18 Tips for Reading a Quilt Pattern

Tips to help you read a quilt pattern.
My companion blog post can be found here: www.createwith...
In this video:
0:00 - Intro
0:33 - Pattern Formats
1:14 - Skill Level
2:10 - Reading Through
3:01 - Pattern Sleeves
5:14 - Glossary
5:34 - Arrows
6:12 - Call Out Boxes/Asterisks
7:01 - Chronological Order
8:08 - Labeling
8:47 - Printing PDFs
9:34 - Video Tutorials
10:08 - Errors
11:29 - Organization
12:45 - Color Options
13:55 - Helping Out Designers
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Music generously provided by the KZbin Audio Library

[@DK-hv1gt]

You are so delightful. I enjoy watching/listening to your programs.

[@CreatewithClaudia]

Oh wow…thank you so much. That is very nice of you to say and it made my day!

[@arvettadelashmit9337]

Thank you. I love your hearts quilt (located behind you, in this video).

[@CreatewithClaudia]

Thanks so much!

[@dianemluther5016]

Great tips. Included several issues I've had and they will be helpful when I encounter them again. Thanks!

[@CreatewithClaudia]

Thank you so much for watching. I’m glad you enjoyed it.

[@margaretderen2082]

This was an informative tutorial. In 40+ years of quilting and multiple attempts at following those early poorly written patterns, I gave up and learned to figure out the designs for myself. Just last week, however, I found a quilt that I couldn’t figure out and had to buy the pattern. Thankfully it was a well written pattern, but even so, you made good points on how I should have proceeded. 😄

[@CreatewithClaudia]

Thank you. I appreciate your comments.

[@constanceklagge]

Thank you so much 💓. This is great guidelines for beginners.

[@CreatewithClaudia]

I’m glad you liked the tips. Thanks for watching.

[@colleenquiltstoo]

Great tips Claudia. One advantage to reading the pattern all the way through is that it allows you to change the techniques if you want. For instance, I am working on a pattern that has a lot of square-in-a-square units. The pattern designer has you do them with the flippy corner method, creating appropriately one million bonus triangles. I prefer the method where you attach triangles to the sides of the centre square. But to do this, I need to cut my pieces differently than the pattern says. Best to know that at the beginning and write the changes on the pattern

[@CreatewithClaudia]

Agreed about reading it thru. And definitely good for all levels. More experienced quilters can adjust as needed. I appreciate you watching and the feedback.

[@kimberlykring2475]

Thanks for explaining!

[@CreatewithClaudia]

Thank you for watching!

[@lorettahenderson8979]

Very informative ❤

[@CreatewithClaudia]

Thank you. I appreciate it.

[@juliegray7658]

So helpful! Thank you. I am trying to teach myself and do struggle some.

[@CreatewithClaudia]

Thanks so much for watching. I bet you’ll be a great quilter!

[@jeane.2722]

Thank you.

[@CreatewithClaudia]

Thanks for watching!

[@Peach231231]

Good info, thank you!

[@CreatewithClaudia]

Thanks! Have a great weekend.

[@phyllisdippert2216]

I bought a quilt kit and thought i would loose my mind before i got it finished. These tips would have helped. Said i would never buy another quilt kit again. Thanks for the tips!

[@CreatewithClaudia]

Thanks for the feedback. Some patterns and kits can be tricky.

[@bettyechapman3053]

I would love the pattern behind you. The hearts.

[@CreatewithClaudia]

Thank you so much! That’s my Heart Strings pattern that is available in my Etsy shop here: www.etsy.com/listing/1397553519/

[@juliegray7658]

Fyi folks, she is so easy to work with on her Etsy shop. Nice things and shipping is fast.

[@CreatewithClaudia]

Oh thank you! I really appreciate that and I'm glad you liked the products.

[@alexandra-zaza-burns]

I’ve just finished an EPP BOM that states it’s an intermediate level pattern. The designer set up a FB group for everyone participating and quite a few people that had never done EPP before showed interest and she said she’d help them if they wanted to do it, but then left it up to everyone in the FB group to basically teach them how to not only sew the pattern but how to EPP too. I don’t mind helping people but feel she was very disingenuous doing this, I didn’t sign up to teach that pattern or teach EPP. It’s either beginner friendly or intermediate level quilt, it can’t be both!

[@CreatewithClaudia]

Sorry you had that experience. Thanks for watching.

[@marinaabad4995]

You tell buyers to thoroughly read and understand the pattern, but why don’t quilt designers thoroughly proofread patterns? Or perhaps the pattern instructions were correct but the person doing the text and graphics made errors, the designer should fine tooth comb proofread the pattern before release. I have found 2 known designers patterns rife with errors, such sew piece T to piece V, but should have been piece T to piece O. Also, with precut kits, the cut list says use green mini seeds fabric, but the piecing instructions say sew LIME mini seeds fabric to piece B . Pattern testers are unpaid and pay for their own fabric (see Karen Brown’s interview with a pattern tester on Just Get It Done YT channel) so maybe they might not be as conscientious one would like. Patterns should be tested with less experienced or older people that would have to work through the process. If I were a pattern producer I would hire a technical writer to review a pattern and learn to make the pattern doable or take a technical writing course. I have read many quilt patterns, even from the best known and have found them lacking in doability I have emailed pattern writers with pattern clarification questions and have yet months later wait for an answer.

[@CreatewithClaudia]

Sorry you had these experiences but I appreciate the feedback. It’s frustrating when there are errors.