The Quilt Pattern-Where it begins

I have been trying to come up wit h a theme in Quilting, since starting this site over a year ago, to give me something to write about for these posts. At the moment I have caught up with all of the quilts that my wife and I have made, a wall hanging and bed quilt still in the works. So what I am going to attempt to do is walk through the making of a quilt from beginning to end. Along the way I hope to provide you links to other sites I have found in my searching for information and references. So here goes……..
Every quilt has a pattern, whether it’s highly intricate or very simple there is a plan that is followed to come up with the final quilt. Quilters I find are very individualistic, and their patterns reflect that for an unlimited rage of finished projects. I did some digging on the internet, an as with everything else there are thousands of sites offering patterns, many of them for free, when I searched “quilting pattern directory” I was given: Free Quilt Patterns Directory, Free Baby Quilt Patterns Directory, and Ask.com “Quilt Patterns”, also Penny Halgren’s Quilt Block Library. As I said there are thousands of other choices but these four will give you hundreds of patterns, many to download for free, or at least ideas to help create your own pattern if that’s what you like to do.
Don’t forget your local library for pattern ideas, there are usually quilting books, perhaps magazines, and articles. Your local Quilting Club or Guild will also, not only provide pattern help, but a connection to quilting “pros” who can help all along the quilt making process.
If I gave ten quilters the same pattern and told them to make a quilt, with the fabric of their own choosing, the final quilts would all be very different. So don’t over think it when it comes to a pattern, sometimes the fabric comes first, sometimes the pattern says “this is it” just enjoy the process!
Next time The Fabric – Types & Uses

Original design with stash material

Original design with stash material

Classic design

Classic design

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