh Quilts, Soma of Whims and Fancies, and Yvonne of Quilting Jetgirl.
Some topics that will be included are:
- Design
- Pattern basics
- Text
- Math
- Illustrations
- Testing
- Finishing
Do you have any questions about pattern writing that you want to see if we can address during this series? Leave a comment below and Cheryl and I and the round table team of pattern designers will do our best to answer your questions.
I’m really looking forward to this! Keep reminding me…I could forget! I’m sure all of you will answer every question I have, but just in case… How important is it to have different sizes available in a pattern? (baby, lap, twin, queen). I wouldn’t think you would make every size (?), how would you calculate the correct yardage and make it accurate? Digital pictures of the quilt design or real quilt pictures (for a finished pattern)? I’ll stop there!
I’m not sure if this will be addressed, but I really need advice on which program(s) to use.
I am really excited about this too. Most of my fog is in the area of diagrams….how to make them on a basic PC, if that is possible…I know there is info out there I have not followed up on. Also how to get from PDF to paper, and what kinds of costs that may entail. This will be so timely! Thank you all!
Like Sarah, I’m foggy on how to take a design from a notebook and turn it into a diagram on the computer. I’m not computer savvy at all, so any suggestions/tutorials you guys have would be super helpful! Also, how do you decide if a pattern will be free or cost something, and how do you determine the cost if you decide to sell it? I don’t think I’m anywhere near ready to make patterns of my own, but it’s always good to be prepared if I take that leap! 🙂
Great idea for a blog series. When we we making the New Block, I struggled with getting the math right and with illustrating each step.
Yvonne, Like all of the other commenters…there are so many questions I do have, but am sure all of you experienced ladies will address them. Yet, I do know that I am really interested in learning how to create individual blocks for hand embroidery and applique patterns to begin; but am having such a difficult time finding out how to create PDF programs. Even my computer savvy step daughters could not accomplish it. Plus, what types of legal issues do we have to have covered. Each of the other issues/questions mentioned by the others are great areas that I had not thought of so this is going to be spectacular! Yes, please do remind me the way my brain forgets, I definitely do not want to miss any part of this great discussion and learning opportunity! Thank You for sharing Yvonne! Have a wonderful creative day!
I gave a few suggestions for things to address, such as copyright (always freaks people out), international English (using your own dialect is fine but watch for words that have different meanings or seem wrong to others) and short and simple wording (I should have heeded my own advice recently). I am sure you will have all this covered and put together a great series.
This is a great idea. I’m really looking forward to it. My biggest struggle is writing the instructions part. And another thing, should we use the word sewing or stitching?
I think this will be great. I haven’t been doing much pattern writing but I think many of those themes will be useful for blogging as well. I’m especially interested in illustrations as thats something I’ve really struggled with!
Great idea for a series I am really looking forward to seeing what advice everyone comes up with. I do hope that the technology side will be covered too, as I think that is probably the hardest part to learn.
This series will be invaluable to all of us and I’m very much looking forward to it too! I was so excited to see that you would be taking part in it Yvonne! 🙂
These are such great questions and suggestions! I hope that the series will answer most, if not all of them.
I haven’t designed my own patterns to share, but I have tested a few patterns for designers. One thing I find handy in the patterns (both when testing and with purchased patterns) is that if the blocks have sub-units, please give dimensions (including seam allowances) for each sub unit.
This looks to be fantastic! Really looking forward to it.
This sounds like a great idea for a blog series. Being slightly anti and useless at pattern following I can’t see myself writing any in the near future, but it will still be interesting to read along. One area I would like to find out more about is designing paper pieced patterns, but possibly that’s not going to be the slant of this series.